By Alexis Levengood, Lecturer in Animal Ecology, University of the Sunshine Coast
From spears and the invention of the wheel to smartphones and robots, human societies have been building and using tools from the beginning. Human tool use has served to conquer new environments, increase communication, and ultimately alter the course of human evolution.
But humans are not alone in the use of tools. Our new study, published in the journal of Marine Mammal Science, shows dolphins can use seashells to help them hunt for fish. And they might be learning this clever tool use from their mothers.
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By Vivi Tan, Lecturer in Law, RMIT University
You know the feeling. Your account is suspended, your refund request is refused, or you’re still being charged for a cancelled subscription.
So you go to the company’s website for help and you find a chatbot. It offers a menu that doesn’t include your situation. There is no option to speak to a person. Eventually you give up.
Since the start of 2023, Australians have made 1,780 complaints about online retailers, marketplaces,…
(Full Story)
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By Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research and HDR, Midwifery Discipline Leader, Western Sydney University
A birth doula is a support person a woman can privately hire during pregnancy. They usually attend the birth and provide non-clinical comfort measures such as massage, assistance getting into different birth positions, and emotional reassurance.
While most doulas provide support during labour, some also – or only – provide support in the days and weeks afterwards.
Doulas also support the partner. They ensure the partner is informed and involved in the birth, while busy clinicians are…
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By Jessica Benthuysen, Physical Oceanographer, Australian Institute of Marine Science
Daniela Ceccarelli, Reef Fish Ecologist, Australian Institute of Marine Science
Mike Emslie, Senior Research Scientist in Reef Ecology, Australian Institute of Marine Science
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is a true natural wonder: a unique and diverse underwater seascape the size of a small country.
However, cycles of disturbance and recovery threaten to turn its colourful coral gardens into algal-dominated seascapes – then back again. And these cycles are becoming more volatile as our…
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By Bryndl Hohmann-Marriott, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Otago
Moana Rarere, Demographer/Lecturer in Population Studies, University of Waikato
NZ First’s Kiwi Kids Grant is tied up with the party’s broader immigration policies. But a ‘baby bonus’ for citizens won’t necessarily achieve the intended outcome.
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By Michael Noetel, Associate Professor of Psychology, The University of Queensland
Cory Doctorow wants you to hate AI – but it’s here to stay, and booing won’t protect you from it.
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By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image An image of US President Donald Trump hangs from the Department of Justice Building in Washington, DC, May 18, 2026. © 2026 Andrew Harnik/Getty Images The United States government has filed its first application ever with the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC). The court’s chief judge today canceled a scheduled hearing to decide whether Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old green card holder from Afghanistan who has been held without charge since July 28, should remain in federal custody while proceedings continue.The ATRC is a specialized federal court created in…
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By Jo Carter
The Ryūkyūan People's quest for self-determination and Indigenous status has been thwarted by over 100 years of harsh assimilation policies and a heavy U.S military presence since WWII.
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By Dawn Branley-Bell, Chartered Psychologist & Associate Professor of Digital Health & Wellbeing, Northumbria University, Newcastle
A teenager joins an online video chat. Within seconds, artificial intelligence analyses their face and gives them a score out of ten for “attractiveness”. They are compared in real time with another user who scores higher and is declared the winner. The game is live-streamed, and the audience ridicule the loser in the chat.
This is one example from a growing number of websites and apps that rate people’s faces – sometimes comparing users, identifying supposed flaws or recommending ways to improve their score.…
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By Robert Muggah, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow na Bosch Academy e Co-fundador, Instituto Igarapé; Princeton University
Latin America’s most powerful criminal groups have expanded beyond the drug trade – and have become more resilient as a result. That’s what my colleagues and I discovered while researching for a new study on the structural transformation of organized crime across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Criminal networks now draw revenue from illicit and legal sources alike. Many of them police neighborhoods and influence local politics. Others invest in legitimate businesses and exploit global…
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