☕️ The science of being cool

An existential question for you: Do you think you’re cool?

Yes, as in, socially cool?

Maybe here’s something that will make it easier for you to assess. A new study has found the six traits that make someone cool are being: extroverted, hedonistic, powerful, adventurous, open-minded, and autonomous.

But how do they know this? You’ll have to listen to today’s podcast to learn the science behind it. Sam and I discussed it. Not to spoil anything for you, but at the end Sam concluded that he’s “actually quite cool” (which I thought was quite uncool of him.)

“Doesn’t make any sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you were married. To your family, to your wife, your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world.”
Football great Cristiano Ronaldo after the news of the death of Liverpool star Diogo Jota, who passed away in a car accident in Spain. Within the last month, Jota helped Portugal to victory in the UEFA Nations League, and married his long-term partner, with whom he had three children.

9,000
The number of Microsoft staff set to lose their jobs, making up 4% of employees, according to Reuters. It’s the company’s largest layoff in two years, as it looks to scale its use of AI to reduce costs.

Videos of people “threatening” the audience to say nice things about something their friend, partner or colleague wants to tell them are going viral across TikTok. The original video features a woman saying: “My boyfriend wants to show you his plants and you BETTER say they’re cool”. She then stands menacingly in the background as her boyfriend shows off his array of plants.

A man has pleaded guilty to murdering four college students in the U.S. state of Idaho in 2022.

Bryan Kohberger entered the students’ house in the early hours of the morning and stabbed them to death.

Kohberger pleaded guilty in exchange for avoiding the death penalty.

Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin lived at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho.

The group lived close to the University of Idaho, where they were students.

At the time of the murders, Kohberger was working on a PhD in criminal justice at a nearby university.

At 4am on 13 November 2022, he entered their home and stabbed all four in their bedrooms. Two more people in the house were not attacked, one of whom had been expected to testify at a trial.

Kohberger was caught using DNA evidence. He initially pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea to guilty in a deal with the state to avoid the death penalty.

Lawyers for both the defence and the prosecution are forbidden from speaking about details of the case that would have gone to trial until Kohberger is sentenced later this month.

Reporting by Lucy Tassell.

An artist and curator will head to Italy for the 2026 Venice Biennale, after an initial decision to cancel their exhibition at the international event.

Arts funding agency Creative Australia has apologised to artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino, who it previously told wouldn’t attend over concerns about old artworks featuring a former Hezbollah leader.

The reversal follows a review that concluded Creative Australia’s original decision involved “oversights, misunderstandings, missteps and assumptions”.

The Venice Biennale is an international art exhibition held every other year. The next exhibition is scheduled for April to November 2026.

At the Biennale, many countries, including Australia, have pavilions showcasing the work of an artist or group of artists.

In February, artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino were selected to represent Australia “based on the advice of a panel of independent industry advisors”.

A week after the initial announcement, Creative Australia’s board reversed the decision to nominate Sabsabi and Dagostino.

It came after the then-Shadow Arts Minister Claire Chandler questioned the decision in Parliament, referencing Sabsabi’s previous works, including one that depicted the former leader of Hezbollah – a Lebanese militant group – Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated last year.

She also cited another of Sabsabi’s works that featured footage of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre.

In justifying its initial decision, the Creative Australia board said: “Prolonged and divisive debate about the 2026 selection outcome poses an unacceptable risk to public support for Australia’s artistic community”.

The cancellation triggered backlash among artists and several resignations at Creative Australia, including board member Lindy Lee.

One arts program, Gertrude, joined what it called a “chorus of condemnation” within the community.

Chair of Creative Australia Robert Morgan stepped down in May.

Creative Australia commissioned an independent review of its decision-making processes.

The review’s final report was published this week, finding board members were “not well-prepared to respond to any sensitivities or contentious issues that arose as a result of the selection decision.”

In response, Creative Australia said: “The Board is now of the view that proceeding with the Artistic Team, Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino represents the preferred outcome.”  

Sabsabi and Dagostino accepted the reinstated invitation to attend the 2026 biennale.

“[The decision] offers a sense of resolution and allows us to move forward with optimism and hope after a period of significant personal and collective hardship,” Sabsabi and Dagostino wrote in a joint social media post.

They thanked the “solidarity, belief, and encouragement” of the artistic community.

Arts Minister Tony Burke said Creative Australia’s decisions were made at “arm’s-length” from the government.

However, he said “due diligence” hadn’t been done prior to the artist’s selection, including briefing the board about any work that might be controversial.

“When… the artist himself says there is nothing in this that’s meant to in any way endorse terrorism, then I don’t think politicians can say, ‘well, you’re wrong, and it is,’“ Burke told the ABC.

Shadow Arts Minister Julian Leeser criticised the decision to reinstate Sabsabi and Dagostino.

“To reinstate an artist and give them taxpayer funds, after they have glorified the leaders of listed terrorist organisations, flies in the face of these values.”

Sabsabi and other artists have rejected this characterisation of the Hezbollah piece.

“This has been a deeply flawed process from the beginning and has now led to a ridiculous outcome,” Leeser said.

Reporting by Harry Sekulich.

Billabong’s celebrating 40 years of stoke with an epic giveaway

Billabong celebrates four decades of The Raging Bull – Mark Occhilupo – with a bold new collection inspired by the legend’s fearless style, iconic backhand, and deep connection to the sea.

To mark the moment, they’re giving away an epic experience: flights to the Gold Coast, a $500 Kirra Surf spree, an Occy Raging Bull board, and the chance to paddle out for a surf with Occ himself.

This is more than merch – it’s history, heritage, and a whole lot of heart. Two legendary breaks. One unforgettable story. And the stoke? That’s forever.

🍊 The Lions thumped the Reds. Find out the score here.
🍊 Arisa Trew has broken another record. Which one?
🍊 Ellie Carpenter has switched European teams. Where’s she going?
🗞️ Also in today’s Sport Newsletter: cricket, Wimbledon, and more…

University of Sydney scientists tested honey from three species of stingless bees known as “sugarbag bees”. The honey from all three successfully killed germs, even after being heated up or kept in storage for lengthy periods. Researchers believe it could be used to help fight antibiotic resistance. This is because the native bee honey is able to fight germs in multiple ways, making it harder for bacteria to become resistant to it. Sugarbag bee honey is used in First Nations communities as a traditional remedy for itchy skin and sores. It has now been approved by Australian food authorities, paving the way for more research and future medicinal products.

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Reporting by Emma Gillespie.

Senators elected for the first time at the May federal election have begun ‘Senate school’ this week.

The three-day program was set up in the mid-1990s to teach first-time senators how to perform their new roles.

Among them this year is the youngest senator in Australian history, 21-year-old Charlotte Walker.

Walker was elected as a senator for South Australia, turning 21 on election night!

Reporting by Rosa Bowden.

What does it take to be considered cool? According to science there are exactly six traits.

Today, we’re going to take you through what scientists learned after examining almost 6,000 people across 13 countries to figure out the difference between being cool and being good - and they’re not the same thing at all.