By Karin Modig, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet
How much do your genes determine how long you’ll live? It’s a question that fascinates us, and one that’s been debated for decades. For years, the answer seemed settled – genes account for about 20–25% of the variation in human lifespan, with the rest down to lifestyle and environment.
But a new study published in Science has challenged this view, suggesting the genetic contribution might be considerably higher.
The reason, according to the researchers, is that previous estimates failed to…
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By Robin Bailey, Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology, University of Cambridge
Donald Trump can change the temperature of a room with a sentence. One minute he is certain, the next he is backtracking. One day he is threatening, the next he is hinting at a deal. Even before anything concrete happens, people brace for his next turn.
That reaction is not just political. It is what unpredictability does to any system that requires stability. To act at all, you need some working sense of what is happening and what is likely to happen next.
One influential framework in brain…
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By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Nationals Leader David Littleproud easily saw off a spill motion against him as he and Sussan Ley plan to meet to discuss restoring the Coalition.
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By Vicki Lowik, Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, CQUniversity Australia
Amanda-Jane George, Associate professor, Bond University
Convicted criminals won’t be able to use references from family and friends to get more lenient sentences in NSW, but more widespread change could be hard.
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By Amnesty International
Ahead of the parliamentary vote on legislative amendments announced by the Georgian Dream ruling party, which aim to further silence dissent and tighten control over those who receive foreign support for political and other civic activity, Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said: “The government’s proposed changes to the […] The post Georgia: Ruling party proposes laws to criminalize foreign funding for civic activity appeared first on Amnesty International. ]]>
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By Adrian Lee, Associate Professor in Property and Real Estate, Deakin University
Australia’s corporate regulator has secured refunds of A$40 million to more than 38,000 investors in risky financial products, following a review of the industry.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) raised concerns that marketing of high-risk products known as “contracts for difference” or CFDs, failed to clearly explain the risks involved.
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By Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle
You’ve probably noticed your heart rate increases after you start drinking your morning coffee. But the impact on blood pressure is more complicated.
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By Kate Griffiths, Democracy Deputy Program Director, Grattan Institute
Matthew Bowes, Senior Associate, Economic Prosperity and Democracy, Grattan Institute
Huge amounts of money flowed into the coffers of Australian political parties in the lead up to the most recent federal election. Here’s who gave the most.
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By Tamlyn Avery, Lecturer in English Literature, Adelaide University
From Thomas Pynchon, Zadie Smith and Margaret Atwood to Barack Obama and the editors of Time magazine, it seems everyone who is anyone is lining up to sing the praises of George Saunders.
Saunders is the author of Booker Prize winning novel Lincoln in the Bardo (2017), a ghost story about the grief of Abraham Lincoln after losing his son, whose undead spirit becomes restless. The success of that novel has somewhat overshadowed the longer career of a talented…
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By Mark Kirby, Construction Industry Consultant, Auckland University of Technology
Fixing defective buildings shaves billions off GDP and has stalled construction industry productivity for decades. A better quality management regime is the answer.
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