By Garritt C. Van Dyk, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Waikato
You can trace your summer treat all the way back to the ‘ice pits’ developed in the Persian desert in 550 BCE.
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By Connal McLean, PhD Candidate in Zoology, University of Otago
Jacqueline Theis, PhD Candidate in Ecology, University of Otago
The New Zealand velvet worm’s reign as Bug of the Year is coming to an end, with voting now open for the 2026 competition.
This year, 21 nominees are vying for the crown in the competition’s fourth year. Nearly 100 bugs have so far featured, representing an incredible range of rich invertebrate diversity – from insects and arachnids to crustaceans, worms and molluscs.
The term “bug” was chosen deliberately. While not scientifically precise, it acts as an easily understood umbrella definition of Aotearoa New…
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By Matthew Barton, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University
Michael Todorovic, Associate Professor of Medicine, Bond University
TV adventurer Bear Grylls is famous for his survival hacks. But when it comes to rehydrating by drinking your own pee, was he right?
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By Naduni Madhavika, Doctoral Researcher, Social Sustainability in Tourism, University of Tasmania
Balkrushna Potdar, Lecturer in Marketing, University of Tasmania
Mansi Mansi, Senior Lecturer in Accounting, University of Tasmania
Rakesh Pandey, Associate Professor in Accounting, University of Tasmania
If they haven’t already, many Australians will soon head off for summer holidays. But behind every smooth check-in, cocktail or airport gate smile is one of more than an estimated 270 million tourism workers – about 8.2% of the global workforce.
These workers – cleaners, cooks, waiters, porters and cabin crew – often labour around the clock to make holidays feel effortless for everyone else. But too often there’s a dark reality hiding behind this idyllic picture.
Our team at…
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By Dwain Allan, Lecturer, School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing, University of Canterbury
It’s hardly a revelation that we’re living in an era of distraction and smartphone addiction. Our phones interrupt us, hijack our attention, and tempt us into scrolling. Even when we aren’t interacting with them, their mere presence makes it difficult to concentrate.
To address this, app developers have responded with a vast ocean of productivity…
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By David Lee, Associate Professor of History, UNSW Sydney
In 2005, the Howard government introduced its controversial WorkChoices legislation. It would be a key factor in the government’s defeat in the 2007 election.
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By Jo Case, Senior Deputy Books + Ideas Editor, The Conversation
New year’s reading resolutions are a fun way to take your reading seriously. Here are some ideas – from no phones before bed, to deep diving into one author’s work.
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By Olayinka Ajala, Associate professor in Politics and International Relations, Leeds Beckett University
A month before the US carried out its Christmas day attack on militants linked to the Islamic State group (IS) in north-western Nigeria, president Donald Trump had declared Nigeria a “country of particular concern”. This was due to the alleged killing of Christians by terrorist groups in the country. Trump threatened military intervention if the attacks against Christians…
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By Adam Taylor, Professor of Anatomy, Lancaster University
January motivation is high. Injury rates are too. Here’s why doing too much, too soon can put shoulders, knees and backs at risk.
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By Annemieke Apergis-Schoute, Lecturer in Psychology, Queen Mary University of London
Why we procrastinate has less to do with willpower than with how flexibly our brains handle stress and discomfort - and the good news is, flexibility is trainable.
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