Our pets strengthen neighbourhood ties
A study of Australian and US cities has demonstrated that pet ownership strengthens people's connections with their neighbours.
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Creative country: 98% of Australians engage with the arts
New survey from the Australia Council shows pretty much all Australians engage with the arts, and 8-in-10 do so online. However more people are ambivalent about public arts funding, and more people think the arts are too expensive.
The world’s tropical zone is expanding, and Australia should be worried
The global tropical climate zone is expanding. At the current rate, by 2100 its edge will stretch from Sydney to Perth.
Huge restored reef aims to bring South Australia’s oysters back from the brink
In colonial times Australia's waters were teeming with mud oysters that provided food, cement, and cleaned the oceans. Now a 20-hectare man-made reef aims to restore some of their former glory.
New research shows there is still a long way to go in providing equality in education
The gap between the most and least advantaged areas in Australia is reflected in educational inequality.
Men are killed at a greater rate than women in Australia – what can we do to reduce their risk?
Even though males represent around half the population, they account for about two-thirds of Australian homicide victims.
China bans streaming video as it struggles to keep up with live content
Like regulators elsewhere, Chinese authorities are unlikely to keep up with new forms of online media.
How parenting advice assumes you’re white and middle class
Most psychology research that forms the basis of parenting advice might not apply to you. So, how do you know whether to trust it?
Curious Kids: My tooth fell out. Why is it so spiky on the bottom?
Nicholas, aged 6, was watching TV one day when his tooth fell out. He noticed that the bottom edge of the tooth was very spiky. Now he wants to know why.
Home ownership remains strong in Australia but it masks other problems: Census data
The latest 2016 Census data assesses what the national home ownership and rental rates are and how these vary location. It also gives us a picture of mortgage and rental costs.
Census 2016 puts on display the increasing diversity in Australians’ relationships
There has been a decrease in the proportion of Australians who are married, and an increase in co-habitation of both heterosexual and same-sex relationships.
Census 2016 shows Australia’s changing religious profile, with more ‘nones’ than Catholics
The changing pattern of the diversity of religious identities is one indicator of a society’s degree of multicultural composition. On this measure, Australia is among the most diverse.
The ATM celebrates 50 years but we’re using it less
ATMs will need to evolve to remain relevant, perhaps taking on other services entirely.
Why retirement village contracts need to be regulated like insurance
While retirement villages aren't regulated like an insurance company, their contracts are essentially insurance policies. This puts the risk on retirees.
Explainer: what is tularemia and can I catch it from a possum?
Tularemia is an animal disease that can be transmitted to humans. While it can be fatal, it is rare in Australia and can be treated with antibiotics.
Census 2016 reveals Australia is becoming much more diverse – but can we trust the data?
The 2016 Census reveals that Australia is becoming much more diverse – in terms of language, country of birth, Indigenous status, and religion.
A map that fills a 500-million year gap in Earth’s history
You would not recognise Earth if you saw it 500 million years ago - the lands, oceans, climate and life were all very different. Scientists now have a new map of the deep history of Earth.
Body mass and evolution: why the body mass index is a limited measure of public health
The Body Mass Index is used to assess the risk of lifestyle diseases, but the relationship between BMI and chronic illnesses remains far from simple.
Why many high-achieving Indigenous students are shunning university
We need to shift the focus of equity programs to nurturing the already strong aspirations Indigenous children have from primary school.
Three charts on: Australia’s addiction to poker machines
While fewer people are gambling on the pokies, the amount of money lost per gambler has remained relatively constant over time.
The Conversation launches in Canada
Today we're excited to announce the launch of The Conversation's sixth international edition.
Pharmacists are trusted medical professionals, so they shouldn’t sell remedies that lack evidence
A review has recommended separating pharmacists from complementary and homeopathic products.
Tenants’ calls for safe public housing fall on deaf ears
Grenfell Tower residents tragically got the world's attention only after a disastrous fire. So what would public housing residents in Australia say about their living conditions?
Despite our growing taste for craft brews, smaller beer makers face a huge disadvantage
Micro-brewers are increasing in Australia, which is surprising given the unfair excises and rebates they face.
Data visualisation isn’t just for communication, it’s also a research tool
The daunting complexity of biological data requires tailored visualisation tools to reveal buried insights.