An X has been used to represent love and kisses for centuries. But how did it start? KATIE BARCLAY has some answers.
THE CONVERSATION
Academic rigour, journalistic flair.
As Coles slashes its product range, will well-known brands disappear from supermarket shelves, asks FLAVIO MACAU.
Bold statement, or a product of misogyny? HARRIETTE RICHARDS says Bianca Censori was not wearing nothing at the Grammys; she was wearing a dress that exposed everything. It’s an important distinction.
Mind-bending, body-snatching, blood-sucking: parasites are bizarre yet vital for life on Earth, says EUAN RITCHIE.
Peter Dutton is promising to slash the public service. Voters won’t know how many jobs are lost until after the election, says ANDREW PODGER.
Why you should treat workplace friendships like your diet – aim for balance and variety, says STEFAN KORBER.
DeepSeek: TOMGLIANG LIU explains how a small Chinese AI company is shaking up US tech heavyweights.
Sleeping on beaches and staying social: MANDY PAUL & ROCHELLE SCHOFF look at how Australians kept cool in heatwaves before modern technology.
Are public schools really ‘free’? Families can pay hundreds of dollars in voluntary fees, says EMMA ROWE.
Support for changing date of Australia Day softens, but remains strong among young people, says new research.
People on Ozempic may have fewer heart attacks, strokes and addictions – but more nausea, vomiting and stomach pain, write LAUREN BALL & EMILY BURCH.
Many people don’t measure their blood pressure properly at home – here’s how three experts say to get accurate readings.
