Counterpoint

A sceptic is someone who has not decided, or is not in a position to decide, what is true, right or good. Why then are sceptics now called deniers? As the impeachment trial of the former president begins, is there any precedent for impeaching people no longer in office? Yes there is and it's a gruesome tale. How much have captives' or slaves influenced those who took them? It turns out, quite a lo...

A sceptic is someone who has not decided, or is not in a position to decide, what is true, right or good. Why then are sceptics now called deniers? As the impeachment trial of the former president begins, is there any precedent for impeaching people no longer in office? Yes there is and it's a gruesome tale. How much have captives' or slaves influenced those who took them? It turns out, quite a lo...

Over the last couple of decades infrastructure spending, with the exception of China, has been decreasing. Why and how can it be lifted. Do urban ethnographers do more harm than good in speaking for Black communities? Do you have a fight or flight reaction when people stand too close to you? Why is that? Will The Peace Park in Myanmar be able to survive the troubles in Myanmar?

Over the last couple of decades infrastructure spending, with the exception of China, has been decreasing. Why and how can it be lifted. Do urban ethnographers do more harm than good in speaking for Black communities? Do you have a fight or flight reaction when people stand too close to you? Why is that? Will The Peace Park in Myanmar be able to survive the troubles in Myanmar?

Can we move beyond the labels progressive and conservative? Why is Coon cheese getting a new name and how difficult will it be choosing a new one? Does science really have to be about hard facts? The fascinating history of dogs and are you feeling a bit peckish? Need a bit of a pick-me-up? How about some rhubarb sprinkled with some ground mummy?

Can we move beyond the labels progressive and conservative? Why is Coon cheese getting a new name and how difficult will it be choosing a new one? Does science really have to be about hard facts? The fascinating history of dogs and are you feeling a bit peckish? Need a bit of a pick-me-up? How about some rhubarb sprinkled with some ground mummy?

How did Venice cope with the plague of 1575? By using a new practise called quarantine. An interesting tale about how carbolic acid has made surgery easier for everyone and the fascinating libertarian history of science fiction. How good are utopian fictions? Not at all. If you don't fit in, you're out.

How did Venice cope with the plague of 1575? By using a new practise called quarantine. An interesting tale about how carbolic acid has made surgery easier for everyone and the fascinating libertarian history of science fiction. How good are utopian fictions? Not at all. If you don't fit in, you're out.

Why are international borders causing so much anxiety over recent years? Did you hear the one about Stalin? Life under Russian dictator Joseph Stalin wasn't funny and yet there were jokes. What can the history of the Chinese tea trade tells us about the history of capitalism? Are they linked?

Why are international borders causing so much anxiety over recent years? Did you hear the one about Stalin? Life under Russian dictator Joseph Stalin wasn't funny and yet there were jokes. What can the history of the Chinese tea trade tells us about the history of capitalism? Are they linked?

In recent times there has been much talk about the imminent collapse of the liberal rules based order with Russia and China citied as the main culprits for this destabilisation. Is it true? How did people in Ancient Greece cope with sickness? Can you hear any birds singing right now? Do you think that people in the ancient world heard the same kinds of birds in the same kind of numbers that we do...

In recent times there has been much talk about the imminent collapse of the liberal rules based order with Russia and China citied as the main culprits for this destabilisation. Is it true? How did people in Ancient Greece cope with sickness? Can you hear any birds singing right now? Do you think that people in the ancient world heard the same kinds of birds in the same kind of numbers that we do...

In 2018 Dr Frances Arnold was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Then she gave it back. Why At the turn of the 20th Century Australia went through a bit of a fortune telling craze. The practise was illegal and the police tried to prosecute where they could but the women survived and in some cases thrived. Alphabets are disappearing. There are between 6,000 to 7,000 languages in the world. Yet 9...

In 2018 Dr Frances Arnold was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Then she gave it back. Why At the turn of the 20th Century Australia went through a bit of a fortune telling craze. The practise was illegal and the police tried to prosecute where they could but the women survived and in some cases thrived. Alphabets are disappearing. There are between 6,000 to 7,000 languages in the world. Yet 9...

Why do regime changes rarely work? Would you buy something from a company if they didn't agree with the same causes that you do? Rules are everywhere. Some make perfect sense but others seem to be there simply to annoy us, so how do we know which ones to ignore or break and which ones to follow? Superman has saved the world countless times, he did other things too, but why are he and his superhero...

Why do regime changes rarely work? Would you buy something from a company if they didn't agree with the same causes that you do? Rules are everywhere. Some make perfect sense but others seem to be there simply to annoy us, so how do we know which ones to ignore or break and which ones to follow? Superman has saved the world countless times, he did other things too, but why are he and his superhero...

Is China the all powerful, all conquering nation that some believe it to be or is it 'in “decay” and beset by internal and regional challenges that will frustrate the nation’s grand ambitions'? Wokeness, cancel culture, and calling out have become almost a way of life in recent times. But instead of calling people out should we be calling them in? How safe are consumer goods in Australia and how c...

Is China the all powerful, all conquering nation that some believe it to be or is it 'in “decay” and beset by internal and regional challenges that will frustrate the nation’s grand ambitions'? Wokeness, cancel culture, and calling out have become almost a way of life in recent times. But instead of calling people out should we be calling them in? How safe are consumer goods in Australia and how c...

Australia has embraced the concept of a rules-based order but what does that actually mean? Instead of breaking up Big Tech can we create new technologies and new ways of living either with or without them? Can science measure free will? How? Alternate maps from alternate histories can teach us a lot, they're also fun. What would be your alternate map of Australia, would you change any State borde...

Australia has embraced the concept of a rules-based order but what does that actually mean? Instead of breaking up Big Tech can we create new technologies and new ways of living either with or without them? Can science measure free will? How? Alternate maps from alternate histories can teach us a lot, they're also fun. What would be your alternate map of Australia, would you change any State borde...

Can a pandemic be a source of wisdom? Yes it can! After the devasting effects of the last bush fire season do we need to learn how to live with fire? The fascinating history of the pall point pen and autopsies may be on the decline but they have taught us a lot about how COVID-19 affects the body and shown us more effective ways to treat it

Can a pandemic be a source of wisdom? Yes it can! After the devasting effects of the last bush fire season do we need to learn how to live with fire? The fascinating history of the pall point pen and autopsies may be on the decline but they have taught us a lot about how COVID-19 affects the body and shown us more effective ways to treat it

Can COVID-19 change the way African cities are planned in the future? Can science measure wisdom and what is wisdom anyway? Can Darwinism and religion happily co-exist and now that we're not doing a lot of right now, how important is touch?

Can COVID-19 change the way African cities are planned in the future? Can science measure wisdom and what is wisdom anyway? Can Darwinism and religion happily co-exist and now that we're not doing a lot of right now, how important is touch?

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we mark the end of the first World War and remember...what exactly and why? The United States, like Australia, is settled country and a migration nation, but has this meant that there isn't a shared sense of history? One of the biggest issues over the last few years has been identity politics. But not all identity categories are interchangeable, a...