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Articles on Year in Review

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Wildfires that swept through Sequoia National Forest in California in September 2021 were so severe they killed ancient trees that had adapted to survive fires. AP Photo/Noah Berger

Devastating Colorado fires cap a year of climate disasters in 2021, with one side of the country too wet, the other dangerously dry

US disasters in 2021 told a tale of two climate extremes. A climate scientist explains why wet areas are getting wetter and dry areas drier.
Social researcher Hugh Mackay and The Conversation’s FactCheck Editor Lucinda Beaman.

Speaking with: social researcher and author Hugh Mackay on 2017, ‘a really disturbing year’

Speaking with: Hugh Mackay on 2017, ‘a really disturbing year’ CC BY-ND81.5 MB (download)
Author and social researcher Hugh Mackay says fragmentation was among the key themes of 2017 – but he has some concrete suggestions on how we can do better in 2018.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stands during a service at the International Church of Las Vegas in Las Vegas in Oct. 2016. AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File

How the religious right shaped American politics: 6 essential reads

Trump embraced evangelicals in his first year as president. Here, scholars provide historical context to how the religious right has shaped American politics over the past decades.
To mark its 30th anniversary in business, the national PetSmart chain is donating enough food to serve animals in need an estimated 60 million meals. Sandy Huffaker/AP Images for PetSmart

Giving and fundraising: 4 essential reads

Ever wondered which fundraising appeals work best or what kind of charitable donations are ideal after disasters strike?
Even pocket parks in cities (Duane Park in Lower Manhattan, pictured here) can shelter wildlife. Read below for ideas about urban biodiversity and other green innovations. Aude

Creating a sustainable future: 5 essential reads

Trump administration rollbacks dominated news about the environment in 2017 – but beyond Washington D.C., many researchers are developing innovative visions for a greener future.
At some point, it stopped being all fun and games. lassedesignen/Shutterstock.com

A grim year for the smartphone: 5 essential reads

With studies from the past year exploring the relationship between smartphone use and mental health, sleep, learning and romance, a more nuanced portrait of the device has emerged.
Happy holidays, and thanks to all our readers in 2017. Marcella Cheng/The Conversation

What you loved in Science and Technology 2017

The year is up, the numbers are in and we’re about to go on summer holidays. Here’s a snapshot of the Science and Technology articles you enjoyed the most in 2017, month by month.
A very bad year for the Great Barrier Reef. AAP Image/XL Catlin Seaview Survey

2016, the year that was: Environment + Energy

In a year of coral bleaching, power blackouts, electricity arguments and Donald Trump, 2016 made the previous year’s climate of environmental optimism rather difficult to maintain.
2015 showed how much race still matters in education. Illinois Springfield

2015, the year that was: education

The year 2015 escalated many of the tensions that have existed on university and college campuses for a long time. It will be remembered as the year of student activism.
It’s time to look back on a year of art and culture. Blake Danger Bentley. Melbourne street art

2015, the year that was: Arts + Culture

It’s another year in Arts + Culture, so in case you missed it we’ve collected all the best coverage of screen, theatre, music, books and culture in one place.
A snapshot of 2015: health reviews, Health Check series, thalidomide series, Medicare versus private health insurance. AAP; Shutterstock; Julian Smith/; Dave Hunt/AAP

2015, the year that was: Health + Medicine

This was the year of the health review – mental health care, Medicare, private health insurance, the pharmacy industry … and the list goes on. But how much movement was there on policy?
An update on the classic Earthrise photo: NASA’s latest image of Earth from one million miles away. NASA Earth Observatory

2015, the year that was: environment and energy

From California’s drought and fracking in the US to the pope’s encyclical and the post-Paris future of climate change, environment and energy stories rose to global importance this year.

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