This Month
Why the art market has an eye for crypto
Everyone wins: buyers avoid taxes, and auction houses make money.
March
How to direct a musical on a ‘football field’
There’s a lot riding on Opera Australia’s annual outdoor production but Shaun Rennie is more worried about actors getting to their marks, and nothing getting blown into Sydney Harbour.
You can’t unsee this terrifying ‘man-suit’ android
The inventors of the Protoclone hope it can be a skin for future AI applications. In the meantime, it is hanging around looking scary.
January
What does ‘cute winter boots’ mean on TikTok?
Since the Trump inauguration, conversation about “cute winter boots” has been trending on TikTok. What are they really talking about?
The energy drink that powers the US government
It promises to make you great again, but with a shot of chaos. It is, in other words, a suitable pairing for Trump’s Washington.
Why upmarket gyms are taking on country-club vibes
Playing on the nostalgia for Ivy League-coded preppiness, these athletic spaces veer sharply away from the sleek aesthetic long favoured by fitness chains.
December 2024
Why is my teen talking about ‘ocean aliens’?
A rumour has been circulating online that recent US congressional hearings uncovered the existence of aliens living in our oceans. Could it be true?
August 2024
How Starface pimple patches became a beauty obsession
The skincare company sold its billionth Hydro-Star patch and is on track to bring in $132 million of revenue this year.
When you go to work are you demure and mindful?
A viral video of advice on how to dress for the office has sparked a social media storm and turned its creator into a hot property.
Why everyone is turning their fridge into a tiny wonderland
The new trend taking social media by storm is “fridgescaping” - and it involves a little imagination and a lot of spare time.
Quackers: How rubber ducks are taking over cruise ships
The whimsical trend is growing in popularity, but not every cruise company is on board with it.
Should knitting be an Olympic sport?
British diver Tom Daley may not be the first man to knit at the Games, but he’s probably the best known.
July 2024
What is the KHive?
Likely Democrat nominee Kamala Harris has supporters embracing her quirky style and turning her cringiest moments into social media memes.
‘Grazed, but not Dazed’: Trump T-shirts go viral
Entrepreneurs in Asia were quick to cash in on the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump.
How Grace Kelly inspired this season’s stylish sunglasses
Sunglasses are a shield from the shy, a friend to the tired and hungover, and don’t require the wearer to be a certain dress size.
MONA has a new home for its Picassos: The women’s toilet
MONA is appealing a ruling that closed down its Ladies Lounge after finding it was discriminatory to men.
June 2024
Why Ancient Egypt is flavour of the year
If you missed out on the Ramses exhibition in Sydney, there are two more shows you can catch.
Rupert Murdoch’s surprising choice of wedding footwear
The internet can’t decide if it was a power play or just a practical choice for a man of his age.