Vitalities Lab

A woman in a dark room with her hand on her cheek, her face lit by a screen

Ivermectin, blood washing, ozone: how long COVID survivors are being sold the next round of miracle cures

08 Aug 2022

Mainstream medicine hasn’t yet found enough evidence-based treatments for long COVID. No wonder sufferers are turning to unproven therapies.

Bungled vaccine rollout, welcome financial support - here's what Aussies thought of Morrison's COVID response

13 Apr 2022

We interviewed 80 Australians from a wide range of ages and backgrounds about how the government handled the pandemic. Their responses were mixed.

Sex, drugs and TikTok: keeping young people safe needs a mature response, not a moral panic

19 Oct 2021

Fears that TikTok is “serving up” drug content to impressionable users have prompted calls for all drug content to be censored on the platform. But that would remove useful health advice too.

Young worried woman looking out the window

How to cope with your COVID-19 diagnosis

08 Oct 2021

COVID-19 is a global pandemic. So why do we still feel ashamed by catching the virus?

The Mitchells vs The Machines shows 'smart' tech might be less of a threat to family bonds than we fear

14 May 2021

Fictional screen robots have long represented our fear of technology. A new animated family film combines this trepidation with many parents' fear of losing offline connection with their kids.

Female protestor writing 'I cant breathe' on fellow protestor's face mask

Put your values where your mouth is: the changing power of the face mask during COVID-19

13 May 2021

Sometimes the simplest objects can tell the most powerful stories.

From scary pumpkins to bridal bling, how masks are becoming a normal part of our lives in Australia

30 Oct 2020

A year ago, face masks were a rarity in Australia. But social researchers say there is evidence of a growing acceptance of this simple object.