Australia’s rebel time zone
mathematicsLook at the clocks in the roadhouses along a remote, 340km section of the highway through the Nullarbor and you’ll see they don’t match anyone’s smartphone time
Daylight saving on way out
mathematicsAs Australians in four states grope around in the darkness of the last daylight saving mornings of the season, Europe has voted to cancel this clock-changing practice
World’s richest prize for teacher of the poor
humanitiesThere is only one computer, bad internet access, no library, no science laboratory and drought and famine are frequent, yet Peter Tabichi’s students are achieving great things
Latest
‘Stay indoors’ warning as cyclone hits WA
Residents are being warned to "stay indoors" as the extremely dangerous tropical Cyclone Veronica brings wild winds and heavy rain in Western Australia today
Lipstick-pink lake a hit for selfies
People who love pink are flocking like flamingoes to take selfies in front of a lake in Melbourne dyed by a population explosion of algae
Big fish catches fishermen by surprise
A group of friends thought they saw a massive rock on the sand, but we now know it was an ocean sunfish, one of the world’s biggest fish and very rare in these waters
Australians may be 120,000 years old
Scientists have discovered humans may have been living in Australia for 120,000 years. If proven right, the discovery could rewrite the indigenous history of our nation
Three disco-dancing peacock spiders found
An Australian citizen scientist has discovered three beautiful new species of disco-dancing peacock spiders. Arachnophobes needn’t worry: they’re the size of a grain of rice
Researchers find dingoes are not dogs
Researchers from several Australian universities have determined the dingo is not a dog but a unique native species of its own
Solomon Islands battling oil spill
A major oil spill in the Solomon Islands is moving towards the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Area, with fears of a looming environmental disaster
Ancient tattoo kit made from human bone
Researchers have uncovered the world’s oldest known tattoo kit, some of which is made from human bone and believed to be 2700 years old
Potion to live forever found in Chinese tomb
A mysterious potion discovered in an ancient Han Dynasty tomb in China was brewed to allow whoever drank it to live forever. Unfortunately, it is full of toxic ingredients
Scientists find giant bee thought to be extinct
Scientists have rediscovered a giant bee, nicknamed the ‘flying bulldog’, on a remote Indonesian island after thinking it had been extinct for 30 years
Aussie’s record 5000km ocean row
Michelle Lee has become the first Australian woman to row across an ocean after a 5000km solo journey across the Atlantic that took 68 days, 12 hours and 49 minutes
Search for Shackleton’s ship abandoned
Explorers have lost their hi-tech autonomous submarine under the ice in the Weddell Sea, forcing them to call off their search for Ernest Shackleton’s famous ship, Endurance
Murray cod to be trucked to safety
After pictures of millions of dead fish shocked the world, the NSW government has begun a bold plan to catch trapped Darling River fish and truck them downstream
Earth’s magnetic pole is in a hurry
The magnetic field of our planet is essential to our survival. But it’s not behaving like scientists expected and nobody knows why
Remains of explorer Matthew Flinders found
The missing remains of the first person to circumnavigate Australia — who also popularised the name Australia — have been found
Ghost island a Google Maps mystery
An island off the coast of Australia that was first mapped by Captain Cook has disappeared. No one knows where it went, though it still exists on Google Maps. It has everyone puzzled
Wanted: fridge fixer for coldest place on Earth
The Australian Antarctic Division needs more than 150 people to fill jobs in its four research stations to support scientists, some you’d never guess were needed in the coldest place on Earth
Beach made of millions of pieces of ‘popcorn’
The internet’s latest sensation is a beach that looks like it’s made of popcorn. We find other incredible beaches around the world and explain what happens in nature to create them
Remote Australian ghost town comes back to life
There are ghost towns all over Australia, but one once-busy settlement is coming back to life more than 50 years after its residents fled in a hurry one hot December afternoon
World’s longest sea bridge opens
An amazing 55km bridge that goes over and under the sea has opened, connecting mainland China and Hong Kong. Not everyone thinks it is wonderful. What do you think?
Closer to solving Easter Island mystery
After its population was almost wiped out in the 1800s, no one had the answer to the question of how and why Easter Island’s giant statues were made and moved, until now. Can you guess?
Amazing undersea world discovered
In the unexplored depths of the ocean off the coast of Tasmania, massive volcanic mountains kilometres high rise above the sea floor. What more would you like to know?
Outdoor dining, Antarctic style
Spring weather and warm mean something completely different on Antarctica, as these funny outdoor cooking photos show. What would you like to try to cook outdoors there?
New rule for where migrants live
Overcrowding in Australia’s biggest cities is costing the country billions of dollars. The government plans to make migrants move to regional areas as part of the solution. Is this fair?
Endeavour shipwreck mystery
The centuries-old mystery of the sinking of Captain James Cook’s Endeavour could be solved, exactly 250 years since it set sail to claim Australia for England.
