By Emily McIntyre, PhD candidate in Ecology, The University of Melbourne
Craig Nitschke, Professor in Forest and Landscape Dynamics, The University of Melbourne
Think truffles and you’ll probably think of France. But Australia is actually a global hotspot for truffle-like fungi, boasting hundreds of different species. Like culinary truffles, these truffle-like fungi produce underground sporing bodies rather than send up mushrooms.
Living underground has its challenges. Fungi which form mushrooms above ground can easily disperse their spores (the fungal equivalent to a plant’s seed) on the wind. But truffle-like fungi can’t do this. Instead, they rely on native mammals to follow…
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By Emlyn Dodd, Senior Lecturer in Classical Studies, Institute of Classical Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London; Macquarie University
New research suggests olive trees have been exploited for more than 6,000 years. The first Italian olive oil was produced perhaps 4,000 years ago.
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Tuesday, February 3rd 2026
A fresh wave of Russian strikes overnight across Ukraine injured several people and left thousands “without heat in the heart of winter,” the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country said on Tuesday.
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By Catherine Baillie Abidi, Associate Professor, Child & Youth Study, Mount Saint Vincent University
Izabela Steflja, Associate Professor, Political Science, Wilfrid Laurier University
Kirsten J. Fisher, Associate Professor, Department of Political Studies, University of Saskatchewan
Myriam Denov, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Children, Families and Armed Conflict, McGill University
Violence against children is a global crisis. States must take urgent action to prevent it or the cost will continue to impact communities around the world.
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By Alicia M. Battaglia, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto
Batteries are typically held together by chemicals that don’t easily degrade. However, some marine animals have evolved remarkable natural ways to attach themselves to wet, slippery surfaces.
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By Mallory Terry, Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of Science, McMaster University
Some of the most decisive moments in sport hinge on how athletes perceive, process and act on information in a matter of milliseconds.
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By Pascual Berrone, Head of Strategic Management Department and Chair of Sustainability and Business Strategy, IESE Business School (Universidad de Navarra)
For residents of European cities – with their snarled traffic, draughty old buildings, creaking public services and grey winters – it’s easy to see the appeal of moving to a brand-new, high-tech metropolis.
Enter Dunia Cyber City, a new special economic zone in Zanzibar aimed at attracting tech workers (real and virtual) and companies with its low taxes. Backed by former Apple executive Florian Fournier and the Zanzibar government, the…
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By Lynne Chepulis, Associate Professor, Health Sciences, University of Waikato
Sara Mustafa, Research Fellow in Health Science, University of Waikato
For the tens of thousands of New Zealanders who live with type 2 diabetes, managing the chronic condition can start to feel like keeping score.
A patient is given a list of numbers by their doctor. Blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels are tracked closely, with targets designed to reduce the risk of complications such as heart…
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By Hadar Elraz, Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour, Swansea University
Jen Remnant, Chancellor's Fellow Work, Employment and Organisation, Strathclyde Business School, University of Strathclyde
In the modern world of work, the “ideal worker” is a dominant yet dangerous concept that can dictate workplace norms and expectations. This archetype describes an employee who is boundlessly productive, constantly available and emotionally stable at all times.
What makes this trope so flawed is that it assumes workers have no caring responsibilities outside work, or have unrealistic physical and psychological capabilities. It’s intended to drive efficiency, but in fact it is a standard that very few people can reach. It marginalises people who deviate from these rigid standards, including…
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By Jeff Scheible, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, King's College London
Both film and table tennis depended upon the invention of celluloid – which plastic ping pong balls are made from.
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