ConversationAU

7 Magazines | 1,259 Followers | @ConversationAU | Independent news + analysis from the sharpest academic minds.

A bloody decade of the iPhone

<i>This article is part of the Democracy Futures series, a joint global initiative with the Sydney Democracy Network. The project aims to stimulate</i> …

Foxconn

Income inequality ticks down as the rich see their incomes fall: ABS

Income inequality has dropped slightly in Australia, largely driven by a fall in incomes for the richest 20% of the population, according to the …

Income Inequality

Talking about suicide and self-harm in schools can save lives

Suicide and self-harm remain taboo topics in schools, despite the fact youth suicide has reached a ten year high.<p>Recent statistics show around eight …

Suicide

Is evidence for or against drug-testing welfare recipients? It depends on the result we're after

The government’s announcement in the May 2017 budget of a trial of random drug testing of 5,000 Youth Allowance and Newstart recipients has been …

Basic Income

Marriage vote: how advocacy ads exploit our emotions in divisive debates

The same-sex marriage debate in Australia was always bound to be divisive and emotive. And as a public vote on whether it should be legalised nears, …

Equality

How Antarctic ice melt can be a tipping point for the whole planet's climate

Melting of Antarctica’s ice can trigger rapid warming on the other side of the planet, according to our new research which details how just such an …

Climate Change

Sydney's Cloud Arch critics and our mean-spirited approach to public art

When the City of Sydney’s public art plan for the newly revamped CBD was unveiled in 2014, the public response was mixed. There was a relatively …

Art

Curious Kids: Why it is that the things close to the train windows zoom by really fast, but things further away seem to go by much slower?

<i>This is an article from Curious Kids, a series for children. The Conversation is asking kids to send in questions they’d like an expert to answer.</i> …

Ada Lovelace

Ancient volcanic eruptions disrupted Earth's thermostat, creating a 'Snowball' planet

One of the most extreme climate episodes the Earth has experienced was during the so-called Snowball Earth, 720 million years ago. During this period …

Carbon Dioxide

The business of addiction: how the video gaming industry is evolving to be like the casino industry

The video gaming industry has transitioned from a group of backyard innovators to an industry of multi-billion dollar companies, hiring …

Game Development

Google architecture and what do you see? And what's a building without people?

Think about where you spend most of your day – home, your office, or university. How does this space make you feel? What do you love (or hate) about …

Australian Universities

Despite the leaks, Apple's new products will still excite its fans

Even though this is normally a highly anticipated event, the lead up to this year’s unveiling of new phones and gadgets from Apple has been even more …

Apple TV

Anti-vilification legislation for marriage ballot to pass this week

The parliament is preparing to rush through anti-vilification legislation to apply during the postal ballot on same-sex marriage.<p>Under the bill a …

George Brandis

Treating AGL with public contempt seems hardly the way to get the best outcome on future power supply

If anyone thinks the government isn’t behaving in a extraordinary manner in its onslaught against AGL over the future of the Liddell power station, …

Malcolm Turnbull

Treating AGL with public contempt seems hardly the way to get the best outcome

If anyone thinks the government isn’t behaving in a extraordinary manner in its onslaught against AGL over the future of the Liddell power station, …

Malcolm Turnbull

Ipsos 53-47 to Labor, but Shorten's ratings slump; Qld Newspoll 53-47 to Labor

An Ipsos poll, conducted 6-9 September from a sample of 1400, gave Labor a 53-47 lead, unchanged from the last Ipsos poll, taken after the May …

Elections

Can a federal court case against pokies succeed where politics has failed?

Maurice Blackburn today launched a federal court case against poker machine manufacturer Aristocrat Technologies Australia and casino owner Crown …

U.S. Federal Courts

Politics podcast: Mark Butler on energy uncertainty

Pressure is mounting on the government to put an end to energy uncertainty as an Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) report warns of looming …

Australian Labor Party

How the sky can help make air conditioners at least 20% more efficient

Specially designed fluid-filled roof panels can help make air conditioning significantly more efficient, according to new research.<p>These panels work …

Clean Energy

Religion is not the only reason Rohingyas are being forced out of Myanmar

Recent weeks have seen an escalation of violence against the Rohingya in Rakhine, the poorest state of Myanmar. A tide of displaced people are …

Asia

Protecting children from abuse in organisations needs leadership and cultural change

The rhetoric of preventing child sexual abuse in organisations focuses mostly on screening: weeding out “bad people”. If this continues to be the …

Child Abuse

Health Check: should I replace sugar with artificial sweeteners?

We know Australians are consuming too much sugar. The latest results from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show 52% of the population are …

Sugar

Australia's 'big heart'? Hypocrisy exposed in tale of multicultural adoption

Playwright Patricia Cornelius is known for populating the stage with complex, working-class, characters and artfully bringing to life an …

Indigenous Australians

The smart home could worsen domestic abuse. But the same technology may also make us safer

Digital technology is increasingly used in domestic and family violence, and the so-called “smart home” could make it worse.<p>Recent case studies and …

Smart Homes

Drones help scientists check the health of Antarctic mosses, revealing climate change clues

Drones are helping scientists check the health of Antarctic mosses, revealing clues on the pace of climate change.<p>Mosses are sensitive to even minor …

Climate Change

Irma and Harvey: very different storms, but both affected by climate change

There has been no let up since Hurricane Harvey dumped record-breaking rains on the Houston area of Texas. Hurricane Irma lashed parts of the …

Climate Change

Australian teens doing well, but some still at high risk of suicide and self-harm

Following a large group of people over a long time is a terrific way to learn more about life in Australia. The Growing Up in Australia: Longitudinal …

Depression

3D view helps us to understand how galaxies formed and evolved

There are billions of galaxies in our universe – more than 10 times the previous estimate of 200 billion – but we know surprisingly little about what …

Universe

Essays on health: Australia is failing new parents with conflicting advice - it's urgent we get it right

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Australians embark on a disorienting, life changing journey. They have a baby.<p>What happens after a woman gives …

Babies

Are residents better off under the Sydney 'lockout laws'?

The Sydney “lockout laws” have created significant debate about whether crime is being reduced, if it is being pushed into surrounding areas, and …

Housing