Explainers
Explainer
National security
‘The game is back on’: How does spying work in Australia?
Our spy agencies recruit a mix of talent, from computer whizzes to people skilled in cultivating sources. What do our spies do, and who are their bosses?
- by Anthony Galloway
Latest
Explainer
Visual art
‘Copyright is for losers’: How did Banksy’s brash claim backfire?
A quick guide to why Banksy lost the trademark for four of his most famous works.
- by Nick Miller
Explainer
Wine & spirits
Grippy, funky, smashable: What do wine-tasting notes actually mean?
Freshly dug truffle, “shy, like a gazelle” – when it comes to wine talk, where does the analysis end and the poetry begin?
- by Max Allen
Explainer
Dementia
‘It doesn’t define me’: What is it like to live with dementia?
Every three seconds, someone in the world develops a form of dementia. So why is it so poorly understood?
- by Jewel Topsfield
Explainer
Cryptocurrencies
‘A wild ride’: How does Bitcoin work?
Once a nerd’s hobby, Bitcoin is huge business. What does a story about pizzas have to do with it, and is it true if you forget your password, you do your dough?
- by Dominic Powell
Explainer
Web culture
What is a deep fake?
We know about fake news but what about its nascent cousin, the computer-created deep fake? How can you spot one? And why are they a cause for concern?
- by Tim Biggs and Robert Moran
Explainer
Friendship
Mate: What’s the history of our most treasured salutation?
From Shakespeare to the Australian Constitution (almost), mate is a short word with a long history. So how has the term evolved to become so recognisably Australian?
- by Tony Wright
Explainer
Indigenous culture
A year on from the destruction at Juukan, could it happen again?
What are the laws and agreements that are meant to protect Indigenous heritage? How can they be improved? And are laws enough?
- by Emma Young and Tess Ingram
Explainer
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
What is Israel’s Iron Dome?
A quick guide to the high-tech shield that’s changed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- by Sherryn Groch
Explainer
Federal budget
How does the federal budget work – and how is it different from yours?
What is a federal budget trying to do? How does the government decide where to spend its money? And where did budget rituals such as “the lock-up” come from?
- by Katina Curtis
Explainer
Emissions
It stores pollution 30 times faster than forest. What is blue carbon?
Shy dugongs, sea turtles and ancient microbes are all found among our seagrasses and mangroves. Why are politicians interested in these ocean meadows now?
- by Emma Young