Yes... but not on fossil fuels ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Expectations were low for this year’s United Nations climate talks in Belém, Brazil. The United States’ retreat from climate action cast a long shadow. At the talks, China showed little interest in stepping up. But despite this, progress was made on protecting tropical forests and working towards a just transition.

More than 80 nations signed up to Brazil’s plan to map out how to stop extracting and using fossil fuels. At the formal negotiations, fossil fuel countries prevented the initiative from making it into the final text. But it’s not the end if global consensus fails. Nations don’t have to wait to wean themselves off dirty fuels.

Jacqueline Peel was on the ground in Belém. She writes that as the climate crisis worsens in all ways, the climate talks have noticeably shifted from arcane debate to more urgent focus on how to drive the necessary change in the real world.

Doug Hendrie

Deputy Environment + Energy Editor

This year’s climate talks saw real progress – just not on fossil fuels

Jacqueline Peel, The University of Melbourne

Expectations were extremely low ahead of this year’s UN climate talks. Remarkably, organisers in Brazil managed to secure real progress at COP30.

We knew Ningaloo’s coral bleaching was severe. But what we found 6 months later was still a shock

Zoe Richards, Curtin University

Mounting evidence shows coral reefs are suffering despite local efforts. We need global action.

What does the US Congress want with Australia’s eSafety commissioner?

Lester Munson, University of Sydney

Julie Inman Grant has been asked to testify to Congress. It’s a sign of an increasing US preoccupation with online censorship.

ADHD stimulants are being used recreationally, with consequences for users

Blair Aitken, Swinburne University of Technology; Amie Hayley, Swinburne University of Technology

Despite the way they’re portrayed online, ADHD drugs are not ‘benign’ study aids.

Do I have to work on Christmas? Or use up leave if work shuts for the holidays?

Shae McCrystal, University of Sydney

Whether you’re single, a parent or carer, or an employer trying to look after your business and staff, a legal expert explains your rights ahead of the holidays.

One university boosted gender diversity in advanced maths by over 30% in 5 years – here’s how

Zsuzsanna Dancso, University of Sydney

A lack of gender diversity in maths means technologies such as AI and quantum computing are mainly designed by – and for – men.

The key academic skill you’ve probably never heard of – and 4 ways to encourage it

Melissa Barnes, La Trobe University; Kate Lafferty, La Trobe University

Metacognition is often described as ‘thinking about our thinking’. It involves being aware of how our mind works and using that awareness to improve how we learn.

Airbrushing and exhortations: Ita Buttrose reflects on her life in media – well, some of it

Denis Muller, The University of Melbourne

Unapologetically Ita sketches the public life of a person who gets things done. An account of her career as a journalist, however, is a job for another author.

Health + Medicine

Puberty blockers: why politicians overriding doctors sets a dangerous precedent

Jaimie Veale, University of Waikato

The government’s ban on puberty blockers undermines clinical expertise and targets trans youth with a policy that lacks evidence, consistency and fairness.
Here’s what Black Friday sales shopping does to your brain

Tijl Grootswagers, Western Sydney University; Daniel Feuerriegel, The University of Melbourne

Black Friday is a psychological event, carefully designed to take advantage of how your brain makes decisions. But you can stay one step ahead this sales season.

Business + Economy
Victoria will force home sellers to reveal their reserve price. Will other states follow? Jian Liang, Queensland University of Technology New laws set to be introduced next year will require Victorian real estate agents to publish a property’s genuine reserve price at least a week before auction.

Science + Technology
Australia is about to ban under-16s from social media. Here’s what kids can do right now to prepare Daniel Angus, Queensland University of Technology; Tama Leaver, Curtin University Download your data, make plans to stay connected to friends, and decide where you’re going next.

Arts + Culture
Nothing much comes of nothing in Belvoir’s new version of King Lear Kirk Dodd, University of Sydney Unfortunately, despite an impressive cast and some outstanding performances, this King Lear is as exciting as boiled cabbage.

Junk policy
"There are no consequences healthwise in eating ultra-processed foods until the body says enough! Then we run for medical help. If eating ultra-processed foods was deemed dangerous like smoking, drugs and alcohol when consumed continuously, would this invoke a change in social policy to address our weakness in adopting these pleasurable additions?"
Otto Lechner

Protect CSIRO
"I am very disturbed by reports of planned cuts to CSIRO funding, leading to research job losses. Our national science agency needs to be well-funded as an investment in Australia's future. In an age of political misinformation, science remains as a provider of facts."
Ralph Carlisle, Brisbane

It’s not a Zoom thing
"Australia should have dropped out of COP31 due to the fact that the air kilometres to get delegates here is self-defeating in our quest to lower emissions."
Alan Inchley

We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.