The Best Australian Science Writing 2024

What lurks in a house of slime hidden in the middle of a forest? Why are AI scientists talking about the formula p(doom) and what does it mean for humanity? Is there a place for psychedelics in our medicine cabinets? The best science writing doesn't just answer questions, it cracks them open. It dissects them, probes them and solves their mysteries. It takes you on a journey of discovery. Science is a deeply human endeavour and the stories we tell about it can be powerful, lifechanging forces for good. At times they can also be worrying glimpses of what might lie ahead. They can show us the climate models that are predicting our future, how emojis might empower a new generation of Kaytetye language speakers, as well as how scientists create your favourite chip flavour. This much-loved anthology now in its fourteenth year selects the most riveting, entertaining, poignant and fascinating science stories from Australian writers, poets, and scientists. With a foreword by DeadlyScience founder Corey Tutt OAM, this anthology covers an extraordinary year filled with major moments in science. **Includes the shortlisted entries for the 2024 UNSW Press Bragg Prize and the 2023 student prize-winning essay.**