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China and AI: what the world can learn and what it should be wary of
Shutterstock China announced in 2017 its ambition to become the world leader in artificial intelligence (AI) by 2030. While the US still leads in absolute terms, China appears to be making more rapid progress than either the US or the EU, and central and local government spending on AI inContinue Reading
Coronavirus: why we should end the pandemic ban on reusable cups
Vincente Sargues/Shutterstock Of the many ways the coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives, the banning of reusable cups by many cafes and other outlets serving hot drinks probably doesn’t appear at the top of most people’s lists. But the move is likely to add to the mountain of waste pilingContinue Reading
History tells us that ideological ‘purity spirals’ rarely end well
Iconoclasm: the beheading of the English king, Charles I, in January 1649. Nobody is more dangerous than he who imagines himself pure in heart, for his purity, by definition, is unassailable. Author James Baldwin’s words, written in the America of the late 1950s, captures perfectly a feeling in the airContinue Reading
The mental health impact on ambulance staff of responding to suicide calls
Ambulance staff are often the first to attend the site of many difficult scenes. Yau Ming Low/ Shutterstock Being ambulance staff can be a high-stress job. They encounter many situations in their daily line of work that can have a lasting impact on their mental health. According to MIND, aroundContinue Reading
Retirement age is increasing – but our new study reveals most only work ten years in good health after 50
Healthy working life expectancy is the average number of years people in a population are likely to be healthy and in paid work from age 50. ALPA PROD/ Shutterstock In 1800, the global average life expectancy was only 29 years. Today, life expectancy continues to rise, with babies born inContinue Reading
VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on Melbourne cluster outbreaks, Australia’s defence spending, and the Eden-Monaro byelection
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Paddy Nixon and Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics including the Eden-Monaro byelection, Scott Morrison’s 2020 Defence Strategic Update, and the Coronvirus outbreak in Melbourne. Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from anyContinue Reading
Hong Kong activists now face a choice: stay silent, or flee the city. The world must give them a path to safety
Sipa USA Willie Siau / SOPA Images/Sipa U In recent days, the prime ministers of the UK and Australia each declared they are working toward providing safe haven visas for Hong Kong residents. In the US, lawmakers passed a bill that would impose sanctions on businesses and individuals that supportContinue Reading
Research: land use challenges for Indonesia’s transition to renewable energy
People gather at Tolo Wind Farm in Jeneponto Regency, South Sulawesi www.shutterstock.com The world’s fourth-highest emitter of greenhouse gases, Indonesia, is heavily reliant on coal to generate electricity. Its coal-fired power plants produce a third of the country’s emissions. To minimise its future greenhouse gas emissions, Indonesia is gearing upContinue Reading
How to manage plant pests and diseases in your victory garden
Entomologist Brian Lovett examines flea beetle-infested potatoes in Morgantown, West Virginia. Matt Kasson, CC BY-ND Home gardening is having a boom year across the U.S. Whether they’re growing their own food in response to pandemic shortages or just looking for a diversion, numerous aspiring gardeners have constructed their first raisedContinue Reading
A green stimulus to boost the energy transition?
Beyond its catastrophic impacts on health, the Covid-19 virus is wreaking havoc on the world economy and governments’ public finances. The length and depth of the economic crisis are unknown, but it is certain that few sectors will emerge stronger. This health crisis is a large, unexpected, and persistent shockContinue Reading