The big lesson from Opal Tower is that badly built apartments aren't only an issue for residents

The saga of Opal Tower, the 36-storey Sydney apartment building evacuated on Christmas Eve after frightening cracking, has helped to expose the deep cracks in Australia’s approach to building ap...

Laura Crommelin, Research Lecturer, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW - avatar Laura Crommelin, Research Lecturer, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW

We're in the era of overtourism but there is a more sustainable way forward

Many European holiday destinations now struggle with overcrowding and pollution.from www.shutterstock.com, CC BY-NDIf you live in a tourist destination, you might dread the holiday invasion. Likewise...

Regina Scheyvens, Professor of Development Studies, Massey University - avatar Regina Scheyvens, Professor of Development Studies, Massey University

Are Australian classrooms really the most disruptive in the world? Not if you look at the whole picture

Keeping classes under control is a continuous challenge for teachers.www.shutterstock.comRecent reports suggest Australian classrooms, from the students’ perspective, are some of the most disrup...

Jonathon Sargeant, Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education and Classroom Management, Australian Catholic University - avatar Jonathon Sargeant, Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education and Classroom Management, Australian Catholic University

Curious Kids: how do tongues taste food?

Your tongue has special parts, bundled together as taste buds, that pick up flavour. But your other senses also help your brain work out how something tastes.Flickr/Jessica Lucia, CC BY-SACurious Kids...

Paulomi (Polly) Burey, Senior Lecturer (Food Science), University of Southern Queensland - avatar Paulomi (Polly) Burey, Senior Lecturer (Food Science), University of Southern Queensland

The big lesson from Opal Tower is that badly built apartments aren't only an issue for residents

The saga of Opal Tower, the 36-storey Sydney apartment building evacuated on Christmas Eve after frightening cracking, has helped to expose the deep cracks in Australia’s approach to building ap...

The Conversation - avatar The Conversation

Guatemala in crisis after president bans corruption investigation into his government

Guatemalans overwhelmingly support the United Nations-backed corruption investigation known as CICIG. President Jimmy Morales is trying to ban prosecutors from the country.AP Photo/Moises CastilloFor ...

Rachel E. Bowen, Associate Professor of Political Science, The Ohio State University - avatar Rachel E. Bowen, Associate Professor of Political Science, The Ohio State University

The Darling River is simply not supposed to dry out, even in drought

Puddles in the bed of the Darling River are a sign of an ecosystem in crisis.Jeremy Buckingham/Flickr, CC BY-SAThe deaths of millions of fish in the lower Darling River system over the past few weeks ...

Fran Sheldon, Professor, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Griffith University - avatar Fran Sheldon, Professor, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Griffith University

More than unpopular. How ParentsNext intrudes on single parents' human rights

Under the ParentsNext that was delivered, some parents lose payments for failing to attend appointments and others don't.Shutterstock/Department of Jobs and Small BusinessParentsNext is to be the subj...

Beth Goldblatt, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney - avatar Beth Goldblatt, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney

35 degree days make blackouts more likely, but new power stations won't help

Whether your energy comes from coal or renewable sources isn't likely to make a difference to your risk of a blackout this summer.yellowbkpk/Flickr, CC BY-SASummer is here with a vengeance. On hot day...

Guy Dundas, Energy Fellow, Grattan Institute - avatar Guy Dundas, Energy Fellow, Grattan Institute

What you need to know if your child with a disability is starting school soon

Parents may need to play the advocate for their child, especially if their child has a disability which affects their ability to communicate.www.shutterstock.comThis is a longer read at just over 1,30...

David Roy, Lecturer in Education, University of Newcastle - avatar David Roy, Lecturer in Education, University of Newcastle

Weekly Dose: new drug MDPV, or 'monkey dust', found in Australia. What is it and what are the harms?

Users may or may not know they're taking MDPV. from www.shutterstock.comRecent media reports have suggested a rise in a dangerous new party drug known as “monkey dust”. This is a slang nam...

Samuel Banister, Team Leader in Medicinal Chemistry, University of Sydney - avatar Samuel Banister, Team Leader in Medicinal Chemistry, University of Sydney

Hidden women of history: Ruby Lindsay, one of Australia's first female graphic designers

Portrait of Ruby Lindsay, published in The drawings of Ruby Lind, 1920. In this series, we look at under acknowledged women through the ages.Ruby Lindsay was among the first women in Australian graphi...

Jane Connory, PhD candidate, assistant researcher and teaching associate, Monash University - avatar Jane Connory, PhD candidate, assistant researcher and teaching associate, Monash University

A current affair: the movement of ocean waters around Australia

Where do the ocean waters that wash the Gold Coast come from?Flickr/LJ Mears , CC BY-NC-SAMany people in Australia will head to the beach this summer and that’ll most likely include a dip or a p...

Charitha Pattiaratchi, Professor of Coastal Oceanography, University of Western Australia - avatar Charitha Pattiaratchi, Professor of Coastal Oceanography, University of Western Australia

Forcing Australia Day citizenship ceremonies on councils won't make the issue go away

The Australia Day debate will likely become more pronounced each year.from shutterstock.comIn the latest instalment of the culture wars surrounding Australia Day, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sund...

Rachel Busbridge, Lecturer in Sociology, Australian Catholic University - avatar Rachel Busbridge, Lecturer in Sociology, Australian Catholic University