By Alexandra Andhov, Chair in Law and Technology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Ian Murray, Associate Professor, Law School, The University of Western Australia
On Monday, a nine-member federal jury in Oakland, California took less than two hours to dismiss Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman.
Crucially, the jury did not rule on the core claims of the case. These included whether OpenAI, the company behind the popular artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot…
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By Henry Obanya, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Environmental Toxicology,, University of Portsmouth
Alex Ford, Professor of Biology, University of Portsmouth
Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (Pfas), often called “forever chemicals”, are now found almost everywhere scientists look. They have been detected in rivers, oceans, wildlife, food and even human blood.
These synthetic chemicals have been used since the 1950s in products ranging from waterproof clothing and non-stick cookware to firefighting foams and food packaging. Their strength comes from their resistance to heat, grease and water. But that same durability means they barely break down once…
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By Helen Banwell, Program Director for Podiatry, Adelaide University
Kristin Graham, Lecturer in Podiatry, Adelaide University
Manicures and pedicures are big business, with the global nail care market estimated to be worth US$23.5 billion.
But sometimes clients visiting nail salons come away with more than beautiful nails. Several women from Perth recently told the ABC they contracted severe infections after visiting nail salons for manicures and pedicures.
Western…
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By Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor in Law and Criminal Justice, Adelaide University
This month, the South Australian government extended a contract with a private firm to manage a men’s prison in Adelaide for another five years, despite a damning report about its operations.
The report from the McKell Institute – a non-profit, progressive Australian public policy…
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By Wellett Potter, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of New England
In recent months, celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Matthew McConaughey and Jeremy Clarkson have turned to trademark law to protect aspects of their identity associated with their brands.
It’s a relatively new legal tactic and not yet tested in court. But celebrities are using it in an attempt to fill a gap copyright law wasn’t designed to fill.
In late April 2026, Swift registered two sensory trademarks of her saying “Hey, it’s Taylor”, “Hey it’s Taylor Swift”,…
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By Juan Carlos Afonso, Associate Professor of Geoscience, University of Tasmania
Heather Handley, Senior Curator of Geosciences, Museums Victoria Research Institute; Monash University
Geothermal power used to be limited to volcanic areas. But advances in exploration and drilling technology mean huge new areas can be tapped.
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By Brendan Walker-Munro, Associate Professor (Law), Southern Cross University
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare vetoed research funding to 13 projects ‘for reasons relevant to the security, defence or international relations’.
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By Katelyn Barney, Associate Professor, Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and the School of Music, The University of Queensland
Ren Perkins, Lecturer in Indigenous Education, The University of Queensland
Leah Purcell has told the story of The Drover’s Wife across play, novel, film and now opera. Each form has extended its political and emotional reach.
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Monday, May 18, 2026
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has reduced the scale of violence in the Gaza Strip but killings and destruction continue, while forced displacement in the occupied West Bank has reached a rate “unseen in decades”, a senior official with the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Monday in Geneva.
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By Shane Homan, Associate Professor, English, Communications and Performance Studies, Monash University
Heather Margot Anderson, Emeritus Professor of Economics and Econometrics, Monash University
Susan Forde, Professor, Media and Journalism, Griffith University
New research suggests more investment in community radio could help recover some of this losses faced by the music industries.
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