Sophie Kesteven
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Articles by Sophie Kesteven
Training to become an astronaut involves diving and a ride on the 'vomit comet'
Meganne Christian was once described as a "unique" individual by the former Australian Space Agency chief technology officer, Aude Vignelles. It was a valid observation. Christian, a 37-year-old engineering graduate from Wollongong, needed to be both memorable and remarkably different to stand out from the many applicants aspiring to become astronauts. In 2022, she was one of 17 people selected from 22,500 applicants to become a reservist astronaut for the European Space Agency (ESA).
After the LA fires, who is responsible for footing the bill? These US citizens say the electricity providers
By Sophie Kesteven and Damien Carrick, ABC News' Law Report Since fires swept through large parts of Los Angeles in January, more than 16,000 structures have been destroyed and at least 29 people have lost their lives. Recently it was estimated that the economic loss could be more than US$250 billion. Insurers are expected to fork out billions of dollars, but are there others who should be held responsible for covering this large bill?
After the LA fires, who is responsible for footing the bill? These US citizens say the electricity providers
Since fires swept through large parts of Los Angeles in January, more than 16,000 structures have been destroyed and at least 29 people have lost their lives. Recently it was estimated that the economic loss could be more than $US250 billion. Insurers are expected to fork out billions of dollars, but are there others who should be held responsible for covering this large bill?
Why do our passport photos look like that? Here are some answers
Australian passports are admired globally for their technological sophistication. The biometric passport, which includes advanced facial recognition technology and anti-fraud measures, was adopted nearly two decades ago. But there was a time when our passport wasn't held to the highest standards. In 1915, Atlee Hunt, then Australia's Secretary of the Department of External Affairs, was informed that "certain foreign ports" were complaining about the poor standard of Australian passport photographs.
Why are anchovies so divisive? A history of this controversial little fish
The humble anchovy has a long culinary history, which dates back thousands of years. But this small, strongly flavoured fishstill hasthe potential to divide even the most harmonious of dinner tables. Author Christopher Beckman finds it "a little perplexing" when someone dislikes them. "An anchovy is really a flavour enhancer, and they can work extraordinarily well behind the scenes," he tells ABC Radio National's Late Night Live.
Canberra diplomat kept servant in slave-like conditions court finds
A former Sri Lankan diplomat has been ordered to pay more than half a million dollars to a woman who worked as a servant at her Canberra residence. The Sri Lankan servant escaped the residence with the help of the Salvation Army. It warns other foreign diplomats are exploiting their staff.
For three years, a woman was paid 65 cents an hour in a job she couldn't escape. Now her former boss faces the consequences
When Priyanka Danaratna moved from Sri Lanka to Australia to work for a diplomat nearly a decade ago, she was optimistic about her future. She was in her mid-thirties and had never visited another country before. But that optimism faded when she arrived in Canberra and unknowingly entered a "slavery-type arrangement", says David Hillard, a pro bono partner at law firm Clayton Utz.
More people are freezing their eggs to preserve their fertility but some IVF clinics are struggling to keep up with storage
As the number of women freezing their eggs and embryos in Australia surges, some fertility clinics are struggling to keep up with freezer storage demands. William Ledger, an emeritus professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of New South Wales, says he has heard of "times where clinics have not been able to keep up with demand, and [there have been] people not starting [IVF] cycles because there's not the storage space available".
Workplace romances aren't uncommon, but what are the consequences for dating colleagues or even your boss?
Rachele Davis remembers the first time she developed feelings for someone at work. The then-15-year-old was working at a Sydney fast food restaurant, a common rite of passage for many teenagers, and she caught sight of her colleague, Nick, through the chip-packing area. "I thought, 'Damn, he's cute'," Rachele laughs. But she was quick to discount her attraction because she was in a relationship with someone else at the time, and Nick was the store manager.
Many Victorian high-risk sex offenders are housed at Corella Place after their release from prison. Where do they go next?
