Sophia Auld

While political debate rages over the funding of Great Barrier Reef projects, CSIRO and Australian Institute of Marine Science researchers are determining the best approaches for the reef’s restoration and survival

As well as writing prescriptions for medicine, Australian GPs are being encouraged to follow the lead of New Zealand and Britain in “social prescribing”, where formal directions are provided on diet, exercise, meditation and more.

Endometriosis is an often excruciating condition that affects 700,000 Australian women. With a national action plan due next month, sufferers are finally hopeful better treatments will soon be found.

While neuroscience studies are finding differences in the brains of people who are excited by risky behaviour, thrillseekers say anyone can turn fear into a challenge.

Although medicinal cannabis is now legal in Australia, under tight controls, the science of its risks and benefits is still not settled and doctors are reluctant to prescribe it.