Search

What makes somebody a narcissist?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Narcissism has become the armchair diagnosis of the decade. Social media is awash with people flinging the label around. Everyone’s ex seems to be a narcissist, some of our parents are under suspicion, and that office villain? They definitely tick the box, too.</p> <p>The accuracy of these rampant diagnoses warrants scepticism. But the reality is narcissists do exist. At its extreme, narcissism is a rare mental health diagnosis, known as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556001/">narcissistic personality disorder</a>. But narcissism also describes a cluster of personality traits, which we all display to varying degrees.</p> <p>For those of us who have been in close quarters with someone high in narcissistic traits, we rarely walk away unscathed. And we may be left with lingering questions. For example, what made them this way?</p> <p>In a recent <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2025.113255">meta-analysis</a>, my colleagues and I pulled together studies examining the link between narcissism and adult attachment styles. Our findings offer an important clue – especially when it comes to the potential roots of vulnerable narcissism.</p> <h2>Types of narcissism</h2> <p>There are two main types of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00711.x">narcissism</a>.</p> <p>Grandiose narcissism is what typically comes to mind. It is characterised by an overtly grandiose, aggressive and dominant interpersonal style. In contrast, vulnerable narcissism is marked by introversion, hypersensitivity to criticism, and a defensive, insecure grandiosity that masks fragile self-esteem.</p> <p>Antagonistic traits such as entitlement, manipulation, and a lack of empathy lie at the core of both narcissism types. This helps to explain the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000298">interpersonal difficulties</a> linked to each.</p> <p>Vulnerable narcissism, in particular, has been linked to a range of harmful behaviours in romantic relationships. Individuals high in this trait are more likely to engage in <a href="https://www.respectvictoria.vic.gov.au/news/red-flags-what-love-bombing-and-why-it-bad">love bombing</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2023.101985">ghosting and breadcrumbing</a>.</p> <p>They also tend to report <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2019.1707272">lower relationship satisfaction</a>, hold more permissive attitudes towards <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0001126">infidelity</a> and perpetrate <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380231196115">intimate partner violence</a> at higher rates.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIyj175t6iV/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIyj175t6iV/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Amanda E. White, LPC, LMHC (@therapyforwomen)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <h2>Secure versus insecure attachment</h2> <p>Researchers have turned to <a href="https://theconversation.com/attachment-theory-what-people-get-wrong-about-pop-psychologys-latest-trend-for-explaining-relationships-195034">attachment styles</a> to help explain how individuals high in narcissism behave in romantic relationships.</p> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118938119.ch2">Attachment theory</a> proposes that early experiences with primary caregivers shape our beliefs about ourselves and others. These beliefs are thought to persist into adulthood and influence how we experience and navigate adult relationships.</p> <p>If we felt safe, loved and supported as children, we are more likely to have a positive view of our self and others. This is the hallmark of secure attachment, which lays the foundation for healthy, stable relationships in adulthood.</p> <p>But when early relationships are marked by neglect, inconsistency or abuse, they can give rise to insecure attachment styles. <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1991-33075-001">Adult attachment models</a> generally identify three types of insecure attachment.</p> <p>Preoccupied attachment develops from a negative view of the self and a positive view of others. Individuals with this style often feel unworthy of love and seek constant reassurance in relationships, fearing rejection and abandonment.</p> <p>Dismissive attachment is rooted in a positive view of the self but a negative view of others. These individuals tend to prioritise independence over intimacy. As a result, they often struggle to form deep connections.</p> <p>Fearful attachment involves negative views of both the self and others. Those with this style typically crave connection while at the same time fearing it, leading to push-pull dynamics in relationships.</p> <h2>An interesting pattern</h2> <p>In our meta-analysis, we combined the results of 33 previous studies comprising more than 10,000 participants to examine how narcissism relates to each of the four adult attachment styles. Overall, narcissism was linked to each of the three insecure attachment styles.</p> <p>But when we looked at the two types of narcissism separately, an interesting pattern emerged. Vulnerable narcissism was consistently linked to insecure attachment styles – with associations of moderate strength for preoccupied and fearful attachment styles.</p> <p>In contrast, grandiose narcissism showed no such link.</p> <p>Does this mean insecure attachment causes vulnerable narcissism? Not necessarily. The studies we reviewed were “correlational”, which means they looked at connections, not causes. So we can’t say attachment styles cause vulnerable narcissism. To answer that, we’d need longitudinal research tracking people over time.</p> <p>Still, our findings suggest that insecure attachment – particularly preoccupied and fearful attachment styles – may be an important risk factor in the development of vulnerable narcissism.</p> <p>Of course, not everyone with an insecure attachment style has high levels of vulnerable narcissism. However, for some, vulnerable narcissism may emerge as a defensive coping strategy that arises when early attachments were marked by inconsistency, neglect or abuse.</p> <h2>Healing childhood wounds</h2> <p>Attachment styles tend to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327957PSPR0602_03">fairly consistent throughout a person’s life</a>, however change is possible. Attachment-focused therapies, such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/im-a-failure-how-schema-therapy-tackles-the-deep-rooted-beliefs-that-affect-our-mental-health-250789">schema therapy</a> and <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/therapy-types/emotionally-focused-therapy">emotionally focussed therapy</a>, can help individuals heal attachment wounds and build more secure relationship patterns. These approaches may be especially helpful for those high in vulnerable narcissism.</p> <p>At the same time, it is important that families have access to free and timely mental health care, so that children are supported to process and heal from trauma before it shapes their adult relationships, and the way they parent the next generation.</p> <p>But prevention is better than cure.</p> <p>Supporting parents and caregivers to build secure attachments with the their children and equipping them with the tools to parent effectively is essential. This is especially urgent given disturbingly <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.5694/mja2.51873">high rates of child maltreatment in Australia</a>, including emotional abuse, physical abuse and neglect – all of which have been <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.5694/mja2.51873">linked to the development of vulnerable narcissism</a>.</p> <p>We don’t need to look too far to see the cost of turning a blind eye.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/257468/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/megan-willis-8914">Megan Willis</a>, Associate Professor, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-makes-somebody-a-narcissist-mounting-evidence-suggests-links-to-insecure-attachment-styles-257468">original article</a>. </em></p> <p>Images: <span style="font-family: 'Canva Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Roboto, -apple-system, blinkmacsystemfont, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre;">Engin Akyurt / pexels.com</span></p> </div>