Until recently, Michele Williams was responsible for monitoring the reintegration of Victoria's most dangerous criminals into the community. The outgoing chair of Victoria's Post Sentence Authority (PSA) had been in the role for five years. The authority is tasked with monitoring, managing and treating serious violent and sexual offenders who have been placed on a Post Sentence Order (PSO).
The gold-smuggling Indonesian pilot who produced one of the country's most provocative girl bands
He was a radio producer, an underground political activist, an accused gold-smuggler, a flight instructor and the producer of one of Indonesia's most significant bands. Mohammad Sidik Tamimi, also known as Dick Tamimi, was one of Indonesia's most colourful characters and his life story was intertwined with much of that country's turbulent past. Yet many people don't know anything about him. Musician and art producer Julien Poulson wants to fix this.
Managing chronic pain in the workplace isn't easy for employees or employers. Here's some advice
In 1987, Keith Wyatt had an accident thattransformed his entire life. At the time, he was working as a builder installing ceiling sheets. "I was up on scaffolding and [my workmate] dropped his end [of the ceiling sheet], and the sheet then fell down and pushed me sideways off the scaffolding," Wyatt recalls. "I fell 22 metres into a concrete shaft. So basically, I broke quite a lot of bones in my body and tore ligaments." Wyatt spent the next year in hospital and heavily medicated.
Why strict non-disclosure agreements in sexual harassment cases shouldn't be the only option
For three years, Rachel* was allegedly stalked and intimidated by a male colleague. She reported his actions to the company's management, but her perpetrator's life remained largely unchanged. He kept his job and maintained an untarnished reputation, whereas Rachel was encouraged by employment lawyers and union leaders to leave the organisation and seek work elsewhere. "It was an all-male workplace. So, I felt very isolated.
Hitchhikers were once a common sight on the side of Australian roads. So what's changed?
It's rare to see a hitchhiker on the side of an Australian road these days. It's also against the law in Queensland and Victoria, and illegal to hitchhike on motorways in other parts of the country. But in the mid-1970s, when historian and author Alice Garner was young, she used to do it all the time. In fact, the first time she hitched a ride was when she accompanied her father on a trip up to North Queensland when she was just five years old.
Zahra Hankir's family history with eyeliner dates back thousands of years to ancient Egypt and Queen Nefertiti
As a child, Zahra Hankir often enjoyed watching her mother apply eyeliner in front of the mirror. She'd observe the way she would intricately outline her eyes with dark sooty kohl. With a few sweeps of her hand, her mother could manipulate, enhance, and accentuate the shape of her eyes. Watching this enchanted her. But there was much more to the act of lining one's eyes than the aesthetic, says Hankir, a New York-based journalist and the author of Eyeliner: A Cultural History.
Reading fiction may have more benefits than you realise, particularly in the workplace
Christine Seifert recalls a time in her life when she felt guilty for reading fiction. Dr Seifert, a professor of communication at Westminster College, felt she should have been learning about real people and events, and reading non-fiction like biographies or autobiographies, instead. But that began to change when she discovered that fiction wasn't just a form of self-indulgence. She learnt that reading was, in fact, doing something beneficial to her brain that non-fiction didn't.
Psychology professor James Edwin Lough's 'floating university' experiment to link education with experience
In 1926, a grand educational experiment got underway. A "floating university" set off from New York; a ship with more than 350 students and 64 lecturers and staff on board. The eight-month University World Cruise, which was the brainchild of New York University psychology professor James Edwin Lough, was intended to broaden students' learning, in particular in international affairs. The global venture even allowed them to rub shoulders with world leaders along the way.
When Martin was sleeping rough, he faced hunger and violence from strangers. Poetry helped him cope
It's easy to look right past Martin Steer and Kim Huynh as they jog together through the back streets of Canberra. They are an unremarkable pair of friends going for a run on a cold morning in Australia's capital. Martin is a distinguished-looking man in his mid-60s with a silver and auburn ponytail. Kim is a self-described middle-aged, middle-class Vietnamese Canberran. As they chat about what they've been reading and doing, misty clouds of condensation appear on their every breath.