Drone films Amazon tribe
A drone has filmed a tribe in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, which experts believe has never been in contact with the outside world
Lighting up the sea for sailors
It’s International Lighthouse Weekend, a great time to learn about the important role lighthouses have played through history and today to keep sailors and ships safe
Population to reach 25 million
Australia is growing faster than ever before, with one baby born every 102 seconds. This week we reach 25 million, much earlier than expected
Young Aussies want to help global refugees
A new World Vision survey shows compassionate young Australians are very concerned about the plight of global refugees and want to help
Massive Mars lake discovery
If there’s life on Mars, a 20km-wide lake will be the place to look. This huge body of water could also hold the key for cheaper, safer space travel
Record-breaking northern summer
Australians are used to heatwaves and our gardens, houses, schools and clothes are designed to help us keep comfortable. When heat hits in cold places, it’s hard to keep cool
Murals transform country towns
Many country towns are struggling, with falling populations, few jobs and not many visitors. But amazing murals on disused silos are helping breathe new life into these rural communities
Helium sky ship to give bird’s eye view of Uluru
A new helium balloon sky ship will offer amazing bird’s eye views of Uluru for tourists when they are no longer able to climb the famous rock
Shortest day of the year is here
This is the time of the year it’s dark morning and night. For centuries that’s been a cause for celebration. How would you like to celebrate winter solstice?
Australia’s move north causing earthquakes
Australia is shifting north 7cm a year, which is causing many earthquakes every week. Have you felt one recently?
Quest to map world’s oceans by 2030
Only a tiny portion of the world’s oceans are mapped. A new quest seeks to chart this last frontier in just 12 years
“Holy grail” of shipwrecks found
A ship that sank more than 300 years ago carrying $22 billion of treasure has been found. But its exact location is top secret
Town where polar bears outnumber people
It’s freezing all year and dark day and night all winter but tourists flock there and locals love it. How is life bear-able in Svalbad?
Hawaiians flee volcano’s lava and toxic gas
Hawaiians living near the Kilauea volcano have been forced to flee as lava flows down their streets. How much damage will it do?
Big reef rescue on the way
The Federal Government has promised to spend half a billion dollars trying to save our damaged Great Barrier Reef. It’s the biggest ever environmental protection project.
North Korea peace promise makes history
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised to end the war and give up nuclear weapons at a historic meeting. Now the world is waiting to see if he can keep his promises for peace.
Is Africa starting to split in two?
A huge rip in the ground has scientists suggesting the continent of Africa is starting to split in two
Great Australian Bight world heritage bid
An ambitious bid will be launched today to have the Great Australian Bight listed on the World Heritage register to provide added protection against oil and gas drilling
Shocking find in dead whale’s stomach
Scientists have found 30kg of plastic inside a dead sperm whale’s stomach. It is just one of thousands of animals killed each year as our oceans become clogged with rubbish
Dinosaur footprints found on Scottish isle
Footprints from one of the largest dinosaurs to ever walk on Earth have been discovered in a lagoon on the Isle of Skye in Scotland
Opera House turns green for St Patrick’s Day
The Sydney Opera House joins a list of world landmarks to turn green to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.
Poem hides secret to real buried treasure
A tricky poem full of secret clues has the answer to where a real treasure chest full of gold and jewels is buried. Can you solve the puzzle?
Aussie climber on top of the world
An Australian man has become the world’s youngest person to complete the Seven Summits, Seven Volcanoes climbing challenge — and he did the final climb with his 99-year-old Nan
Tallest man meets smallest woman
The world’s tallest man has met the world’s shortest woman in the shadows of the pyramids in Egypt. See the remarkable images
Why do volcanoes take so long to erupt?
Bali’s Mount Agung volcano finally erupted this week after months of rumbles. We look at why it takes so long for some volcanoes to erupt
Hyperloop travel plan picks up speed
Elon Musk’s idea to build a Hyperloop to hurtle passengers around the country at more than 1000km/h in an elevated tube is gaining momentum. VIDEO
Big way to attract tourism
Cobram’s plan to build a giant peach to attract tourists adds another interesting icon to Australia’s list of Big Things
Rare early Australia map found in attic
A rare map of Australia — believed to have been lost forever — has been restored after years in an attic
Teen explorer charts new territory
Teen adventurer and Arctic explorer Jade Hameister is preparing to ski where no Australian woman has ever been before
Surprise! Canberra is our No. 1 city
Canberra has often been overlooked in the best city lists — until now. Our capital has made the grade in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel top 10 list
What is hidden under Earth’s crust?
Australian scientists were shocked to discover we lacked a good overall understanding of the Earth’s makeup, so they set about researching and creating their own
Seal pup’s epic swim from the Antarctic
A baby seal was a long way from home after an epic swim all the way from the Antarctic to the Australian mainland. VIDEO
Google’s virtual reality Uluru
Visit one of Australia’s most sacred sites from the internet through Google’s virtual tour