Mind

Why are political parties allowed to send spam texts? And how can we make them stop?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Another election, another wave of unsolicited political texts. Over this campaign, our digital mailboxes have been stuffed with a slew of political appeals and promises, many from the new party Trumpet of Patriots (backed by Clive Palmer, a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-11/clive-palmer-united-australia-party-unsolicited-text-messages/10709106">veteran</a> of the mass text campaign).</p> <p>The practice isn’t new, and it’s totally legal under current laws. It’s also non-partisan. Campaigns of all stripes have partaken. Behold, the Liberal Party’s <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/liberal-party-defends-sending-text-messages-to-voters-on-asylum-seeker-boat-intercepts/mmqwk5508">last-minute SMS</a> to voters about asylum seekers before the 2022 federal election, or Labor’s controversial “<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/federal-election-2016-shorten-confirms-labor-sent-mediscare-text-20160705-gpzasl.html">Mediscare</a>” text before the 2016 poll. Despite multiple cycles of criticism, these tactics remain a persistent feature of Australian election campaigns.</p> <p>A recent proposal to update decades-old rules could help change things – if a government would put it into practice.</p> <h2>What does the law say about political spam?</h2> <p>Several laws regulate spam and data collection in Australia.</p> <p>First, there is the Spam Act. This legislation requires that organisations obtain our consent before sending us marketing emails, SMSs and instant messages. The unsubscribe links you see at the bottom of spam emails? Those are mandated by the Spam Act.</p> <p>Second, the Do Not Call Register (DNCR) Act. This Act establishes a “do not call” register, managed by the <a href="https://www.acma.gov.au/say-no-to-telemarketers">Australian Communications and Media Authority</a> (ACMA), which individuals can join to opt out of telemarketing calls.</p> <p>Finally, there is the Privacy Act, which governs how organisations collect, use and disclose our personal information. Among other things, the Privacy Act requires that organisations tell us when and why they are collecting our personal information, and the purposes for which they intend to use it. It restricts organisations from re-purposing personal information collected for a particular purpose, unless an exception applies.</p> <p>This trio of laws was designed to offer relief from unsolicited, unwanted direct marketing. It does not, however, stop the deluge of political spam at election time due to broad political exemptions sewn into the legislation decades ago.</p> <p>The Spam Act and DNCR Act apply to marketing for goods and services but not election policies and promises, while the Privacy Act contains a <a href="https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/UNSWLawJl/2021/21.html#fn13">carve-out</a> for political parties, representatives and their contractors.</p> <p>The upshot is that their campaigns are free to spam and target voters at will. Their only obligation is to disclose who authorised the message.</p> <h2>How do political campaigns get our information?</h2> <p>Secrecy about the nature and extent of campaign data operations, enabled by the exemptions, makes it difficult to pinpoint precisely where a campaign might have obtained your data from.</p> <p>There are, however, a number of ways political campaigns can acquire our information.</p> <p>One source is the electoral roll (though not for phone numbers, as the Australian Electoral Commission <a href="https://x.com/AusElectoralCom/status/1434752533294194692">often points out</a>). Incumbent candidates might build on this with information they obtain through contact with constituents which, thanks to the exemptions, they’re allowed to re-purpose for campaigning at election time.</p> <p>Another source is data brokers – firms which harvest, analyse and sell large quantities of data and profiles.</p> <p>We know the major parties have long maintained voter databases to support their targeting efforts, which have become <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-19/behind-liberal-labor-data-arms-race-this-election/101074696">increasingly sophisticated</a> over the years.</p> <p>Other outfits might take more haphazard approaches – former MP <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/united-australia-party-leader-craig-kelly-defends-spam-messages-20210829-p58mv7.html">Craig Kelly</a>, for example, claimed to use software to randomly generate numbers for his texting campaign in 2021.</p> <h2>What can be done?</h2> <p>Unwanted campaign texts are not only irritating to some. They can be misleading.</p> <p>This year, there have been <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-17/monique-ryan-polling-amelia-hamer-trust-fund-kooyong/105185290">reports</a> of “push polling” texts (pseudo surveys meant to persuade rather than gauge voter options) in the marginal seat of Kooyong. The AEC has <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/media/2025/03-31a.htm">warned</a> about misleading postal vote applications being issued by parties via SMS.</p> <figure class="align-right zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/664617/original/file-20250429-74-yothae.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/664617/original/file-20250429-74-yothae.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/664617/original/file-20250429-74-yothae.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=738&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664617/original/file-20250429-74-yothae.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=738&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664617/original/file-20250429-74-yothae.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=738&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664617/original/file-20250429-74-yothae.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=927&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664617/original/file-20250429-74-yothae.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=927&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664617/original/file-20250429-74-yothae.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=927&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Screenshot of a text message from Trumpet of Patriots." /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">This election campaign has seen a flood of texts from Trumpet of Patriots, among others.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">The Conversation</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>Generative AI is hastening the ability to produce misleading content, cheaply and at scale, which can be quickly pushed out across an array of online social and instant messaging services.</p> <p>In short, annoying texts are just one visible symptom of a wider vulnerability created by the political exemptions.</p> <p>The basic argument for the political exemptions is to facilitate freedom of political communication, which is protected by the Constitution. As the High Court has said, that freedom is necessary to support informed electoral choice. It does not, however, guarantee speakers a <a href="http://www6.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/HCA/2019/11.html">captive audience</a>.</p> <p>In 2022, the Attorney-General’s Department <a href="https://www.ag.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-02/privacy-act-review-report_0.pdf">proposed</a> narrowing the political exemptions, as part of a suite of updates to the Privacy Act. Per the proposal, parties and representatives would need to be more transparent about their data operations, provide voters with an option to unsubscribe from targeted ads, refrain from targeting voters based on “sensitive information”, and handle data in a “fair and reasonable” manner.</p> <p>The changes would be an overdue but welcome step, recognising the <a href="https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/journal_contribution/Conceptualising_Voter_Privacy_in_the_Age_of_Data-Driven_Political_Campaigning/27330276?file=50073381">essential role</a> of voter privacy in a functioning democratic system.</p> <p>Unfortunately, the government has not committed to taking up the proposal.</p> <p>A bipartisan lack of support is likely the biggest obstacle, even as the gap created by the political exemptions widens, and its rationale becomes flimsier, with each election cycle.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/255413/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tegan-cohen-1331144">Tegan Cohen</a>, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Digital Media Research Centre, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-are-political-parties-allowed-to-send-spam-texts-and-how-can-we-make-them-stop-255413">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

Legal

UK Supreme Court makes major ruling on definition of "woman"

<p>In a landmark ruling that has stirred celebration and concern in equal measure, the UK Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the legal definition of "woman" refers exclusively to someone born biologically female.</p> <p>The decision effectively excludes transgender women from being counted as women under the Equality Act, marking a decisive turn in a years-long legal battle over gender identity and women's rights in Scotland.</p> <p>The case, brought by the feminist campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS), challenged guidance issued by the Scottish government that included transgender women with gender recognition certificates in official gender quotas. The ruling has been hailed as a victory by women's rights advocates who argued that expanding the definition undermined protections for biologically female people.</p> <p>“Everyone knows what sex is and you can't change it,” said Susan Smith, co-director of FWS, celebrating the court’s decision outside the courthouse. “It’s basic common sense. People have tried to deny science and reality. Hopefully, this now brings us back to reality.”</p> <p>The Supreme Court’s five justices ruled unanimously that the Equality Act permits single-sex spaces – such as women-only changing rooms, shelters, and medical services – to exclude transgender women, even those who hold gender recognition certificates.</p> <p>In his written opinion, Justice Patrick Hodge said that the ruling does not strip transgender people of their broader protections under UK law but rather clarifies the scope of “sex” in certain legal contexts. “Interpreting ‘sex’ as certificated sex would cut across the definitions of ‘man’ and ‘woman’… and create heterogeneous groupings,” he wrote.</p> <p>The dispute originated from a 2018 Scottish law requiring that at least 50% of board members of public bodies be women. The inclusion of trans women in this target was central to the legal challenge, with FWS arguing that such a move effectively redefined the concept of womanhood without parliamentary authority.</p> <p>Aidan O’Neill, legal counsel for FWS, told the court that “sex” should be interpreted in the “ordinary, everyday” sense, based on biology from birth. “It is an expression of one’s bodily reality,” he said. “An immutable biological state.”</p> <p>The ruling has sparked celebration among gender-critical activists. Outside court, campaigners from several women’s groups opened champagne and chanted, “Women’s rights are human rights.”</p> <p>Maya Forstater, founder of the advocacy group Sex Matters, said: “The court has given us the right answer: the protected characteristic of sex refers to reality, not paperwork.”</p> <p>Author JK Rowling, a vocal supporter of FWS, praised the campaigners as “extraordinary” and “tenacious.” In a post on X, she said, “In winning, they've protected the rights of women and girls across the UK.”</p> <p>However, the judgment has drawn sharp criticism from trans rights organisations and human rights advocates. The campaign group Scottish Trans said it was “shocked and disappointed,” warning that the ruling risks eroding legal protections for trans people.</p> <p>Green Party Member of the Scottish Parliament Maggie Chapman called the decision “deeply concerning” and a “huge blow to some of the most marginalised people in our society.”</p> <p>“Trans people have been cynically targeted and demonised by politicians and large parts of the media for far too long,” Chapman said. “This has contributed to attacks on longstanding rights and attempts to erase their existence altogether.”</p> <p>Amnesty International also condemned the ruling, arguing that it clashes with broader human rights standards. “A blanket policy of barring trans women from single-sex services is not a proportionate means to achieve a legitimate aim,” the organisation stated.</p> <p>The UK government welcomed the Supreme Court's clarification, stating, “Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this government.”</p> <p>Scotland’s semi-autonomous government, which initially defended the inclusion of trans women in public board quotas, said it accepted the court's decision. “We will now engage on the implications of the ruling,” said First Minister John Swinney. “Protecting the rights of all will underpin our actions.”</p> <p>The ruling is expected to have wide-reaching implications for public policy, equalities law, and gender identity debates across the UK – a country increasingly at the centre of a global reckoning on the boundaries of sex, gender and rights.</p> <p><em>Images: For Women Scotland</em></p>

