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Many of us watched in horror this week as Los Angeles was set ablaze by out-of-control bushfires. From my home in Sydney, I wondered: could this happen here? Certainly, many suburban areas in major Australian cities are close to vast tracts of bush that could provide fuel for a fire.
And, another pertinent question: how prepared are Australian cities for such a calamity?
The answers from David Bowman – a professor of pyrogeography and fire science at the University of Tasmania – are sobering.
What’s needed, he writes, is a better plan. Australia must ensure its cities are as fire-ready as its rural areas – and that city dwellers know exactly what to do when disaster strikes.
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Sunanda Creagh
Senior Editor
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David Bowman, University of Tasmania
We knew this would happen eventually. We have moved from possible futures to these things now happening. The deferment has ended.
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Jon Keeley, University of California, Los Angeles
Where people live today also makes a difference when it comes to fire risk.
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Gregory Melleuish, University of Wollongong
Anthony Albanese won’t want to be the leader of the first incumbent government not be be re-elected after its first term since the 1930s, but it’s an uphill battle.
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Susan Stone, University of South Australia; Jonathan Boymal, RMIT University
Spoiler: it’s tricky. Common valuation approaches run into hurdles when dealing with something as complex as an entire economy.
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Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Australian Catholic University
Donald Trump first flagged buying Greenland, whose colonial history spans centuries, during his first term. Yesterday, he said he wouldn’t rule out military force.
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Sam Arman, Flinders University
Roughly 40,000 years ago, the short-faced cousins of modern kangaroos died out. The cause has been the subject of fierce debate.
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Mike Armour, Western Sydney University; Amelia Mardon, Western Sydney University; Danielle Howe, Western Sydney University; Hannah Adler, Griffith University; Michelle O'Shea, Western Sydney University
Women experience more chronic conditions than men, potentially leading to higher health-care costs.
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Katrina Grant, University of Sydney
Viral selfie spot Saint Ignatius in Rome has much to teach us about the histories of painting, of understanding the eye, and of religious devotion.
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Politics + Society
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Howard Manns, Monash University; Kate Burridge, Monash University
Yes, some slang certainly makes its way across the Pacific. But the history between the two versions of the English language is more complex than you might think.
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Health + Medicine
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Evangeline Mantzioris, University of South Australia
Olive leaf extract may reduce blood pressure, improve blood lipids and help the way our bodies handle glucose. But the evidence isn’t clear cut.
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Science + Technology
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Charles Feigin, La Trobe University
Scientists have traced the evolutionary heritage of marsupial moles and explained how they evolved unique adaptations that help them survive beneath the sand.
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Environment + Energy
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Samuel Cornell, UNSW Sydney
Beach cabanas serve a valid purpose. But make sure you use them carefully and responsibly, so everyone’s day at the beach is safe and enjoyable.
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Education
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Kimberley Beasley, Murdoch University
Planning a playdate can be stressful. Parents can end up worrying about where to go, what to do, whether the house is tidy enough, or that you might be judged about the food you offer.
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Arts + Culture
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Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Australian Catholic University
The conclave, shrouded in centuries-old tradition and secrecy, stands as one of the most captivating rituals in the Catholic Church.
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Books + Ideas
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Lorinda Cramer, Deakin University
Unsuitable reveals the power of dress to shape the lives of those who wear it – and to challenge, provoke and bring people together along the way.
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Business + Economy
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Ashish Kumar, RMIT University
On average, customers using BNPL services ended up spending more than 6% more than those who didn’t. The effect was particularly strong among younger shoppers and those with lower incomes.
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