Could deadly cobras help us end chronic pain?

Professor Greg Neely says pain is a good thing. This might worry you when you find out he’s studying some of the deadliest snakes on the planet, but it’s all about trying to understand pain as a mechanism – and Greg’s long-term goal is to address chronic pain, which afflicts more than one billion …

How much of ageing is actually in our control?

We’re told to eat better, sleep more, train our bodies and our brains — all in the name of ageing well.   But how much of that advice is actually backed by science? How might we all live – and stay – well, for longer, at any stage of life? And how much of ageing is really up to us?  Researcher Gi…

From breakthrough to bedside – How medical discoveries make their way to us.

What if the cure everyone’s waiting for already exists — but patients can’t access it?  With AI transforming medicine, breakthroughs are no longer science fiction. They’re happening now. But innovation alone isn’t enough. So how do discoveries escape the lab to reach patients?   Leading researche…

Australia has more homes than ever – so why the housing crisis?

Australia has more homes per adult than at any point in our history. So why is our housing crisis worse than ever?  Professor Nicole Gurran’s been studying housing for 15 years, and she says the solutions to Australia's housing crisis are obvious – it’s the execution that’s failing, and most Austr…

The quantum threat – why our digital world needs a new kind of security

What if the simple act of tapping your card could put your identity at risk?  Every day, we trust encryption to protect our money, data, and digital lives. But quantum computers are advancing fast, and soon they could crack today’s security in seconds, making our current “digital locks” obsolete. …

The smart insulin pill that could change how diabetes is managed

"I can't just grab my keys and leave the house. I have to make sure I have something with me in case my glucose levels go too low. I have to make sure that I have spare insulin pump consumables. There's lots of parts of having type one diabetes that isn't just what we eat."  Michelle's lived with …

What are ultra processed foods doing to your body?

Walk down the cereal aisle. Pick up a box of cereal. The front says "real nourishment" and shows a 4.5-star health rating. Flip it over. It's 25% sugar, packed with emulsifiers, flavors, and protein isolates – it’s full of ingredients you probably can’t even pronounce if you’ve ever heard of them b…

TB isn't history – why millions still die from a curable disease

You probably think TB is a disease of the past. But that’s not because we’ve beat it. It’s because we’ve moved it elsewhere. Every year, over 10 million people fall ill with tuberculosis and it's concentrated where people are poorest, where overcrowding helps it spread, and where a six-month treat…

Hooked again – why a new generation is addicted to nicotine

A new generation has become addicted to nicotine.   Australia almost had smoking beaten. Thanks to decades of education, regulation and cultural change, smoking rates plummeted. And then: vaping.   Lily started vaping at 17 and hasn't been able to stop. Social vaping quickly became a daily depend…

Do high-impact sports damage our brains?

Whether it’s watching your kids play their local club fixtures or gathering around the telly for the grand final, sport brings Australians together more than almost anything else. But there’s a hidden – and potentially deadly – cost.  Lydia loves Aussie Rules football, but she was forced to retire…