What happens when computers know people better than they know themselves? Science is an algorithm. To date, it might well be the most effective and useful algorithm — or family of algorithms — that humanity ever invented. Ever-improving methods for…
By Francesca Luberti, Khandis Blake, and Robert Brooks New research reveals that religious beliefs and homophobia can be driven by conservative attitudes to sex Australians are still divided in their attitudes towards gay marriage and gay rights. Although most voted…
Australia is gearing up for what looks to be a mighty battle over freedom of speech. Recent commentary about what a sports star can and cannot post on social media platforms has reignited the controversy. Many people and organisations are…
Are people naturally monogamous, polygamous or promiscuous? It’s one of those questions that most people feel quite confident in answering. Ask a few people and you’re likely to come up with a variety of contradictory answers, each delivered with considerable…
Happy Darwin Day! Is that even an appropriate thing to wish somebody? Especially so close to Valentine’s day? Darwin Day, according to the International Darwin Day Foundation, is “a global celebration of science and reason held on or around Feb.…
By Steven Hamblin; Michael Kasumovic, and Rob Brooks With each passing year, technology percolates further into academic life. The year 2013 might look, in hindsight, like the year academic social media use went mainstream. Numbers of tweets and Facebook likes…
How important is penis size? Authors from the Australian National University, Monash and La Trobe provide the most complete answer yet: the size of a flaccid penis can significantly affect how attractive a man’s body is to women. Writing in…
Is there a left-wing “War on Science”? Influential American sceptic Michael Shermer devotes his latest column in Scientific American to arguing exactly this. Bloggers have already sent some considerable heat in Shermer’s direction, particularly because he implies that anti-science attitudes…