The Conversation

Cultural burning has enjoyed a strong resurgence in recent years. Now this cool burn technique is being used to ward off disastrous bushfires Bhiamie Williamson, Research Fellow, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The system operating in Australia from 2012 to 2014 was economically and environmentally efficient. Ross Garnaut, Professorial Research Fellow in Economics, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Getting off gas at home is healthier, cheaper and better for the planet. Now the Electrify 2515 community pilot project promises to demonstrate household electrification at scale. Gill Armstrong, Researcher in architecture and urban planning, Climateworks Centre Portia Odell, System Lead - Cities, Climateworks Centre Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Millions of litres of nutrient-rich whey go to waste every year. Collaboration can help turn this waste stream into useful products Jack Hetherington, Phd Candidate in circular business models, University of Adelaide Adam James Loch, Associate Professor, Centre for Global Food and Resources, University of Adelaide Pablo Juliano, Group leader, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New international research reveals climate change increased the proportion of wildfire smoke-related human deaths tenfold between the 1960s and 2010s. Here’s what that means for Australia. Fay Johnston, Professor, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As Australia’s domestic reliance on coal falls, our exports are bigger than ever – and new coal approvals suggest this won’t change soon. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Simplistic comparisons are misleading. Calculations based on the mix of electric and fossil-fuelled cars actually on our roads show any difference in mass is too small to be significant. Robin Smit, Adjunct Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Low-income households are attracted to more affordable housing in areas at higher risk of floods and other extreme events. But many then find they cannot afford soaring insurance premiums. Jens O. Zinn, T.R. Ashworth Associate Professor in Sociology, The University of Melbourne Julia Plass, Scientific Assistant, Bayreuth University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Here’s what the ancient Greeks and Romans can teach us about the environment and ourselves. From Roman soldiers in crowded camps to emperors cleaning up rivers, there are many lessons to be learned. Konstantine Panegyres, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, researching Greco-Roman antiquity, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This week, unusually widespread thunderstorms are expected to bring rain, hail and intense winds to swathes of southern Australia. Here’s why – and what threat they can pose. Andrew Brown, Research Fellow in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Andrew Dowdy, Principal Research Scientist in Extreme Weather, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Biodiversity credits could unlock new funding for nature restoration. But if this happens without consideration of Indigenous data sovereignty, it could create a new form of colonialism. David Hall, Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences and Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology Mike Taitoko, Program Director, Toha Network, Indigenous Knowledge Nathalie Whitaker, Platform Designer, Toha Network, Indigenous Knowledge Renee Raroa, Establishment Director of East Coast Exchange, Indigenous Knowledge Tasman Turoa Gillies, Head of Operations, Takiwā, Indigenous Knowledge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Islands cover just 5.3% of the world’s land area, but contribute disproportionately to global biodiversity, according to research published in Nature. Julian Schrader, Lecturer in Plant Ecology, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ocean eddy currents are driving extreme heat and cold events in the deeper sea, home to the world’s most abundant animal and its largest migration Ming Feng, Senior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There’s a good chance the objects on Coogee beach are not, as some have suggested, tar balls. But in any case, they pose a potential risk and authorities are right to close the beach. Sharon Hook, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

By tapping into observations of Bryde’s whale shared on social media, we found evidence of feeding and “surfing” behaviours possibly never documented before. Vanessa Pirotta, Postdoctoral Researcher and Wildlife Scientist, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has floated the idea of holding a plebiscite on nuclear power the day of the next federal election Anne Twomey, Professor Emerita in Constitutional Law, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There is growing interest in the use of First Peoples’ words to name plant and animal species. But we must proceed with both caution and respect. Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University Sophie Gilbey, Indigenous Knowledge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Millions of migratory birds are arriving on Australian shores this spring. Any one of them could bring the new, deadly strain known as H5N1. Extra government funding will help us prepare and respond. Michelle Wille, Senior research fellow, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We’re discovering more species of richly coloured peacock spiders all the time. But their small ranges puts them at very real risk. One species faces likely death by suburban sprawl. Lizzy Lowe, Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow in Ecology and Entomology, Edith Cowan University Jess Marsh, Visiting researcher in ecology, University of Adelaide Leanda Denise Mason, Vice Chancellor Research Fellow in conservation ecology, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Reduced government incentives, the spreading of myths and concerns about used car values and fires have stalled what had been an increasingly rapid uptake of electric vehicles. Milad Haghani, Senior Lecturer of Urban Analytics & Resilience, UNSW Sydney Hadi Ghaderi, Professor in Supply Chain and Freight Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.