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Instead of a soft power coup, the World Cup could be an ‘own goal’ for Donald Trump

View from The Hill: antisemitism royal commission soon to wade into tricky terrorities

Kids on social media more than two hours a day at higher risk of mental illness

A teenager lying on their bed, looking at a phone and wearing headphones.

A teenager lying on their bed, looking at a phone and wearing headphones.

The 5 simple tweaks to make social media less addictive

A mobile phone with circled social media elements being deleted with heavy machinery

A mobile phone with circled social media elements being deleted with heavy machinery

Are the US and Iran back at war, or negotiating? Why bombing your way to peace won’t work

A missile launches from a US military ship

A missile launches from a US military ship

The arena for the UFC Freedom 250 fights are seen on the South Lawn of the White House.

The arena for the UFC Freedom 250 fights are seen on the South Lawn of the White House.

The White House UFC event is a perfect storm of fight culture and US politics

A mobile advertisement truck displaying an AI-generated photo of One Nation leader Pauline Hanson throwing Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan wearing a witch costume.

A mobile advertisement truck displaying an AI-generated photo of One Nation leader Pauline Hanson throwing Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan wearing a witch costume.

Why is it misogynistic to call a woman a ‘witch’?

Why drinking alcohol makes you reach for chips and nachos

Friends dig into nachos over Friday drinks

Friends dig into nachos over Friday drinks

Grattan on Friday: Albanese’s broken promises have played into Hanson’s insurgency

A High Court ruling could allow hundreds of former detainees to sue the government. A legal expert explains why

A concretes sign and building saying High Court of Australia

A concretes sign and building saying High Court of Australia

Will ‘move on’ orders for rough sleepers make cities safer – or revive Victorian-era cruelty?

Red balloons with the word sale on one in the centre

Red balloons with the word sale on one in the centre

How bait-and-switch sales tricks make us click on online ‘bargains’ – and what to do about it

A right mess: how mining, media and political interests are combining to influence public debate in Australia

Aliens might exist. But there are three reasons why they’re not visiting us

People standing in a field as a spaceship approaches.

People standing in a field as a spaceship approaches.

Women have the right to health care in prison. This should extend to freezing their eggs

A woman in prison looks despondent

A woman in prison looks despondent

Friday essay: despite the AI hype, some experts warn of a bubble – what happens if it pops?

an anti-AI protest in a city

an anti-AI protest in a city

Maggie O'Farrell flattens 19th century Ireland into a theme-pub cliché in her new novel

Australia’s huge ‘forever chemical’ lawsuit focuses on the cleanup – not human health. Why?

firefighters spraying foam on fire.

firefighters spraying foam on fire.

Belfast unrest shows the power of social media as far‑right views on immigration enter the mainstream

hooded youths on the streets of belfast with smoke rising in the background from a burning shop.

hooded youths on the streets of belfast with smoke rising in the background from a burning shop.

Belfast violence: an uncomfortable reminder of the innocent people ‘burnt out’ during the Troubles

A burnt out bus seen after an anti-immigration protest in Belfast

A burnt out bus seen after an anti-immigration protest in Belfast

World Cup

Where do Socceroos come from? Our map reveals Australia’s junior talent hotspots

A graphic composite features Socceroos coach Tony Popovic alongside players Alessandro Circati, Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure and Mat Ryan.

A graphic composite features Socceroos coach Tony Popovic alongside players Alessandro Circati, Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure and Mat Ryan.

For Iran’s diaspora, a tough World Cup call: To support the national team or protest – or both?

A man sits on seating draped in a flag.

A man sits on seating draped in a flag.

I built a maths model to simulate the World Cup a million times. Find out your team’s chances

A replica World Cup soccer ball is seen with New York in the background.

A replica World Cup soccer ball is seen with New York in the background.

Referees, athletes, fans: how the US border crackdowns are tarnishing the World Cup

Referee Omar Artan is greeted by supporters in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Referee Omar Artan is greeted by supporters in Mogadishu, Somalia.

More top stories

Mother with daughter in kitchen

Mother with daughter in kitchen

Tightening NDIS eligibility will disproportionately affect women – in more ways than you’d expect

Kids should be involved in their health care. Here’s how to make that happen

A friendly pediatrician performs a health examination for a happy young girl, with her mother in the background.

A friendly pediatrician performs a health examination for a happy young girl, with her mother in the background.

Do aid cuts fuel violent conflict in Africa?

