In a world where trust in institutions is mostly in decline, levels of trust in science remain relatively high. Yet at the same time, belief in scientific conspiracy theories, such as hushed-up effects of vaccines or aeroplane “chemtrails”, is also widespread. What explains this apparent contradiction? Our work suggests we need to ask a different question – not how much people […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Why do some people who trust in science also believe in scientific conspiracy theories?
The death of a star is not the end: a new discovery reveals what will happen when the Sun dies
The death of the Sun is a distant but inevitable event. Understanding what will happen when our star runs out of fuel is one of the great questions of modern astronomy; its end determines the fate of the Solar System, and that of Earth. Now, a new study from the University of St Andrews (UK), published […] … learn more→
‘Technostress’: why many older people feel shut out by the digital world
From personal health portals to AI assistants that draft emails, the digital age has simplified endless everyday tasks. But for many older New Zealanders, the rapid march of technology has helped build a wall rather than open doors. Navigating online forms, changing apps, disappearing face-to-face services and the constant threat of scams can be daunting. There is […] … learn more→
De‑extinction company says it’s made an artificial egg – if true, it could help save living species
Today’s announcement by Texas-based de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences about a successful hatching of chicks from an artificial egg would represent a major innovation, if the claims can be verified. The company says its artificial egg supports the full development of bird embryos outside a biological eggshell, without the requirement for supplemental oxygen. The work is part of […] … learn more→
New ‘AI scientists’ are improving – but reveal their fundamental limits
Many of the most exciting discoveries in science involve highly specialised knowledge and making connections between far-flung facts. Scientists must combine deep analysis with broad reasoning strategies. As in many information-rich tasks, researchers are looking to artificial intelligence (AI) systems to speed up their work. AI tools may be able to support key steps such as generating ideas, reviewing […] … learn more→
How teaching the history of science can help equip students to face polarized times
For decades, science educators have been encouraged to “stick to the science” and leave politics at the classroom door. But as disinformation spreads online and public trust in science seems to erode in some contexts, this advice is no longer realistic. In Canada and elsewhere, science teachers face a challenge. Science is being questioned in varied ways, […] … learn more→
New research shows men still outnumber women as experts in science news
Expert voices in Australian science news coverage are still more likely to be those of men, according to recent research, despite journalists themselves being fairly evenly spread between genders. Our study of print and online science news from 2018–22 found an increase in the proportion of female journalists writing about science. The number of women quoted […] … learn more→
Women in science – global study finds presence without power
Academia isn’t strong on gender equality. Women are under-represented throughout, in the research workforce and even more so as leaders in scientific organisations. This is true for science academies (prestigious bodies within national science systems) and scientific unions (international organisations representing disciplinary communities). Women today make up nearly a third of the global research workforce. […] … learn more→
Five tips to make your memory work more effectively
As a researcher investigating how electric brain stimulation can improve people’s powers of recollection, I’m often asked how memory works – and what we can do to use it more effectively. Happily, decades of research have given us some clear answers to both questions. Memory essentially operates in three stages, with different brain regions contributing to each […] … learn more→
Your brain for sale? The new frontier of neural data
Your browsing history, your location, your political preferences. For years, tech companies have found ways to turn personal data into profit. Now, a new and far more intimate frontier is opening: the electrical signals produced by your brain. This is not science fiction. Nor is it about brain implants for paralysed patients or experimental medical procedures. A […] … learn more→
