Curious Kids: did humans hunt and eat woolly mammoths or dinosaurs?

Did humans hunt and eat woolly mammoths or dinosaurs? – Jasmine, age 10, Central Coast NSW Hi Jasmine, Thanks for this great question! Humans can be...

People think they should talk less to be liked, but new research suggests you should speak up in conversations with strangers

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea In conversations with strangers, people tend to think they should speak less...

Human skin stood up better to the sun before there were sunscreens and parasols – an anthropologist explains why

Human beings have a conflicted relationship with the sun. People love sunshine, but then get hot. Sweat gets in your eyes. Then there are all the...

The U-shaped happiness curve is wrong: many people do not get happier as they get older

On average, happiness declines as we approach middle age, bottoming out in our 40s but then picking back up as we head into retirement, according to...

Much-loved dog breeds are just as likely to bite as banned ones – here’s how to stop them

Dogs are rarely “nice” or “nasty”. People tend to label some dog breeds as aggressive and some, such as the pit bull terrier, are often banned,...

75 Hard: what you need to know before taking on this viral fitness challenge

Every week there seems to be a new fitness challenge trending online. But one that’s managed to remain popular over the last couple of years is...

Dogs can get dementia – but lots of walks may lower the risk

Pexels, CC BY Dogs get dementia too. But it’s often difficult to spot. Research published today shows how common it is, especially in dogs over ten...

‘Oh well, wine o’clock’: what midlife women told us about drinking – and why it’s so hard to stop

Karolina Grabowska/Pexels, CC BY Many of us enjoy a drink at the end of a stressful day. But for some, this is less of a discretionary...

Does a sibling’s gender influence our own personality? A major new study answers an age-old question

‘Are we nearly there yet?’: why long car journeys are so excruciating for your kids

As we approach the end of the school holidays, parents across the country are saying the same thing: “If I had a pound for every time...