Millions of bacteria live on our skin without making us sick. It's when they manage to get through that they can be dangerous – particularly if they're resistant to antibiotics.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Analysis and Comment
Body-focused repetitive behaviours are related to obsessive compulsive disorder. You can stop the picking, pulling and biting.
In the final days of life, it may be too late to choose how you want to die, who you want to be cared by, and how you'd like your symptoms managed.
Just like a mobile phone, your body needs to be recharged every day. You need to eat food and drink water every day to keep your body going. Some foods are better than others at helping you stay well.
A survey of Australian parents has found many are overwhelmed by the stress of managing their child's behaviour.
We have no reliable way of knowing which patients' cancer will return after surgery, so often chemotherapy is given to mop up any remaining cancer cells that may have gone undetected.
Current rules about who meets the eligibility criteria for autism support services are patchy and inconsistent, meaning those with the greatest need don't necessarily have the greatest access.
Five out of five experts said we shouldn't reward kids with food. But for very different reasons.
If those who survive are the fittest, does that also make them the best? And if so, is engineering 'better' babies just evolution, or another step in a long history of eugenics?
Once genetic lesions for diseases such as cystic fibrosis and haemophilia were identified, the idea of replacing or correcting defective genes grew into what we now call "gene therapy".
If the Ford-Kavanaugh saga had any positive impact, it at least clearly highlighted several lessons from traumatology and the complex consequences of traumatic events across society.
Hiding feelings can cause distress in children too.
Some viewers will object to the reality TV format of How 'Mad' Are You, but the show achieves its aim of breaking down stigma.
Many current interventions focus on raising awareness of suicide, or preventing suicide at the point just prior to death. Many of those not assessed as being at "high risk" are left without support.
Despite good oral hygiene, some children have weak teeth that are more prone to decay.
A recent study found that half of patients who had therapy to help them cope with painful memories had a relapse four years later. So, is there a way to erase unwanted memories for good?
Just because you don't have the flu doesn't mean that your aren't teeming with viruses inside and out. But what are all these viruses doing, if they aren't making you sick?
Beyond medication and psychological treatments, there are steps all of us can take to alleviate stress, improve our mood and take care of our mental health. Here are five to get you started.
Tokophobia is a pathological fear of pregnancy and can lead to avoidance of childbirth.
With an ageing population, dementia is becoming more and more prevalent. But what does dementia actually do to the brain to cause changes in behaviour?
A US court recently ruled the weed killer Roundup contributed to a former gardener's cancer. Juries don't decide science. The weight of evidence shows Roundup has little association with cancer.
Research and News
We have no reliable way of knowing which patients' cancer will return after surgery, so often chemotherapy is given to mop up any remaining cancer cells that may have gone undetected.
NDIS two years on
The NDIS has good intentions, but its design doesn't seem to support the unique needs of Indigenous people living with a disability, particularly if they're living in remote communities.
Aged care crisis
In England, each home is given a rating against five questions: is it safe, is it effective, is it responsive, it is caring and is it well led?
Hay fever
Three million Australian adults – 15% of the population – struggle through spring and summer with watery eyes, running nose, itchy throat and the hallmark hay fever symptom, sneezing. When people with…
It’s now late spring, with summer just around the corner, and many people with hay fever suffer at this time of year in Australia. Although the cause of this suffering is invisible to us, it is actually…
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is cut or vaporised with an electric current or laser. It ranges from a simple, 20 minute operation to complex surgery involving important organs such as the bowel and bladder.
Endometriosis can cause a number of severe symptoms, including period pain. But painful periods alone aren't a surefire indicator of endometriosis. Here's what else to look out for.
Sign up to our new newsletter
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
HIV
An increase in condomless sex in PrEP users is predictable as preventing HIV is the key motivator for condom use among gay and bisexual men.
Daylight savings
Daylight saving time begins this weekend, which means many of us will get an hour less sleep. But the health effects go beyond sleep – and can last two weeks or more. Here's what the research says.
Cancer
As we age, our DNA accumulates damage, which can increase our risk of developing
cancer. But our cells work hard to guard against cancer – new research explains how.
Alcohol
Research shows that up to 40% of adults aged 50 and over are hazardous drinkers. For men in this age group this increases to almost 50%.
Stomach ulcers
Around 15% of Australians are infected with this these bugs. Undetected, they can cause stomach ulcers and cancer.
Nobel prize
In a remarkably short period of time, drugs that harness the power of the immune system, have been used to successfully treat many cancers.
Silicosis
We're seeing the resurgence of an old lung disease in people who make and install the type of engineered stone product you might find in your kitchen or bathroom.
Abortion
Although there is a move towards decriminalising abortion in Australian states, there is a long way to go before abortion is treated like other medical procedures under the law.
Cocaine
Cocaine is the second most commonly used illicit substance in Australia, after marijuana.
Hospital safety
Melbourne neurosurgeon Dr Michael Wong was stabbed in a hospital foyer in February, 2014. He recalls his attack with painful clarity and calls for better protection for hospital staff.
Genetic screening
Most of us will be carriers of recessive genes that cause disease. If our partner carries the same gene we could pass it on to our kids. Testing exists, but what are the pros and cons?
Price of medicines
The EU is asking Australia to extend drug company monopolies. This could mean Australians wait longer for access to cheaper, generic medicines.
Loneliness
The unpleasant feelings of loneliness are subjective. Researchers have found they are less related to the amount of time spent alone and more related to the quality of relationships.
Immunotherapy
New treatment options for cancer have flowed from our knowledge of how cells work, including the realisation the patient’s own immune system is a powerful agent in defeating cancer.
Diabetic foot disease
Diabetes is on the rise and one of its most common complications is Diabetes-Related Foot Disease (DFRD). DFRD is difficult to treat but simple preventive strategies do exist.
Job Board
Where experts find jobs
-
Lecturer, Industry Fellow (Advertising)
-
Senior Project Manager (Re Advertised)
-
Senior Lecturer in Occupational Health, Safety & Environmental Management
-
Associate Professor In Sports Coaching And Development
-
Manager, Financial And Staff Resources
Events
More EventsHow we are different
10 reasons
Most Read past week
- We asked five experts: do we have to poo every day?
- Is apple cider vinegar really a wonder food?
- When we lose weight, where does it go?
- Stressed about managing your child’s behaviour? Here are four things every parent should know
- New blood test could spare cancer patients from needless chemotherapy after surgery
Pitch an idea
Got a news tip or article idea for The Conversation?
Our Audience
The Conversation has a monthly audience of 10.7 million users, and reach of 38.2 million through Creative Commons republication.
Want to Write?
Write an article and join a growing community of more than 74,200 academics and researchers from 2,566 institutions.
Make a Donation
The Conversation relies on sector, government and reader support. If you would like to help us have even better conversations, then you may like to make a one-off or on-going donation.