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Editor's note
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People love to look for human-like features in animals – we think we see remorse in our furniture-chewing pet dogs, and arrogance in our slinky feline companions.
But new research released today reveals characteristics we don’t normally link with animals: simple numeracy, and use of names. The two species in question are the honey bee and the dolphin.
Scarlett Howard and her colleagues report that bees understand zero not just as an absence of something, but as a number. Bees are the first insect to show this capacity, and join an elite group of species that understands zero to an advanced level.
In Western Australia, Stephanie King has identified unique sounds, or “names”, linked to individual male dolphins that allow them to recognise many different friends and rivals in their social network, something not found in any other animals other than humans.
Perhaps we people aren’t so special after all.
And if you haven’t already, there’s still time to make a tax deductible donation to our annual donation campaign. It ends very soon, so please give today.
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Sarah Keenihan
Section Editor: Science + Technology
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Top story
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Bees live in complex environments, and make lots of decisions every day that are crucial for survival.
from www.shutterstock.com
Scarlett Howard, RMIT University; Adrian Dyer, RMIT University; Aurore Avarguès-Weber, Université de Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier
The Romans may not have had a symbol for zero, but bees understand what it means beyond just the simple assumption "there's nothing there".
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Arts + Culture
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Philip Almond, The University of Queensland
Notions of heaven have changed through the ages, from an eternity centred on God to a more secular place where loved ones will reunite.
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Chari Larsson, Griffith University
Tony Albert reassembles items of 'Aboriginalia', featuring kitsch caricatures of Indigenous people, with wit, playfulness and serious intent.
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Science + Technology
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Stephanie King, University of Western Australia
Researchers have discovered male bottlenose dolphins can retain individual vocal labels – or “names” – to help them recognise each other in their social network, much like humans.
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Alexander Krumpholz, CSIRO; Raj Gaire, CSIRO
Imagine if we could specify our general privacy preferences in our devices, have them check privacy policies when we sign up for apps, and warn us if the agreements overstep.
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Cities
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Yohan Kim, University of Technology Sydney; Jay Falletta, University of Technology Sydney; Scott Kelly, University of Technology Sydney
By identifying and applying the key rules governing the behaviour of each individual, agent-based modelling offers insights into complex phenomena like traffic jams and flocking.
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Politics + Society
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Chris Salisbury, The University of Queensland
Despite its dysfunction and often inconsistent policy positions, the party has cemented an influential place in the federal arena, albeit a status that’s on the verge of diminishing drastically.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The poll was commissioned by the Australia Institute, a progressive think tank.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Where possible, Opposition leader Bill Shorten tries to stick like glue to the government on national security issues, for reasons of politics as well as substance.
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Health + Medicine
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Gery Karantzas, Deakin University
The only way to get through a breakup is to experience your emotions, but not brood on them.
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Bridget Haire, UNSW
An increase in condomless sex in PrEP users is predictable as preventing HIV is the key motivator for condom use among gay and bisexual men.
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Education
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Rod Lane, Macquarie University
There are benefits and drawbacks to both formative and summative assessment. Both are important parts of a rigorous assessment program.
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Business + Economy
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Barbora Jedlickova, The University of Queensland
The charges laid against ANZ and other banks over alleged cartel-like behaviour suggests that Australia is following the United States in cracking down on anti-competitive behaviour.
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Environment + Energy
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Don Driscoll, Deakin University; Euan Ritchie, Deakin University; Tim Doherty, Deakin University
The 'brumby bill' which passed the NSW upper house late last night, is an embarrassing step backwards for the state.
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Graham Edgar, University of Tasmania; Trevor J Ward, University of Technology Sydney
Australia was thought to have some of the most sustainable fisheries in the world, but a recent count has found that fish numbers have plummeted by a third.
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Featured jobs
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UNSW Sydney — Sydney, New South Wales
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University of Melbourne — Parkville, Victoria
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University of New England — Armidale, New South Wales
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University of Western Australia — Perth, Western Australia
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Featured events
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14-20 Blackwood St , North Melbourne, Victoria, 3051, Australia — Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation
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Civic Room, Cairns Regional Council, Ground Floor, 119-145 Spence Street, Cairns CBD, Cairns, Queensland, 4878, Australia — James Cook University
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New Law School Foyer, Level 2, Sydney Law School, Eastern Avenue, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia — University of Sydney
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Lecture Theatre 1130, University of Sydney Business School, Abercrombie St & Codrington St, Darlington, NSW 2006, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia — University of Sydney
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