Read The Times Australia

Daily Bulletin

Why marking essays by algorithm risks rewarding the writing of 'bullshit'

  • Written by: Kai Riemer, Professor of Information Technology and Organisation, University of Sydney
imageWill marking algorithms really reward good writing?Terence/Shutterstock

You may have heard that algorithms will take over the world. But how are they operating right now? We take a look in our series on Algorithms at Work.

Picture this: you have written an essay. You researched the topic and carefully constructed your argument. You submit your essay...

Read more …

VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on the New Zealand election

  • Written by: Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
imageNevada Halbert/flickr, CC BY

Michelle Grattan speaks to University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Deep Saini about the week in politics. They discuss the shock election of Jacinda Ardern as New Zealand prime minister, as well as the Australian government’s announcement of the National Energy Guarantee and whether it will...

Read more …

Dying a good death: what we need from drugs that are meant to end life

  • Written by: Betty Chaar, Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney
imageThere are a few drugs that can end life, and how we want to die should be considered. from www.shutterstock.com

Generally speaking, health care is aimed at relieving pain and suffering. This is also the motivation behind euthanasia – the ending of one’s own life, usually in the case of terminal illness characterised by excruciating pain....

Read more …

When bacteria tell a story: tracing Indigenous Australian ochre sources via microbial 'fingerprinting'

  • Written by: Rachel S. Popelka-Filcoff, Associate Professor , Flinders University
imageIndigenous Australians use ochre to add colour and detail to items such as this shield at the South Australian Museum. Image courtesy of South Australian Museum, Author provided

We have found a new method for pinpointing the geological origins of ochre found in Indigenous Australian artefacts.

The technique relies on RNA (a form of genetic...

Read more …

More Articles …

  1. Victorian courts should expand their supervision of family violence offenders
  2. Thor: Ragnarok, a joyous, trashy, retro-nostalgic comedy, is the best of the Marvel films
  3. Debt agreements and how to avoid unnecessary debt traps
  4. Your body's cells use and resist force, and they move. It's mechanobiology
  5. 'Identity politics' have not taken over university history courses
  6. Australia's high rates of bladder cancer deaths show why blood in urine should always be investigated
  7. Swift parrots need protection from sugar gliders, but that's not enough
  8. Bringing back an old idea for smart cities – playing on the street
  9. Vital Signs: economics can't explain why unemployment and inflation are both low
  10. New report shows compelling reasons to decriminalise sex work
  11. Friday essay: toxic beauty, then and now
  12. Grattan on Friday: The rift between Brandis and Dutton deepens as the behemoth of Home Affairs rises
  13. Jacinda Ardern to become NZ prime minister following coalition announcement
  14. Labour wins NZ election after backing from NZ First. Bankers' SA Galaxy: 31% Lib, 30% SA Best, 26% Labor
  15. By excluding Hannah Mouncey, the AFL's inclusion policy has failed a key test
  16. Politics podcast: Tiernan Brady and Cory Bernardi reflect on the marriage postal ballot
  17. #MeToo and Modern Consciousness-Raising
  18. Making voting both simple and secure is a challenge for democracies
  19. Let Google bill you for all your electricity, gas, phone and every other utility
  20. Childhood heart disease has a profound impact and is under-recognised
  21. Gift cards often end up in the bin, but extending their life might not help
  22. What businesses can learn from sports about using algorithms
  23. Rape is a plot device in western literature, sold back to us by Hollywood
  24. Rising dragon: China's carbon market exposes Australia's energy paralysis
  25. The off-topic Conversation #139
  26. Memo to the IPA: history teaching is driven by student demand, not 'identity politics'
  27. Designing suburbs to cut car use closes gaps in health and wealth
  28. Is Victoria's sentencing regime really more lenient?
  29. Hang ten (decades): Walter Munk, inventor of the surf forecast, turns 100
  30. Mount Agung continues to rumble with warnings the volcano could still erupt
  31. Why our brain needs sleep, and what happens if we don’t get enough of it
  32. How gig economy workers will be left short of super
  33. Politics podcast: Gareth Evans on being an Incorrigible Optimist
  34. Banded stilts fly hundreds of kilometres to lay eggs that are over 50% of their body mass
  35. X, Y and the genetics of sex: Professor Jenny Graves awarded the Prime Minister's Prize for Science 2017
  36. Was agriculture the greatest blunder in human history?
  37. Why the new banking laws won’t be the slam dunk the government is expecting
  38. Banking's new BEAR is a teddy bear not a grizzly
  39. Bob Brown wins his case, but High Court leaves the door open to laws targeting protesters
  40. The government's energy policy hinges on some tricky wordplay about coal's role
  41. Insurance changes not enough to drive real mental health reform
  42. Federal government unveils 'National Energy Guarantee' – experts react
  43. Ethics by numbers: how to build machine learning that cares
  44. Curious Kids: Why do so many animals seem to have pink ears, when their bodies are all different colours?
  45. Curious Kids: Where did the first person come from?
  46. Sex versus death: why marriage equality provokes more heated debate than assisted dying
  47. Some suburbs are being short-changed on services and liveability – which ones and what's the solution?
  48. Here's what's actually driving up health insurance premiums (hint: it's not young people dropping off)
  49. Share houses and women's liberation: a forgotten history
  50. Why craft beer is going corporate

