Living liberal – how this political philosophy could make you happier

Where do your values come from? What do you care about, and why?   If you're one of the growing number of non-religious people in Australia, you might find this question pretty hard to answer... Politics and philosophy professor Alexandre Lefebvre says that if this sounds like you, you might be li…

Keeping the doctor away – eating for healthy longevity

Why’s it so hard to be healthy? Why does everyone recommend a Mediterranean diet? Is diet or exercise more important? Is intermittent fasting actually useful?   When the entire world’s collective knowledge is at your fingertips, why’s it still so difficult to answer the kinds of questions we’ve be…

Trust Breakdown - Lenore Taylor on why faith in public institutions is eroding

Why doesn’t anyone seem to trust journalists anymore? Or politicians? Or anyone, really? Are we all becoming paranoid, or has our trust been broken by those we lent it to?   Lenore Taylor’s the editor-in-chief of The Guardian Australia and the host of the Guardian’s Full Story podcast. Lenore joke…

In your DNA - the future of medicine

There’s no one else on the planet just like you. So why do you take the same medicine as everyone else when you get sick?   Professor David James is an expert is obesity and diabetes, and he says the current medical system isn’t good enough. But as researchers and clinicians learn more about how o…

Net Zero check-up – Will Australia make it?

Deanna D’Alessandro is the director of the University of Sydney’s Net Zero Institute... So why does she want it dissolved?   “In 2051, my goodness, I hope we do not need the Net Zero Institute,” she says. “We should have solved this problem by then.”  So what needs to happen in the meantime? Dean…

Work it out – Australia's gender inequality in the workplace

“When I say what I do for a living, most women have a story,” says Rae Cooper. “Women have a way of being able to understand what it is pretty easily. I think men find it a little bit more... academic.”   Rae Cooper is Professor of Gender, Work and Employment Relations at the University of Sydney.…

Save the cities, fix the planet – Ian Goldin on the power and plight of our cities

Why do you live where you live?   If you’re lucky, it’s by choice. Maybe you love the solitude and sprawling nature of the bush. Maybe you can’t get enough of the coffee, cuisine and culture that makes your dense inner-city neighbourhood special.   Many of us don’t get to choose, though. People a…

Eating disorders are Australia’s deadliest mental illness. This is what you should know

If you’re concerned about eating disorders or body image issues, whether you need support for yourself or someone you care about, you can call the Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673.  Picture something that absolutely terrifies you. Now, imagine you’re forced to confront it multiple times a day …

The sewage solution – The promise of recycled water and why it’s so hard to swallow

As the climate changes and populations boom, water supplies are under increasing pressure.  The idea of drinking water that was once swirling down your toilet bowl or kitchen sink may make you feel squeamish, but it could hold the key to future water security.  University of Sydney Professor Stua…

Turning pages, changing lives – How the humanities teach us to live in uncertain times

When Sophie Gee’s husband was suddenly rushed to hospital, her life was plunged into uncertainty.   Amid the chaos, she discovered a surprising source of strength: her study of classic literature, and in particular, the works of Jane Austen.  Sophie, who was Associate Chair of the English Departm…