The Conversation

Launched in 1959, named after the inventor’s daughter Barbara, and owned by 99% of 3-10 year old girls in the USA, Barbie has been a popular request on young girls’ Christmas wish lists for 55 years.So, should we buy them? What are these toys teaching our young girls? Barbie has been blamed for causing body image issues and even eating disorders. She has even been said to be perpetuating gender stereotypes that lead to domestic violence and the gender pay gap. But are they really all that bad?

Rabbits can strip grasslands bare and chew through young woody trees. John Schilling/Flickr, CC BY-NDBy Andrew Bengsen, University of New EnglandOn Christmas Day 1859, the Victoria Acclimatisation Society released 24 rabbits for hunting, to help settlers feel more at home.

Try to avoid making this face when dealing with a climate change skeptic this holiday. bark/flickr, CC BYBy Will J Grant, Australian National University and Rod Lamberts, Australian National University

Butterflies aren't the only ones with snazzy stripes. Ben Sale, CC BYBy Callum Macgregor, University of HullAsk people to describe what they associate with butterflies, and you will probably get an image of a sunny summer’s day, with a beautiful peacock drifting gently on the cooling breeze.

Good Needlwork magazine shows you how to get better bosoms. Image: Dave WhattBy Jo Brewis, University of LeicesterWhen my good friend and long-term collaborator Sam Warren was given a pile of women’s magazines from the 1930s by her grandmother Jane Frampton, we found among them 11 Christmas issues of Good Needlework, Model Housekeeping, The Needlewoman and Stitchcraft.

Freeze your eggs or your career? ShutterstockBy Jenna Healey, Yale University

Children should be taken into consideration when helping adults with mental health issues. ShutterstockBy Sam Cartwright-Hatton, University of SussexMental illness runs in families. This is well known and uncontroversial. There is much that we could do to reduce this risk, but we currently do almost nothing.

It’s that time of the year again. You probably think I mean Christmas, but as a virologist the sight of glitter, fairy lights and moulting pine trees immediately makes me think of the flu season. And if there’s one thing that can ruin your family’s Christmas, it’s the arrival of that particular unwanted guest.But there are lots of myths around about flu. Here’s a quick guide to some common knowledge that actually turns out to be wrong.

What rising sea level? Peter, CC BY-SABy Mark Maslin,University College LondonThere are many complex reasons why people decide not to accept the science of climate change. The doubters range from the conspiracy theorist to the skeptical scientist, or from the paid lobbyist to the raving lunatic.

Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon bowled by Mohammed Sharmi last week. AAP/ David MariuzBy Tim Trudgian, Australian National UniversityImagine you are captain of the national cricket team. With 20 minutes left in day one of a test match, your top-order batsman is dismissed. Do you employ a nightwatchman? That is, do you send in a tail-end batsman to see out the bowling until the end of the day’s play and protect your top-order?Well, a little bit of math can show you that you shouldn't.

A man relaxes in some decidedly un-Scottish weather outside the venue for this year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. AAP Image/ Dave HuntBy Andrew King, University of Melbourne; David Karoly, University of Melbourne and Sophie Lewis, Australian National UniversityIt’s clear: 2014 has been a scorcher. As well as probably being the hottest year on record globally, regional and local climate records have tumbled too.