By Mia Cobb, Research Fellow, Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne
When people get hot, we can strip off clothing and we sweat to cool down. But animals such as cats and dogs aren’t so lucky.
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By Jason Sharples, Professor of Bushfire Dynamics, School of Science, UNSW Canberra, UNSW Sydney
Andrew Dowdy, Principal Research Scientist in Extreme Weather, The University of Melbourne
Luke Burgess, PhD Candidate, Weather and Fire Extremes, The University of Melbourne
Todd Lane, Professor, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; ARC Centre of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century, The University of Melbourne
Bushfires are strongly driven by weather: hot, dry and windy conditions can combine to create the perfect environment for flames to spread across the landscape.
But sometimes the relationship flips: fires can generate their own weather systems, which can then dramatically alter the spread and intensity of the blaze.
One of the most striking examples of this phenomenon is the formation of pyrocumulonimbus clouds — towering storm clouds born from fire.
How can a fire make winds and clouds?
Large bushfires release enormous amounts of energy – sometimes…
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By Josh Roose, Associate Professor of Politics, Deakin University
After weeks of mounting pressure, the government has called a royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion. It must involve tackling uncomfortable issues.
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By Amnesty International
Iranian authorities have unleashed a deadly crackdown on protesters across the country since 28 December 2025, marked by security forces’ unlawful use of force and firearms and mass arbitrary arrests, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said today. The organizations’ findings reveal how security forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s police […] The post Iran: Deaths and injuries rise amid authorities’ renewed cycle of protest bloodshed appeared first on Amnesty International. ]]>
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By Amnesty International
Responding to the Trump administration’s announcement that the United States is withdrawing from 66 international organizations, conventions, and treaties, Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director of Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, said: “This is a vindictive and reckless assault on the legitimacy and integrity of the United Nations and the rules-based international order that has been the bedrock of […] The post USA: International withdrawals are a vindictive effort to tear apart a global system for cooperation appeared first on Amnesty International. ]]>
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By Joanna Pozzulo, Chancellor's Professor, Psychology, Carleton University
Using evidence-based strategies that focus on mindset, light exposure, activity, rest and social connection can help people beat winter-related low mood.
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By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor, The Conversation
This newsletter was first published in The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email. Sign up to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox.
Watching Donald Trump and his defence and national security team announcing the US raid on Caracas on Saturday, it was hard not to conclude that while the US president was clearly using a script, there were points at which he seemed to be extemporising. At times he appeared…
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By Cristina Palacios, Professor and Chair of Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University
Every five years, the U.S. government releases an updated set of recommendations on healthy eating. This document, called the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, has served as the cornerstone of nutrition policy for almost half a century.
On Jan. 7, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture released the 2025-2030 edition of the guidelines. The updated guidelines recommend…
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By Ben Jones, Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Research Associate in the Rock Ethics Institute, Penn State
Police departments have changed their policies regarding use of force over the years to protect life, but ICE and other federal agencies have lagged in this regard.
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By Alejandro N. Flores, Associate Professor of Geoscience, Boise State University
A major atmospheric river brought record precipitation to the Pacific Northwest, yet the snow and water supply still suffered. It’s a growing problem.
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