The Conversation

Ants outnumber humans by an almost unimaginable margin. There’s probably one near you right now. Tanya Latty, Associate Professor, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A gas reservation scheme could help to ease supply concerns in Australia, but expanding gas production is a folly. Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The 2022 floods triggered shifts in the Coorong’s microbiome—similar to our gut bacteria on new diets—revealing why freshwater flows are vital to wetland health. Christopher Keneally, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Microbiology, University of Adelaide Justin Brookes, Director, Water Research Centre, University of Adelaide Matt Gibbs, Senior Research Scientist in Hydrology, CSIRO Sophie Leterme, Professor of Biology, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

➡️ View the full interactive version of this article here. Ruby Ekkel, PhD student in Australian History, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the federal election looms, Labor is running out of time to show it cares about Australia’s precious natural environment. Timothy Neal, Senior lecturer in Economics / Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

After shelving plans to reform Australia’s nature laws, the prime minister wants to walk back existing protections with new legislation introduced this week. Phillipa C. McCormack, Future Making Fellow, Environment Institute, University of Adelaide Justine Bell-James, Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Protecting 30% of Australian lands sounds good – but what matters much more is whether we’re protecting dwindling habitat for endangered species. James Watson, Professor in Conservation Science, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A marine heatwave has hit Ningaloo Reef hard – and the northern Great Barrier Reef is now bleaching too. Zoe Richards, Senior Research Fellow in Marine Biology, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A harmful algal bloom of Karenia mikimotoi made dozens of surfers sick and killed seadragons, fish and octopuses on two South Australian beaches. Shauna Murray, Professor; Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney Greta Gaiani, Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Restraining rivers through stop banks and channels transfers and heightens flood risks downstream. Allowing them to roam free limits flooding and delivers other ecological benefits. Christina McCabe, PhD Candidate in Interdisciplinary Ecology, University of Canterbury Jonathan Tonkin, Associate Professor of Ecology and Rutherford Discovery Fellow, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Water is being trucked into the Adelaide Hills and surrounds to fill empty rainwater tanks and dams. Is there a better way to cope with future water shortages? Kate Holland, Principal Research Scientist, Water Security, CSIRO Craig T. Simmons, Pro-vice-chancellor, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Stories of how the data was collected were fascinating. Some people camped on islands for weeks. Some scaled cliffs or jumped from helicopters onto remote islands. David Coleman, Post-doctoral Researcher in Plant Ecology, Macquarie University Julian Schrader, Lecturer in Plant Ecology, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Citizen science project ‘Insect Investigators’ takes scientists to regional schools to teach students to track and identify insects. Andy G Howe, Research Fellow (Entomology), University of the Sunshine Coast Erinn Fagan-Jeffries, Wasp biodiversity group leader, University of Adelaide Patrick O'Connor, Professor in Natural Resource Economics, University of Adelaide Trang Nguyen, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The energy return on investment for wind and solar technologies in New Zealand is becoming comparable to hydropower. Alan Brent, Professor and Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Isabella Pimentel Pincelli, PhD candidate in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton says a Coalition government would push for approval of the huge project, which would release billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases. Melissa Haswell, Professor of Practice (Environmental Wellbeing), Indigenous Strategy and Services, Honorary Professor (Geosciences) at University of Sydney & Professor of Health, Safety and Environment, Queensland University of Technology, University of Sydney David Shearman, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Protecting remaining strongholds and minimising human impacts on food sources will be crucial to avoiding further population decline of this remarkable creature. Nic Rawlence, Associate Professor in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Mark de Bruyn, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Ecology, Griffith University Michael Knapp, Associate Professor in Biological Anthropology, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Favourable short-term conditions kept Australia’s environmental scorecard high in 2024 – but long-term problems are worsening. Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Shoshana Rapley, Research Assistant, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Tayla Lawrie, Project Manager, Threatened Species Index, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The atmosphere now has the highest carbon dioxide levels in the last 800,000 years – and global heat records have toppled yet again. Coincidence? Of course not Andrew King, Associate Professor in Climate Science, ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, The University of Melbourne Linden Ashcroft, Lecturer in climate science and science communication, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sea foam is a health hazard. These bacterial smoothies can contain more harmful pathogens than a sewage treatment plant – and you wouldn’t go swimming in sewage. Ipek Kurtböke, Associate Professor in Microbiology, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Solar and wind farms make power very cheaply. But power bills are still climbing because we underestimated other costs, from transmission to storage. Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.