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Editor's note
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Much-maligned ‘bin chickens’ (or White Ibis if we’re being pedantic) have been taking over Australian cities in recent decades, where they’ve made the most of all the scraps that end up in our rubbish bins. As Paul Allatson and Andrea Connor explain, our apparently endless fascination with these birds tells us much about modern Australia’s relationship to nature.
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James Whitmore
Deputy Editor: Arts + Culture
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Top story
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The majestic White Ibis.
Shutterstock.com
Paul Allatson, University of Technology Sydney; Andrea Connor, Western Sydney University
The ibis has become an Australian cultural phenomenon. The birds' tenacity and fearlessness as environmental refugees mean they attract love and hate alike.
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Arts + Culture
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Ryna Ordynat, Monash University
The next time you watch a duel on television or in a film, it might be worth recalling the history and meaning of this very serious rite of honour.
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Politics + Society
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Michelle Cull, Western Sydney University; Keith Parry, Western Sydney University
More government funding is needed to offset rising costs for registration, equipment and lessons and keep children involved in sport.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
It’s hard to fault Morrison’s first fortnight, if you can get past his description of events that tore down a PM as “that Muppet Show”, and swallow any cynicism about his careful choreography.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
A Senate committee is inquiring into Dutton's use of his ministerial discretion over visas. He overrode advice from officials when he granted visas to two au pairs who had been detained.
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Lloyd Cox, Macquarie University
The reverberations of JFK's assassination can still be felt to this day in the paranoid and racialised politics of the American right
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Business + Economy
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Richard Holden, UNSW
Wednesday's national accounts were good, perhaps as good as they'll get.
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Saul Eslake, University of Tasmania
The promised budget surplus depends on everything going right, and much more income tax says the Parliamentary Budget Office.
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Health + Medicine
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Jarryd Bartle, RMIT University; Nicole Lee, Curtin University
Some drug and alcohol programs
currently used in prisons have little evidence to support them.
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Suzanne Mahady, Monash University
A colonoscopy is usually done to diagnose bowel cancer. It is an invasive procedure with risks such as bowel perforation. It's important to only have the test if you're likely to benefit.
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Cities
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Ilan Wiesel, University of Melbourne; Liss Ralston, Swinburne University of Technology; Wendy Stone, Swinburne University of Technology
The Productivity Commission neglected the impact of housing costs. After allowing for these costs, the top 10% of households' average disposable income grew at 2.7 times the rate of the bottom 10%.
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Matthew Palm, University of Melbourne; Carolyn Whitzman, University of Melbourne; Katrina Raynor, University of Melbourne
As Melbourne's population hits 5 million, it's a reminder that growing cities must make much better use of vacant and underused land to meet the urgent need for affordable housing.
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Science + Technology
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Tanya Latty, University of Sydney
Ants have many tricks to deal with rain – like holding their breath, blocking nest entrances or drinking excess water and releasing it elsewhere by 'communal peeing.' But can they see rain coming?
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Rachel A. Ankeny, University of Adelaide; Joan Leach, Australian National University; Megan Munsie, University of Melbourne
Synthetic biology is highly promising – but if we don't get the regulation and engagement right, we risk alienating members of the public, and may even close doors for potentially fruitful research.
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Environment + Energy
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Frank Jotzo, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University; Salim Mazouz, Australian National University
An international report has found there's no future for Australia's coal exports.
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Featured jobs
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Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) — Melbourne, Victoria
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RMIT University — Melbourne, Victoria
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University of Melbourne — Melbourne, Victoria
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CSIRO — Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
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Featured events
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19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton campus, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia — Monash University
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The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia — University of Sydney
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ATC 101 Lecture Theatre, Level 1, Advanced Technologies Centre, Swinburne University of Technology, 401 - 451 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122, Australia — Swinburne University of Technology
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Monash University Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia — Monash University
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