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Langstone, Hampshire Grey squirrels begin mating in mid-December, but here the males’ chittering pursuit started weeks ago

On bleak, damp days when the trees are devoid of birdlife, I can always rely on grey squirrels to bring a smile to my face. Rain or shine, they come tumbling through the bare winter branches like a troop of circus acrobats, walking the tightrope of my washing line and swinging from my bird feeders as though they are performing on the flying trapeze.

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2017 has been a year of records for Australian solar power, and the year's not even finished yet. Here are 10 of the highlights so far...

New research shows a sharp, and rising, difference in the value of property likely to be affected by climate change impacts such as rising sea levels.

UNSW energy researcher says bad policy design means industry incumbents can use large-scale solar and wind tenders to get their costs down, without necessarily passing on savings to consumers.

Why rooftop solar could be one of the grid's greatest assets but also one of its greatest threats if not properly managed. Here's what AEMO thinks needs to be done.

Will the interruption of match in New Delhi between India and Sri Lanka by toxic smog finally spur the Indian Government to take coal plant pollution seriously?

Infrastructure Australia says governments should privatise state-owned metropolitan water utility businesses

Australians can expect to pay double for their water supply within 20 years unless there are big reforms, a report from Infrastructure Australia says.

It says a lack of investment in ageing infrastructure, population growth in urban centres and climate change will play a part in pushing up prices.

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Archer Exploration has been granted approval for its Campoona graphite project, north of Cleve on the Eyre Peninsula.

NSW signs deal to buy LGC's from Neoen's Dubbo solar farm, and says "this lays the foundation for more renewable energy procurement."

Zen Energy gets electricity retailer licence to offer "baseload renewable energy" product and proceed with 1GW solar and storage facility at the Whyalla Steelworks.

Gold miner Newcrest decides against solar farm to help power its Cadia mine in NSW, highlighting the challenges for renewable developers.

From Florence Broadhurst to Romance Was Born, Australian designers have long looked to birds for design inspiration

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The results of the 2016 Survey of Taxonomic Capacity are now available.

Narwhals show a "costly" response to threats, raising concerns over how they will respond to increased human contact.

Australians love canned tuna. Here's our handy guide to finding the most sustainable options for you (and your cat). Candice Visser, PhD Candidate, University of Wollongong Quentin Hanich, Associate Professor, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Orbital Micro Systems' demonstration weather satellite should pave the way for a network in the sky.

The company says Donald Trump is exceeding the powers of his office by enacting the largest removal of protection from federal lands in history

A trail run that began years ago in the desert of Utah has brought outdoor retailer Patagonia to an unexpected – and considerably less scenic – crossroads, at a federal courthouse in Washington DC.

Related: Trump slashes size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase national monuments in Utah

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Brush turkeys are often the last holdouts against gentrification. But they still face peril in urban environments and researchers are enlisting citizen scientists to understand how they can better survive

It’s hard not to look at the brush turkey as the avian archetype of the Aussie battler – persisting and thriving, even though the odds are stacked against it. These birds’ work ethic in the face of almost impossible living conditions, environmental hardship and sometimes outright hostility is truly something to behold.

And without diminishing the likely (and deserved) victory of the majestic white ibis in this year’s Bird of the Year poll, it must be said that this year there has also been a lot of talk about – and love and loathing aimed at – the Australian brush turkey.

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UK government study finds electricity would be nearly a third pricier than it would from plants such as Hinkley Point C

Electricity from the first mini nuclear power stations in Britain would be likely to be more expensive than from large atomic plants such as Hinkley Point C, according to a government study.

Power from small modular reactors (SMRs) would cost nearly one-third more than conventional large ones in 2031, the report found, because of reduced economies of scale and the costs of deploying first-of-a-kind technology.

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The remains of the extinct sea creature include an early form of the eye seen in many of today's animals.