Legal

Incredible breakthrough after scientists make dire wolves "de-extinct"

<p>The legendary dire wolf – an iconic creature that vanished around 13,000 years ago and gained fame through HBO’s <em>Game of Thrones – </em>has made an extraordinary return. This resurgence is the result of a cutting-edge genetic project spearheaded by Colossal Biosciences, marking the first-ever successful "de-extinction" of a species.</p> <p>In a groundbreaking announcement recently, Colossal revealed the birth of three healthy dire wolf pups – Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi – who were created by combining DNA from ancient dire wolf fossils and the genes of their closest living relative, the grey wolf. The news marks a milestone in both genetic engineering and conservation science, offering a glimpse into the future of species revival.</p> <p>The pups' arrival was made possible by the expertise of Colossal’s team, which used DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull. Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal, expressed his excitement over the breakthrough, saying, “It was once said, ‘any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic’. Today, our team gets to unveil some of the magic they are working on and its broader impact on conservation.”</p> <p>The dire wolf pups were created using somatic cell nuclear transfer, a cloning technique that involved inserting cell nuclei from the ancient DNA into donor egg cells. These embryos were then implanted into a surrogate dog mother, who gave birth in January.</p> <p>The pups are now thriving in a secure 800-hectare ecological preserve, where they receive round-the-clock care from a dedicated team of 10 staff members.</p> <p>The dire wolf, once a dominant predator across North America, were fierce hunters that roamed alongside Ice Age megafauna such as mastodons and sabre-toothed tigers. They preyed on large mammals like horses, bison and potentially mammoths, but after these species went extinct, the dire wolf's reign also came to an end. According to palaeontologist Julie Meachen, with the loss of their prey, the dire wolf was gradually replaced by the grey wolf, which filled the ecological void.</p> <p>Dire wolves were notably larger and more muscular than their modern grey relatives, with jaws and shoulders built for powerful hunts. Their revival has captivated both science enthusiasts and pop culture fans alike.</p> <p>Lamm and George Church, a Harvard biologist, co-founded Colossal Biosciences with the ambitious goal of bringing back extinct species. The company is also working toward reviving the woolly mammoth and the Tasmanian tiger, and has already successfully engineered a woolly mouse, known for its curly fur reminiscent of the woolly mammoth's iconic coat.</p> <p>Dr Christopher Mason, a scientific adviser for Colossal, hailed the de-extinction of the dire wolf as a transformative leap in genetic engineering. "This is an extraordinary technological leap for both science and conservation," he stated. "It’s a wonderful example of the power of biotechnology to protect species, both extant and extinct."</p> <p><em>Images: Colossal Biosciences</em></p>

Technology

5 mistakes people make setting financial goals

<p>In discussions around money and goal setting, people talk a lot about financial freedom. What does that mean to you, though? We might redefine money as ‘a unit of choice’, because the more money you make, the more choices you have. Everyone’s aspirations are different, which is one reason why there’s no one-size-fits- all approach to wealth.</p> <p>It’s time to begin to understand what financial freedom means to you, because how on earth are you going to get there, if you don’t know where <em>there</em> is? How will you craft a strategic wealth-building plan when you don’t know what your target is? How will you know if you are making the right decisions in the right areas, decisions that are intentionally and systematically advancing you towards your outcomes. Here are some of the big mistakes I see people make when setting financial goals.</p> <h2>Mistake #1: They have none!</h2> <p>Without a goal, how will you know what to steer towards? You are left just ‘hoping’ that one day things will work out. With no clear direction to head towards, any actions you take are more or less random. You’re often left sitting idle and going nowhere fast, just swept along by whatever current comes your way.</p> <h2>Mistake #2: They make them too big</h2> <p>This might seem counterintuitive, especially since the typical conversation about personal development emphasises aiming for big, ambitious goals. And while these can be valuable, helping to elevate your thinking and giving you something inspiring to work towards, the problem arises when they are your only focus. Without smaller, achievable milestones to serve as stepping stones, the gap between where you are now and your ultimate goal can feel overwhelming. This can make it hard for your subconscious mind to fully commit, leading to procrastination or self-sabotage due to fear of not knowing how to get there. </p> <h2>Mistake #3: They make them too small</h2> <p>While small goals may seem manageable, they can lack the power to ignite your motivation or emotional drive or to be the catalyst that pulls you towards something greater than who and where you are in life right now. Small, uninspiring goals can make it easy to remain complacent. Without a purpose or vision that stretches you, there’s no real incentive to pursue them with passion. They don’t create the emotional connection that’s essential for driving sustained effort and overcoming obstacles. As a result, you may never fully commit to these goals, and they end up being more like tasks to check off a list than meaningful milestones on your path to success.</p> <h2>Mistake #4: They are vague and wishy-washy</h2> <p>When your goals are unclear and lack focus, they are difficult to achieve. Goals like ‘I want to be rich’ of ‘I want more money’ are too broad to provide any real direction. Without concrete details – such as specific numbers, deadlines or actionable steps – you don’t have a clear path to follow. Vague goals make it hard to measure progress or stay motivated, because there’s nothing tangible to work towards. As a result, your efforts can become inconsistent, and it’s easy to lose focus. Without clarity, you can’t point your actions in a specific direction, which makes it unlikely you’ll make any meaningful progress. A well-defined goal, on the other hand, creates a roadmap and keeps you accountable along the way.</p> <h2>Mistake #5: They have no plan to make it real</h2> <p>Setting a clear goal is undeniably important but it’s only part of the process. Just because someone says they want a specific outcome does not mean they will achieve it. Yet many people fixate solely on the goal itself, or they try to manifest wealth and happiness through the ‘law of attraction’ alone.</p> <p>Most people spend 95 per cent of their time focusing on setting the goal and only 5 per cent on the actions needed to achieve it. Do you see the flaw in that approach? Instead, reverse the focus. Spend 5 per cent of your time defining the goal, and 95 per cent of your time working towards making it a reality. This is where having the right system becomes crucial.</p> <p>How do we break free from impotent goal setting and instead craft a set of financial goals that are not only big, beautiful and inspiring, but achievable. By setting targets that are tangible and tactical and are going to set you up to win, you become more than who you are right now.</p> <p>In the end, a goal without a plan is just an idea. A plan without a goal is simply directionless effort. It may keep you busy, but it won’t lead you anywhere meaningful. Both the goal and the plan must work together – one providing the destination, the other offering the roadmap. I always tell my clients they will never out-earn themselves. If you want to level up your results in life, you have to first level up as a person and raise the standards in how you choose to play the game.</p> <p><em>This is an edited extract from Escape the Middle (Wiley $32.95) by Todd Polke. Todd is an investor, entrepreneur and international educator in investing and wealth creation. For over two decades, he has guided thousands of individuals in growing and scaling their wealth to achieve financial independence. Find out more at <a href="https://www.portfoliowealth.com%20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.portfoliowealth.com </a></em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Money & Banking