Man in camouflage uniform, holding a weapon, with a thatched mud hut in the background

Man in camouflage uniform, holding a weapon, with a thatched mud hut in the background

World’s first AI-designed vaccine explained

Pharmaceutical production line with rows of glass vaccine vials on conveyor belt.

Pharmaceutical production line with rows of glass vaccine vials on conveyor belt.

Cartier, ‘the jeweller of kings’, has come to the NGV in a dazzling new exhibit

A sparkly tiara on display against a black background.

A sparkly tiara on display against a black background.

Private space tourism is taking off – but laws on outer space are from another era

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket which carried Katy Perry lifted off on April 14, 2025.

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket which carried Katy Perry lifted off on April 14, 2025.

This Renaissance queen helped build a nation. Her (male) critics called her dangerous

A 5.3 million-year-old whale graveyard has been found on the floor of the Indian Ocean

Fragmentary whale bones on the bed of the Indian Ocean.

Fragmentary whale bones on the bed of the Indian Ocean.

Good news for renewables: southern Australia’s offshore winds will stay strong even as the climate changes

a windsock full of wind next to stormy ocean, dark clouds.

a windsock full of wind next to stormy ocean, dark clouds.

Tim Wilson’s book advocates a far more radical overhaul of our tax system than Labor’s budget

Two NSW police are seen from behind on a residential street in NSW, 2026.

Two NSW police are seen from behind on a residential street in NSW, 2026.

Do mandatory body cameras actually reduce police brutality?

Iran dragged out the 1979 hostage crisis to humiliate the US. It may try to do the same to Trump now

As SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic plan blockbuster launches, will it make AI giants more accountable?

Elon Musk with his hands held up to his mouth

Elon Musk with his hands held up to his mouth

Would you buy milk from a gene-edited cow? Consumers may be more open than you think

The government is reforming child support. Here’s what’s changing – and what’s been missed

A mother holds her young daughter's hand as they walk down the path in the sun

A mother holds her young daughter's hand as they walk down the path in the sun

Demolishing homes after climate disasters can be devastating. Here’s how we reused precious materials

A composite images showing a variety of handmade hardwood furniture items.

A composite images showing a variety of handmade hardwood furniture items.

Politics with Michelle Grattan: pollster Simon Welsh on One Nation’s rise and Victoria’s ‘very messy’ election

Fists and flags in the air at a One Nation election night party after the Farrer by-election

Fists and flags in the air at a One Nation election night party after the Farrer by-election

Does the body really ‘keep the score’ after trauma? How the debunked idea of ‘repressed memories’ is making a comeback

Traumatised series

Sketched figure falling through a blue haze.

Sketched figure falling through a blue haze.

Reform is hard. Albanese and Chalmers need to stay the course

Climate change is causing fish to move to cooler water. But what if their escape route is blocked?

A large sawfish in the Daly River

A large sawfish in the Daly River

More news + analysis

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New research

A meteorite impact may have once rained gold on Western Australia – new study

Astronomers found a galaxy in the throes of death – and they know what’s killing it

An illustration of a galaxy, showing stars, gas and winds.

An illustration of a galaxy, showing stars, gas and winds.

I used sound waves to make espresso. It could cut coffee-brewing energy use by 75%

Espresso dripping from a coffee machine into a white cup.

Espresso dripping from a coffee machine into a white cup.

Brushing your teeth in hospital could reduce the chance of catching pneumonia

A man in hospital instructs his daughter, who is opening a bag

A man in hospital instructs his daughter, who is opening a bag

More new research

Federal politics

View from The Hill: Tony Abbott to tour the country, trying to energise Liberals

One Nation takes primary vote lead in Newspoll as Albanese’s ratings slump to record low

Anthony Albanese looking downcast

Anthony Albanese looking downcast

Why is Australia buying used submarines? A naval expert answers key AUKUS questions

A submarine half submerged in the ocean with a naval office walking on top

A submarine half submerged in the ocean with a naval office walking on top

Politicians have long misunderstood the ‘working class’. The rise of the far right shows how mistaken they have been

One Nation supporters in orange t-shirts pose for a photo with Pauline Hanson

One Nation supporters in orange t-shirts pose for a photo with Pauline Hanson

More federal politics

New Zealand

Warming winters are changing NZ’s landscapes, bringing insect pests, smaller fruit and carbon loss

A kauri tree trunk with the canopy above

A kauri tree trunk with the canopy above

Why the tax NZ never wanted to talk about is back on the political agenda in 2026

Why a US ‘freeloading’ claim has put the heat on NZ’s independent foreign policy

Chris Penk speaking at a lecture at the defence summit in Singapore

Chris Penk speaking at a lecture at the defence summit in Singapore

NZ’s new forestry rules promise consistency. Will they also increase environmental risk?

