Just for a moment this week, Larry Ellison, co-founder of US cloud computing company Oracle, became the world’s richest person. The octogenarian tech titan briefly overtook Elon Musk after Oracle’s share price rocketed 43% in a day, adding about US$100 billion (A$150 billion) to his wealth. The reason? Oracle inked a deal to provide artificial intelligence (AI) giant OpenAI […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
AI hype has just shaken up the world’s rich list. What if the boom is really a bubble?
Donald Trump’s vision for Gaza’s future: what a leaked plan tells us about US regional strategy
Entire neighbourhoods in Gaza lie in ruins. Hundreds of thousands are crammed into tents, struggling for food, water and power. Despite this devastation, a leaked 38-page document from Donald Trump’s administration – the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration and Transformation (Great) Trust – proposes to “fundamentally transform Gaza” folding it into the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (Imec). While […] … learn more→
Fewer international students are coming to the US, costing universities and communities that benefit from these visitors
American college campuses from Tucson to Tallahassee are buzzing with the familiar routine of students getting settled in classes and dorms. One new trend, though, is emerging. An estimated 30% to 40% fewer international students are expected on American college campuses in the fall of 2025, compared with trends in the 2024-2025 academic year, according to according […] … learn more→
What is criticality?
This is a post for all the people just starting their doctoral programmes. And for those supporting them. Criticality in scholarship is the practice of approaching all knowledge claims, including your own, sceptically. It’s about developing “productive scepticism”. Productive scepticism isn’t cynicism that dismisses everything, but thoughtful inquiry that seeks to understand how knowledge is […] … learn more→
Associations of ideas, new challenges: the secrets of memory for better learning
While novelty stimulates the brain, assimilating unfamiliar information is a real challenge, particularly when preparing for school and university exams. How then can we create associations of ideas to anchor learning over time? When preparing for exams, it can sometimes feel impossible to cram all the information you need into your brain. But there are […] … learn more→
When robots are integrated into household spaces and rituals, they acquire emotional value
Social companion robots are no longer just science fiction. In classrooms, libraries and homes, these small machines are designed to read stories, play games or offer comfort to children. They promise to support learning and companionship, yet their role in family life often extends beyond their original purpose. In our recent study of families in Canada […] … learn more→
Who was Charlie Kirk? The activist who turned campus politics into national influence
The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, has drawn widespread condemnation and renewed attention to the climate of political violence in the United States. To many, Kirk was not just another partisan commentator. He was one of the most visible leaders of the young conservative […] … learn more→
Social media is teaching children how to use AI. How can teachers keep up?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how students write essays, practise languages and complete assignments. Teachers are also experimenting with AI for lesson planning, grading and feedback. The pace is so fast that schools, universities and policymakers are struggling to keep up. What often gets overlooked in this rush is a basic question: how are students and […] … learn more→
Alexithymia: Why Some People Don’t Understand Their Emotions
Alexithymia refers to major difficulties in identifying, processing, and expressing emotions. Studied for several decades in various fields of psychology, this personality trait remains little known to the general public. A better understanding of it would help to include those affected in society. Emotions are part of us and influence us while shaping our relationships […] … learn more→
How does AI affect how we learn? A cognitive psychologist explains why you learn when the work is hard
When OpenAI released “study mode” in July 2025, the company touted ChatGPT’s educational benefits. “When ChatGPT is prompted to teach or tutor, it can significantly improve academic performance,” the company’s vice president of education told reporters at the product’s launch. But any dedicated teacher would be right to wonder: Is this just marketing, or does scholarly research […] … learn more→
