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Even a day off alcohol makes a difference – our timeline maps the health benefits when you stop drinking

After a day, you’ll feel less dehydrated. After a week, your mood and sleep improves – and the benefits keep going.

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The Conversation

Nicole Lee

Can’t work out without music? Neither could the ancient Greeks and Romans

The Greeks and Romans figured out music and exercise go hand in hand more than 2,000 years ago – long before science backed it.

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The Conversation

Konstantine Panegyres

What’s happened to Australia’s green hydrogen dream? Here are 5 reasons the industry has floundered

Several big green hydrogen projects have been shelved. An expert explains why Australia’s sky-high ambition for the industry is struggling to reach...

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The Conversation

Alison Reeve

‘You become a target’: research shows why many people who experience racism don’t report it

New research shows only 15% of those surveyed reported the racism they endured. Many feared negative consequences, while others thought no one...

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The Conversation

Mario Peucker

Cycling can be 4 times more efficient than walking. A biomechanics expert explains why

The answer lies in the elegant biomechanics of how our bodies interact with this wonderfully simple machine.

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The Conversation

Anthony Blazevich

Soaring house prices may be locking people into marriages, new research shows

Divorce rates are near 50-year lows. The high cost of housing could be a big factor.

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The Conversation

Stephen Whelan

Friday essay: ‘An oasis in the desert’ – Jackie Huggins reflects on her deep history with Carnarvon Gorge

Ngya Bidjara/Birri Gubba Juru marra. My name is Jackie Huggins. I am the mother of John. I am also the daughter of Rita, and Albert and Rose are my...

previous day 10

The Conversation

Jackie Huggins

NZ’s new AI strategy is long on ‘economic opportunity’ but short on managing ethical and social risk

The government’s newly unveiled National AI Strategy is all about what its title says: “Investing with Confidence”. It tells businesses that...

friday 60

The Conversation

Andrew Lensen

Albanese’s China mission - managing a complex relationship in a world of shifting alliances

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leaves for China on Saturday, confident most Australians back the government’s handling of relations with our most...

friday 20

The Conversation

James Laurenceson

Friday essay: ‘An oasis in the desert’ – Jackie Huggins reflects on her deep history with Carnarvorn Gorge

Ngya Bidjara/Birri Gubba Juru marra. My name is Jackie Huggins. I am the mother of John. I am also the daughter of Rita, and Albert and Rose are my...

friday 20

The Conversation

Jackie Huggins

What is the Strait of Hormuz and why is it so important for global shipping?

During the recent conflict between Iran and Israel, Iran threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s major shipping routes. Would...

friday 3

The Conversation

Belinda Clarence

Trump has flagged 200% tariffs on Australian pharmaceuticals. What do we produce here, and what’s at risk?

US President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on Australia’s pharmaceutical exports to the United States has raised alarm among industry and...

friday 10

The Conversation

Joe Carrello

Rugby headgear can’t prevent concussion – but new materials could soften the blows over a career

The widely held view among rugby players, coaches and officials is that headgear can’t prevent concussion. If so, why wear it? It’s hot, it can...

friday 9

The Conversation

Nick Draper

‘Fashion helped the pride come out’: First Nations fashion as resistance, culture and connection

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains images of deceased people. First Nations garments have always held...

friday 10

The Conversation

Treena Clark

The ACT wants dog owners to spend 3 hours a day with their pet. But quality, not quantity, matters most

Authorities in the ACT have released draft regulations for the welfare of dogs. One inclusion getting attention is a guideline “requiring all dogs...

friday 5

The Conversation

Susan Hazel

Will my private health insurance cover my surgery? What if my claim is rejected?

