Environment

In this image taken from video, a living Australian brushtail possum sits on the display shelf at a terminal shop at Hobart Airport in Hobart, Australia, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (Melissa Oddie via AP)

Possum magic lands at Oz airport

Only in Australia could a real possum pull off the perfect heist by hiding out at an airport shop, surrounded by plush toy versions of some of Australia’s most iconic animals – here’s what happened

EXPLAINERArts

Mark Knight cartoon, March 16, 2026

How war fuels federal budget fires

Political explosions flowing from Middle East conflict force Australia’s Treasurer into a metaphorical ‘budget bunker’ as fuel costs detonate economic pressure points in Mark Knight’s toon

CLOSED: The Great Western Highway is closed in both directions until further notice after cracks began appearing near Mount Victoria forcing commuters to take alternative routes from the Central West to Sydney.

What caused big highway closure?

Imagine your main road link closing overnight, which is what has just happened to one major highway connecting an Australian capital to an entire region – how did it happen and what’s next?

Society and Culture

Shocking find under city’s busy freeway

Hidden homes under the highway

About 100 homeless families are living beneath a major highway in the Philippines. But while rats are rife and the air stinks of sewer water, the inhabitants aren’t complaining. Here’s why

KIDS NEWS 2026: RMIT's

Sea urchins inspire oil spill minibot

Pods of robotic dolphins could be the environmental clean-up crew of the future as Aussie engineers test a minibot prototype that can hoover oil spills from water. Here’s how it works

KIDS NEWS 2026: Stowie the northern quoll at Taronga Wildlife Hospital Dubbo. Picture: supplied

Stowaway quoll takes 2400km trip

A juvenile northern quoll survived an interstate Christmas road trip after accidentally hitching a ride hidden with the luggage. Find out how he survived and how he was returned to the wild

x x x x x

Bulldog survives palm seed feast

French bulldog Chunk has lived up to his name, chowing down on so many plump palm seeds in a backyard binge that he needed lifesaving surgery – here’s how this Aussie dog’s drama unfolded

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - 08 SEPTEMBER, 2025: The Moon is pictured in a full lunar eclipse giving it a vibrant red hue commonly referred to as a “blood moon”. Picture: NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

Where to see rare ‘blood moon’

Tonight’s rare ‘blood moon’ to be visible across every state in Australia for last time in three years. Here’s the best times across the country to watch Tuesday night’s spectacular show

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 01, 2020: Koalas seen cuddling up close at the Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney Australia, on SEPTEMBER 01 2020. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

New program matchmaking koalas

A unique koala breeding program aims to improve the endangered status of this beloved marsupial species by working some romantic magic via careful couples matchmaking – here’s how it works

A large asteroid flying in outer space with small fragments. Threat of an asteroid impact. Dangerous space object. 3D rendering illustration

NASA move for medium asteroids

NASA announces new mission to help build better defences for Earth against asteroids of a certain size, with experts revealing a surprising estimate of undetected asteroids within striking distance

A baby crocodile was found in the pool at Nitmiluk Camping and Caravan Park on Monday, February 9, 2026, delighting staff. Picture: Facebook/ Nitmiluk Tours

Snappy swimmers take to the pool

Splash-happy Australians got more than they bargained for this week after a crocodile and a shark were both spotted swimming laps in two separate swimming pool incidents. Watch the video

EXPLAINERSpace

Space debris. Space Junk. ESA Artist impression. Supplied

Earth’s problem with space junk

More than one million pieces of space junk are thought to be orbiting around Earth, and while they put on a dazzling light show upon re-entry, they pose a major problem for the future

A great white shark was spotted near an Anglesea beach on Monday.

Great white shark a playful puppy?

A great white shark has stunned two Australian fishermen by spending two hours rubbing against their boat, being handfed and even being accepting a pat on the head like an domestic pet

The boy told Sky News he collapsed on the beach but then had to get up to run to a phone.

Teen’s heroic swim saves family

A teenage boy has been praised for his ‘superhuman’ courage after he swam 4km to shore to save his mum and little brothers when they were all swept out to sea off the coast of WA

Ice floats on the Hudson River seen from the Edge sky deck at Hudson Yards, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Eerie New York snowscape stuns

America’s polar vortex froze the Hudson River and turned New York City into an Arctic landscape – see the incredible scenes that transformed the world’s most famous city as big clean up begins

Amazing pics of emerald 3I/ATLAS over Egypt as interstellar anomaly rockets toward Earth

Christmas comet coming to town

If you look up at the night sky in the week before Christmas you might see a mysterious green light – but it’s not Santa and his reindeers ahead of schedule. So what is it and why is it there?

KIDS NEWS 2025: AI-produced impression of some of Australia's oldest-known mammals from the Tertiary period 55 million years ago. Picture: AI/UNSW/supplied

‘Drop crocs’ roamed Australia

Ancient crocodiles that may have ambushed prey by dropping from trees have been identified through fossilised eggshells found in Queensland, suggesting a prehistoric predator ready to pounce