Explainers

VIDEOExplainers
TOPSHOT - This photo shows a building collapsing in Mandalay on March 28, 2025, during an earthquake. A powerful earthquake killed more than 20 people across Myanmar and Thailand on March 28, toppling buildings and bridges and trapping over 80 workers in an under-construction skyscraper in Bangkok. (Photo by AFP)

Why some buildings fall in quakes

When a natural disaster like an earthquake strikes a major city like Bangkok, it’s always shocking when a big building collapses – why do some buildings fall when much taller ones are left intact?

Explainers
KIDS NEWS 2025: Mark Knight's Federal Budget lock up cartoon featuring Dr Jim Chalmers'

Little to celebrate in Budget break

With the next federal election coming hot on the heels of the Budget, cartoonist Mark Knight wonders what voters will make of the Treasurer’s tiny $5 tax break during a cost of living crisis

OPINIONMoney
Little girl holding three 20 dollar notes. Click to see more...

Why bother with cold, hard cash?

Why does Australia still print notes and mint coins when the country went cashless faster than we could say ‘Covid’? Well, the Barefoot Investor has doubled down on the value of real currency

Explainers
US President Donald Trump signs an executive order during an education event in the East Room of the White house in Washington, DC, March 20, 2025. President Donald Trump signed an order aimed at shutting down the Department of Education, a decades-long goal on the US right that objects to federal involvement in school systems run by individual states. By law, the Education Department -- created in 1979 -- cannot be shuttered without the approval of Congress, and Republicans do not have the votes to push that through. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP)

Can Trump really dump education?

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle America’s Department of Education despite not having the necessary approval needed from Congress to cut the agency – let’s take a look at what’s happening

EXPLAINERAnimals
NEWS: Madelaine's Eggs
Madelaine Scott is the owner-operator of Madelaine's Eggs. She featured on our front page in 2014 when she started her business. Photo story is about the challenges of organic farming and the call to reform regulations which are making things difficult for farmers with the economic downturn. 
PICTURED: Generic farm. Chickens. Layer hens. Organic free range eggs. Stock photos.
PICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

Why is there an egg shortage?

You may have noticed some empty supermarket shelves at the egg fridge and egg prices have spiked too – find out why there are egg shortages and how they affect Aussie households and businesses

Kids news HP promo
Sport
Mark Knight cartoon for Herald Sun, March 17, 2025

Anthem found for wild Grand Prix

You know that feeling when a song gets stuck in your head? So does cartoonist and Formula One fan Mark Knight, whose Melbourne Grand Prix called up an old Crowded House favourite

Space
A total lunar eclipse is pictured as seen from underneath Sydney's Harbour Bridge. As the eclipse reaches its peak, refracted light from the sun caused the moon to appear red, otherwise known as the

Rare ‘blood moon’ lunar eclipse

Millions of Australians were treated to a rare astronomical sight on March 14, as scientists described the phenomenon as ‘the moon with a sunset’ – did you see Friday night’s spectacular sight?

Explainers
The shocked face of a little girl seeing the last trace of peanut butter, seen from the bottom of the jar.

American trade tariffs explained

The US has introduced a raft of tariffs on goods imported from other countries, including Australia. Experts say tariffs could drive up prices for Americans, but how will they affect us here?

Explainers
Mark Knight cartoon 12/03/2025

Melb Grand Prix or criminal spree

Excitement in Melbourne is at fever pitch for the Grand Prix but a darker current is stripping the sheen off life in the capital as Mark Knight’s cartoon reimagines youth crime as an F1 pit heist

EXPLAINERAnimals
In memory of the Australian Army Veterinary Corp (AAVC), Chris Kennedy and his horse Chaos are seen at Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast, Tuesday, April 23, 2019. The AAVC played a vital military role, from the Sudan and South African wars, through World War I and to the end of World War II. Veterinarians and their assistants provided professional care for horses, mules, camels, dogs and pigeons in the Australian Army, with 120 officers serving overseas in WWI. Kennedy and Chaos will participate in the annual Anzac Day dawn service at Currumbin Beach on Thursday. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Purple Poppy Day for war animals

From pooches and pigeons to donkeys and desert camels, animals serve alongside Australians in peace and war – here’s why on Feb 24 we honour their memory and sacrifice each Purple Poppy Day

Explainers
A handout photo taken on February 11, 2025 and released on February 13, 2025 by the Australian Defence Force shows China's People’s Liberation Army-Navy Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, part of a task group operating to the north east of Australia. (Photo by Handout / AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE / AFP) / ----EDITORS NOTE ----RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE MANDATORY CREDIT

Surveillance on the high seas

The Australian Defence Force says it is keeping a close eye on three Chinese Warships spotted off the coast of Sydney, but what are they doing there and why are they being monitored?

Explainers
Cyclone Zelia is causing chaos after landing on the WA coast. Picture: Sky News

How do cyclones get their names?

There’s often a story behind the name we’re given and it’s true of cyclones too – find out why Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is the reason that Australia’s next cyclone will be named ‘Alfred’

VIDEOExplainers
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 10: In this photo illustration, pennies are seen on a table on February 10, 2025 in New York City. U.S. President Donald Trump directed the Treasury Department to stop minting new pennies, citing the rising cost of producing the one-cent coin. Manufacturing costs for pennies is nearly $0.037 up from $0.031 the year before. (Photo illustration by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) (Photo by Michael M. Santiago / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Penny dropped by Trump cost cut

Stopping penny minting to save money sounds topsy-turvy but the US President’s plan to cut federal spending is real – here’s why Australia dropped its own small change and paper notes long ago

Explainers
KIDS NEWS 2024: Mark Knight's 2024 Christmas card suggests Santa might have to pedal hard to keep the Christmas tree lights on as an energy supply crisis looms in Australia. Picture: Mark Knight

Who will leave lights on for Santa?

Herald Sun cartoonist Mark Knight has come up with a festive plan for keeping the lights on over Christmas as the electricity grid struggles with supply – but can Santa keep up with demand?

Explainers
Mark Knight toon Nov 24

Farewell tribute to forever friends

The tragic loss of Australian teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles this past week was felt around the nation, as captured in cartoonist Mark Knight’s poignant picture of youth and beauty

Explainers
Mark Knight cartoon for Herald Sun, November 11, 2024

Rural America puts pitchfork in DC

Rural and working voters in the US presidential election popped the bubble of Washington DC’s political establishment with the prod of a pitchfork in Mark Knight’s take on American Gothic

Animals
Short-tailed shearwaters have a long life-span. Picture: Trevor Pescott.

Why washed up birds are a worry

Authorities are monitoring beaches along the eastern seaboard as migrating bird dying of ‘malnutrition’ wash ashore, with bird flu experts on alert in the bid to keep H5N1 out of Australia

Explainers
mark Knight cartoon on Us election and melbourne cup

Two races that stopped the nation

The outcome of the US presidential election wasn’t known when an outsider won Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup against the odds but Mark Knight’s prophetic cartoon proved to be right on the money

VIDEOExplainers
(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on November 04, 2024 shows, L-R, US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaking during a

Five-minute guide to US election

The US political system differs from ours – here are key details and some essential information, so you can follow the US presidential election as history unfolds and America decides