Institute for the Study of the Ancient World via Wikimedia, CC BYAncient scientists can be easy to dismiss. Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus, often described as the West’s first scientist, believed the whole Earth was suspended on water. Roman encyclopaedist Pliny the Elder recommended entrails, chicken brains, and mice
davidf/Getty ImagesFor many of us, listening to music is simply part of the driving routine – as ordinary as wearing a seatbelt. We build playlists for road trips, pick songs to stay awake, and even turn the volume up when traffic gets stressful. More than 80% of drivers listen to
Getty ImagesStandardised testing and regular progress assessment became key features of the education system this year, so why not apply those same principles to New Zealand as a whole? There’s an important difference here, of course. This exercise is about prompting discussion and debate, and should be read with a
Christmas lunch is over, all the presents are unwrapped. Now comes the hard part: paying for it all. If you’re in that position, you’re not alone. Personal credit and charge-card balances racking up interest hit a four-year high of A$18.4 billion in September this year – even before the Black
The Conversation, CC BY-SASome people take heart in the idea that the law is resistant to change, arguing that this reinforces its stability. Others delight in its ability to adapt to change, as that reflects its flexibility. In our eyes, the latter view is rapidly gaining ascendancy. So what
At this time of the year, with lots of parties, family catch-ups and holiday plans, you might be reminded of how much you love your friends. But as their kids pester for screen time, drop chips everywhere and run screaming around the house, you may also be reminded of
The extinct desert rat kangaroo John Gould, Mammals of Australia (1845)The millions of species humans share the world with are valuable in their own right. When one species is lost, it has a ripple effect throughout the ecosystems it existed within. But there’s a hidden toll. Each loss takes
We used to have a pretty clear idea of what an autocrat was. History is full of examples: Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, along with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping today. The list goes on. So, where does Donald Trump fit in? In this six-part podcast
Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty ImageBrigitte Bardot’s death, at the age of 91, brings to a close one of the most extraordinary careers in post-war French cultural life. Best known as an actress, she was also a singer, a fashion icon, an animal rights activist and a symbol of France’s
Yan Krukau/Pexels, CC BYYou’ve been given an ugly t-shirt and a book you’ve already read. But if you don’t have the receipts, can you return them? Or what if someone’s given you a gift that’s defective in some way? Before you box up your unwanted presents and head to
The game of cricket is believed to have originated in rural England sometime in the 16th or 17th century. The earliest versions of cricket balls had no standard size, weight or stitching: they were handmade by locals and consisted of a round leather case filled with materials such as cork
Daily Herald Archive/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty ImagesDaphne Oram (1925–2003) was one of Britain’s most important early electronic composers. Oram trained first as a pianist and composer and turned down a place at the Royal College of Music to work at the BBC, where late-night tape experiments and hands-on work
Institute for the Study of the Ancient World via Wikimedia, CC BYAncient scientists can be easy to dismiss. Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus, often described as the West’s first scientist, believed the whole Earth was suspended on water. Roman encyclopaedist Pliny the Elder recommended entrails, chicken brains, and mice
davidf/Getty ImagesFor many of us, listening to music is simply part of the driving routine – as ordinary as wearing a seatbelt. We build playlists for road trips, pick songs to stay awake, and even turn the volume up when traffic gets stressful. More than 80% of drivers listen to
Getty ImagesStandardised testing and regular progress assessment became key features of the education system this year, so why not apply those same principles to New Zealand as a whole? There’s an important difference here, of course. This exercise is about prompting discussion and debate, and should be read with a
Christmas lunch is over, all the presents are unwrapped. Now comes the hard part: paying for it all. If you’re in that position, you’re not alone. Personal credit and charge-card balances racking up interest hit a four-year high of A$18.4 billion in September this year – even before the Black
The Conversation, CC BY-SASome people take heart in the idea that the law is resistant to change, arguing that this reinforces its stability. Others delight in its ability to adapt to change, as that reflects its flexibility. In our eyes, the latter view is rapidly gaining ascendancy. So what
At this time of the year, with lots of parties, family catch-ups and holiday plans, you might be reminded of how much you love your friends. But as their kids pester for screen time, drop chips everywhere and run screaming around the house, you may also be reminded of
The extinct desert rat kangaroo John Gould, Mammals of Australia (1845)The millions of species humans share the world with are valuable in their own right. When one species is lost, it has a ripple effect throughout the ecosystems it existed within. But there’s a hidden toll. Each loss takes
We used to have a pretty clear idea of what an autocrat was. History is full of examples: Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, along with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping today. The list goes on. So, where does Donald Trump fit in? In this six-part podcast
Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty ImageBrigitte Bardot’s death, at the age of 91, brings to a close one of the most extraordinary careers in post-war French cultural life. Best known as an actress, she was also a singer, a fashion icon, an animal rights activist and a symbol of France’s
Yan Krukau/Pexels, CC BYYou’ve been given an ugly t-shirt and a book you’ve already read. But if you don’t have the receipts, can you return them? Or what if someone’s given you a gift that’s defective in some way? Before you box up your unwanted presents and head to
The game of cricket is believed to have originated in rural England sometime in the 16th or 17th century. The earliest versions of cricket balls had no standard size, weight or stitching: they were handmade by locals and consisted of a round leather case filled with materials such as cork
Daily Herald Archive/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty ImagesDaphne Oram (1925–2003) was one of Britain’s most important early electronic composers. Oram trained first as a pianist and composer and turned down a place at the Royal College of Music to work at the BBC, where late-night tape experiments and hands-on work