Albanese calls May 3 election, with cost of living the central battleground

<div class="theconversation-article-body">Australians will go to the polls on May 3 for an election squarely centred on the cost of living.</p> <p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Yarralumla first thing on Friday morning.</p> <p>Later he told an 8am news conference at parliament house the election choice was “between Labor’s plan to keep building or Peter Dutton’s plan to cut.</p> <p>"Only Labor has the plan to make you better off over the next three years,” he said. “Now is not the time for cutting and wrecking, punching down.”</p> <p>Less than a week after the federal budget and following an earlier delay caused by Cyclone Alfred, the formal campaign starts with government and opposition neck and neck and minority government considered a real possibility.</p> <p>But in recent days, the government has gained more momentum and Labor enters the campaign more confident than at the start of the year.</p> <p>The aggregated January-March quarterly Newspoll had the Coalition leading Labor 51-49%, but Albanese leading Peter Dutton as preferred PM 45% to 40%. A YouGov poll published March 21 had Labor and Coalition on 50-50. Polling only shows a snapshot of the present, and the campaign itself could be crucial to the election result.</p> <p>This is the fourth consecutive election launched off the back of a budget, with both sides this week bidding for voters’ support with big handouts.</p> <p>Labor pushed through legislation for its $17 billion tax cut, the first stage of which comes in mid next year. Opposition leader Peter Dutton in his budget reply promised a 12-month halving of excise on petrol and diesel and a gas reservation scheme.</p> <p>Labor goes <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2025/guide/pendulum">into the election</a> with 78 seats in the lower house, and the Coalition with 57 (counting the seats of two recent Liberal defectors). The large crossbench includes four Greens and half a dozen “teals”.</p> <p>With a majority being 76 seats in the new 150-seat parliament, the Coalition needs to win 19 seats for an outright majority. This would require a uniform swing of 5.3% (although swings are not uniform). A swing of less than 1% could take Labor into minority. The Coalition would need a swing of about 3.6% to end with more seats than the government. While all states are important if the result is close, Victoria and NSW are regarded as the crucial battlegrounds.</p> <p>If the Coalition won, it would be the first time that a first-term government had been defeated since 1931, during the great depression.</p> <p>Since the end of the second world war, while all first term governments have been reelected, each saw a two-party swing against them.</p> <p>One challenge for Albanese is that he has only a tiny majority, providing little buffer against a swing.</p> <p>The combined vote of the major parties will be something to watch, with the vote steadily declining from 85.47% of the vote just 19 years ago at the 2007 election, to only 68.28% at the 2022 election.</p> <p>Labor won the last election with a two-party vote of<br />52.13% to the Coalition’s 47.87%.</p> <p>As of December 31 2024, 17,939,818 Australians were enrolled to vote.</p> <p>The start of the formal campaign follows a long “faux” campaign in which both leaders have been travelling the length and breadth of the country non-stop, with the government making a series of major spending announcement but the opposition holding back on policy.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/250774/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <h2>Marginal seats based on the redistribution</h2> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2025/03/Antony-Greens-ABC-Electoral-Pendulum.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="1535" /></p> <p><em> * Seat with a sitting ALP member ** Seat with a sitting Liberal member *** Warringah MP Zali Steggall was elected before the 2022 ‘teals’, but is regarded as one of them. <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/dat/news/elections/federal/2025/guide/FED2025_PostRedistPendulum.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antony Green's ABC Electoral Pendulum</a></em></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michelle-grattan-20316">Michelle Grattan</a>, Professorial Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/albanese-calls-may-3-election-with-cost-of-living-the-central-battleground-250774">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Images: </em><em style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box;">Image credits: LUKAS COCH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial</em></p> <div class="footer-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"> </div> </div>

Legal

A decade in the making: Jamie Durie finally unveils dream home

<p>After a decade of meticulous planning, popular TV host Jamie Durie has finally revealed his dream home, a breathtaking sustainable property on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.</p> <p>The Seven Network presenter took to Instagram to share an album of images showcasing the eco-friendly sanctuary he built for his family. "Grateful. 10 years of planning, 2 years of construction and we’re finally back home," Durie, 54, captioned the post.</p> <p>The luxurious and environmentally conscious home is now the residence of Durie, his fiancée Ameka Jane, and their two children: three-year-old daughter Beau and one-year-old son Nash.</p> <p>The entire process of planning and construction has been chronicled on Durie’s latest TV venture, <em>Growing Home With Jamie Durie</em>, airing on Seven.</p> <p>"It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to build an off-the-grid house," Durie told <em>Woman’s Day</em> in November. "Ten years ago, I sketched the house. We lodged the plans five years ago, and then the last two years have been dedicated to construction."</p> <p>Durie said that the journey to completion was anything but smooth. "I don’t think poor Ameka had any idea what she was signing up for when we met. But she came up with a number of ideas that added a lot of value to it."</p> <p>He also admitted that building the house tested the family in a variety of ways. "Any family out there who’s building their own house will go through the same as what we’ve gone through," he said. "Huge budget blowouts, rising interest rates, massive construction costs that are constantly going up. We’ve had to go back to the bank four times." </p> <p>Despite the hurdles, Durie and Jane remained committed to using innovative eco-friendly features wherever they could. "We challenged ourselves with new eco-initiatives that not many people would ever dream of trying, or may not even know about," he said, before describing the experience as "the toughest project I have ever taken on in my whole life".</p> <p>Following Durie’s Instagram reveal, a wave of celebrity friends flooded the comments section with praise for the spectacular home. <em>The Morning Show</em>’s Larry Emdur wrote, "Mate!!! Just wow";fFormer Bachelor star Anna Heinrich called it "incredible"; while TV personality Sally Obermeder simply stated, "WOW". </p> <p>Comedian Dave Hughes was equally impressed, writing, "That’s proper wow. My god." <em>Getaway</em> host Catriona Rowntree described the home as "bloomin’ gorgeous".</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Real Estate

Man charged after allegedly making bomb threats in airport

<p>A Brisbane man has been charged after allegedly making threats about a bomb on a plane and travelling under a fake name. </p> <p>The 44-year-old boarded a Brisbane-bound flight at Sydney Airport on January 14 and was allegedly talking about a bomb while speaking on the phone before take-off. </p> <p>He was escorted off the plane by police, where officers allegedly found he had been travelling under a fake name. </p> <p>Following a search of the aircraft, officers confirmed there was no threat of a bomb.</p> <p>“Travelling on an aircraft should be a safe experience for passengers and airline crew alike,” AFP Detective Superintendent Morgan Blunden said.</p> <p>“The AFP will continue to work closely with airline partners to deal with any behaviour that interferes with aviation security.”</p> <p>The man has been charged with one count of taking a constitutional flight with a ticket obtained with false identity information and one count of threatening aviation security. </p> <p>The maximum penalty for the offences is 12 months’ jail and a $16,000 fine respectively. </p> <p><em>Image: </em><em>aiyoshi597 / Shutterstock.com</em></p>