Business News

How Immigration Lawyers Can Help

Introduction Visa decisions can shape employment, family life, study plans, travel, and future residence. A small omission can lead to delay, added expense, or refusal. Immigration lawyers assess l...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

How Industrial Drying Equipment Supports Efficient Processing

Many industrial processes require moisture to be removed from compressed air, products or process materials before they move to the next stage. Excess moisture can affect equipment performance, produc...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Practical Ways a Whiteboard Can Improve Workplace Communication

Effective communication helps teams stay organised, share ideas and keep track of important information. While digital tools are now common in many workplaces, a whiteboard continues to provide a simp...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Designing Eco-Friendly Custom Water Bottles for Your Next Event

The Evolution of Sustainable Event Merchandise Event planning has undergone a massive transformation over the last decade. Gone are the days when organizers could hand out cheap, single use plastic...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Why Choosing a Professional Florist Melbourne Makes Flower Delivery Impactful

Flowers have a great power to speak when humans cannot express their feelings with right words. Flowers are the best gifts when you are celebrating a birthday or welcoming a newborn child into your fa...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

The Business Case for Choosing Australian Fabricators Over Imported Alternatives

For a long time, you might have defaulted to overseas suppliers when sourcing fabricated metal components for a project. The unit price was lower on paper, and the maths seemed straightforward. That...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Australian organisations are relying on business continuity plans built for a far more predictable world

Tariff escalations, supply chain fragility, geopolitical events, and the ongoing threat of cyber disruption have reshaped the risk environment facing Australian organisations. The problem is that ma...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

How to Rent a Car for Uber in Melbourne: What Every New Driver Needs to Know

Starting out as an Uber driver in Melbourne is not as complicated as it sounds but getting the vehicle right is where most new drivers get stuck. Uber has strict requirements around vehicle age, condi...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

When Should You Speak to a Lawyer About a Legal Issue?

Legal issues can begin with a simple question, then become harder to manage once formal steps are involved. Many people wait until a matter feels urgent before seeking guidance, even though earlier ...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

The Daily Magazine

How Long Does Interstate Freight Take in Australia?

If you have ever arranged for stock, equipment or materials to travel from one Australian state to a...

How AEC Firms Can Scale Faster Without Sacrificing Project Quality

Growth presents a fundamental dilemma for architecture, engineering, and construction firms: expan...

What Makes an Aesthetic Clinic Worth Going Back To?

Trying an aesthetic clinic for the first time can feel like a bit of a gamble. You can read review...

Elevate Your Morning Routine with Cafe-Style Coffee at Home with the Right Coffee Machine

There's something magical about that first sip of coffee in the morning. It’s more than just a bev...

Top Garment Steamers for Busy Professionals in Australia

The gap between garment steamers built for a quick touch-up and ones built to keep pace with a wor...

Correct Sleeping Posture to Minimize Back Strain

Most people don’t pay much attention to how they sleep until they start waking up with a stiff bac...

Why Product Longevity Matters for Sustainable Australian Buildings

Sustainability in building design is often associated with recycled materials, renewable resources a...

NDIS Support Coordination Explained: What Does a Support Coordinator Actually Do?

NDIS support coordination explained means understanding how a professional can help participants n...

When Should You Speak with Divorce Lawyers in Sydney?

Divorce involves more than completing an online application. It can affect parenting arrangements, p...