Sending a Facebook friend request to a missing person seems strange, but it may be the key to uncovering fresh and accurate clues about the person's whereabouts.

Charging clients money for nothing is bad, but apparently common practice for Australia's largest financial institutions. But misleading the corporate regulator about it is what has really drawn the heat onto AMP, writes Ian Verrender.

Investors may have taken the announcement of a royal commission into the banks in their stride initially, but that has changed since public hearings began.

Scientists are hoping an upcoming journey to Mars will reveal what's under the surface of the Red Planet. But they will not be mining to the core, instead they plan to wait for an asteroid to smash into the surface causing a "marsquake".

Queensland will pay $550 million to the national redress scheme for survivors of sexual abuse in government-run institutions, following the lead of Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT in signing up.

Social team sports give city dwellers not just exercise, but often a sense of connectedness with their communities and broader society. As the population grows, those who plan our inner city spaces must recognise the part these teams play in social cohesion.

Getting rid of plastics entirely is highly unlikely, but also unnecessary. What we need to do is learn to stop using bad plastics and use good plastics instead, a polymer scientist says.

A new report recommends teachers use an online assessment tool that would diagnose the exact level of literacy and numeracy a child achieves to create tailored learning plans for students.

Microsoft, Google and Facebook are among the major platforms to join the trend, swapping out the gun emoji with a toy water pistol.

The Defence Department refers the leaking of sensitive and classified information to the Australian Federal Police for investigation after correspondence between senior public servants is published.