• Health

    Preventing the next pandemic


    Open Forum |  March 28, 2024


    Could protecting one group of people from disease, and exposing another to it, be the best way to prevent as many deaths as possible and reduce the impact of a future pandemic?


  • Culture

    Among the narcissus


    Marguerite Johnson |  March 28, 2024


    The vain, self obsessed Narcissus is among the best-known figures from Greek mythology, and his story and fate have continued relevance today in an age of social media and self-obsession.


  • Human Interest

    Conspiracy thinking


    Darel Cookson |  March 28, 2024


    Conspiracy theories are often assumed to appeal to people of limited education, but Intelligence doesn’t make you immune, it’s all a question of your thinking style.


Latest Story

  • China sneezes, the world catches cold

    Giovanni Di Lieto     |      March 7, 2020

    As well as a human tragedy, the coronavirus pandemic is exposing the faultlines of unfettered globalisation.

  • Car parks?

    Ben Knight     |      March 7, 2020

    As public space becomes premium in our cities, could boutique sidewalk activations known as parklets be the solution?

  • Another blow to media diversity

    Julie Tullberg     |      March 7, 2020

    AAP has been a bastion of regional coverage, and a vital infusion into increasingly stretched newsrooms. This voice will disappear in June, further diminishing media diversity in Australia, as less original factual news will be produced.

  • Taking the panic out of the pandemic

    Open Forum     |      March 6, 2020

    In the wake of Australia’s first coronavirus-related death on Sunday, the nation now has just a small window of opportunity to avoid hitting the panic button.

  • What are four bins for?

    Jenni Downes     |      March 6, 2020

    Four bins might help the sorting of recycled rubbish in Victoria, but to solve our waste crisis we need a strong market for recycled products.

  • Estimating the economic impact of coronavirus

    David Uren     |      March 6, 2020

    Just as the course of the virus is uncertain, so too is its likely economic impact; predictions vary wildly and it’s difficult to trace the effects of previous epidemics.

  • Helping wildlife bounce back on Kangaroo Island

    Open Forum     |      March 5, 2020

    A national wildlife recovery workshop has identified post-bushfire strategies for the Kangaroo Island dunnart, glossy black cockatoo and other endangered species.

  • China’s coronavirus cover-up

    Ryan Manuel     |      March 5, 2020

    China’s draconian efforts to contain the virus outbreak followed weeks of denial and coverup in the first affected region, potentially putting the world at risk of a major epidemic.

  • Ice, ice baby

    Diane Nazaroff     |      March 5, 2020

    NSW’s Special Commission of Inquiry into methamphetamine treatment services, harm reduction and drug laws has missed an opportunity for reform.

  • Coronavirus shock will cascade through the Indo-Pacific

    Rory Medcalf     |      March 4, 2020

    Now that the coronavirus has escaped from China, societies, governments and international institutions around our region must brace for a wave of economic and other problems in its wake.

  • The danger of intelligence ‘scope creep’

    John Coyne     |      March 4, 2020

    While Australians are often hawkish about community safety and border security, they’re far less accepting of their security agencies being given new domestic surveillance powers without government making a strong case for their use.

  • Academy awards recognise Australia’s top scientists

    Open Forum     |      March 4, 2020

    Outstanding contributions to science have been recognised by the Australian Academy of Science with 18 current and future superstars receiving prestigious honorific awards.