Travel Trouble

Methanol victims parents call for boycott

<p>The parents of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, the two Melbourne teenagers who died of methanol poisoning in Laos, have urged Australians to boycott the country, after the government refused to meet with them three months after the tragedy. </p> <p>The two 19-year-olds were on a trip of a lifetime in Vang Vieng last November when they fell ill after consuming drinks that contained methanol at the Nana Backpacker Hostel. </p> <p>Bianca's parents, Mark and Michelle Jones, have told ABC on Monday that they still have not received any updates from the Laos government. </p> <p>“I mean, our girls were murdered and nothing’s getting done. And that’s really hard,” they said. </p> <p>“What are they hiding? That’s what I’m thinking, that’s what we’re all thinking. Someone’s got to be accountable for it.”</p> <p>Holly's mum has also urged Australian's against travelling to the country, saying: “Don’t go. Don’t go. It’s just not safe for travellers, it just isn’t, and we’ve seen that first hand." </p> <p>Mr Bowles added, if Laos wants “people to come to your country, make it safe. Make it a safe place”.</p> <p>The parents of Anne-Sofie Orkild, who also passed away after consuming the drink, agreed that a boycott of Laos is their only hope for answers. </p> <p>“It’s a lot of leverage, it’s a lot of money,” they said. </p> <p>“Our recommendation is not to go to Laos, it will hurt them.”</p> <p>Though the hostel remains closed, the staff members who were arrested after the tragedy have since been released from custody and are believed to be under house arrest, according to the ABC. </p> <p>“We were led to believe they had 12 people in custody, they’ve all been released,” Mr Jones said. </p> <p>“It’s incredibly concerning, it seems to reek of a cover-up.</p> <p>“I can’t imagine that from the distilling process through to handing out drinks, there’s not one Lao national who was involved in the chain – so something seems incredibly off.”</p> <p>Since the tragedy, the Australian government has backed the families' call for a transparent and thorough investigation, with Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong telling <em>Sunrise </em>last month: “I completely understand the anguish of the families who haven’t heard from the Laotian government for the last couple of months.</p> <p>“We will continue to press the Laotian government.”</p> <p><em>Image: 60 Minutes/ 7News</em></p>

Travel Trouble

"Makes me sick": Amanda Keller weighs in on Marty Sheargold controversy

<p>Amanda Keller has unleashed on Marty Sheargold, calling out his "embarrassing" <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/disgusting-radio-host-slammed-over-women-s-sports-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">comments</a> about the Matildas. </p> <p>The radio host reacted to the news that Sheargold has been <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/marty-sheargold-axed-from-triple-m-after-matildas-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let go</a> by Triple M after his comments about women's sport caused a wave of backlash online. </p> <p>Addressing the controversy on her own radio program, Keller took aim at Sheargold and the state of radio in Australia. </p> <p>“This embarrasses everyone who works on radio because it gives everyone a chance to say commercial radio is filled with old dinosaurs,” Keller began.</p> <p>“This thinking, this way of thought is so privileged, outdated and boorish.”</p> <p>She noted that Triple M has honed a reputation as being a home for both sport and comedy, saying, “Well, he’s pissed over both. He really has. And he’s punched down at women.”</p> <p>She called his comments “outdated, dumb, disrespectful and incorrect,” and noted that while radio hosts are paid to voice their opinions on-air, “if our network or if our audience say too far, then they’re the arbiters of what we do. And people here have said too far.”</p> <p>Keller further slammed the industry model, “particularly at Triple M”, of pairing “boorish” male comedians with female co-hosts “whose job it is to say, ‘Oh stop it.’ That is so boring.”</p> <p>She went on to remind viewers of Sheargold's previous program with Fifi Box, and how Marty admitted himself that he had become "a giant A-hole" on the show. </p> <p>“He said, ‘I battered that woman down. Show after show. And I don’t blame Fifi for wanting to get out.’ This is what he said at the time,” she claimed.</p> <p>“And here we are again. How many chances do these men get? I’m hoping that the tide has turned. The outpouring of horror has been so loud.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGjS9F5Tjhm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGjS9F5Tjhm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Amanda Keller Brendan Jones (@jonesyandamanda)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Later on in the show, Sheargold’s former colleague Gus Worland joined Amanda to discuss the scandal, praised Triple M’s decision to part ways with the presenter.</p> <p>Worland, who worked Triple M’s drive shift for three years before Sheargold replaced him, said the comedian had skirted “close to the line many, many times” over the years. </p> <p>“Firstly, he was wrong yesterday in the information that he gave out. Secondly, the way that he did it made us all feel really, really sad. And I’m glad that they [Triple M] made the decision to give him the flick. The apology was never going to be enough, and we just need to change the way that we look at things at Triple M,” he said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Triple M / Instagram </em></p>

Music

Search for missing fisherman called off

<p>Police have suspended their search for fisherman Paul Barning who fell overboard his boat during a fishing competition in New South Wales. </p> <p>The 58-year-old was competing in the Game Fishing Association state tournament off the Port Stephens coast on Sunday, when he fell overboard while trying to reel in large mako shark. </p> <p>Barning was helping his crew when became entangled in fishing wire and was dragged into the water as the shark darted back into the ocean.</p> <p>After a major three-day search, NSW Police have called off the search on Tuesday morning, with his family saying they “have no words” to describe how they are feeling. </p> <p>“Despite the efforts of searchers, the man has not yet been located and the search was suspended at 5pm today and will not resume (on Wednesday),” NSW Police said.</p> <p>The fisherman's wife, Leonie told <em>7News</em> that the family have mixed emotions after the search was suspended, but are extremely grateful to everyone involved. </p> <p>“We just want to send out a huge thank you to everyone involved in the search and rescue, we were informed every step of the way,” she said.</p> <p>“And a huge thank you to the whole fishing community. We have been overwhelmed with kindness from everyone.</p> <p>“Our family meant everything to Paul, he would never hesitate to do the same for anyone else.”</p> <p>It is understood the fisherman was not wearing a life jacket when he went overboard. </p> <p>Barning, a father-of-three, was an experienced game fisherman and the secretary and past president of the Port Hacking Game Fishing Club.</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-barning-family" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe </a>has since been launched by NSW Game and Fishing Association president Steve Lamond, to assist Barning's family during this difficult time, with over $148,000 raised. </p> <p>“We are raising funds to assist the family through this tragic time so they can focus on processing their grief," the fundraiser read. </p> <p>“Anything you could give to assist will be greatly appreciated.”</p> <p><em>Image: NSW Marine Rescue/ Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

Prince William’s heartbreaking call after Kate's cancer diagnosis

<p>A former aide to the Prince of Wales has revealed that he was at his "lowest" after his wife Princess Kate was diagnosed with cancer about <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/kate-middleton-reveals-cancer-diagnosis-in-heartfelt-message" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a year ago</a>. </p> <p>In an interview with <em>60 Minutes Australia</em>, Jason Knauf, who was the chief executive of William and Kate’s Royal Foundation, revealed the phone call he shared with the Prince of Wales, after Kate's cancer diagnosis last year. </p> <p>"It was awful, absolutely awful. It's the lowest I've ever seen him.</p> <p>"Within a couple of weeks, if you're Prince William, you find out that both your wife and your father have cancer. I couldn't believe it."</p> <p>Princess Kate is now in <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/kate-middleton-confirms-the-end-of-her-chemotherapy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remission</a>, while King Charles receives ongoing treatment. </p> <p>The Princess of Wales' diagnosis was made public in March last year, with Knauf recalling: “But the problem was that all this crazy conspiracy theory stuff kicked off in the background, online. ‘Was she really ill?’.</p> <p>“But they didn’t want to say yet that she had cancer because they hadn’t told the children and they were still working through how to tell the children.”</p> <p>Knauf stepped down from his position at the end of 2021. He also previously worked for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as their communications secretary. </p> <p>The Prince of Wales previously told reporters at the end of his visit to South Africa in November last year, that 2024 had been “the hardest year" of his life. </p> <p>"Honestly? It's been dreadful. It's probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult," he told the BBC at the time. </p> <p>“But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been brutal.”</p> <p><em>Image: 60 Minutes/ Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

