Editor's note

If you’re an Aussie parent, you’re probably very familiar with the ABC Kids program Bluey, which follows the adventures of a six-year-old blue heeler puppy and her family. The show is a gem of Australian art, and as our authors write, its messages are remarkably consistent with scientific literature on parenting – from the importance of play to using emotions as an opportunity for learning and connection. At the very least, time spent watching Bluey might impart some nuggets of parenting wisdom.

And for some truly old-school parenting, a new study of 2-million-year-old fossil teeth reveals that Australopithecus africanus – one of our early evolutionary ancestors – breastfed their children for up to 6 years. As Renaud Joannes-Boyau and colleagues explain, the habit was so calorifically costly that it may have contributed to that species’ extinction.

Rosanna Hunt

Deputy Editor: Arts + Culture

Top story

Bluey is not just a TV success story - it also contains important parenting wisdom. IMDB

‘Making up games is more important than you think’: why Bluey is a font of parenting wisdom

Koa Whittingham, The University of Queensland; Amy Mitchell, The University of Queensland; Ben Mitchell, The University of Queensland

Children's show Bluey is not just a gem of Australian art - its messages are also remarkably consistent with scientific literature on parenting.

The teeth in these Australopithecus africanus skulls contain important evidence about the nutrition of these individuals as they grew up. Renaud Joannes-Boyau

Teeth ‘time capsule’ reveals that 2 million years ago, early humans breastfed for up to 6 years

Renaud Joannes-Boyau, Southern Cross University; Ian Moffat, Flinders University; Justin W. Adams, Monash University; Luca Fiorenza, Monash University

A new study shows the enigmatic hominin species Australopithecus africanus may have breastfed young for around 5-6 years – a very costly practice for the mother.

Target, Cotton On, Jeanswest, Dangerfield, IKEA and H&M are among the brands in Australia sourcing cotton from Xinjiang. www.shutterstock.com

Four Corners’ forced labour exposé shows why you might be wearing slave-made clothes

Yvette Selim, University of Technology Sydney

The prospect of China using forced labour to supply foreign companies highlights the importance of modern slavery laws.

It’s quicker to use hand sanitiser than soap and water, which means people might be more likely to use it. Shutterstock

Hand sanitisers in public won’t wipe out the flu but they might help reduce its spread

Trent Yarwood, The University of Queensland

Washing your hands helps protect against the flu. So it makes sense for governments to make hand sanitisers available in public places.

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  • Meet the endangered Bunyip bird living in Australia’s rice paddies

    Matt Herring, Charles Darwin University; Kerstin Zander, Charles Darwin University; Stephen Garnett, Charles Darwin University; Wayne A. Robinson, Charles Sturt University

    The endangered Australasian bittern offers a way past the 'farmers vs environmentalist' debate in the Murray-Darling basin.

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