How South Africa's all-female, anti-poaching Black Mambas are protecting wild animals
Waking up to the sound of an apex predator nearby might be unsettling for some people, but Leitah Mkhabela thrives in a wild environment. "I used to wake up when the chickens made noise in the community. And now that I'm in the game reserve, I have to wake up when I hear a lion roar," Leitah tells ABC RN's Late Night Live. Leitah is among the more than two dozen women who form the Black Mambas, an all-female anti-poaching unit in South Africa that has been in operation since 2013.
Workplace surveillance like mouse tracking is common, but it raises ethical and legal questions
Monitoring by her employer allegedlyled to Suzie Cheikho being fired from her job of 18 years. Earlier this year, the company she worked for produced a keystroke logging and mouse tracking report, which revealed that Ms Cheikho, a home-based worker, wasn't at her computer as much as the company had expected her to be. She says she was effectively sacked for her shortfall in keystrokes.
If work meetings are filling your week, organisational expert Ken Hudson says it's time to push back
Too many work meetings can leave people feeling drained, overwhelmed and like they're constantly playing catch-up. And since the rise of remote and flexible work, there's been a steady increase in both the number and durationof meetings. According to the Union of International Organizations (UIA), which surveyed workplaces in 262 countries, the number of meetings held rose by approximately 11 per cent from 2022 to 2023.
'A policy of not briefing women': How Susan Kiefel overcame bias to become Australia's first female chief justice
In November, Susan Kiefel will step down from her position as Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. Six years ago, she became the first woman in Australia's history to be appointed to the role. But hers was not a typical path to the highest rank of the legal profession. From leaving school early to becoming a trailblazer in her field, Kiefel is proof that sheer perseverance and letting one's work speak for itself can take you anywhere.
Offal sales are 'exploding' at this Sydney butcher. Here's why
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Offal is making a comeback among meat-eating Australians, due to its health benefits and sustainability
Whether it's tripe, liver, tongue or cheek, billions of people around the world regularly eat offal, the edible internal organs of an animal. It is widely consumed in many European and Asian countries. For example, restaurants in Indonesia often boast a plethora of offal-based dishes, like coconut milk offal soup, intestine curry or stir-fried tripe, while the finest French brasseries serve up langue de boeuf (beef tongue), ris de veau (sweetbreads) and rognons (beef kidneys).
More than 90 per cent of internet traffic goes through these garden hose-sized cables. What happens if they are cut?
When people think about global communications, they might think of satellites, miles above the Earth. But in fact the vast majority of the world's telecommunications goes through hundreds of garden hose-sized fibre optic cables that run along the ocean floor. While most nations rely on these submarine cables for communications, they can fall foul of geopolitics and international tensions. And things can get very difficult when they are damaged, cut or tampered with.
How conspiracy theories became intertwined with prejudice and paranoia across the globe
History has shown that, in times of uncertainty, people often like to jump to their own conclusions. This is how conspiracy theories are born, says US author and cultural historian Colin Dickey. Anxiety, paranoia, loneliness and a yearning for control in often uncontrollable circumstances all lead to conspiracy theories' proliferation, he tells ABC RN's Late Night Live.
This behavioural scientist says the key to better habits is more celebrations and less abstractions
No-one's immune to a bad workplace habit. It might be procrastinating, taking work home with you or simply taking on too many tasks. But there's a way to change those habits, says Stanford University behavioural scientist Brian Jeffrey Fogg. Dr Fogg specialises in helping people change their habits in order to perform better at work and in their day-to-day lives. And he says change isn't about willpower or strength of character. It's about creating — and sticking to — a design.
How a young girl destined to become a 'housewife at the side of a powerful man' instead grew up to lead Europe through crisis
Early on, it wasn't clear that Ursula von der Leyen would become one of the most powerful women in the world. Growing up, she had the nickname "Röschen", German for "little rose". "She seemed to be … a young girl destined to become an attractive housewife at the side of a powerful man," says European and international relations expert Constanze Stelzenmüller. "Little did we know," she tells ABC RN's Take Me To Your Leader.
