Opinion
Read the latest opinion articles inspired by science.
Until recently it was thought neutron star mergers were the only way heavy elements (heavier than Zinc) could be produced. These mergers involve the mashup of the remnants of two massive stars in a binary system.
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29 Jun 2021
This adorable mouse was considered extinct for over 100 years — until we found it hiding in plain sight
Australia has the world’s worst track record for wiping out mammals, with 34 species declared extinct since European colonisation. But today, we bring some good news: one rodent species, Gould’s mouse (Pseudomys gouldii), is set to be crossed off Australia’s extinct species list.
18 Jun 2021
Approaching zero: super-chilled mirrors edge towards the borders of gravity and quantum physics
The LIGO gravitational wave observatory in the United States is so sensitive to vibrations it can detect the tiny ripples in space-time called gravitational waves.
11 Jun 2021
Matt Canavan suggested the cold snap means global warming isn’t real. We bust this and 2 other climate myths
One cold winter doesn't negate more than a century of global warming. We need the political leadership to set the world on a safer path. Ill-informed tweets by government senators won't help.
4 May 2021
What are 'internal waves' that possibly sank the Indonesian sub? If you've ever suffered plane turbulence, you've been inside one
Internal waves can create pretty cloud shapes in the sky, as well as making life unpleasant for passengers on aeroplanes. And in the oceans they can be a deadly hazard to submarines.
29 Apr 2021
Next time you see a butterfly, treasure the memory: scientists raise alarm on these 26 species
Our team of 28 scientists identified the top 26 Australian butterfly species and subspecies at greatest risk of extinction. We also estimated the probability that they will be lost within 20-years.
26 Mar 2021
Managed retreat of settlements remains a tough call even as homes flood and coasts erode
Today's risks will be tomorrow's normal. That means tough decisions have to be made about human settlements having to retreat from areas most at risk, whether from floods or bushfires.
26 Mar 2021
Yes, Australia is a land of flooding rains. But climate change could be making it worse
The NSW floods are a textbook example of the theoretical impacts we can expect on Australian rainfall as climate change continues.
5 Mar 2021
Fires bring home climate-driven urgency of rethinking where we live – and how
The unprecedented intensity of two summers of bushfires, first in the east and then in the west, offered harsh lessons for Australians. One is that some settlements must retreat from high-risk areas.
10 Feb 2021
Australia must control its killer cat problem. A major new report explains how, but doesn’t go far enough
Cats kill a staggering 1.7 billion native animals each year, and threaten at least 120 species with extinction. Five experts analyse a parliamentary report on the problem.
18 Jan 2021
3 reasons to study science communication beyond the West
All cultures have communicated their knowledge in diverse and marvellous ways throughout time. Failing to see the significance of this is racist and lazy.
