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Editor's note
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The Wuhan coronavirus outbreak and its implications for global health and trade, not to mention domestic politics, have made for some dramatic headlines this week.
The World Health Organisation has called the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, reminding us of the true global nature of this infectious disease.
Commentators are split on the merits of evacuating Australians from affected areas to Christmas Island, there are reports of face mask shortages, and parents have received conflicting messages about whether it’s safe for their kids to return to school.
All of this has been against a background of increasing numbers of confirmed cases, deaths and affected countries.
Now that China and several other countries have confirmed the virus can spread from person to person, including without symptoms, what’s in store?
Like the impact of this outbreak, The Conversation’s coverage is a truly global affair. And we, in Australia, will be continuing to work with our colleagues across the world to bring you expert analysis of what’s behind the headlines and what the evidence says we should be doing next.
Read the full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak from us and our international colleagues.
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Anna Evangeli
Deputy Editor: Health+Medicine
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Top story
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Health authorities estimate each infectious person could pass the virus onto two others.
Jerome Favre/AAP
C Raina MacIntyre, UNSW
There's no evidence you can spread the Wuhan coronavirus before showing symptoms, but one study suggests it's possible for children and young people to be infectious without ever having symptoms.
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Politics + Society
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Denis Muller, University of Melbourne
Given the summer we have had, media acquiescence in climate change denial, and failure to follow the weight of scientific evidence, looks like culpability.
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David Smith, University of Sydney
Americans didn't always have primaries and caucuses to choose presidential candidates. The system was meant to be more democratic, but it places too much attention on largely white, small states.
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Arts + Culture
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David Larkin, University of Sydney
This year Ludwig van Beethoven turns 250. Though some of his creations have been overexposed, they are indisputably brilliant. And there are still others waiting to be discovered by music lovers.
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Dr Duncan Cook, Australian Catholic University
The term Anthropocene - previously known only to geologists and academics - has hit the mainstream. Now it's being tweeted as shorthand for the negative effects humans have had on the planet.
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Environment + Energy
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Larissa Schneider, Australian National University; Colin Cooke, University of Alberta; Nathan D Stansell, Northern Illinois University; Simon Haberle, Australian National University
Plants can store mercury and keep it from contaminating waterways, air and soils. Unfortunately, that mercury is released when plants burn.
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Jamie Pittock, Australian National University
Without an emergency cull of feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park, the land cannot recover from the bushfires – and threatened species are at grave risk of being annihilated.
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Business + Economy
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Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
The Conversation's 2020 economic survey points to a dismal year, with no progress on many of the key measures that matter for Australians and an increase in the unemployment rate.
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Gaurav Khemka, Australian National University; Geoff Warren, Australian National University
No single super contribution rate suits everyone, and there's only a clear case for an increase if there's no age pension.
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Cities
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Norman Day, Swinburne University of Technology
The problems of demolishing high-rise buildings in busy cities point to the need to prepare for unbuilding at the time of building. We'd then be much better placed to recycle building materials.
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Daniel Daly, University of Wollongong
Buyers pay more for a home they know has a good energy rating. That's worth an extra 2.4-9.4% in the only part of Australia where energy ratings must be disclosed at the time of sale.
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Education
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Peter Ellerton, The University of Queensland
Critical thinking is being taught successfully in schools and universities around the world. Studies show it improves students' thinking ability and even their standardised test scores.
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Andrew J. Martin, UNSW
Research has shown if students are not given problem-solving opportunities after they have learnt the basics, their learning can decline.
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Health + Medicine
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Julaine Allan, Charles Sturt University
Drug slang can help researchers understand drug trends. But if you're taking a drug called by a street name, make sure you know what it is.
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Science + Technology
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Gregory Cohen, Western Sydney University
Two defunct satellites passed within metres of one another, prompting renewed focus on the dangers of space debris. But with many satellites treated as military secrets, how do we track the hazards?
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Bernardo Figueiredo, RMIT University; Torgeir Aleti (né Watne), RMIT University
As technology moves faster and our population gets older, here are some things we can all do to help seniors keep up.
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Featured jobs
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Featured events
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Geelong Corporate Centre, Deakin University Waterfront Campus, 1 Gheringap Street, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia — Deakin University
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Law School Foyer, New Law School, Eastern Avenue, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia — University of Sydney
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ATC101 - Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn Campus, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122, Australia — Swinburne University of Technology
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South One Lecture Theatre, Monash University Clayton Campus, Melbourne, Victoria, 3800, Australia — Monash University
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