Explainers

Victoria is being squeezed, literally. Is it now an earthquake hotspot?

There seem to have been more earthquakes than usual lately. Why?

• May 29, 2023
• by Liam Mannix

Weird science, quirks of nature and health issues explained

Our Explainers dive deep into life’s mysteries. Journey to the far reaches of the universe and satisfy your curiosity along the way.

The terror can flood back in an instant. What is trauma and how can it get ‘stuck’ in the mind?

Faced with a life-threatening event, we fight, flee or freeze. But the horror can remain, splitting life into ‘before and after’. Why? And what can help?

• May 26, 2023
• by Sherryn Groch

Same workload, same pay, longer weekend. Is Australia ready for a four-day week?

Shorter weeks for the same pay have been popular and successful. But which workplaces does it suit? And how do flexible hours fit in?

• May 21, 2023
• by Jackson Graham

‘That sounds a bit made up’: Why frozen shoulder is real (and painful)

First comes the pain, then the immobility. Here’s what experts know about this mysterious condition.

• May 12, 2023
• by Jackson Graham

Can Dutton intervene to sort out the state Liberal mess?

The federal Liberal leader has refused to rule out an intervention in the tumultuous Victorian party. How would he do that?

• May 5, 2023
• by Josh Gordon

Ancient rituals, modern twists: how the coronation worked

Old rituals and modern flourishes will come together in this coronation ceremony. There’s a story behind every robe and sceptre – and a special bit that none of us will see. We explain.

• May 4, 2023
• by Rob Harris and Felicity Lewis

The secret service agents had a message: take down the app or go to jail. How is the internet splintering?

Cracking down on the net was like nailing jelly to a wall, Bill Clinton said in 2000. But governments have found myriad ways to filter, block or slow it. And now some nations want nets of their own. Why?

• April 30, 2023
• by Sherryn Groch and Nick Bonyhady

At 40, Jim collapsed with a stroke. Would you know the signs?

Strokes strike young and old. In most cases, time is critical in getting help. How can you tell? And what are the treatments?

• April 23, 2023
• by Jackson Graham

Putin is one of the world’s richest men. But the money isn’t in his name

A deluge of Western sanctions has fallen on Russia’s elite. How are its billionaires fighting to get their money (and yachts) back? And how are investigators following the money?

• April 19, 2023
• by Sherryn Groch