Elaine Obran is a Senior Writer at ANU Reporter and the Digital Communications Assistant.
Articles
The remarkable story of Monte Punshon, the world’s oldest lesbian
At the age of 103, Monte Punshon, with her tiny frame, blindingly white hair and 19th-century diction, made…
‘Growth comes from outside your comfort zone’: why Olympian Emma McKeon refused to give up
Emma McKeon has always loved being in the water. When she was very little, she wanted to become…
Forget everything you know about time – part of it could be all in your mind
Time is largely a mystery. It stretches and shrinks, slows down, then speeds up unexpectedly. Disappears at one…
Is queerbaiting problematic or powerful? Internet culture is making it harder to draw a moral line
In 2003, when Madonna was locking lips with Britney Spears at the MTV VMAs and Prince was dancing…
What causes food poisoning and how can we avoid it?
We have all been there – gripping onto the toilet seat, beads of sweat forming, mouth like an…
ANU alumna brings Peruvian art to Australia
When artist Ximena Briceño is asked what inspires her, colour is the first thing that comes to mind.…
Super and human: What is the mental toll of being an elite athlete?
When Simone Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics, a new term was added to our vocabulary: ‘the twisties’.…
From situationships to ghosting – how do we navigate modern dating?
Dating is not what it used to be. Where we once had poetic love notes sent to battlefields,…
Selina Walker’s vision for reconciliation: ‘There has to be shared accountability’
Non-Indigenous Australians need to take accountability for unconscious racism and biases before our nation can achieve reconciliation, Ngunnawal…
How do climate experts feel about the future? We asked them
While it’s already too late to repair some of the damage caused by climate change, ANU researchers still…
Meet the ANU graduate scooping out climate-friendly sweet treats
When Maddi Easterbrook graduated with a law degree from The Australian National University (ANU), creating her own business…
Is it still safe to fly? An aviation expert weighs in
It might be because we are in a cramped metal box, 35,000 ft in the air that makes…
Rentals are grim and expensive. Should young people squat instead?
If you have ever shared a room with black mould, tiptoed over perpetually squishy carpet, or experienced the…
Why Gen Z are obsessed with looking young
It only takes a few minutes scrolling through TikTok for the obsession with looking youthful to reach your…
Portraiture allows everyone to be a critic – just ask King Charles
“It’s the red that does it quite frankly.” Dr Robert Wellington, an art historian from The Australian National…
Now more than ever: Peter Yu’s lifelong commitment to First Nations Australians
When two of the world’s oldest cultures come together to form the backdrop of your childhood, ‘harmony’ might…
Yeehaw cowgirl! Beyoncé’s new album is making country music more inclusive
Beyoncé has always been a unifier. Even when that means following her down dusty roads, across honky tonk…
Family vlogging is an ethical dilemma we can’t unsubscribe from
Imagine a childhood where every aspect of your life, both good and bad, is documented and uploaded online…
Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt is digging deep to fight gender inequality
Professor Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt refuses to call herself a victim. Born in a small town in India, Lahiri-Dutt married…
Iris Apfel: a fashion dandy who proved age is simply a number, darling
In a cultural landscape obsessed with women not being allowed to show their age and, indeed, being told…
Why a global day for women matters – today and everyday
Over a century ago, in a time when hashtags didn’t exist, let alone #metoo, women in different parts…
Colour and conflict: Mardi Gras has always danced between two worlds
The year is 1978. Homosexually is illegal and queer rights are non-existent, but on a cold winter’s day…
Parasite insights: the award-winning scientist teaching the world about deadly diseases
When it comes to parasites and their reputation in the animal kingdom, it largely, well, sucks (literally). Small,…
Modern day Madonna? How Taylor Swift’s music takes inspiration from the 80s
There’s a Taylor Swift Love Story happening at the moment, and it will come as no surprise that…
Thought you had your partner’s love language figured out? Think again.
Whether you are in love, looking for love or have your Facebook status set to ‘it’s complicated,’ there’s…
Murder (is back) on the dancefloor: TikTok gives old hits new life
Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s hit ‘Murder on the dancefloor’ is being sung all over the world again, more than two…
From code to Vogue: the ANU student behind sustainable food start-up Ohna
When Kayleigh Sleath taught herself to code in her bedroom as a teenager — a start-up that forged…
“The world lost one of its best people”: Sophie Trevitt’s remarkable legacy
Few people make a lasting impact in some of Australia’s most challenging and important policy areas by the…
Racing with the sun: student-designed car lights up prestigious solar race
It begins and ends on the red road that connects Darwin and Adelaide. Three thousand kilometres of gum…
Drink, pray, law
What does Jesus Christ have in common with a decomposing snail? Aside from being unconventional conversation starters, this…
“We all have a role to play”: addressing family and domestic violence over the holidays
Sometimes, the hardest conversations are the ones that are the most important to have – this is true…
Top glass: making Australia’s most famous trophies
Hand-making 36 intricate glass sculptures is no easy task — but Australian National University (ANU) alumnus Louis Grant…
Has the Melbourne Cup run its race?
The Melbourne Cup was once famously known for its ability to ‘stop the nation’, but it’s become a…
“I thought we could find a Voice”: Stan Grant on the referendum defeat
Professor Stan Grant broke his silence on the Voice referendum, sharing his reflections and disappointment about the outcome,…