What does AI mean for Australian democracy? And what can we do about it?
Last week, the head of Australia's election regulator warned the organization "does not possess the legislative tools or internal technical capability to deter, detect or adequately deal with false AI-generated content concerning the election process.....»»
Ecologists reconstruct history of biodiversity in Indo-Australian archipelago and its rise as a hotspot
The Coral Triangle, also known as the Indo-Australian Archipelago, is renowned for having the greatest marine biodiversity on our planet. Despite its importance, the detailed evolutionary history of this biodiversity hotspot has remained largely a my.....»»
Populism can degrade democracy but is on the rise—its causes and how it can be weakened
There's a widespread view that populism is on the rise, from the United States and Turkey to India and Hungary......»»
Australia"s giant lizards help save sheep from being eaten alive
Giant lizards called heath goannas could save Australian sheep farmers millions of dollars a year by keeping blowfly numbers down—and must be prioritized in conservation schemes to boost native wildlife, say researchers......»»
Violence towards refugee and migrant women often goes undetected. Researchers find a way to help fix that
Recent deaths have highlighted the seriousness of intimate partner violence nationally. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, the number of women killed by partners increased by 28% from 2022 to 2023. While the overall homicide rate r.....»»
Worried about PFAS in your drinking water? Here"s what the evidence says about home filters
Recent news about PFAS "forever chemicals" in Australian drinking water supplies has been very confronting. Many people are asking how they can remove these contaminants from their home drinking water......»»
Kangaroo teeth grow forever—and keep a record of their owner"s age and sex
How do you find out the age of a wild animal? For some Australian marsupials, we have discovered you can tell from their teeth......»»
Cyberbullying and sexual harassment rampant in esports, study finds
It's one of the fastest growing industries globally, raking in millions for the best players and attracting a huge fanbase, but a new Australian study has revealed the dark side of professional video gaming: cyberbullying and sexual harassment......»»
Rats study tests whether photoluminescent fur is used in nocturnal communication
In a world-first experiment, JCU researchers have been using the pelts of dead rats to test if the glow-in-the-dark fur of mammals is being used for secret nocturnal communication. The results are published in the Australian Journal of Zoology......»»
Melissa Caddick mystery shows we need more research of a rare kind: marine forensics
The disappearance of 49-year-old Melissa Caddick in November 2020 captured Australia's attention. At the time, Caddick was being investigated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for alleged financial misconduct, with dozens of peo.....»»
Suicide threats are a weapon of family violence. How can police balance mental health needs with protecting victims?
It's relatively common for perpetrators of family violence to threaten suicide to control a victim-survivor's actions. A study by the Australian Institute of Criminology suggests 39% of women who experience coercive control are subject to perpetrator.....»»
Rent assistance is insufficient in expensive rental market, finds Australian report
Governments are failing to provide a secure alternative for households unable to access social housing, new research suggests......»»
A mountainous mystery uncovered in South Australia"s pink sands
Deposits of deep-pink sand washing up on South Australian shores shed new light on when the Australian tectonic plate began to subduct beneath the Pacific plate, as well as the presence of previously unknown ancient Antarctic mountains......»»
Climate concerns: Trends in Australian snow
As the 2024 snow season approaches, many people are wondering whether it will be a good year for skiing. In 2023, we had a poor snow season due to unusually warm and dry weather from June to September......»»
Age verification for pornography access? Research shows it fails on many levels
The Australian government has announced an A $6.5 million trial of "age assurance" technology to restrict minors' access to pornography. It's part of a $1 billion package to address gendered violence. And it now comes alongside a proposal to ban peop.....»»
Tech solutions to limit kids" access to social media are fraught with problems, including privacy risks
A campaign to block children's access to social media to limit online harm and unhealthy internet use is picking up momentum in Australian politics. The current age limit for platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok is 13, but some state gove.....»»
High-tech kangaroo collars aim to prevent road accidents
It's a peculiarly Australian problem with potentially deadly consequences—wild kangaroos jumping from bushland on to highways full of moving vehicles......»»
Tiger shark vomits echidna, shocking Australian scientists
A tiger shark has surprised Australian scientists on an ocean research trip by regurgitating a spiky land-loving echidna in front of them......»»
Elie Douna’s HomeBuildersReviews Set to Transform Australia’s Construction Landscape
In a groundbreaking move, Elie Douna, a veteran developer with over two decades of experience, is poised to disrupt the Australian construction industry with the upcoming launch of HomeBuildersReviews. This innovative platform aims to address the lon.....»»
Fighting fires from space in record time: How AI could prevent a repeat of Australia"s devastating wildfires
Australian scientists are getting closer to detecting bushfires in record time, thanks to cube satellites with onboard AI now able to detect fires from space 500 times faster than traditional on-ground processing of imagery......»»
Climate crisis puts Australia"s ski industry on slippery slope, but not all hope is lost
Australia's ski industry is at risk of major disruptions and shorter seasons if the current level of climate pollution continues, according to new modeling from Protect Our Winters Australia (POW) and The Australian National University (ANU)......»»