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has fined Bupa A$35 million for unlawfully rejecting thousands of health insurance claims...

friday 3

The Conversation

Yuting Zhang

Does AI actually boost productivity? The evidence is murky

There’s been much talk recently – especially among politicians – about productivity. And for good reason: Australia’s labour productivity...

friday 4

The Conversation

Jon Whittle

A new exhibition is a thoughtful examination of the lasting relationship between Asia and Australia

Almost 60 years after former prime minister Harold Holt began to dismantle the White Australia Policy, The Neighbour at the Gate at Sydney’s...

friday 2

The Conversation

Joanna Mendelssohn

Guests at a feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains 11,000 years ago brought wild boars from all across the land

Have you ever stopped by the grocery store on your way to a dinner party to grab a bottle of wine? Did you grab the first one you saw, or did you...

friday 8

The Conversation

Petra Vaiglova

Black bushranger brothers Jimmy and Joe Governor were hanged in 1901. But were they ‘wicked’ or wronged?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people. The homicidal actions, flight,...

friday 2

The Conversation

Tim Rowse

Hendra virus has killed a horse in Queensland. Should we be worried?

The death of an unvaccinated horse from Hendra virus this week in southeast Queensland is the state’s first reported case in three years. Before...

friday 1

The Conversation

Vinod Balasubramaniam

What is cannabis use disorder? And how do you know if you have a problem?

Around 41% of Australians report they’ve used cannabis at some point in their life. Research estimates that 22% of recreational cannabis consumers...

friday 7

The Conversation

Danielle Dawson

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Larissa Waters on why we deserve more than a government that just tinkers

The Greens had a poor election. They lost three of their four lower house seats including that of their leader Adam Bandt. This despite their...

10.07.2025 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Envoy’s plan to fight antisemitism would put universities on notice over funding

The government’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, has recommended universities that fail to properly deal with the issue should...

10.07.2025 20

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Thirsty future: Australia’s green hydrogen targets could require vastly more water than the government hopes

Green hydrogen is touted by some as the future – a way for Australia to slowly replace its reliance on fossil fuel exports. The energy-dense gas...

10.07.2025 10

The Conversation

Madoc Sheehan

Melting ice will strengthen the monsoon in northern Australia – but cause drier conditions north of the Equator

Almost two-thirds of the world’s population is affected by the monsoon – the annual arrival of intense rains in areas north and south of the...

10.07.2025 4

The Conversation

Corey J. A. Bradshaw

Defence spending is like insurance – how will NZ pay the higher premiums?

Defence spending is like insurance – you have to pay for it but you hope you never have to use it. And the higher the risk you face, the higher...

10.07.2025 3

The Conversation

Stephen Hickson

Cyber crime and real-world crime are converging in a dangerous new way – here’s how to stay safe

It starts with a call from someone claiming to be your bank. They know your name. They know your bank. They even know your credit card number....

10.07.2025 6

The Conversation

Jongkil Jay Jeong

Where do giant volcanic eruptions come from? New study finds missing link to ‘blobs’ deep within Earth

Volcanic eruptions at Earth’s surface have significant consequences. Smaller ones can scare tourists on Mount Etna or disrupt air traffic. Giant,...

10.07.2025 7

The Conversation

Nicolas Flament

Cannabinoid products may reduce total sleep time in adults with insomnia: new study

You might have heard cannabis and cannabinoid products can help people sleep. Data shows one of the top reasons people use cannabis is to help them...

10.07.2025 3

The Conversation

Camilla Hoyos

Planning a ‘Euro summer’ or cruise? Why another flu shot might save your holiday

Are you escaping a southern hemisphere winter by heading off for a “Euro summer”? Maybe you’re planning a cruise through the Mediterranean. Or...

10.07.2025 3

The Conversation

Jack Janetzki

Labor leads in two Victorian state polls, but Premier Jacinta Allan’s approval tanks

Labor leads in Victorian state polls by Newspoll and Redbridge, but Premier Jacinta Allan is very unpopular. Two federal polls give Labor big leads...

10.07.2025 3

The Conversation

Adrian Beaumont

We interviewed 205 Australians convicted of murder and manslaughter. Alcohol’s role was alarming

We’ve long known there’s a link between alcohol and violence, but when it comes to homicide the stories behind the statistics are harder to grasp....

10.07.2025 40

The Conversation

Li Eriksson

First the dire wolf, now NZ’s giant moa: why real ‘de-extinction ’ is unlikely to fly

The announcement that New Zealand’s moa nunui (giant moa) is the next “de-extinction” target for Colossal Biosciences, in partnership with...