Calls for major shops to ditch "toxic" product

<p>Common poisons sold at Bunnings, Mitre 10, Coles and Woolworths could potentially wipe out five species of carnivorous mammals.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972500467X" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:and a new study by Edith Cowan University;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" data-rapid_p="12" data-v9y="1">A new study by Edith Cowan University</a> has discovered the impact of these common rat poisons is more widespread than first thought, with predators also being impacted by the toxins as well as the pests.</p> <p>“This is the first documentation of pretty substantial rodenticide exposure in our entire suite of top marsupial carnivores in Australia,” researcher and adjunct lecturer Dr Michael Lohr told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/calls-for-bunnings-mitre-10-coles-and-woolworths-to-ditch-toxic-product-going-to-kill-everything-063045604.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Yahoo News</em></a>.</p> <p>“Tasmanian devils and quolls are potentially being exposed at rates that could have a substantial impact on the trajectory of their populations going forward, and not in a good way.”</p> <p>The use of second-generation rat baits is currently under review by a government regulator – the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), with Dr Lohr urging retailers to take them off shelves. </p> <p>"I think it's really important for Australia at this point to try to catch up to the rest of the developed world," he said. "Action is needed on this and the world has already agreed on that."</p> <p>The use and sale of these pesticides are heavily restricted in the United States, European Union and United Kingdom, but are freely available in Australia.</p> <p>More than 7,000 people have signed a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/help-wildlife-and-pets-poisoned-dying-in-agony-bunnings-stop-selling-sgar-rat-baits" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-i13n="cpos:9;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:Change.org petition;cpos:9;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" data-rapid_p="20" data-v9y="1">Change.org petition</a> calling for supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths to ditch these "highly toxic" rat baits which it said can kill pets and native animals.</p> <p>Veteran wildlife advocate Cat Coake told <em>Yahoo</em> retailers have a duty to stop non-targeted poisons, as she said, "Otherwise they're going to kill everything."</p> <p>In a statement, Bunnings noted that it's not the only major retailer in Australia selling second-generation rodenticides.</p> <p>"Like many retailers, we offer a range of rodent control products, including anticoagulant rodenticides and non-poisonous alternatives, to provide choice for customers on the best solution to their specific rodent problem," it said.</p> <p>Bunnings also said it's complying with government regulations on the sale of these poisons. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Home & Garden

"Living legend": Bruce McAvaney makes the best call in sports history

<p>In breaking news that has AFL fans across Australia leaping from their couches with unbridled joy, legendary broadcaster Bruce McAvaney is officially back in the Channel 7 commentary box for the 2025 season!</p> <p>Yes, you heard that right. The man, the myth, the vocal magician who can make a standard half-forward flanker look like an Olympic gold medallist is returning to bless our ears once again.</p> <p>On Wednesday, Seven confirmed that the Australian Football Hall of Famer and Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductee will headline the network’s AFL coverage on Sunday nights and for marquee matches. Translation? Footy just got 100 per cent more special.</p> <p>For those unfamiliar with McAvaney’s illustrious career (aka, people who have spent the last three decades living under a rock), the 71-year-old maestro has called over a thousand AFL games, 20 AFL Grand Finals, and hosted 21 Brownlow Medal nights – an incredible feat that makes even the most seasoned commentators look like they’re still on their learner’s permit.</p> <p>McAvaney, who originally retired from AFL commentary in 2021, sent the nation into a frenzy when he made a thrilling cameo in the 2024 AFL Finals. The brief return had fans (and possibly a few rival broadcasters) whispering, "Could he? Would he? Should he?!" Well, the answer is a resounding YES.</p> <p>Reflecting on his return, McAvaney shared, “I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to hold my end up, but I enjoyed it and loved it... <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">I’m 71 and my health is going well.</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">” In other words, the GOAT of AFL commentary wasn’t just dipping his toes back in the water – he was cannonballing right back into the deep end. </span></p> <p>Seven’s Head of AFL and Sport Innovation, Gary O’Keeffe, described McAvaney as a “living legend” – which might be the understatement of the year. McAvaney himself is apparently itching to get back behind the mic. “Some of my fondest memories have been in Seven’s AFL commentary box," he said. "And I can’t wait to witness more unforgettable moments during the 2025 season.” </p> <p>Meanwhile, across the AFL media landscape, Fox Footy has been bolstering its already stacked lineup, securing the services of Leigh Matthews, Tom Hawkins and Shaun Burgoyne. But let’s be honest – while Fox is building an empire, Seven just re-signed the emperor.</p> <p>So, footy fans, prepare yourselves. The dulcet tones of Bruce McAvaney are back, and the 2025 AFL season just became a whole lot more special.</p> <p><em>Image: Seven Network</em></p>

"It makes my blood boil": Today reporter fires up over athletes' pay

<p>Sports reporter and <em>Today</em> presenter Roz Kelly has fired up over a list revealing the highest paid athletes in 2024 for one major reason. </p> <p><a href="https://www.sportico.com/feature/highest-paid-athletes-in-the-world-1234765608/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sportico</a> revealed the list on Friday, which features one concerning theme that caught Kelly's attention: not a single female athlete features in the top 100 list.</p> <p>The salary figures for each athlete combine their reported annual salary as well as endorsement deals that are often worth millions. </p> <p>The lucrative list is topped by football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, who reportedly pocketed $411 million in 2024.</p> <p>"It makes my blood boil, it makes me so, so angry," Kelly said. "It's just proof of the gender pay gap in sport."</p> <p>"Some of these women are some of the most marketable in the world right now, they are on billboards everywhere."</p> <p>"I know like tennis players and surfers, they have equal prize money. There's still a long way to go in cricket, and soccer... I'm on a rant now."</p> <p>"When it comes to endorsement deals they are severely underpaid compared to their male counterparts."</p> <p>Five of the top 10 paid athletes in 2024 were football players, while basketball, golf, and American football also feature heavily in the top 20.</p> <p>Ben Simmons is the lone Aussie athlete in the top 100 after he earned $65m last year, coming in at 85th on the list.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Today / Shutterstock </em></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 24px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.333; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; caret-color: #333333; color: #333333; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"> </p>

Money & Banking

Coroner makes bombshell ruling over Jock Zonfrillo's death

<p>A 16-month investigation into Jock Zonfrillo's death has come to an end, with the coroner making a shocking decision about the celebrity chef's cause of death. </p> <p>The coroner has decided not to publicly reveal the MasterChef judge's cause of death, which will now likely remain secret unless his family wish to disclose the information. </p> <p>Zonfrillo's body was found in a hotel room in Melbourne at about 2am on May 1st 2023 after police were called to conduct a welfare check on the 46-year-old.</p> <p>There was widespread speculation about the cause of Zonfrillo's sudden death due to his well-publicised history of drug abuse and mental health struggles.</p> <p>A spokeswoman for Victoria's Coroners Court told <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14357311/jock-zonfrillo-masterchef-coronial-investigation.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a></em> the investigation into Zonfrillo's death was completed on August 27th last year. </p> <p>"At the close of the investigation, the coroner determined that the finding would not be published," the spokeswoman said.</p> <p>In the days following Zonfrillo's death,<em> Daily Mail Australia</em> revealed that it was Jock's wife Lauren who made the frantic phone call to police which led them to find her husband's body. </p> <p>She was travelling abroad and had reportedly became concerned about her husband's welfare when Zonfrillo failed to keep to their usual daily schedule of telephone calls. </p> <p>At the time, a senior Victoria Police source said that officers who attended the hotel found Zonfrillo unresponsive in his bed and saw no obvious signs of anything suspicious or unusual.</p> <p>There was no drug paraphernalia located and no one else in his room, with police at the scene forming the initial view Zonfrillo had died of natural causes.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Legal

