Replacing just 10% of ultra-processed foods with whole foods linked to drop in bowel cancer rate
New findings suggest the label ‘ultra-processed’ alone doesn’t tell the full story about bowel cancer risk. What’s in the food seems to matter.
The Conversation – Articles (AU)
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Winston Peters says ‘diversity is disunity’ – what does the evidence tell us?
From business and government to sport and entire populations, research tends to show gender, ethnic and linguistic diversity improves performance.
Earth’s oldest evidence of life is written in stone – but it’s at risk of disappearing
Despite a fossil record that spans billions of years, microbialites are surprisingly fragile.
Does Australia have a problem with wrongful convictions? It’s time we got serious about finding out
There are, without doubt, wrongfully convicted prisoners in Australian jails. We need a reliable system for finding them and referring them for appeal.
What can a century-old Kuomintang building tell us about Australia?
The heritage listing of the former KMT headquarters in Sydney’s Chinatown invites us to reconsider the stories we tell about immigration, Australian identity and history
A plan exists for a fairer and healthier food system. Which party policies align best?
The Public Health Advisory Committee put forward five recommendations for improving NZ’s food system. We compared it with party policy ahead of the election.
Some Australian research funding is now a lottery. And that’s actually good news
Leaving some funding decisions up to luck can save everybody time and effort – and help understand what the funding actually does.
The High Court looked at coal climate emissions overseas. But what about emissions at home?
Debate about climate pollution from Australian coal mines is focused overseas. But emissions released at home matter, too.
Companies that get hacked face stricter laws than firms unleashing rogue AI. We can fix that
Just as car makers have to report and pay to fix faulty airbags, AI companies should be legally responsible for their faulty products.
A dengue vaccine is now available for travellers. Here’s what you need to know
Dengue is common in tropical destinations popular with Australian travellers such as Bali, India and Thailand.
What is Australia’s best book? Our experts pick their favourites
ABC Radio National is about to reveal Australia’s top 100 books, chosen by popular vote. Ahead of the countdown, The Conversation has asked our experts for theirs.
Israel soon heads to the polls, while Palestinian democracy remains on hold. Hamas looms over both
Israelis will soon vote for or against another Netanyahu government. The election outcome alone will not provide Israel with a solution to Hamas in Gaza.
Testing ticks for microbes/germs that cause Lyme disease (and other nasty things) Video
Every year, 1000s of ticks make their way to Stephen Rich. He runs Tick Report, a tick assessment service, where he and his team determine if ticks are carrying any disease-causing pathogens.…
In Alberta, far-right populism drives bid to leave Canada Video
In the western Canadian province of Alberta, a political battle is playing out on people’s front lawns. Separatists are flying the royal blue Alberta flag, others the red and white maple leaf…
Grattan on Friday: Labor will need yet another budget backtrack to resurrect some of its health rebate cut
The Albanese governments latest budget has faced many hurdles. With sour economic news increasing the pressure on the government.
Allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Greens Senator Steele-John to be investigated
The Western Australian Greens will investigate the allegations against the senator.
Australia’s ‘digital duty of care’ was just introduced to parliament. So what’s in the bill?
This is a large and complex piece of legislation, and the government has made adjustments in response to expert feedback.
Sally Rooney’s books are being withdrawn from sale in the UK, due to her support for Palestine Action
The legal threat to Sally Rooney has drawn new attention to the controversial UK definition of a ‘terrorist organisation’.
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Unemployment in Australia hits a five-year high of 4.7%, making a rates hike less likely
Markets now think it’s less likely the Reserve Bank will increase interest rates again on November 3. But it is still possible.
What might turning off the algorithm look like? Chinese social media provides some hints
If the government’s digital duty of care bill passes, users would be able to switch off algorithms. But this might not be as good as it seems.
Michelin came for the food. It found what makes South Australia special
South Australia’s first Michelin selection celebrates a food culture rooted in place, shaped by migration and sustained by the people behind every plate and welcome.
Can my health records be used for medical research?
Veterans have launched a class action against the department for ‘mass and routine sharing’ of their medical records over 20 years. How common is this?
How did early Māori society develop? New research reveals a clearer timeline
Radiocarbon dating at two archaeological sites shows how early settlers adapted to life in Aotearoa, with some economic changes happening sooner than thought.
‘Stress hormone’ cortisol is blamed for infertility, but major new study hints that could be wrong
Cortisol has been cast as a modern health villain, seeking to slowly destroy you. But it’s actually a critical hormone.
Prime ministers, billions in UAE investment: the Manchester City cheating scandal turns political
The cheating scandal has caused political ripples across the UK and UAE and highlights how geopolitical interests can threaten sporting independence.
World’s oldest shipwreck discovered off coast of Turkey
There’s little left of the ship itself but based on clues from its cargo, a research team has tentatively dated the wreck to around 2700–2400 BCE.
What was Australia’s first novel?
A riches to rags tale written by a convict was published in Hobart in 1830. On mainland Australia, an Irish widow published a gothic melodrama in 1838.
Australian scavengers don’t just eat everything and slink away. They approach a carcass like a buffet
First come the eagles, then the dingoes. And then the foxes, to fight over the scraps.
Hordes of yabbies are trashing rivers in Africa. How did this happen?
In the 1980s and 1990s, the hardy redclaw crayfish was exported from Australia around the world. But escapee yabbies have become a nightmare.
NAZA: harrowing documentary shows how killing in Gaza became just another day’s work
Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor offer us a look inside the systems used by the Israeli military to target Palestinians.
School teachers are burning out at alarming rates. How can we help keep them happy in their jobs?
Supporting teacher wellbeing means more than stepping in once they are already overwhelmed and ready to leave the profession.
Australia urgently needs a national bushfire database. Here’s what it could look like
Bushfires will only become fiercer and more frequent in the face of climate change.
It’s no secret drug firms donate to political parties. But it’s still a secret exactly how much, and why
Donations of A$7.7 million over a decade have been disclosed. But that’s not the full amount, a new study shows.
Australia has 3 competing migration policies. The problem? None are based in evidence
One Nation, the Coalition and Labor have all released migration plans in the last month. How do they compare to one another?
Why are there so many plants? New research reveals two key phases in Earth’s past
Extreme greenhouse events in the past killed many plants – but also gave rise to new ones.
Senate throws out budget plan to remove health insurance top up for older people
The Senate has rejected the government’s controversial budget measure to cut the private health insurance rebate for people 65 and older.
View from The Hill: everyone is on the lookout for Albanese-Chalmers tension
The ins and outs of the Albanese-Chalmers relationship is in the wider context of the positioning for the succession.
DemosAU MRP poll has Labor winning clear majority of House seats on just 27% of primary vote
A new batch of polls bring better news for the Albanese Labor government, with support for One Nation seeming to have eased off.
How the ‘digital duty of care’ bill could undermine vital sex and drug education online
Safety messages about drugs and sex are already routinely misidentified and removed from social media platforms. The proposed bill would take this further.
Domestic violence is a national crisis in PNG. The Chiefs NRL team must do more to support women
PNG is grappling with despicable rates of gender-based violence. Why isn’t a women’s team part of the Australian government’s $600m NRL deal?
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