What does AI mean for Australian democracy? And what can we do about it?
Deepfakes and disinformation are on the rise as the world faces the ‘biggest election year in history’. But AI doesn’t have to spell the end of democracy. …
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Life / Culture
Why did primates evolve such big brains? First study of its kind says it wasn’t for finding food
The bigger the brain, the better we are at finding fruit. But is that true? A new study on wild primates refutes this idea. …
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Spending too much time on social media and doomscrolling? The problem might be FOMO
New research shows how fear of missing out and an inability to regulate our own emotions is linked to using the internet in concerning ways. …
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What causes landslides? Can we predict them to save lives?
Landslides are usually sudden and cause devastation in their wake. Here’s why they are seemingly impossible to predict. …
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Eat a rock a day, put glue on your pizza: how Google’s AI is losing touch with reality
Using AI to write search results is risky for Google, the internet, and the whole idea of ‘truth’ …
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You leave a ‘microbe fingerprint’ on every piece of clothing you wear – and it could help forensic scientists solve crimes
A uniquely identifying population of bacteria can survive on clothes for months after a person wears them. …
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Honk! These monkeys have truly legendary noses – now we better understand why they evolved
Male proboscis monkeys are known for their large, bulbous nose appendages. It’s a strange feature to evolve – with new research shedding light on their unlikely origin story. …
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A rare find in ancient Timorese mud may rewrite the history of human settlement in Australasia
New evidence from Laili rockshelter on Timor hints at a rapid, large-scale human arrival 44,000 years ago. …
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Are some routes more prone to air turbulence? Will climate change make it worse? Your questions answered
With severe injuries from turbulence on a recent Singapore Airlines flight, questions abound over why airplanes encounter this phenomenon and whether climate change really will make it worse. …
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Worried your address, birth date or health data is being sold? You should be – and the law isn’t protecting you
A new ACCC report shows 74% of Australians are uncomfortable with their personal data being shared or sold. Yet this is happening every day, and the privacy law isn’t being enforced. …
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