Nine star Liz Hayes calls it quits after 44 years

<p>Veteran journalist and news reporter Liz Hayes is bidding farewell to Channel Nine after an incredible 44-year run, leaving fans and colleagues alike in shock.</p> <p>The iconic reporter, known for her work on shows like <em>60 Minutes</em> and <em>Today</em>, announced she'll be "pursuing new opportunities" outside the network in 2025.</p> <p>Hayes, who's been a fixture on Aussie TV screens for decades, joined Nine way back in 1981 with nothing but "a notebook and a typewriter". She quickly made her mark, working her way up from a reporter on <em>9News</em> to co-hosting <em>Today</em> with Steve Liebmann for a solid decade. But it was her role as a correspondent on <em>60 Minutes</em> that really cemented her status as a journalism legend.</p> <p>Throughout her career, Hayes has covered everything from US presidential elections to natural disasters across the globe. She's sat down with prime ministers, Hollywood A-listers, music legends and world-class athletes. But it wasn't just the glitz and glamour that defined her work. Hayes had a knack for shining a light on everyday people caught up in extraordinary situations.</p> <p>In recent years, Hayes fronted <em>Under Investigation with Liz Hayes</em>, a show that dug into unsolved crimes and complex social issues. Her work on the program even snagged her the 2024 Media Diversity Australia Award for her efforts.</p> <p>Reflecting on her time at Nine, Hayes said, "When I arrived at Nine I had little more than a notebook and a typewriter, but like my new and far more experienced colleagues, I carried with me an enormous passion for telling stories. I was blessed. I had found my tribe."</p> <p>But Hayes isn't calling it quits on storytelling quite yet. She's made it clear that she'll "continue to tell" good stories, hinting at exciting new ventures on the horizon. While she's leaving her full-time gig at Nine, the network has said she'll still be part of the family, popping up for special stories and events.</p> <p>Nine's Director of TV, Michael Healy, sang Hayes' praises in a statement. “Liz Hayes is an Australian television legend and has dedicated most of her career to Nine," Healy said. "She will leave an undeniable legacy.</p> <p>“Her many accomplishments speak volumes about the type of journalist she is – tenacious, a truth seeker, and above all, a storyteller. I’d like to recognise Liz for the impact she has had on Australian journalism and thank her for all she has done for Nine over the past 44 years.</p> <p>“We know Liz’s next chapter will be just as successful as her last, and she has our full support.”</p> <p>As for that next chapter, Liz is keeping her cards close to her chest. But with a book on Australian astronomer Trevor Barry in the works and a promise of more stories to come, it's clear she's not ready to hang up her microphone just yet.</p> <p>"This is not goodbye," Hayes assured her fans. "This is the beginning of what I see as a great, new, exciting chapter in my life. I hope you'll come along for the ride."</p> <p><em>Images: Nine \ Instagram</em></p>

Supersonic jets are making a comeback – but despite the hype, don’t expect to book yet

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-james-1178340">Chris James</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em></p> <p>Late last week, American company Boom Supersonic flew faster than the speed of sound with its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft. It’s now the first <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/press-release/boom-supersonic-achieves-supersonic-flight">piloted non-military aircraft to break the sound barrier</a> since the Concorde was retired from service in 2003.</p> <p>It’s the first step in Boom’s ambitious goal to have <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/united">supersonic airliners carry passengers by 2029</a>.</p> <p>But what exactly is supersonic travel? There are good reasons why it’s not more common, despite the hype.</p> <h2>What is supersonic flight?</h2> <p>The Mach number is defined as a plane’s speed divided by the speed that sound waves move through the air. To “break the sound barrier” means to fly faster than the speed of sound, with Mach numbers greater than 1.</p> <p>The Mach number is an important ratio: as a plane flies, it disturbs the air in front of it. These disturbances move at the speed of sound. In supersonic flight these disturbances combine to form shock waves around the vehicle.</p> <p>When people say you can see a fighter jet before you hear it, they’re referring to supersonic flight: <a href="https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/top-10-worlds-fastest-fighter-jets">fighter jets can travel at around Mach 2</a>.</p> <p>The sound from the fighter jet is trapped inside its shock wave; until the shock wave moves to your position on the ground, you won’t hear the plane.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=360&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=360&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=360&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=452&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=452&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=452&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Illustration of how disturbances propagate in subsonic, Mach 1, and supersonic flow.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Transonico-en.svg">Chabacano/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>The allure of supersonic travel</h2> <p>For efficiency reasons, most passenger jets cruise slightly slower than the speed of sound, at around Mach 0.8 (this is subsonic flight).</p> <p>Boom plans to build <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/overture">an airliner called Overture</a> that can fly at Mach 1.7. Flying supersonically can drastically decrease flight times. The company claims a trip <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/flyby/summer-travel-trends-future-travel-onboard-overture">from New York to Rome</a> on Overture could take just four hours and 40 minutes, instead of eight hours.</p> <p>Boom isn’t the only company working on this lofty goal. American firm Spike Aerospace is also developing a supersonic business jet, <a href="https://www.spikeaerospace.com/spike-s-512-supersonic-diplomat/">with the tagline</a> “delivering the world in half the time”.</p> <p>This is the value proposition of supersonic passenger travel.</p> <p>In limited ways, it did already exist in the 20th century. However, due to timing, bad luck and the laws of physics, it didn’t continue.</p> <h2>Remember the Concorde?</h2> <p>Designs for supersonic airliners began in the mid-20th century, and by the 1970s we had supersonic passenger flight.</p> <p>There was the little-known <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-144">Russian Tupolev-144</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/Concorde">Concorde</a>, a Franco-British supersonic airliner operated by British Airways and Air France from 1976 to 2003.</p> <p>Concorde had a capacity of <a href="https://www.heritageconcorde.com/concorde-cabin--passenger-experience">up to 128 passengers</a> and cruised at Mach 2. It regularly travelled from London to New York <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/what-happened-concordes">in around three hours</a>. The flights were expensive, mainly shuttling business people and the rich and famous.</p> <h2>Why supersonic passenger flight didn’t take off</h2> <p>Concorde was designed in the 1960s when it seemed like supersonic passenger transport was going to be the next big thing.</p> <p>Instead, the Boeing 747 <a href="https://www.boeing.com/commercial/747-8">entered commercial service in 1970</a>. Cheap, large and efficient airliners like it blew Concorde out of the water.</p> <p>Designed to cruise efficiently at supersonic speeds, Concorde was extremely fuel inefficient when taking off and accelerating. Concorde’s expensive, “<a href="https://phys.org/news/2019-03-concorde-technical-feat-financial-fiasco.html">gas guzzling</a>” nature was a complaint levelled against it for most of its lifetime.</p> <p>A catastrophic <a href="https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/tu-144-crash-puzzle-persists-50-years-after-fatal-paris-display/153782.article">1973 Paris air show crash</a> of the competing Russian airliner, Tupolev Tu-144, also shifted public perception on supersonic flight safety at a time when many airlines were considering whether or not to purchase Concordes.</p> <p><a href="https://www.heritageconcorde.com/airframe-detail">Only 20 Concordes were manufactured</a> out of the <a href="https://simpleflying.com/concorde-orders/">planned 100</a>. It is still disputed today whether Concorde <a href="http://www.concordesst.com/faq.html">ever made money for the airlines who operated it</a>.</p> <figure class="align-right zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Illustration of a shock wave propagating from a supersonic aeroplane and hitting the ground to produce a sonic boom.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Supersonic_shockwave_cone.svg">Cmglee/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Noise is a real problem for supersonic flight</h2> <p>Remember the fighter jets? When a plane travels supersonically, its shock waves propagate to the ground, <a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104540/sonic-boom/">causing loud disturbances called sonic booms</a>. In extreme cases they can shatter windows and damage buildings.</p> <p>In the early 1970s, sonic boom concerns led the United States government to <a href="https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/features/supersonic-travel-dead-on-arrival/">ban supersonic passenger flight over land in the US</a>. This hurt the Concorde’s potential market, hence its only two regular routes were trans-Atlantic flights principally over the water.</p> <p>The Concorde was also a very loud plane at take off, since it needed a lot of thrust to leave the ground.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3x9hO7n5WiA?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Video footage of the final Concorde takeoff from New York’s JFK airport.</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>The future of supersonic travel</h2> <p>A future for supersonic travel relies on solving some or all of the issues Concorde faced.</p> <p><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/quesst/">NASA and Lockheed Martin’s Quesst project</a> aims to show sonic boom can be dissipated to manageable levels. They plan to fly their X-59 supersonic aircraft over US cities and gauge responses from citizens.</p> <p>Quesst aims to use the geometry of the X-59, with a long elongated nose, to dissipate sonic booms to a weak “thump”, hopefully allowing supersonic airliners to travel over land in the future.</p> <p>Spike Aerospace’s Spike S-512 Diplomat concept also aims to be a <a href="https://www.spikeaerospace.com/quiet-supersonic-flight/">“quiet” supersonic aircraft</a> with a less disruptive sonic boom.</p> <h2>Can Boom surpass Concorde?</h2> <p>Boom Supersonic don’t plan to fly supersonically over land. Their plan is to fly over land at Mach 0.94, which they claim will allow <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/overture">20% faster overland travel</a> than standard passenger airliners, even subsonically.</p> <p>They also claim the design of their engines will ensure Overture is <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/flyby/the-new-sound-of-supersonic-q-a-with-booms-principal-acoustic-engineer">no louder than modern subsonic airliners when it takes off</a>.</p> <p>In terms of gas guzzling, they plan to use up to 100% sustainable aviation fuel to reduce emissions and <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/press-release/boom-supersonic-and-dimensional-energy-announce-sustainable-aviation-fuel-offtake-agreement">their carbon footprint</a>.</p> <p>Concorde was made of aluminium using design tools available in the 1960s. Modern design methods and modern aerospace materials such as titanium and carbon fibre should also allow Overture and similar craft to weigh much less than Concorde, improving efficiency.</p> <p>While Boom are currently receiving a lot of interest, <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/overture">with orders from many airlines</a>, Concorde did have similar commitment before it become available. <a href="https://www.heritageconcorde.com/concorde-orders-and-options">Most of it didn’t eventuate</a>.</p> <p>Additionally, Concorde was the product of an analogue era when the idea of flying to London or New York for the day for an important business meeting seemed like a necessary thing. In a world of remote work and video meetings, is there still a need for a supersonic airliner in the 2020s?</p> <p>For now, supersonic airliners like Overture are likely to remain in the realm of the rich and famous, like Concorde did. But with modern technological advances, it will be interesting to see whether supersonic passenger travel once again becomes reality – or even goes mainstream. Only time will tell.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/248656/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-james-1178340"><em>Chris James</em></a><em>, UQ Amplify Senior Lecturer, Centre for Hypersonics, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Boom Supersonic </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/supersonic-jets-are-making-a-comeback-but-despite-the-hype-dont-expect-to-book-yet-248656">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

