Explainers
Explainer
Retirement living
‘Starting older’: Why we need a new word for retirement
Retire these days and you’re not so much crawling to a finish line as embarking on a new chapter. Is there a right time (given it’s not just about money) and what should you expect? We ask retirees for their insights.
- by Angus Holland
Latest
Explainer
Real life
‘Crucial for memory’: Why facts stick when you write them down
It might not be a window to your soul but it’s better for your brain. Why writing – once an ancient “handicraft” – is still worth doing well.
- by Angus Holland
Explainer
World politics
Despot, radical … peacemaker? The millennial prince and the Middle East ‘moonshot’
Reformer, tyrant or both? Saudi Arabia’s crown prince is reshaping his kingdom. What does it mean for the world? And how might he be key to a ‘moonshot’ Israel-Palestine peace deal?
- by Sherryn Groch
Series
Science
Brain worms, dark matter and stranger things. We explain
We put the natural world under a microscope, from rogue waves and zombie fungus to colliding atoms and meteors.
Explainer
Religion
A quarter of the world’s people observe Ramadan. What’s it for and what are the rules?
Some 800,000 Australians and many more overseas observe Ramadan. What is the purpose of this holy month?
- by Maher Mughrabi
Explainer
China relations
‘They want this, all of it’: The global arms race you can’t see – and China wants the edge
Microchips are key to powering the world. What will it take to win in this vital (and secretive) multi-billion-dollar world?
- by Eryk Bagshaw, Jackson Graham and Daniel Ceng
Explainer
US Votes 2024
Trump is on a tear. Super Tuesday has all but sealed it for him
The last time a former US president made a comeback was 1892. That’s just one reason these primaries are proving to be a wild ride for the Republicans.
- by Angus Holland
Explainer
Missing person
‘Obviously lost. SORRY’: Madeleine’s only text as a bush ordeal unfolded
It took just a few wrong steps for Madeleine, 73, to lose sight of a remote walking track. Three days later, as searchers combed heavy forest, time was running out.
- by Jackson Graham
Explainer
Middle East tensions
‘Villainous forces’: How the US became Iran’s enemy no. 1
Iranians go to the polls on March 1 for the first time since mass protests over headscarf laws. How did Iran get here – and can the era of the ayatollahs last?
- by Angus Holland
Explainer
World politics
Fighting talk, more missiles: Is Kim preparing for war?
The North Korean leader has flipped on his dynasty’s policy of reunifying with the South, now calling it a “primary foe”. Does this spell trouble or is it business as usual in his hermit kingdom?
- by Angus Holland and Jackson Graham
Explainer
Royal family
King Charles has paused public duties. Who steps in when a monarch is unwell?
What are the rules and protocols when a British King or Queen can’t perform their duties?
- by Angus Holland and Jackson Graham