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First millennial saint canonised by Pope Leo at the Vatican

Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager who died in 2006, becomes the first saint of the internet age.
A larger portrait of a teenage boy sits before a crowd of Catholic clergy in white robes and pink skull caps.

Scientist discovers banned chemical in berries sold at NSW supermarkets

A scientist investigating why pesticides were appearing in marine life discovers a banned chemical on NSW berries. The underwhelming response from the government has exposed regulatory blind spots in the system meant to protect consumers.  
A small hand holding a handful of blueberries

Robyn Williams’s favourite stories from 50 years of the Science Show

Fifty years ago, Australia's longest running science program was born. Robyn Williams picks some of his favourite stories from his time behind the mic. 
A black and white photo of a man smiling at the camera.
Duration: 41 seconds

The nine books our critics couldn't put down in August

In this month's best new releases, humans transform into trees, grief meets the supernatural in a haunted house and a volcanic eruption disrupts life in rural New Zealand.
A composite image of nine book covers on background fading from purple to orange

Was this aristocrat a ruthless social climber or the UK's 'secret weapon'?

Pamela Digby was just 19 years old when she agreed to marry UK prime minister Winston Churchill's only son, Randolph, on the day they first met. The union, short as it was, changed the course of her whole life.
A black and white photo of Pamela Digby holding the arm of Winston Churchill on the steps of a church surrounded by wellwishers.

Ovarian cancer signs can be overlooked. This program aims to change that

In university classrooms across the country, gynaecological cancer survivors are sharing their lived experience with health professionals to improve understanding and reduce delays in diagnosis.
Woman wearing glasses and a green, pink and blue shirt smiles.

'Genie not going back in the bottle': Why AI in schools is here to stay

Once banned, generative AI chatbots are now present in some Australian classrooms. But experts warn we need to approach their integration with caution. 
Students working on computers at school

Two decades after mapping the human genome, scientists look to the 'exposome'

Mapping the vast number of environmental and lifestyle factors that influence our health is an enormous task — but one researchers say could hold the key to better understanding disease development.
An adults holds a baby's feet in the palm of their hands.

Exorcisms, cults and demons: Where religion and horror films meet

What is it about religious horror movies that terrifies and captivates us?
An illustration of a retro TV showing a black-and-white image of a woman screaming in terror.

Irish author John Boyne was abused as a child. He says writing helped him heal

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas author's latest work, The Elements, is a series of four linked stories examining child abuse from different perspectives.
Author John Boyne, wearing a beige suit and white shirt, sitting on a stool with his hands clasped together

After paddling 50,000km, Australian police arrested this German kayaker

Unemployed and seeking a better life, Oscar Speck pushed his kayak into the water of the Danube and began paddling downriver. He didn't stop until he reached Australia.
Oskar Speck stands infront of hanging chillis, smiling at the camera

How Corinne Ooms spent 70 days alone in the Tasmanian wilderness

The Scottish forager is not a professional survivalist, but managed to be the last woman standing on Alone Australia.
A woman with dark hair, wearing a black knit and fluffy hat, crosses her arms and looks serious, with mountains and lake behind.

'Rip-your-hair-out brilliant': July's best new books

This month's best new releases shine a light on growing up queer in a small town, the social inequity of the US college system, and dealing with the double whammy of an unfaithful husband and a cancer diagnosis.
A composite image featuring seven book covers on an angle on a pink background

The forgotten swimmer who helped bring freestyle to the world

An Australian race in 1901 helped bring the freestyle stroke to the world.
An early 1900s sepia photo of a man from the Solomon Islands in a swimsuit, with his arms crossed

Skipping a work break can cause us long-term harm

When the pressure is on, it's easy to skip a break to focus on work. But not taking breaks can quickly become a dangerous habit.
A stressed female worker looking overwhelmed with things shoved in her face like a phone, diary and watch

Geraldine Doogue on why the future of media doesn't have to be grim

Veteran broadcaster Geraldine Doogue AO looks at the longevity of the media industry and asks what next?
A head shot of an older white woman with short light brown hair, wearing a red shirt, smiling warmly.
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