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No, you’re not imagining it. Leaves still on deciduous trees, your puffer jacket untouched in the cupboard, and scarce cover on the snow fields: so far, winter has been exceptionally warm. Many areas in Australia have had a record-breaking month. Melbourne and Sydney
have had their warmest ever start to winter, with above-average June temperatures almost every day this month. This fits with the worldwide trend of unseasonably high temperatures, as human-caused climate change heats the atmosphere and oceans. We’ve all seen the images of Europeans sweating through an extreme heatwave in sweltering historic buildings not built for the conditions. This week, a similar “heat
dome” phenomenon is expected over the United States. In Australia, the warm winter is expected to continue in coming weeks, which is disappointing news for skiers and snowboarders. And forecasters are warning of a likely hotter, drier summer ahead under the influence of El Niño. P.S. A heartfelt thanks to the thousands of people who gave to our end-of-financial-year fundraising campaign. There are just a few hours to go, and if you haven’t given, you can still donate here.
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Miki Perkins
Environment & Energy Editor
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Milton Speer, University of Technology Sydney; Lance M Leslie, University of Technology Sydney
After a dismal start to the ski season, abnormally warm conditions in Australia are likely to continue for the coming weeks.
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Vaughan Cruickshank, University of Tasmania
The World Cup is into the knockout phase after an action-packed group stage in which athletes and fans shone.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Like a cumbersome machine, the latest polls show the party is stuck between a rock and a hard place.
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Jennifer Parker, The University of Western Australia; UNSW Sydney
New strikes from the US and Iran continue to put the future of the crucial shipping channel in doubt, but a permanent toll is neither legal nor workable.
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Shannon Bosch, Edith Cowan University
The report found evidence of children being deliberately targeted by Israeli Defense Forces. Such acts would amount to war crimes under international law.
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Craig Prescott, Royal Holloway, University of London
The king is not legally liable to pay tax.
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Matteo Vergani, Deakin University; Andrea Giovannetti, Australian Catholic University; Kewen Liao, Deakin University
New research looking at social media hate before and after the October 7 attacks shows antisemitism and Islamophobia got worse, then stayed bad.
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Thileepan Naren, Monash University; Curtin University; Myfanwy Graham, Monash University; Suzanne Nielsen, Monash University
The psychiatrist used to have to stay with the patient during their entire session. Now they’ll be able to leave the room after administering the drug.
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Amy Dawel, Australian National University; Eric Mah, University of Victoria; Jim Tanaka, University of Victoria; Tanya George, Australian National University
AI-generated faces don’t look weird anymore – they’re ‘hyperaverage’, which is a giveaway to the trained eye.
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Erin Leif, Monash University
Teenagers testing boundaries is often seen as being due to defiance, bad judgement, or bad parenting. There are more effective ways to improve behaviour in schools.
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Health + Medicine
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Maryam Ghasemi, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Ladan Hashemi, City St George's, University of London
A study tracking nearly 4,000 NZ children finds that, by eroding self-belief, adversity can leave them feeling less connected to school.
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Jack Janetzki, Adelaide University
The marketing hype promises better health for men, fewer colds and a more robust immune system. Here’s what the evidence says.
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Mary Breheny, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University; Leigh Signal, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University; Rosie Gibson, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University
Media articles can present adolescent sleep issues as both a normal part of growing up and a sign of deeper problems. How should parents make sense of it?
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Business + Economy
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Kate Griffiths, Grattan Institute
While we’re feeling gloomier about the future, Australia actually ranks highly on many economic and social measures.
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Environment + Energy
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Vito Butardo Jr, Swinburne University of Technology
Rice is life for billions of people. But this grain crop depends heavily on irrigation – and the looming El Niño is likely to bring dry conditions.
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Science + Technology
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Lisa M. Given, RMIT University
While the government strengthens its social media ban, a broader, more robust piece of legislation is waiting in the wings.
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Arts + Culture
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Marcus Harmes, University of Southern Queensland; Connor Goddard, Curtin University
Doctor Who needs a new co-production partner, a new showrunner and a new star.
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Books + Ideas
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Paul Giles, Australian Catholic University
East of Eden offers a melodramatic conflict between good and evil, but more remarkable is its sense of human relations evolving, shaped by destiny and choice.
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Michelle Arrow, Macquarie University; Frank Bongiorno, University of Canberra; Katie Holmes, La Trobe University; Yves Rees, La Trobe University
A new study shows that workplace priorities for Australian historians make it harder for their work to reach Australian readers – despite strong public interest.
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The gift of generosity
“David Kilcullen’s article from last week looked at military tactics to prepare for potential future threats, but we never talk about giving to our more populous neighbours as a way forward. Look at our vast natural resources. Instead of making corporations wealthy, what about sending our gas to Japan, coal to India, and renewable electricity to Indonesia and Malaysia, at cost recovery prices ie. at a fraction of the current defence budget. Giving back to our neighbours, large and small, would gain us so much 'soft power' for a fraction of the defence budget currently spent on already outdated technologies.”
Tom Danby, Campbells Creek
NDIS reforms
“There are two reasons for the overwhelming outcry about slashing the NDIS - the system was not set up properly to restrict fraud, and the NDIS has provided services to a huge number of people with a disability who have never had a support service of any kind previously. The proposed changes will mean they are yet again without any support to assist them have a meaningful life. Senator Jenny McAllister should note that disability is a lifetime condition, and the NDIS provides services for adults as well as children. The government should certainly control fraud, but not by making all NDIS par | | |
