Explainers
Explainer
Water
‘The tipping point’: Where does our water come from – and could it run out?
In cities, we tend to take our water for granted. How does it get to us – and how do you put a price on it?
- by Jackson Graham
Latest
Explainer
US Votes 2024
The polls say it’s neck and neck. But can you even trust them?
It’s almost a dead heat between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, say the polls. But then there are the unknowns. What are they?
- by Angus Holland and Jackson Graham
Explainer
US Votes 2024
‘They cheat like hell’: The fallout from the attack on the Capitol
Hare-brained schemes and legal loopholes helped cause havoc after the last presidential election. But there are many ways to contest a result. How?
- by Angus Holland
Explainer
Animals
‘Avian architecture’: Why birds’ nests are truly grand designs
Some are cup-shaped, some have domes, others have been likened to apartment complexes. How do birds build their nurseries?
- by Jackson Graham
Explainer
Middle East at war
‘Cat and mouse’: What we know about Iran’s secretive nuclear program
It’s shadowy, underground and back on the world’s radar. Could Tehran one day have nuclear weapons?
- by Jackson Graham and Angus Holland
Explainer
Biology
Is it better to be a night owl or an early bird?
Some of us are early birds, others are night owls. But is that down to your genes or modern life?
- by Angus Holland and Gemma Grant
Explainer
Draft
Free agents, pick swaps, salary dumps: What does AFL trade jargon mean?
What do you call a free agent who isn’t actually free? What is a salary dump? And will pick purchasing become a feature in the AFL?
- by Peter Ryan and Jon Pierik
Explainer
Daylight saving
It’s nearly time to put clocks forward an hour. Where did daylight saving come from?
An insect expert first suggested daylight saving in 1895. Since then, it has caught on across the world. What effect does it have on us?
- by Rachael Houlihan and Anthony Segaert
Explainer
Middle East at war
Can Israel’s Iron Dome withstand Iran’s missiles?
The Iron Dome is just one part of Israel’s missile defence system. David’s Sling is another. How does it all work?
- by Jackson Graham and Angus Holland
Explainer
Middle East tensions
‘It’s mayhem’: Can all-out war in Lebanon be prevented?
Why has the conflict over the Israel-Lebanon border escalated? How bad is it looking? And what do Iran and the US want to happen?
- by Gemma Grant, Angus Holland and Jackson Graham
Explainer
Company tax
Do big miners pay their fair share?
Described as “the gift that keeps on giving”, Australia’s mineral wealth has made mine owners into multibillionaires. But at a time when we pay to import our own gas, are the spoils being shared fairly?
- by Angus Holland
Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/topic/explainers-1lz9