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Editor's note
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One of the key arguments made by conservative Christians against marriage equality – in which they have no greater champion than former prime minister Tony Abbott – is that it will impinge on ‘religious freedom’. But as Carol Johnson and Marion Maddox
write, this is used as a way of recasting themselves as potentially at risk of discrimination. Not only is the argument on shaky ground, it is a distinct about-face from previous debates in which conservative Christians have campaigned against laws that would protect religious freedom – because that would mean freedom for everyone.
And today we launch I Have Always Wondered, a new series where experts answer reader questions. In our first instalment two experts team up to explain how baby birds manage to breathe in the egg. If you have a burning question, you can email alwayswondered@theconversation.edu.au.
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Top story
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As the marriage equality debate heats up, some Christian groups are depicting themselves as potential victims of discrimination.
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Carol Johnson, University of Adelaide; Marion Maddox, Macquarie University
In the marriage equality debate, those who once fought against protections for religious freedom are suddenly all for it.
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Environment + Energy
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Maggie J. Watson, Charles Sturt University; James Van Dyke, Charles Sturt University
Have you ever heard chicks peeping in the egg? Have you ever wondered how they manage to take their first breath in the shell?
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Rebecca Cassells, Curtin University; Alan Duncan, Curtin University; Yashar Tarverdi, Curtin University
Western Australia has huge amounts of sunshine and wind, yet only 7% of its energy comes from renewables. What's more, most households in the poorest suburbs are still locked out of the solar panel boom.
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Education
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Margaret Kristin Merga, Murdoch University
There are benefits to shared reading long after children can read to themselves, so how long should you read to your children?
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Arts + Culture
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Bruce Charles Scates, Australian National University
A Fremantle monument to three white explorers was revised in 1994 to acknowledge the violence committed against Indigenous owners. As Australia struggles to reconcile its racist past, perhaps this monument shows a way forward.
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Chelsea Bond, The University of Queensland
Héritier Lumumba played for Collingwood Football Club until 2014, where his teammates called him "Chimp". His experience mirrors that of many other black men in Australia, particularly in the workplace.
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Business + Economy
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xiaoyan Liang, Monash University; Jeremy St John, Monash University
Chinese professionals are influenced by the Confucian values. This means they are uncomfortable with refusing tasks or questioning directions, unlike their Australian counterparts.
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Science + Technology
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Collette Snowden, University of South Australia
Doxing challenges traditional journalism. Its investigative role is circumvented by people disclosing information online quickly, and often inaccurately.
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Cities
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Zoe Myers, University of Western Australia
Successful parks and urban green spaces encourage us to linger, to rest, to walk for longer. That, in turn, provides the time to maximise the restorative mental benefits.
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Health + Medicine
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David King, The University of Queensland
Breathing in through your nose has many medical benefits over mouth breathing. As usual, be wary of misinformation and bias when looking up health on the internet.
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Heather Kember, Western Sydney University; Marina Kalashnikova, Western Sydney University
Body language can sometimes tell us if the person we're talking to is interested in us romantically. But the way they talk offers a few clues, too.
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Lesley Russell, University of Sydney
The AMA are pushing for simplified insurance packages that would see gold, silver and bronze products offered. This won't solve the overall problem with private health insurance.
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William Isdale, University of Melbourne
William Isdale speaks to Dr. John Gerrard about the constant threat of infectious diseases and what we can do to prevent a deadly pandemic from establishing itself in Australia.
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Politics + Society
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra; Michael de Percy, University of Canberra
The University of Canberra’s Michelle Grattan and Michael de Percy discuss the week in politics.
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Keshia Jacotine, Monash University
While both parties may have set out to modernise and renew their ideologies, the ALP's and Labour’s attempts to marry the old and new instead precipitated two separate identity crises.
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