International Travel

Calls for life ban on Tony Jones over Djokovic coverage

<p>The Serbian Davis Cup captain has called for the Tony Jones to be banned for life from tennis commentary over his “disrespectful and disappointing” comments about Djokovic during the Australian Open. </p> <p>Viktor Troicki slammed the veteran Channel Nine reporter after Djokovic was forced to withdraw from Serbia’s tie against Denmark due to the injury he suffered in Melbourne, ending his campaign for an 11th title in the semi-final.</p> <p>Troicki ranted that Australia has been treating Djokovic “worse and worse” after he was deported before the 2022 Open when his visa was cancelled on “health and safety” grounds. </p> <p>“There was the situation around Channel 9, which I noticed as well. If I had hired that journalist (Tony Jones), I would have fired him straight away. He would never work in sports again,” Troicki said ahead of the tie.</p> <p>“I think they are treating Novak worse and worse. It is surprising and disappointing to see the greatest player of all time experiencing so many bad things happening in Australia again. After Covid and what they did to him a few years ago, it has never been the same."</p> <p>“To mock an athlete during the tournament is unacceptable. I don’t think an apology is enough. I think he should be banned for life from covering tennis.”</p> <p>Following Djokovic's semi-final clash with Alexander Zverev, the Serbian tennis champ was booed by the audience, which Troicki believes is a sign of his deteriorating relationship will Aussie tennis fans.</p> <p>“They were booing him after the injury, which I don’t think happens in any sport. Not even in football, where the crowd is normally more wild. When someone gets injured in football, even an opponent, they will applaud you and wish you to get better,” he said. </p> <p>“That’s why it was surprising to see, especially in a place where he has played his best tennis and has won 10 titles, that he got booed after the injury. It was really disrespectful and disappointing.”</p> <p>“They are booing him in the crowd, which was not happening before in Australia. I think they were admiring his results more and greeting the champion with more respect in the past.”</p> <p>Serbia’s ambassador to Australia, Rade Stefanovic, also expressed his “profound concern” to Nine, writing in a statement, “The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia considers that Mr Jones’ comments are totally inappropriate and disrespectful”.</p> <p>He went on to say: “There has never been in the history [sic] the case that [an] Australian athlete has been insulted and disrespected in such a way by the media or any public official in Serbia.”</p> <p>The Serbian Council of Australia has also lodged an official complaint with the Human Rights Commission, demanding for Jones be stood down from all sports broadcasting duties at Channel Nine.</p> <div> </div> <p><em>Image credits: Nine / Instagram </em></p>

Legal

"Un-Australian": Aussies called out over "selfish" summer habit

<p>Australians have been called out for taking part in a "selfish" summer trend that has left many people fuming.</p> <p>The trend began as many erupted over the increase use of beach cabanas and "reserving" spaces on the sand, which then led to similar behaviour at campsites and carparks. </p> <p>Eager Aussies would set up a cabana or rope off a campsite and leave their belongings behind, only to return a matter of hours later and still have their spot reserved. </p> <p>One of Australia's leading etiquette experts, Jo Hayes, spoke to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/aussies-called-out-over-selfish-summer-trend-taking-over-car-parks-and-campsites-un-australian-055035070.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Yahoo News</em></a> on the matter, and said the "poor" trend is "reflective of a general societal decline".</p> <p>She argued such acts are "bad form" and even branded them "un-Australian".</p> <p>It turns out the "reservations" aren't exclusive to beaches or campsites, as one woman was recently photographed standing in the middle of a car park at Balmoral Beach in Sydney, in a bid to deter others from seizing the spot, arguing her "husband was coming soon".</p> <p>Hayes said the "only people who have the right to do such reserving" are the local council/regulators in charge of that area, adding, "It's not fair."</p> <p>"There are ways that one can reserve the best, desired spots, that align with common decency and proper etiquette," Hayes said. "This is the way things were done in previous generations. Get to the venue early, claim your spot and set up your gear, then stay there — you must have at least one person staying with the claimed spot."</p> <p>"If you've taken the time to get there ahead of others — all power to you. Well done. But you don't have the right to lay down a blanket, or cordon off an area with your own self-made sign, and then choof off."</p> <p>Hayes said that when in doubt, apply the golden rule of thumb: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.</p> <p>"The average Joe doesn't have the right to 'reserve' a spot and leave," she reiterated. "If a group wants to have an event at a council park, they can contact local council to officially reserve the spot. Council puts up a sign stating that the area is reserved for an event. One can't just put up their own sign."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

News

Shop

Catalogues

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

What makes somebody a narcissist?

Why are political parties allowed to send spam texts? And how can we make them stop?

UK Supreme Court makes major ruling on definition of "woman"

Incredible breakthrough after scientists make dire wolves "de-extinct"

5 mistakes people make setting financial goals

Albanese calls May 3 election, with cost of living the central battleground

A decade in the making: Jamie Durie finally unveils dream home

Man charged after allegedly making bomb threats in airport

Methanol victims parents call for boycott

"Makes me sick": Amanda Keller weighs in on Marty Sheargold controversy

Search for missing fisherman called off

Prince William’s heartbreaking call after Kate's cancer diagnosis

Calls for major shops to ditch "toxic" product

"Living legend": Bruce McAvaney makes the best call in sports history

"It makes my blood boil": Today reporter fires up over athletes' pay

Coroner makes bombshell ruling over Jock Zonfrillo's death

Nine star Liz Hayes calls it quits after 44 years

Supersonic jets are making a comeback – but despite the hype, don’t expect to book yet

Calls for life ban on Tony Jones over Djokovic coverage

"Un-Australian": Aussies called out over "selfish" summer habit

Our Partners