How the Australian galah got its name in a muddle
When is a galah not a galah? That depends on which scientific name is attached to the Australian bird. There's been some confusion over this, which DNA testing has finally solved.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Analysis and Comment
Speaking with: Bad Pharma author Ben Goldacre about how bad research hurts us all
Bad Pharma author Ben Goldacre about how bad research hurts us all.
The Conversation, CC BY36.4 MB (download)
Darren Saunders speaks with Bad Pharma author Ben Goldacre about bad medical research reporting, and how greater transparency in research practices could improve public trust in science and medicine.
DNA reveals a new history of the First Australians
New DNA research working with Indigenous Australians is answering many of the questions about when and where the First Australians emerged many thousands of years ago.
We need clear rules to avoid a real Star Wars in outer space
The rules on armed conflict on Earth are a major source of restraint on military operations. But the rules on the use of weapons in outer space are far from clear. We need to change that.
Can an app help us find mindfulness in today’s busy high-tech world?
Apple's smartwatch promises to optimise our productivity and competitiveness. But can the new Breathe app for the watch help us to relax and make us mindful?
Humans can make rockfalls from earthquakes more dangerous
A new study of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake shows boulders from rockfalls fell much further than in earlier quakes that happened before humans arrived and changed the landscape.
iPhone hack attack shows why we need to rein in the trade in spyware
Rich rewards are on offer to people who can help private companies develop software to exploit vulnerabilities in technology such as smartphones. It might be legal but is it ethical?
Explainer: how to prepare for a tsunami
We can't predict or prevent tsunamis you can improve your chances of staying safe by understanding the risk, being prepared and acting quickly when disaster strikes.
What exactly is the scientific method and why do so many people get it wrong?
There's a big difference between science and pseudoscience. But if people don't understand how science works in the first place, it's very easy for them to fall for the pseudoscience.
Confused? Don’t worry because that can be a good thing
If you've ever felt confused then you're not alone. But knowing how to deal with confusion can help us to learn new things.
Australia to embrace the new era of gravitational wave astronomy
The OzGRav Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery will enable Australian researchers to be at the forefront of gravitational wave astronomy.
Ancient life in Greenland and the search for life on Mars
Scientists say they've found fossils showing life existed on Earth 3.7 billion years ago. How good is the evidence? And what does it mean for the search for life elsewhere in our solar system?
Let’s measure the value of Australia’s medal success. No, not at the Olympics
While questions are asked about the value of investment in our Olympic sporting activities, take a look at the achievements of our other medal winners in the science Olympiads.
Countering the claims about Australia’s Aboriginal number systems
Australia's Indigenous people had many methods for counting, and they didn't use just numbers.
Lift-off for NASA mission to collect grains from an asteroid that may be on collision course with Earth
Scientists are hoping to collect 100g of material from asteroid Bennu.
Why the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ in the new movie Sully was no crash landing
The movie Sully, out today, tells the story of Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger who landed an Airbus A320-214 in New York's Hudson River. To accident experts, this was no crash landing.
Speaking with: Juan Francisco Salazar about colonising Antarctica and Mars
Speaking with: Juan Francisco Salazar about colonising Antarctica and Mars.
The Conversation, CC BY-NC-SA19.5 MB (download)
Dallas Rogers speaks with Prof Juan Francisco Salazar about studying the research community in Antarctica to learn about what colonising Mars and other planets might look like.
Extinction alert: saving the world from a deadly asteroid impact
Large asteroid hits on Earth have the potential to wipe out humanity so knowing how to detect and deflect them is vital. But we know very little about the interior make up of many asteroids.
Why old theories on Indigenous counting just won’t go away
There is plenty of evidence to show Australia's Indigenous people had ways of counting big numbers, yet the myth persists they couldn't count more than a handful of things. Why?
Food for thought: feeding our growing population with flies
The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, could help solve global food shortages by feeding livestock. It can even be used to make diesel fuel.
Are we ready for Robotopia, when robots replace the human workforce?
In a world where robots work better than humans, how will we cope? We need to rethink our jobs-based economy.
Where’s your data? It’s not actually in the cloud, it’s sitting in a data centre
Without data centres the world stops. We explored the inner Sydney suburb of Alexandria to learn more about these critical infrastructures.
