The Conversation Australia
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Yes, Australia will have a space agency. What does this mean? Experts respond
<i>In front of an expectant audience of more than 4,000 international delegates attending the International Aeronautical Congress in Adelaide, today</i> …
InnovationIntroverts think they won't like being leaders but they are capable
Introverts often don’t think they will enjoy leadership roles and so are less likely to go for the top job, new research finds. In fact, introverts …
LeadershipCourageous quests: Keats, art and refugees
The great sensualist Romantic poet John Keats arrived in Rome in late 1820 with his friend, painter Joseph Severn. This was not to be a grand tour of …
RefugeesIn historic cases, punishment alone is not always the best response to violent crime
Sentencing offenders for crimes committed many years earlier raises important questions about what purpose sentences in such cases are expected to …
JusticeNo, depression won't literally break your heart (but have a heart check anyway)
Some people say depression leads to a broken heart. It’s a catchy expression, but is it really true?<p>There is certainly a link between depression and …
DepressionNot taking the piss: why it’s important to examine how we teach and test physics to reduce gender bias
We made something of a splash with our recent article suggesting that gender gaps in student performance in physics could result from gender …
GenderAttitudes to same-sex marriage have many psychological roots, and they can change
As the Australian same-sex marriage debate heats up it may be time for cool reflection on the sources of our polarised views. Recent research shines …
EqualityTaking sides: sport organisations and the same-sex debate
There is an old adage that sport should be separate from politics. The same-sex marriage debate in Australia has revived that view, as many sport …
Same-sex MarriageLabor widens Newspoll gap as marriage vote tightens
Labor has extended its two-party lead over the Coalition to 54-46% in a Newspoll that also shows the vote on same-sex marriage tightening.<p>Malcolm …
Bill ShortenThe off-topic Conversation #137
Welcome to The Conversation’s off-topic space. We’ve set this up as the place where you can discuss anything that isn’t related to a specific …
NetworkingCurious Kids: How can you tell if your cat is happy and likes you?
<i>This is an article from Curious Kids, a series for children. The Conversation is asking kids to send in questions they’d like an expert to answer.</i> …
KidsTrash or treasure? A lot of space debris is junk, but some is precious heritage
Most of us will never have the opportunity to travel into space. But we can feel connected to it in other ways.<p>Above us right now, and every day, are …
Space DebrisBitcoin investors should be taxed like any other investor
Despite its name, cryptocurrency isn’t just money. It could also be debt or equity and so it should be regulated and taxed in the same way as other …
BitcoinMansplaining Australian cities – we can do something about that
The American writer Rebecca Solnit, in her groundbreaking collection of essays, including the eponymous Men Explain Things To Me, first used the term …
CitiesI've always wondered: can animals be left- and right-pawed?
<i>This is an article from I’ve Always Wondered, a series where readers send in questions they’d like an expert to answer. Send your question to</i> …
PetsMy favourite album: David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs
Diamond Dogs, David Bowie’s eighth studio album released in 1974, was the first Bowie album I heard. I had just turned 13.<p>The album represents …
David BowieNew Zealand votes for conservatism and the status quo
After a dramatic election campaign that looked promising for the centre-left, New Zealand’s voters have opted instead for conservatism.<p>Special votes …
Jacinda ArdernNZ First to hold balance of power after election; far-right AfD wins 12.6% in Germany
With all election night votes counted at yesterday’s New Zealand election, the conservative National won 46.0% of the vote (down 1.0 point from …
PropagandaNZ First to hold balance of power after election
With all election night votes counted at yesterday’s New Zealand election, the conservative National won 46.0% (down 1.0 from 2014), Labour 35.8% (up …
ElectionsNZ First to hold balance of power after election; far-right AfD wins 13% in Germany
With all election night votes counted at yesterday’s New Zealand election, the conservative National won 46.0% of the vote (down 1.0 point from …
GermanyCan two clean energy targets break the deadlock of energy and climate policy?
Malcolm Turnbull’s government has been wrestling with the prospect of a clean energy target ever since Chief Scientist Alan Finkel recommended it in …
ClimateVIDEO: Michelle Grattan on the same-sex marriage postal campaign
Michelle Grattan speaks to University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini about the week in Australian politics. In this discussion they look at …
EqualityExplainer: what are mitochondria and how did we come to have them?
We’ve probably all heard of mitochondria, and we may even remember learning in school that they are the “powerhouses of the cell” – but what does …
BiologyIs BHP really about to split from the Minerals Council's hive mind?
Shareholder action has struck again (perhaps). The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility, on behalf of more than 120 shareholders of BHP, …
ClimateNew Zealand elections: same, same, but very different
Six weeks ago, New Zealand’s election campaign was limping toward a foregone conclusion. The centre-right National Party looked a shoe-in for a …
Jacinda ArdernFlu is a tragic illness. How can we get more people to vaccinate?
Flu (influenza) has traditionally been the underdog of vaccine-preventable diseases. People tend not to worry about the flu too much, and there are …
Public HealthWe are all of the same starstuff
The recent Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Symposium in Brisbane bought together experts from around the country to address the gender and …
EducationCan trying to meet specific exercise goals put us off being active altogether?
Encouraging people to meet specific fitness goals when they are new to exercising can be ineffective. In fact, it may even make it harder to become …
ExerciseExergames: good for play time, but should not replace physical education
More and more young Australians are playing video games during their leisure time. Fortunately, video game manufacturers have introduced “exergames” …
EducationLost in space: Australia dwindled from space leader to also-ran in 50 years
The eyes of the world’s space expertise will be on Australia this month, as Adelaide hosts the world’s largest space conference.<p>The meeting occurs in …
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