Tuesday, December 23, 2025
As Myanmar approaches elections scheduled for 28 December, the UN’s top human rights official has said that civilians are being coerced from all sides – forced by the military to vote and threatened by armed opposition groups to boycott – in a climate of fear, violence and mass repression.
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By Alice Vernon, Lecturer in Creative Writing and 19th-Century Literature, Aberystwyth University
Benson’s mother was Mary Sidgwick, whose brother Henry was a founding member and first president of the Society for Psychical Research.
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By Kevin Rennie
Selfless acts at the scene were shared and praised by countless people online. One hero of the day tackled one of the gunmen and took his rifle from him.
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By Elizabeth Westrupp, Associate Professor in Psychology, Deakin University
Christiane Kehoe, Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne
Holiday celebrations involving gift giving can be roller coasters. The excitement of tearing into gifts is often mixed with intense anticipation – and sometimes, disappointment.
After investing time, thought and money into creating a magical day, it can feel confronting when your child reacts negatively to a present. If it’s a gift you’ve chosen, you might feel hurt or frustrated. When it’s from a relative or friend, embarrassment can creep in, as you’re caught between wanting to acknowledge your child’s feelings, and worrying about offending the giver.
You might wonder…
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By Kit MacFarlane, Lecturer, Creative Writing and Literature, University of South Australia
Every day of broadcasting has a story to tell. What were Australians watching on Christmas Eve 65 years ago? And why does it still matter today?
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By Robyn J. Whitaker, Associate Professor, New Testament, & Inaugural Director of The Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy
While there are many ancient texts focusing on Jesus as a baby and as a man, much less is known about him as a child. Here’s what some of them tell us.
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By Nathan Kilah, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, University of Tasmania
Liquid fuel fires can be very dangerous, so plan ahead if you want to set your pudding on fire. And remember: more fuel isn’t always better.
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By Philip Garnock-Jones, Emeritus Professor of Botany, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
New Zealand has 2,200 native flowering plants and 85% of them grow nowhere else, including some spectacular displays that open just in time for the festive season.
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By Sophie Jones, PhD candidate, School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, The University of Queensland
Each season, mango growers across Australia watch helplessly as millions of mangoes fall to the ground too early. Here’s why – and how science can help.
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By Samuel Cornell, PhD Candidate in Public Health & Community Medicine, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney
Rob Brooks, Scientia Professor of Evolution, UNSW Sydney
Wellness culture is an intoxicating cocktail, blending evolved social preferences for health, fertility and social status with the signalling power of social media.
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