Exergames: good for play time, but should not replace physical education
Exergames should be used to replace sedentary video games, not traditional physical education.
The Angela Merkel model – or how to succeed in German politics
Few thought she'd go the distance when she first came to power. That was more than a decade ago.
This is what the lives of Big Issue sellers tell us about working and being homeless
Big Issue sellers get social contact and dignity out of their work, but it's not a secure pathway out of poverty and homelessness. Social enterprises enable small steps; governments can do much more.
The origin of extreme cosmic ray particles revealed: they come from distant galaxies
Scientists say they now know that high energy cosmic ray particles that bombard Earth are coming from outside our galaxy. But the actual source still remains a mystery.
Whose interests? Why defining the ‘public interest’ is such a challenge
Despite arguments that it is too loose, ambiguous and easy to hide behind, the 'public interest' is an integral part of the discourse, law, regulation and governance of modern democracies.
Vital Signs: don’t count your economic chickens before they hatch
The market welcomed statements from the US Federal Reserve and the RBA, but there isn't much to be happy about.
Friday essay: journeys to the underworld – Greek myth, film and American anxiety
American cinema mines Greek myth most strongly at times of profound social anxiety. In the age of Trump, we are already seeing key political battlegrounds framed as underworld quests in film.
Australia’s health system is enviable, but there’s room for improvement
Australia was ranked top of the world in terms of the efficiency of our health care system and health outcomes, but only seventh in terms of equity.
Developing countries can prosper without increasing emissions
What do China, India, South Africa and Mexico have in common? They all reduced the carbon intensity of their economies without sacrificing economic growth. Other developing nations can do the same.
Grattan on Friday: Same-sex marriage ballot captures attention of a public alienated from politicians
It's a rare example of direct democracy – albeit non-compulsory and conducted by mail.
Explainer: what is the flesh-eating bacterium that causes Buruli ulcer and how can I avoid it?
The hallmark of a Buruli ulcer is a sore, usually on the legs or arms, which slowly enlarges over weeks to months.
Here’s 49 small communities innovating as well as the big cities
Innovation is focused on regional centres that have research and development institutions, but more than 150 regional areas have potential to match this innovation, research finds.
They’re coming for our jobs, but can giant fighting robots save TV?
US and Japanese tech companies are building fighting megabots to kicktstart what they envisage as a sporting franchise on the scale of Formula 1.
Politics podcast: AGL chief economist Tim Nelson on what to do with Liddell
Politics podcast: Tim Nelson on what to do with Liddell.
AGL chief economist Tim Nelson says preserving the Liddell power station may not be the best solution.
Punishing one person for STI transmission weakens public health efforts
NSW has changed its laws imposing criminal penalties on someone with an STI who doesn't take "reasonable precautions" to not infect their sexual partner.
Is populism democracy’s deadly cure?
We’re not sure if the cure, the populist outsider, will work and make life better. but we are willing to experiment as the old certainties of representative politics wither.
I’ve always wondered: why is the flu virus so much worse than the common cold virus?
Why is it the flu virus is so deadly compared to the common cold virus?
Review of historic stock routes may put rare stretches of native plants and animals at risk
Australia's iconic stock routes are now public land, used for everything from conservation to recreation. A government review may change that.
Meet ‘Jaws’, the South American horned frog with a big bite
The South American horned frogs are ambush predators and use their powerful jaws to prey on large animals.
A new way to regulate surrogacy to give more certainty to all involved
Surrogacy is fraught with uncertainties. Proposed regulation, inspired by the way the caring professions are regulated, would protect the surrogate and provide certainty about legal parentage.
