Opinion
Read the latest opinion articles inspired by science.
As climate change worsens, bushfires are likely to become more intense and frequent. We must find new ways of managing bushfires to prevent catastrophic events. Satellite data can help in this task.
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10 Nov 2020
Radioactive: new Marie Curie biopic inspires, but resonates uneasily for women in science
Marie Curie overcame innumerable obstacles, and in the process has become a role model. But does the latest film version of her life do her story justice?
9 Nov 2020
Science communication is more important than ever. Here are 3 lessons from around the world on what makes it work
Science communication succeeds when it takes community knowledge seriously, works with other belief systems, and expects researchers to contribute to society.
22 Oct 2020
How do we know statistics can be trusted? We talked to the humans behind the numbers to find out
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how much modern societies are governed by statistics. Despite their objective appearance, these numbers gain their strength from very human relationships.
13 Oct 2020
‘You wake up with lab-engineered coffee’: how our imaginations can help decide Earth’s future
Achieving a radically different tomorrow will require more than a purely technocratic approach. So now, imagine you are in the year 2050...
13 Oct 2020
We looked at 35 years of rainfall and learnt how droughts start in the Murray-Darling Basin
To fully understand why droughts begin, persist and end, we need to answer the question: where does Australia’s rainfall come from? It may seem basic, but the answer isn't so simple.
8 Oct 2020
Every year in Australia, nature grows 8 new trees for you — but that alone won’t fix climate change
Trees in Australia are many, varied and sometimes huge. But how many are there exactly? And how does their number change over time?
21 Sep 2020
'Science is political': Scientific American has endorsed Joe Biden over Trump for president. Australia should take note
It’s now more critical than ever that the people who are actually knowledgeable about the world’s crises speak out and represent that knowledge in public.
27 Aug 2020
Need a mood lift? We’ve tracked 4 ways Australia’s environment has repaired itself in 2020
Researchers have collated measurements made by satellites, field sensors and people, to get a picture of the nature's recovery while we've been in lockdown.
12 Aug 2020
Scientists devised a cheap, ingenious trick to save this bird from a blood-sucking maggot – and it works brilliantly
Saving endangered species from extinction is a challenging job that requires creative, affordable and effective interventions. In a rare good news story for conservation, we came up with one such method.
10 Aug 2020
‘It is not easy’: how science and courage saved the stunning Australian Alps
From an effigy hanging from a noose to an angry opponent wielding scissors, those who've sought to protect the precious Australian Alps have always been up against it.