The rise of the Fitbit kids: a good move or a step too far?
Fitbit and other wearable technology are good for keeping track of your personal fitness. But should they be used by school children?
The Australian government needs to be more open about the cyber threat from China
It's no surprise that China represents a cyber threat to Australia. But the government has been reluctant to state this fact and needs to respond more decisively.
The plug and play city: how shipping containers are changing infrastructure
The humble shipping container is sparking a revolution in architecture, plug and play infrastructure, portable labs and many other innovations.
Research and News
The 2016 Eureka Prizes showcase the best in Australian science
The pioneers of Australian scientific research, education and communication have been recognised in the 2016 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.
Healthy microbes make for a resilient Great Barrier Reef
A new study provides insight into coral-dwelling microbial communities and how they react to pollution, overfishing, and climate change. What does it mean for the Great Barrier Reef?
Driverless cars should sacrifice their passengers for the greater good – just not when I’m the passenger
Although they think it’s 'more moral,’ most people would not buy a driverless car programmed to make choices for the greater good.
Kitchen Science
Kitchen Science: from sizzling brisket to fresh baked bread, the chemical reaction that makes our favourite foods taste so good
Have you ever wondered how freshly baked bread gets its a golden brown crust, or why coffee beans smell so good? You can thank the miracle of the Maillard reaction.
Computing turns 60
Computers may be evolving but are they intelligent?
Computing has been getting much smarter since the idea of artificial intelligent was first thought of 60 years ago. But are computers intelligent?
From around the world
The power of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot: enormous storm may be heating the atmosphere
New research solves enigma of strange hotspots in Jupiter's atmosphere.
PhD scholarships
Columnists
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
Screen time
Is two hours of screen time really too much for kids?
Children's use of screens for fun and education have changed a lot over the years, so why haven't the rules on acceptable screen time kept up?
Medal success
Let’s measure the value of Australia’s medal success. No, not at the Olympics
While questions are asked about the value of investment in our Olympic sporting activities, take a look at the achievements of our other medal winners in the science Olympiads.
No crash landing
Why the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ in the new movie Sully was no crash landing
The movie Sully, out today, tells the story of Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger who landed an Airbus A320-214 in New York's Hudson River. To accident experts, this was no crash landing.
Living on Mars
Human trials on Earth are the key to how we will survive on Mars
What's the best way to find out how people will cope with the journey to Mars and life on another planet? Lock a test crew up for a year in a simulation right here on Earth.
#CensusFail
Did the Census really suffer a denial-of-service ‘attack’?
The evidence the Census servers suffered a DDoS attack is weak. A simpler explanation is that they buckled under load of Australians filling out their Census forms as asked.
Look up in August
Your guide to see five planets after sunset
After sundown from late July through August, there’s the chance to see five planets at once in the evening sky. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are the only planets in our solar system bright…
Pokemon GO
What’s made Pokémon GO such a viral success?
Augmented reality games have been around for more than a decade, so what was it about Pokémon GO that allowed it to become a global phenomenon?
Fun and games
Orang-utans play video games too, and it can enrich their lives in the zoo
An experiment providing interactive games for orang-utans is showing the potential for digital technology to enrich the lives of zoo animals.
Nano home
A guide to the nanotechnology used in the average home
From the kitchen sink to the laundry and garage -- nanotechnology has already made its way into the average household.
Not wi-fried
The lessons to be learned now the ABC’s pulled its ‘inaccurate’ Wi-Fried program
The ABC failed its own accuracy test when it broadcast claims of health risks associated with wireless devices such as mobile phones.
Are we alone?
RIP E.T. – alien life on most exoplanets dies young
Complex life may be rare in the universe because most planets become either too hot or too cold before life has a chance to get a foothold. This might explain why we have yet to bump into E.T.
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Most Read past week
- DNA reveals a new history of the First Australians
- No, fitness trackers do not make you fat and they don’t make losing weight harder
- We need clear rules to avoid a real Star Wars in outer space
- How the Australian galah got its name in a muddle
- Can an app help us find mindfulness in today’s busy high-tech world?
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