Mythical female monsters reveal historical beliefs about how women should behave
Folklore tales of terrifying female monsters have long been passed down through the generations and across different cultures around the world. London-based historian Sarah Clegg says many of them stem from historical beliefs about "traditional womanhood". "If you don't behave as you ought to, you are a demon, you are a monster. You belong on the outside of the world, not in civilised society," she tells ABC RN's Late Night Live.
Emojis like thumbs-up or a full moon are tiny icons, but they can have big legal implications Original
They might seem innocuous enough, but emojis — the cute little icons like the thumbs-up or smiley face that many of us text or share daily — can have costly legal consequences. In a series of recent cases, emoji use has been interpreted by courts as constituting threatening behaviour, harassment and even defamation.
Racial literacy helps workplaces improve more than token anti-racist gestures
Before lawyer Molina Asthana had begun working at an Australian law firm, she was being prepared for the problems she'd encounter there. Recruiters regularly encouraged Ms Asthana, who is Asian-Australian, to apply for smaller firms, even though she already had years of experience and was highly qualified. An acquaintance even made a point of telling her about doctors who've migrated to Australia who went on to drive buses. "That's the first time I faced racism," Ms Asthana says.
Molina faced racism at work when she came to Australia. She knows there's a ...
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Molina faced racism at work when she came to Australia. She knows there's a better way
Before lawyer Molina Asthana had begun working at an Australian law firm, she was being prepared for the problems she'd encounter there. Recruiters regularly encouraged Ms Asthana, who is Asian-Australian, to apply for smaller firms, even though she already had years of experience and was highly qualified. An acquaintance even made a point of telling her about doctors who've migrated to Australia who went on to drive buses. "That's the first time I faced racism," Ms Asthana says.
These Russian women are banned from criticising the war in Ukraine. They're doing it anyway Original
For close friends Katya and Sascha, who live in Moscow, simply uttering a three-letter word could put their lives in danger. If they say this word aloud or write it online, they could be fined or jailed. "There is always news about someone being snitched on by their colleague [or] university mate and ... being detained because of the most innocent things," Sascha, a photographer, tells ABC RN's Earshot. The word Katya and Sascha can't say is bойна, Russian for "the war".
How the history of tattoos went from mummies and frozen bodies to British royalty and Japanese masters
From behind a locked door in a studio in Sydney's CBD, tattoo guns can be heard buzzing. But in a back corner of the room, it's relatively quiet. This is because Kian "Horisumi" Forreal is using a tattooing technique that's rare in Australia. Holding a 14-inch bamboo stick with 27 needles on the end, he's practising tebori, a traditional Japanese form of tattooing. He describes this art as "a very secretive world".
'To hell with the consequences.' Why do good people do bad things in the ...
Stress, moral disengagement and becoming too complicit are all risk factors for creating an unethical workplace....
'To hell with the consequences.' Why do good people do bad things in the workplace? Original
In the wake of accounting giant PwC's tax leaks,the Robodebt scandal and the banking royal commission, it's become evident that Australia is prone towork-related scandals. What's less clear is exactly what encourages people to make unethical decisions in the workplace. One motivating factor can be stress, according to Macquarie University work ethicsresearcher Dale Tweedie.
Prince Alamayu was captured by the British in 1868. Ethiopians are still fighting for his return
It's a captivating image: a young boy is pictured sitting on the knee of a man holding a traditional Abyssinian spear and sword. Captain Tristram Speedy's beard brushes the top of Prince Alamayu's head, as the boy stares vacantly, eyes downcast, beyond the camera. Listen to the podcast Throughout its reign, the British Empire stole a lot of stuff. This is a series about the not-so-polite history behind those objects.
