Health advice about headphones tends to focus on how loud sounds might affect our hearing but they can also interfere with the ear's natural "self-cleaning" function, writes RINA WONG (FU).
THE CONVERSATION
Academic rigour, journalistic flair.
CHRISTIAN MORO and CHARLOTTE PHELPS go behind the science to discover why nose and ear hairs become longer and thicker as we age.
Cutting tobacco tax won't stamp out the illicit trade. Researchers explain how other countries tackled the problem while keeping taxes high.
Australia's economy is growing, but Australians aren't getting richer. Economists JOHN HAWKINS and STEPHEN BARTOS explain why the latest GDP figures offer little cause for celebration.
What actually happens when your back cracks? Physiotherapy expert JOSHUA PATE explores the science behind the pop — and why it can feel so satisfying.
You exercise, get hungry and eat. Does that defeat the purpose? Obesity and metabolic disease expert NICK FULLER explains what the evidence actually shows.
Dolly Parton leaves behind countless hits, but three songs reveal the true genius of her songwriting, writes music researcher WENDY HARGREAVES.
Amid controversy over aged-care assessments, healthy ageing researcher DAN WADSWORTH explains what older Australians can expect from the process and how best to prepare.
Language expert CELESTE RODRIGUEZ LOURO reveals the linguistic clues that can make AI-generated writing feel familiar — and why those same patterns may be reshaping human prose.
Tinned tuna is cheap, convenient and nutritious, but what about the mercury? LAUREN BALL and EMILY BURCH explain how much is safe to eat.
Giving people e-bikes won't necessarily get them out of their cars. Urban planning and transport expert JENNIFER L. KENT explains what's missing from Australia's cycling push.
Covid antivirals once dramatically reduced the risk of severe illness, but do they still? Vaccine and infectious diseases researchers examine what the latest evidence reveals.