10.07.2025 3

The Conversation

Nic Rawlence

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives shatters the church’s century-long effort to curate its own image

Reality TV series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives follows a number of social media influencers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day...

10.07.2025 10

The Conversation

Brenton Griffin

Earth’s ‘oldest’ impact crater is much younger than previously thought – new study

Ever been late because you misread a clock? Sometimes, the “clocks” geologists use to date events can also be misread. Unravelling Earth’s...

10.07.2025 2

The Conversation

Aaron J. Cavosie

Grattan on Friday: childcare is a ‘canary in mine’ warning for wider problems in policy delivery

It’s such a familiar pattern. When a big scandal breaks publicly, governments jump into action, ministers rush out to say they’ll “do something”...

10.07.2025 1

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Does Donald Trump deserve the Nobel Peace Prize? We asked 5 experts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally nominated United States President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. He says the...

10.07.2025 3

The Conversation

Emma Shortis

How can we stay safe after data breaches? Step 1 is to change the cybersecurity laws

Last week, Australian airline Qantas announced cyber attackers had accessed personal data about some of its customers. The company later confirmed...

10.07.2025 4

The Conversation

Adam Andreotta

Skorts revolutionised how women and girls play sport. But in 2025, are they regressive?

If you watched any of the 2025 Wimbledon womens’ matches, you’ll have noticed many players donning a skort: a garment in which shorts are concealed...

10.07.2025 10

The Conversation

Jennifer E. Cheng

Does Australia really take too long to approve medicines, as the US says?

Australia’s drug approval system is under fire, with critics in the United States claiming it is too slow to approve life-saving medicines....

10.07.2025 1

The Conversation

Nial Wheate

Two books on the mushroom trial are already cooking. What are the risks and rewards of fast books on big news?

Few criminal trials in recent history have piqued the public interest like Erin Patterson’s conviction for poisoning three extended family members...

10.07.2025 2

The Conversation

Alice Grundy

Several books on the mushroom trial are already cooking. What are the risks and rewards of fast books on big news?‘

Few criminal trials in recent history have piqued the public interest like Erin Patterson’s conviction for poisoning three extended family members...

10.07.2025 1

The Conversation

Alice Grundy

The special envoy’s antisemitism plan is ambitious, but fails to reckon with the hardest questions

On July 6, an arson attack targeted the East Melbourne Synagogue. It was the latest in a series of antisemitic incidents recorded across Australia...

10.07.2025 2

The Conversation

Matteo Vergani

Queensland’s horrific lion attack shows wild animals should not be kept for our amusement

Last weekend, a woman was mauled by a lioness at Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, and lost her arm. The zoo, which keeps nine lions, has been...

10.07.2025 3

The Conversation

Georgette Leah Burns

Are ‘ghost stores’ haunting your social media feed? How to spot and avoid them

The offer pops up in your social media feed. The website is professional and the imagery illustrates an Australian coastal region, or chic...

09.07.2025 20

The Conversation

Gary Mortimer

Greek and Roman nymphs weren’t just sexy nature spirits. They had other important jobs too

Could you ever be truly alone in the woods of ancient Greece or Rome? According to myth, the ancient world was filled with wild animals, terrifying...

09.07.2025 20

The Conversation

Kitty Smith

Some young people sexually abuse. Here’s how to reduce reoffending by up to 90%

When we think about who’s responsible for sexual abuse in Australia, we usually picture adults. But young people are responsible for a substantial...

09.07.2025 7

The Conversation

Jesse Cale

NZ Post is the latest company to drop its climate targets – another sign business is struggling to decarbonise

NZ Post committed to cutting its emissions by 32% by 2030 (based on 2018 levels), but recently announced it would abandon its climate target. The...

09.07.2025 7

The Conversation

Pii-Tuulia Nikula

Teeth record the hidden history of your childhood climate and diet

The climate we live in affects our lives in profound ways: hot summers, cold winters, dry spells and wet weather all leave their mark. For growing...

09.07.2025 3

The Conversation

Tanya M. Smith