The Conversation

The male anatomy of tuatara, the last representatives of an ancient lineage, is unique among reptiles. They lack a penis, which has made sperm collection a major challenge – until now. Sarah Lamar, PhD Researcher, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Dr Diane Ormsby, Senior Lecturer, Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Jennifer Moore, Associate Professor of Biology and Natural Resources, Grand Valley State University Nicola Jane Nelson, Professor of Conservation Biology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Susan N. Keall, Senior Technical Officer - Conservation Ecology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

After $22,000 and four different electricians, Heather’s rooftop solar system is still not working. Her story illustrates the risks of having no support in the switch to clean energy at home. Hugo Temby, Doctoral Researcher, Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program, Australian National University Hedda Ransan-Cooper, Research Fellow, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As a tree scientist who works with urban trees, I can assure you some large, old trees are well worth leaving alone, even you find them annoying sometimes. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

They can’t fly through the air but they can fly underwater. Belinda Cannell, Research fellow, Research Associate, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Without urgent action, Australia will continue to lose billions of dollars every year on invasive species. Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Models Theme Leader for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University Andrew Hoskins, Research scientist CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate change models predict tuna will leave the waters of Pacific Island nations, meaning they will lose a crucial revenue source. Katherine Seto, Research Fellow, University of Wollongong Johann Bell, Visiting Professorial Fellow, University of Wollongong Quentin Hanich, Associate Professor, University of Wollongong Simon Nicol, Adjunct professor, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s typically rare to see a dead frog. Yet, we’ve received a flurry of emails from people coming across them in this truly unusual, and tragic, mass death event. Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, UNSW, Australian Museum Karrie Rose, Australian Registry of Wildlife Health - Taronga Conservation Society Australia, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New ABARES research examines the climate change challenge facing Australian farmers Neal Hughes, Senior Economist, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

But with new commitments getting made by governments all over the world, we hope to see this progress improve soon. Thomas Newsome, Academic Fellow, University of Sydney Christopher Wolf, Postdoctoral Scholar, Oregon State University William Ripple, Distinguished Professor and Director, Trophic Cascades Program, Oregon State University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research reviewed more than 200 studies, and found the science underpinning artificial refuges — think nest boxes and artificial burrows — must be improved. Darcy Watchorn, PhD Candidate, Deakin University Dale Nimmo, Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Mitchell Cowan, PhD Candidate, Charles Sturt University Tim Doherty, ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Eight of the ten top-selling passenger vehicles in New Zealand are now utes or SUVs. With carbon emissions reduction an urgent priority, that’s not a sustainable trend. Kirsty Wild, Senior Research Fellow, Public Health, University of Auckland Alistair Woodward, Professor, School of Population Health, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Last week the Bureau of Meteorology declared a negative Indian Ocean Dipole — a natural climate phenomenon set to bring wet weather. Let’s look at what you can expect, and the role of climate change. Nicky Wright, Research Fellow, University of Sydney Andréa S. Taschetto, Associate Professor, UNSW Andrew King, ARC DECRA fellow, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Friday's decision from the World Heritage Committee doesn't change the irrefutable evidence that dangerous impacts are occurring on the Great Barrier Reef. Jon C. Day, PSM, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Scott F. Heron, Associate Professor, James Cook University Terry Hughes, Distinguished Professor, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The triple whammy of the moon's wobble, sea level rise and more intense storms will bring worse tidal floods into coastal communities in the 2030s. This includes in Australia. Mark Gibbs, Principal Engineer: Reef Restoration, Australian Institute of Marine Science Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Move over, bin chickens: bin cockies are here, and scientists say they're confirming the cultural intelligence hypothesis. John Martin, Adjunct lecturer, University of Sydney Barbara Klump, Researcher, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Lucy Aplin, Research Group Leader, University of Konstanz Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The process of manufacturing gallium-doped solar panels was under a patent until last year. It's only now that this method has started to pick up steam. Matthew Wright, Postdoctoral Researcher in Photovoltaic Engineering, UNSW Brett Hallam, Scientia and DECRA Fellow, UNSW Bruno Vicari Stefani, PhD Candidate, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More than ten offshore wind farms are currently proposed for Australia. If built, their combined capacity would be greater than all coal-fired power plants in the nation. Sven Teske, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Chris Briggs, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Mark Hemer, Principal Research Scientist, Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO Philip Marsh, Post doctoral researcher, University of Tasmania Rusty Langdon, Research Consultant, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

My new research shows Australia has spent more subsidising fossil fuel research indirectly via research and development tax credits than directly via grants. Will McDowall, Associate Professor, UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources, UCL Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

One quarter of monitored social housing properties recorded winter temperatures below World Health Organisation standards for more than 80% of winter, new research shows. Daniel Daly, Research Fellow at the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre, University of Wollongong Federico Tartarini, Associate research fellow, University of Wollongong Gordon Waitt, Professor of Geography, University of Wollongong Michael Tibbs, Energy Efficiency Researcher, University of Wollongong Paul Cooper, Senior Professor, Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC), University of Wollongong Theresa Harada, Research Fellow at Australian Centre for Culture, Environment, Society and Space, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There have been just six verified sightings of the pygmy blue whale off Sydney in 18 years. Rare sightings like these are crucial, because the giants are considered 'data deficient'. Vanessa Pirotta, Wildlife scientist, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.