HISTORICAL FACTS: 10 - Caught on Camera

Crystals can’t bend – or can they? New research sheds light on elusive ‘flexible crystals’

We are all familiar with elastic materials – just think of a rubber band which can return to its original shape after being stretched.

The Conversation · Feb 21, 2025

YouTube hosts a lot of garbage – but the government is right to let kids keep watching it

When the Australian government passed legislation in November last year banning young people under 16 from social media, it included exemptions for platforms “that are primarily for the purposes of education and health support”. One such platform was YouTube.

The Conversation · Feb 18, 2025

Fish and chips shouldn’t come with a catch: how Australia can keep illegal seafood off our plates

If you’ve ever been stopped by quarantine officers at the airport, you might think Australia’s international border is locked down like a fortress. But when it comes to trade in seafood, it’s more like a net full of holes.

The Conversation · Feb 18, 2025

Nocturnal basking and deep diving may not be enough to keep crocodiles cool in a warming world

Crocodiles are hardy creatures, capable of adjusting their behaviour to cope with the heat of the tropics. But there’s a limit to their endurance.

The Conversation · Feb 12, 2025

Do parties win elections because of their leaders, or in spite of them? History shows it’s a bit of both

The upcoming federal election will see the incumbent Labor prime minister, Anthony Albanese, face off against Liberal opposition leader, Peter Dutton. We’ll likely see a strong focus on the personal qualities and performance of the two leaders.

The Conversation · Feb 12, 2025

A fierce tussle over a Northern Territory river reveals Australia’s stark choice on water justice

Water is now a contested resource around the world. Nowhere is this more evident than in the fight playing out over the Northern Territory’s Roper River – one of the last free-flowing rivers in Australia, nurtured by the enduring presence of First Nations custodians.

The Conversation · Feb 11, 2025

Where should we look for new metals that are critical for green energy technology? Volcanoes may point the way

About 400 kilometres northwest of Sydney, just south of Dubbo, lies a large and interesting body of rock formed around 215 million years ago by erupting volcanoes.

The Conversation · Feb 10, 2025

Choking during sex: many young people mistakenly believe it can be done safely, our study shows

Around 50% of Australian young people have engaged in choking, or strangulation, during sex. This practice involves one person putting pressure on the neck of another, restricting breathing or blood flow (or both).

The Conversation · Feb 6, 2025

Bees count from left to right just like some humans, apes and birds – new research

Picture writing the numbers 1 to 5 in a horizontal line, from smallest to largest. Where did you put 1? If you placed 1 on the left and 5 on the right, you share this preference with most humans.

The Conversation · Feb 3, 2025

Make a noise or work with the system? New research reveals 4 ways to create real change for nature

Ecosystems and species across the natural world are in serious trouble. The vast majority of Australians want more government action, but it’s not being delivered.

The Conversation · Jan 30, 2025