National News
Ethical path to artificial stem cell technology
John Elder Australian research has created a molecular roadmap that shows how any cell in the human body can be turned into artificial stem cells.
Part-time working mother is the norm
COSIMA MARRINER More Australian women are going back to work after having children, but they prefer to work part-time and the age of their children when they rejoin the workforce is getting younger.
Gaming grooms teens for gambling
JASON DOWLING Teenage fans of video games that simulate gambling are more likely to convert their habits to real losses, according to new research.
More mothers returning to work, preferably part-time
COSIMA MARRINER More Australian women are going back to work after having children, but they prefer to work part-time and the age of their children when they rejoin the workforce is getting younger.
Dance teacher 'snapped naked girls'
NICK RALSTON For almost a decade thousands of parents trusted prominent Sydney dance teacher Grant Davies as he told them he could make their children famous.
On a dangerous mission to end discrimination
Jill Stark The world's first openly gay bishop has laid bigotry at the door of religion.
Bigorexia: school sport's big drug fight
Peter Munro Image concerns and pressure to perform are driving students to extremes.
Canberrans aim a harpoon at Skywhale
Damien Murphy The capital's centenary party piece has revived the public art debate.
Pumped: boys who can't wait to be men
Peter Munro Schoolboys wanting a hit of the latest bulk-building product or pill need not travel far.
One small shed for man, one giant leap for mankind …
KARL QUINN Chris Jacobs has a space station in his backyard. True, it's unlikely to fly anywhere - it's actually a hodge-podge of MDF, flower pots, plastic bin lids, duct tape from Bunnings and bits of computer junk salvaged from his day job as an IT consultant - but at first glance it looks convincing. Real enough for the camera, anyway, which is all that matters.
Refugee takes new freedom challenge to High Court
MICHAEL GORDON The federal government is facing another High Court challenge to the indefinite detention of more than 50 refugees deemed security risks by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.
Jobs news good for older workers, bad for the young
TIM COLEBATCH More than one in four people aged between 65 and 69 are now employed, most of them full-time, as older workers have absorbed half of Australia's net growth in jobs since the global financial crisis.
Lessons in steroid danger urged for all schoolchildren
Peter Munro The World Anti-Doping Agency has called for every Australian school student to be taught about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs, saying children are putting their health at risk by taking steroids and sports supplements.
Military police pressured to make prisoners more 'pliable'
David Wroe, Deborah Snow Military police at Australia's detention centre in Afghanistan were pressured to make prisoners more "pliable" by gagging them, depriving them of sleep and denying them exercise.
Carr cancels 457 visa of PNG's 'most wanted' man
Nick McKenzie, Richard Baker Foreign Minister uses used special powers to cancel the visa issued to alleged crime boss.
New ball game for female cricketers
CHLOE SALTAU After years of putting jobs, relationships and lives on hold for their sport, Australia's world-beating female cricketers are about to take a big leap towards professionalism.
Military police pressured to make prisoners more 'pliable'
David Wroe, Deborah Snow Military police in Afghanistan made prisoners more 'pliable' by gagging them and depriving them of sleep.
Gillard rejects Rinehart economy analysis
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has dismissed claims by Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart that the nation's economy is heading for a collapse like those seen in Europe.
Palmer says party approached by WA MPs
Billionaire Clive Palmer says he's been approached by West Australian parliamentarians keen to become candidates for his political party.
Judge refuses to approve Vioxx settlement
The Federal Court has refused a settlement under which Australians who claim an arthritis drug gave them heart problems would have received a maximum $2000 compensation from the drug company.
Crime drops but credit card fraud on the rise
ILYA GRIDNEFF As crime across Australia drops, credit card fraud continued to rise as part of a six-year upward trend, according to the latest Australian Institute of Criminology facts and figures report.
Shoppers threaten boycott of retailers who avoid safety pact
SARAH WHYTE Some of Australia's biggest retailers are facing threats of a consumer boycott after failing to sign an international agreement to improve fire safety and working conditions in Bangladesh, following the country's worst industrial accident.
Fears Afghans abusing prisoners
Deborah Snow and David Wroe Australia has again suspended the transfer of suspected insurgents to some Afghan prison facilities in Tarin Kowt following allegations of abuse.
Portrait of the artist as a very young man
ANDREW TAYLOR Archibald Prize winners are usually full of praise for their subjects, but Max Fontaine would hardly be telling the truth if he had only kind things to say about his three-year-old sister, Lila.
$30m for casuals as Department of Human Services cuts 2400 jobs
NOEL TOWELL The federal government's biggest department is spending $30 million hiring casual and short-term labour while shedding more than 2400 of its permanent staff.
Sci-tech
Aussie scientists print flexible solar panels
Miles Godfrey Australian scientists have found a way to print large but extremely lightweight and flexible solar panels like money.
Queensland opens up parks to cattle, defying Burke
Queensland will proceed with a controversial plan to allow starving cattle to graze in national parks and conservation reserves despite federal government opposition.
Australia seeks to limit ocean 'geoengineering'
TOM ARUP Australia has launched a bid to stop the commercial use of a controversial ''geoengineering'' technique that involves dumping iron into the ocean in a bid to counter the effects of man-made climate change.
Most claims for wrongful dismissal unsuccessful
Natasha Wallace More than three-quarters of arbitrated unfair dismissal claims ultimately fail, indicating employers are perhaps not doing it so tough under workplace laws.
Sci-tech
Malaria parasites 'thrive by talking'
Bridie Smith Scientists have been surprised to learn that malaria parasites ''talk'' to each other. And the chatter is crucial to the parasite's survival and spread in humans.
