The Conversation, Author at The District Bulletin

I’ve always wondered: how do cyclones get their names?

Science

by The Conversation - 16/07/201916/07/2019

australiacyclones_Veronica_Trevor_viirs_22Mar2019_NASA_Earth_Observatory_cropped

IN THE AUSTRALIAN region, the Bureau of Meteorology gives tropical cyclones their name. You can write to the Bureau of Meteorology to suggest a cyclone name, but it is likely to be more than a 50-year wait. Tropical cyclones are named so we can easily highlight them to the community, and

We can’t predict how bad this year’s flu season will be but here’s what we know so far

by The Conversation - 26/04/201917/07/2019

INFLUENZA ILLNESS – or the flu – is a caused by the influenza virus. It often comes on rapidly, with a high fever, chills, muscle aches, tiredness and a dry cough. These symptoms get worse over the first few days. Most people will get better without medical care, but some people

An end to endings: how to stop more Australian species going extinct

Environment

by The Conversation - 01/04/201901/04/2019

This is part of a major series called Advancing Australia, in which leading academics examine the key issues facing Australia in the lead-up to the 2019 federal election and beyond. Read the other pieces in the series here. We need nature. It gives us inspiration, health, resources, life. But we are

We asked five experts: is vegetarianism healthier?

Food, Wine, Music

by The Conversation - 18/03/201927/03/2019

Four out of five experts say a vegetarian diet is healthier. VEGETARIANISM IS ON the rise in Australia, as many vegetarians will gladly tell you. While many people who eschew meat products do so for the sake of animals and the environment, we’re starting to learn more about the negative health

Five gifs that explain how hydro actually works

by The Conversation - 15/03/201915/03/2019

By Roger Dargaville, Monash University PEOPLE HAVE USED moving water to create energy for thousands of years. Today, pumped hydro is the most common form of grid-connected energy storage in the world. This technology is in the spotlight because it pairs so well with solar and wind renewable energy. During the day,

Video-of-the-week: Shopping bag options, what are the best?

by The Conversation - 14/08/201824/09/2018

So, what are the best replacements for single-use plastic bags? GIVEN THAT REUSABLE bags are much sturdier, how many times must we use them to compensate for their larger environmental impact? The simple answer is that there is no simple answer. However, a kind of research called “life cycle assessment” can help

Ten of Australia’s best literary comics

Reviews

by The Conversation - 12/09/201825/09/2018

WITH NEWS THAT the Man Booker Prize long list includes a graphic novel for the first time, the spotlight is on comics as a literary form. That’s a welcome development; the comic is one of the oldest kinds of storytelling we have and a powerful artform. Right now, the Australian comics

The Turnbull government is all but finished

Federal Politics

by The Conversation - 23/08/201824/08/2018

and the Liberals will now need to work out who they are. A RELATIONSHIP OF mutual convenience between Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the federal Liberal Party is drawing to a close. Each used the other for practical purposes. Turnbull used the Liberal Party as his vehicle to enter parliamentary politics and

Crunch time for Turnbull’s energy plan

Environment

by The Conversation - 03/08/201803/08/2018

national energy guarantee photo Dan Himbrechts

Two articles from The Conversation examine the federal government's domestic energy landscape Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull dearly needs a political win, especially after the July ‘Super Saturday’ by-election results, but his proposed national energy guarantee (NEG) is looking shaky heading into crucial talks with the States and Territories in August. Victorian minister