Our stories

Environment 5 min read

Safe havens protect Australian mammals from invasive predators. Why aren’t they working for other animal groups?

by John Gould, Senior Research Assistant in Conservation Biology

Feral cats and foxes now roam across almost all of Australia. These predators are a major reason why many species have been driven to extinction.

Business, Law and Politics 5 min read

Is it a gift or a loan when parents help kids buy a home? How to avoid family fights over money

by Mirella Atherton (Lecturer in Law) & Julia Cook (Senior Lecturer in Sociology)

Over recent decades, many Australian families have relied on getting money from the “Bank of Mum and Dad” to help with home purchases.But our latest research shows there are growing legal risks from that trend.

Environment 4 min read

See the Sun’s surface in higher detail than ever before in new telescope images

by Hannah Schunker, ARC Future Fellow, Physics

The Sun doesn’t just fuel almost all life on Earth. It’s also our astrophysical laboratory, the only star close enough to observe in sufficient detail.

Arts, Culture and Society 10 min read

A shift in energy

by Gemma Wolk

With 17 Hunter Valley mines set to close over the next 20 years, the region is facing a significant turning point. Conversations often centre around job losses, but what comes next for those who will remain?

Health and Wellbeing 5 min read

Does coffee raise your blood pressure? Here’s how much it’s OK to drink

by Clare Collins, Laureate Professor, University of Newcastle

Coffee first entered human lives and veins over 600 years ago.

Health and Wellbeing 4 min read

Is honey good for you? Can it speed recovery if you’re sick or injured?

by Clare Collins, Laureate Professor, University of Newcastle

Honey is often praised for a range of health benefits, from soothing a sore throat and helping you get to sleep to healing woulds and lowering risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.

Science and Technology 5 min read

TVs keep getting more pixels – but we are approaching the limits of what our eyes can actually see

by Renee Goreham, Associate Professor, University of Newcasrle

I remember sitting very close to the television as a child and seeing the image was made up of tiny coloured dots, each of which broke down into miniature vertical strips of red, green and blue when I looked even closer.

Business, Law and Politics 4 min read

Money isn’t free. Here’s what to know before downloading a cashback app

by Mirella Atherton, Lecturer, University of Newcastle

“Cashback” apps make an enticing promise. You download an app or click on a web browser extension. You go about your online shopping as usual, spend money, but then get some cash back. It sounds simple, right?

Education 5 min read

‘Mum and Dad both finished school in Year 10’ - How to help first-in-family students graduate from uni

by Sally Patfield, Lecturer, University of Newcastle

Each year, about 30% of new undergraduates in Australia are the first in their families to go to university.

Science and Technology 5 min read

Girls to the front

by Rosemarie Milsom

Female high school students in the Hunter are being inspired to pursue meaningful careers in STEM thanks to a unique program created over a conversation at a campus cafe.

Arts, Culture and Society 6 min read

This uni program is changing the game for mob

by Shahni Wellington

From one students’ first time in a classroom to a mum-of-three’s return to learning, these real-life stories show what’s possible when universities open doors and open minds.

Education 8 min read

Where learning meets care