By Nic Rawlence, Associate Professor in Ancient DNA, University of Otago
Globally significant collections of fossils, plants and rocks are held at separate institutions. Combined, they could support a dedicated natural history museum.
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By David Rowe, Emeritus Professor of Cultural Research, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University
One of sport’s greatest cheating scandals has erupted again. It may have far-reaching ramifications for Cricket Australia and several players.
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By Brigitte Gerstl, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, School of Clinical Medicine, Discipline of Women's Health, UNSW
Rebecca Deans, Associate Professor, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW
Developing pubic hair is tied to sexual maturity – and so are some of the theories about why we’ve retained it.
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By Brian Long, Lecturer in Arts and Cultural Management, The University of Melbourne
Paris in the 1830s and 40s danced on the edge. Napoleon was dead. The Bourbon royals were back. Revolutions in 1830 and 1848 brought pitched battles to the streets. Glitzy wealth rubbed up against dire poverty.
Yet the city was a honey-pot for 20-something creatives; meet the bohemians. These brooding, passion-infused romantics dominated the art world. Chopin was there penning some of the most romantic piano music ever written. Victor Hugo’s Hunchback of Notre-Dame came out in 1831.
Among these dreamers was Henry Murger, a jobbing writer living hand-to-mouth. In 1849, he…
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Sunday, November 8, 2026
On his way to school in Vienna on the morning of 10 November 1938, eight-year-old Arthur Schneier watched his synagogue burn while firefighters and police officers stood by “rejoicing”.
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By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne
There have been three recent federal polls. The combined vote for One Nation and the Coalition was down one point to 47% in Resolve, up three points to 53% in Redbridge and steady at 50% in YouGov. Anthony Albanese’s ratings are very poor in all three polls. Economic perceptions appear to be hurting Labor.
It’s less than three weeks until the November 28 Victorian election. Recent polls all have the Coalition gaining to open a large lead over Labor.
In preliminary results for Saturday’s New Zealand election, right-wing parties have a combined 67 of the 131 seats, a majority.…
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By Ashmitaa Thiruselvam, Social Media Cadet, The Conversation
Benjamin Clark, Audience Editor, The Conversation
On the meaning of fairness for pensioners, and whether there is a kinder way to manage invasive species. Here’s an edited selection of your views.
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By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW
This week, around 80 world leaders – including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – will descend on the coastal Turkish city of Antalya for the annual United Nations climate summit, COP31. For the first time, the summit duties will be shared; Turkey will play host, while Australia leads negotiations.
At home, these national leaders have no shortage of issues to contend with: the challenges of AI,…
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By Matt McDonald, Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland
Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, is about to embark on his most significant diplomatic challenge. For the next two weeks, Bowen takes on the role of “president of negotiations” at the United Nations climate summit, COP31, in Turkey, also called Türkiye.
Bowen is regarded as a strong negotiator, held…
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By Steven Lewis, Associate Professor of Education Policy, Australian Catholic University
Sarah Langman, Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Arts, Australian Catholic University
Australian school students already do major tests in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 before going on to final exams in Year 12.
But amid ongoing concern around Australian students’ academic performance, there’s been a call for more testing.
The Page Research Centre, affiliated with the National Party, has proposed…
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