This US lawyer used ChatGPT to research a legal brief with embarrassing results. We could all learn from his error
A New York-based lawyer has been fined after he misused the artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT, relying on it for research for a personal injury case. Last week Steven A. Schwartz, fellow lawyer Peter LoDuca and law firm Levidow, Levidow & Oberman, were fined US$5,000 (AU$7,485) for submitting fake citations in a court filing. The judge found the lawyers acted in bad faith and made "acts of conscious avoidance and false and misleading statements to the court." In a written opinion, Judge P.
Coffee is consumed everywhere — even in space. How did it win over the world?
Since 850 CE, when coffee might have first been consumed, the little fruit of the coffee plant has traversed all seven continents. It's even travelled as far as outer space. "When the first Italian crew was sent up to the International Space Station, one of the things they took with them was a specially designed espresso machine," Jonathan Morris, professor of modern history at the University of Hertfordshire, tells ABC RN's Late Night Live.
The 19th century 'psychonauts' who pioneered experimental drug use for scientific research
People have long experimented with drugs. Some of the earliest evidence of human drug use can be traced back to 8,100 BC. An archaeological dig in Asia uncovered cannabis seeds dating back to that time. In the Western world, the experimental use of drugs for scientific purposes only gained momentum in the 19th century. Author and cultural historianMike Jay has researched how well-known doctors and scientists, such as Sir Humphry Davy and Sigmund Freud, got high in the name of science.
'I was the most anxious I have ever been in my life': The mental and physical toll of long working hours
When Ruby started working as a lawyer in Sydney for a large private practice firm, she was clocking up extremely long hours. She would often eat lunch at her desk just to get the work done, and it wasn't uncommon for her to start work at 7:30am and work through until 10 or 11pm. "I was the most anxious I have ever been in my life during that time. I didn't like who I was, and I think that was a function of sleep deprivation, to be honest," she tells ABC RN's This Working Life.
How forbidden songs inspired underground bone music bootleggers in the USSR during the Cold War
Stephen Coates was wandering through a flea market in Russia in 2013 when he first picked up a piece of bone music. He was the lead singer of a band called The Real Tuesday Weld, and he had just played a gig in St Petersburg. Now he was exploring the city with some local friends. "I came across these strange records in a store full of strange things," Coates tells ABC RN's Late Night Live. When he held one of the records aloft, it revealed an image of two bony hands. It was made from an old X-ray.
Thousands of retired Australians are rejoining the workforce. Here's why
Many Australian retirees are returning to the workforce these days. For some, it's out of necessity; for others, it's for more philosophical ...
Why the great unretirement movement has been on the rise in Australia in the past three years
When Tom Morton retired towards the end of 2020, he was optimistic about the next stage of his life. "I was really looking forward to retirement, I wanted to do different things. I think I wanted to live more of a contemplative life," he says. "I also had this novel that I've been working on for 10 years. And I thought, oh, great, I'll be able to finish the novel and write sonnets, all that sort of thing. "I finished the novel. And then I got really depressed.
Dr Nigel Gray was determined to stop tobacco advertising in Australia. Eventually his efforts paid off
In the 1960s, many Australians were smokers. According to Cancer Council Victoria, in 1964 58 per cent of men and 28 per cent of women smoked. At the time, tobacco advertising was allowed. And, while countries like the US and the UK had banned it, major tobacco companies took full advantage of this in Australia. That is until Victorian GP Dr Nigel Gray decided to devote himself to raising awareness of the dangers of smoking and to push for the end of tobacco advertising.
GPS, AI and facial recognition for cows: How new technology is helping to solve farm crime
Stealing farm animals, like cattle or sheep, in Australia can land the perpetrator in jail for up to 14 years. But that didn't deter thieves from stealing 700 sheep, valued at nearly $140,000, from a farm at Logan in central Victoria earlier this year. So how did those who organised such a big heist, which would likely have involved several trucks and insider knowledge, get away with it? "It had to have been very well planned," Constable Dan O'Bree tells ABC RN's The Law Report.
How to deal with difficult people at work
Working with difficult people is a universal experience but this workplace expert has some advice on how to deal with them. ...
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