More New Zealand

World

How are Saudis viewing the US-Iran war? Our polling suggests the Gulf kingdom is split on key issues

A group of people in traditional Saudi dress walk up stairs.

A group of people in traditional Saudi dress walk up stairs.

Nasa names Artemis III crew, but a rocket explosion has thrown US Moon plans into turmoil

Orion spacecraft.

Orion spacecraft.

As Japan’s popularity booms, a new survey shows strong anti-foreigner sentiment

Crowd of people wearing face masks outdoors with Japanese flag visible in the background

Crowd of people wearing face masks outdoors with Japanese flag visible in the background

From exporting spyware to surveilling activists – how democracies became the new digital authoritarians

A protester wearing a mask of Amit Shah, India's home minister, looks through a scope during a rally accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of using military-grade spyware to monitor political opponents, journalists and activists.

A protester wearing a mask of Amit Shah, India's home minister, looks through a scope during a rally accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of using military-grade spyware to monitor political opponents, journalists and activists.

Life

Is milk good or bad for kids? And how much dairy do they actually need?

Child wearing a toy crown drinks milk at her kitchen table

Child wearing a toy crown drinks milk at her kitchen table

I don’t want to kill the spiders, ants and other bugs in my house. What should I do instead?

An ant crawls along a golden surface.

An ant crawls along a golden surface.

What’s the difference between intrusive thoughts and suicidal thoughts?

Distressed woman, head in hands, clutching cushion

Distressed woman, head in hands, clutching cushion

Is it really worth getting on the pension just to avoid Labor’s new capital gains tax?

Elderly man with eyeglasses focused on paperwork at home, using laptop

Elderly man with eyeglasses focused on paperwork at home, using laptop

Climate

How waves, ponds and green algae are accelerating sea ice melt in Antarctica

Sea ice at the fringe of an iceberg.

Sea ice at the fringe of an iceberg.

Climate change has already made Australians in one state much poorer, and more’s to come

Koala numbers crashed across Australia 100,000 years ago. Global glacial cycles are likely to blame

A grey, fluffy koala with its joey in tree branches.

A grey, fluffy koala with its joey in tree branches.

Are Australia’s carbon farming schemes just hot air? Hardly – forests are regrowing almost everywhere

aerial photo of trees regrowing in dry inland area.

aerial photo of trees regrowing in dry inland area.

Reviews

Breathing two-billion-year old air: MONA’s Hard Core is an artistic journey through deep time

An artwork with a bright orange light and streaks of smoke and sparklers hurtling in various directions.

An artwork with a bright orange light and streaks of smoke and sparklers hurtling in various directions.

Bangarra’s Sheltering is a powerful showcase of First Nations dance and creativity

An ensemble of dancers in skeleton-like outfits march across a dark stage.

An ensemble of dancers in skeleton-like outfits march across a dark stage.

Masters of the Universe shows how companies learned to monetise childhood forever

Marjane Satrapi’s masterpiece Persepolis transformed the world’s understanding of Iran

Podcasts

Two scientists on their race to make a new Ebola vaccine

An Ebola victim is prepared for burial.

An Ebola victim is prepared for burial.

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Graeme Samuel on ‘doomsday’ attacks on the federal budget

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Keith Wolahan on when Liberals should preference One Nation

A man standing at a microphone and speaking

A man standing at a microphone and speaking

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Margaret Thornton on the landmark Tickle v Giggle transgender case

All episodes of Politics with Michelle Grattan

All episodes of The Conversation Weekly

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Jobs Board

Senior Clinical Research Scientist (Neurophysiologist)

Applications close 09 July 2026

Parkville, Melbourne, Australia

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Melbourne VIC, Australia

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Events

Data, Judgement and Public Value

Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG)

Employer Conduct in Workplace Investigations and the Law

Monash University

Symposium: Extractive Industries and the Protection and Preservation of Indigenous Heritage.

The University of Western Australia

Futures Masterclass 2026: Preparing for the Next Big Dry

Australian National University