By Michelle Spear, Professor of Anatomy, University of Bristol
When you curse after stubbing your toe, you’re not losing control – you’re activating ancient neural circuits that help your body cope with pain.
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By Seán Jordan, Associate Professor in Chemistry, Dublin City University
How did life begin on Earth? While scientists have theories, they don’t yet fully understand the precise chemical steps that led to biology, or when the first primitive life forms appeared.
But what if Earth’s life did not originate here, instead arriving on meteorites from Mars? It’s not the most favoured theory for life’s origins, but it remains an intriguing hypothesis. Here, we’ll examine the evidence for and against.
Timing is a key factor. Mars formed around 4.6 billion years ago, while Earth is slightly younger at 4.54 billion years old. The surfaces of both planets…
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By Jo Carter
Japan’s challenge is to reconcile the desire to preserve creative and erotic expression with the need to ensure that public spaces respect the differences among humankind.
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By Kylie Walker, Visiting Fellow, National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University
Rob Brooks, Scientia Professor of Evolution, UNSW Sydney
The University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor, who has died aged 52, was driven by a deep love of science and a desire to safeguard the planet’s future.
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By Justin Bergman, International Affairs Editor, The Conversation
When a would-be autocrat dominates a party like Trump has with the Republicans, it gives him a legitimate vehicle to ram through a democracy.
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By Johannes M. Luetz, Adjunct Professor, University of the Sunshine Coast; UNSW Sydney; Alphacrucis College
The millions of species humans share the world with are valuable in their own right. When one species is lost, it has a ripple effect throughout the ecosystems it existed within.
But there’s a hidden toll. Each loss takes something from humanity too. Extinction silences scientific insights, ends cultural traditions and snuffs out spiritual connections enriching human life.
For instance, when China’s baiji river dolphin vanished, local memory of it faded…
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By Catherine E. Wood, Associate Professor and Clinical Psychologist, Swinburne University of Technology
If kids behave badly – or even just like kids – it can make catch-ups chaotic. And can strain adult friendships.
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By Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor in Law and Criminal Justice, University of South Australia
Elvio Anthony Sinopoli, Researcher and Law Lecturer, University of South Australia
Jennifer McKay, Professor in Business Law, University of South Australia
Joe McIntyre, Associate Professor of Law, University of South Australia
Juliette McIntyre, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of South Australia
Michelle Fernando, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of South Australia
Sarah Moulds, Associate Professor in Law, University of South Australia
From food delivery drivers to pets in separation and the much-discussed teens social media ban, Australian law has undergone seveal important changes in 2025.
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By Angelique Nadia Sweetman McInnes, Academic in Financial Planning, CQUniversity Australia
Christmas lunch is over, all the presents are unwrapped. Now comes the hard part: paying for it all. Here are some steps to follow.
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By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato
New Zealand compares well on global measures of freedom, happiness and transparency. But rankings in some important areas, including climate, drag the averages down.
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