Death metal is misunderstood: study

Editor's note

Death metal is a disturbing genre. The music is aggressive, the lyrics are often violent and misogynistic. Yet new research shows while death metal leaves non-fans feeling tense and angry, it can have the opposite effect on fans. As Bill Thompson and Kirk N. Olsen write, fans of this music experienced emotions of power, joy and even peace while listening to it – in spite of lyrics that depict themes including rape and murder.

Meanwhile, the prime minister is on his way to Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump, where, as Tony Walker writes, the rise of China, the North Korean nuclear threat and trade will be some of the key items on the agenda.

Suzy Freeman-Greene

Section Editor: Arts + Culture

Top story

Heavy metal concert fans: there are striking differences in the emotional responses of fans and non-fans of death metal. Parth Joshi/flickr

Death metal is often violent and misogynist yet it brings joy and empowerment to fans

Bill Thompson, Macquarie University; Kirk N. Olsen, Macquarie University

For non-fans, listening to death metal is a negative experience. But research has found the music had the opposite effect on fans, giving rise to positive experiences such as power, joy and peace.

Politics + Society

China, North Korea and trade the key talking points when Turnbull meets Trump

Tony Walker, La Trobe University

When he meets the US president this week, the prime minister will talk about the North Korean nuclear threat, the rise of China, and the rebranded Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Barnaby Joyce wields the tea towel in the government's soap opera

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

In an at-home-in-Armidale interview, Joyce has spoken about his unborn son, and former staffer and now partner Vikki Campion has produced details of how much she was paid when she moved offices.
'No pokies' Xenophon goes for 'some pokies', but does his gambling policy go far enough?

Charles Livingstone, Monash University

Nick Xenophon says the proposals encapsulated in his party’s gambling policy for the South Australian election are just the start of a wider push for reform.

Science + Technology

Poll says most people support a ban on whips in Australian horse racing

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney; Anne Fawcett, University of Sydney

Banning the whip in Australian horse racing would only deter a minority of race enthusiasts from gambling or watching any events.
Why we developed a microscope for your phone – and published the design

Antony Orth, RMIT University

Even though you don’t think of your mobile phone as being anything like a microscope, it’s got almost all the parts you need.

Environment + Energy
Should Australia recognise the human right to a healthy environment? Dr Meg Good, University of Tasmania Should Australia join the majority of the world and provide legal recognition of the human right to a healthy environment?

Business + Economy

How employers can design workplaces to promote wellness

Libby Sander

Research shows that corporate wellness programs don't really work. If companies want to boost employee health they should consider designing the workplace to encourage the right behaviour.
Why Australia needs a better system for credit scores

Andrew Grant, University of Sydney

Australia's credit reporting system is about to be updated, and new research shows it's past due. The current system simply doesn't provide either lenders or borrowers with enough information.

Cities
Greenwashing the property market: why 'green star' ratings don't guarantee more sustainable buildings Igor Martek, Deakin University; M. Reza Hosseini, Deakin University Buildings are central to creating more sustainable cities, and green ratings are often used to assess how well a building measures up against this goal. But the current system has serious flaws.

Health + Medicine

I've always wondered: why many people in Asian countries wear masks, and whether they work

C Raina MacIntyre, UNSW; Abrar Ahmad Chughtai, UNSW

Whether or not masks can protect against invading or escaping bugs depends on the type of mask and material.
Why telling people they could get sick in the future won't persuade them to be healthy now

Adam Bulley, The University of Queensland; Thomas Suddendorf, The University of Queensland

People tend to value potential future rewards less than similar immediate rewards when they must choose between them. Psychologists and economists call this “delay discounting”.

Education
Play-based learning can set your child up for success at school and beyond Natalie Robertson, Deakin University; Anne-Marie Morrissey, Deakin University; Elizabeth Rouse, Deakin University Research shows play-based learning programs enhance children's learning outcomes and teaches them skills relevant to the 21st century, such as problem-solving and creativity.

Winter Olympics 2018
Explainer: the doping case against Russian curler Aleksandr Krushelnitckii Jack Anderson, University of Melbourne Athletes have, on occasion, mounted successful defences of sabotage in doping cases.