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A "colossal" wasp nest the size of a "barrel" with a 1.4m tunnel attached is found in an attic.

China’s Geely auto group has become the main sponsor behind the British Bloodhound supersonic car project, enabling an assault on the land speed record.

A new book by Mann and Toles explores climate science and denial with clarity and humor

A new book by Michael Mann and Tom Toles takes a fresh look on the effects humans are having on our climate and the additional impacts on our politics. While there have been countless books about climate change over the past two decades, this one – entitled The Madhouse Effect - distinguishes itself by its clear and straightforward science mixed with clever and sometimes comedic presentation.

In approximately 150 pages, this books deals with the basic science and the denial industry, which has lost the battle in the scientific arena and is working feverishly to confuse the public. The authors also cover potential solutions to halt or slow our changing climate. Perhaps most importantly, this book gives individual guidance – what can we do, as individuals, to help the Earth heal from the real and present harm of climate change?

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Curbing flight emissions is essential to meeting the Paris pact, but planes are completely absent from the text, face no legal fuel efficiency requirements or limits on CO2 emissions. But all that is about to change

In the coming weeks, the Paris climate agreement could be about to enter into force. Action to meet the deal’s targets of holding global warming to 2C is most clearly visible in the energy sector - where a low-carbon transition is underway. There is, however, one sector where, until now, action has been invisible owing to its exemption from contributing to the fight to limit carbon pollution: international aviation.

Aviation is one of the top-10 global carbon polluters. The industry emits more CO2 each year than the 129 countries with the lowest annual emissions. Worryingly, those emissions are expected to balloon by 300% if no concerted action is taken sooner rather than later. In 2010, 2.4 billion passengers travelled by plane, but by 2050 that number is expected to rise to 16 billion.
The global agreement reached in Paris last December committed the world’s governments to fighting climate change. Curbing aviation emissions is absolutely essential to fulfilling those commitments. However, aviation was conspicuous by its absence from the text.

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What can the world do to stop North Koreas nuclear development – is a new approach called for – and if so, what is it?

From Bogota to Paris to Istanbul, cities around the world have been imposing traffic restrictions to mark World Car-Free Day. Is it a vision of the future?

• Can driverless cars reshape our suburbs?

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Is the world finally winning the long war with rats?

Prices were mostly unchanged except in Victoria where futures prices jumped 5% amid talk of first big coal closure.

Despite strong government support, fracking company Cuadrilla says progress on the ground remains slow, as it awaits a decision on two key sites in Lancashire

No shale gas wells will be drilled in Britain this year, the industry has confirmed, as a key fracking decision nears.

Within the next fortnight, the government will decide whether to accept shale company Cuadrilla’s appeal against Lancashire county council’s decision last year to turn down its application for two fracking sites.

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Australia stood by while Britain’s military elite trashed tracts of its landscape then left. Menzies had said yes without even consulting his cabinet

It is 27 September 1956. At a dusty site called One Tree, in the northern reaches of the 3,200 sq km Maralinga atomic weapons test range in outback South Australia, the winds have finally died down and the countdown begins.

The site has been on alert for more than two weeks but the weather has constantly interfered with the plans. Finally, Prof Sir William Penney, head of the UK Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, can wait no longer. He gives the final, definitive go-ahead.

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Having obliterated almost all the effective federal climate and renewables policies, the focus is now switching to state-based targets, using the old arguments of higher costs and little abatement.

Woodwalton Fen, Cambridgeshire Bladderworts and bog myrtle, dragonflies, water fleas and hornets all thrive in the vicinity of a bungalow built for natural historians

A remnant rectangle of wetland, two square kilometres of wildlife that before humans drained the fens was part of a 2,000 square km wet, peaty wilderness. Many species have disappeared, but an exuberance of intertwined life still thrives on this little patch.

Related: In the service of the queen, hornets hunt day and night

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The first installation of the revolutionary GCL solar storage battery has taken place in Brisbane this week at Instyle Solar of Brendale.

Monday's successful launch of eight satellites into space proves India's commercial space programme is booming, writes Yogita Limaye.

Hazelwood closure could come as early as April 2017. Engineers your time starts now.

Solar Analytics, Wattwatchers lend technology and expertise to international effort to install smart solar on world leaders' rooftops.

A closer look at Hazelwood Power Station as murmurs of its potential closure grow louder.

Grattan Institute’s latest report suggest rapid expansion of renewable capacity means higher electricity prices. But is that true?

Australia's public desire for climate action is strongest it has been since 2008. The question, now, is how will our politicians respond?

South Australia’s electricity shock exposed an emerging conflict between Australia’s climate policies and the demands of our energy market.