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Understanding how fire shapes plants will help protect them

April 4, 2024

By Ella Plumanns Pouton Published on April 4, 2024 Fire is an important part of plant life in Australia, influencing where plants grow and how abundant a species will be. As a result of recurring bushfires and cultural fire over millennia, many plants have developed adaptations which help them thrive in fire-prone ecosystems. Fire activity is changing across the globe and testing the limits of plant adaptations. Picture: Getty ImagesYou may be familiar with the amazing new shoots that appear quickly on the trunks of many eucalypt species after fire - this is an adaptation referred to as resprouting.

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‘Bumping spaces’ build community – when they are within reach

March 28, 2024

By Professor Jane Farmer Published on March 28, 2024 When was the last time you visited your local library, community centre or neighbourhood house? Perhaps it’s not near enough even to think about going there, or life feels just too exhausting after your commute, taking the kids to school and working long hours to make ends meet. Maybe it seems like something other people, not you, can do. Our Map of the Month shows key ‘bumping spaces’ – libraries, neighbourhood houses and community centres – in Greater Melbourne.

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Chocolate that brings joy to your gut health and your tastebuds

March 27, 2024

By Wenan Cai Published on March 27, 2024 While many of us enjoy chocolate throughout the year, Easter is of course synonymous with its consumption in a range of forms; be it dark, milk, white, egg or bunny-shaped. Even with the current cost of living pressures, it is predicted that Australians will spend AU$2.05 billion on hot cross buns, Easter eggs and other special foods this Easter, an increase of AU$400 million from 2023.

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Non-binary people have hormone therapy and surgery more often than you might think

March 26, 2024

By Dr Sav Zwickl Published on March 26, 2024 *Throughout this article we reference people’s presumed gender at birth, which may seem ironic as we are talking about people whose gender identity was assumed incorrectly. We use this to define the unmet medical needs of non-binary people, as they must fit into a binary medicalised system, and as a way to make our comparisons easier for readers to understand.

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Sorry, those blue-blocking lenses probably won’t help your digital eye strain

March 25, 2024

By Dr Sumeer Singh Published on March 25, 2024 Our lives increasingly involve looking at digital screens, both for work and leisure. This can lead to many people experiencing tired and uncomfortable eyes. Studies estimate that around 40 per cent of people experience ‘digital eye strain’, where prolonged screen viewing is uncomfortable. Many prescription lenses now come with blue light filters or ‘blue-blockers’. Picture: Getty Images Advertisements, especially on social media, suggest a solution: blue light-filtering spectacle lenses, also known as ‘blue-blocking’ lenses.

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