The Conversation

Reducing our intake of discretionary foods such as cakes, biscuits, pizza and hot chips is the best way we can make our diets more sustainable. Brad Ridoutt, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Agriculture, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For non-Indigenous Australians, the last summer of bushfires seemed to mark the end times. Indigenous Australians have a long perspective on history, which offers hope. Ann McGrath, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new global standard on tailings dams aim to prevent mining disasters like the Brazil dam collapse in 2019 – but there's more to do. Deanna Kemp, Professor and Director, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland John Owen, Professorial Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Nick Bainton, Associate Professor, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Since 1989, the balloon industry has relied on a problematic study that claimed balloons degraded “at about the same rate as oak tree leaves” after six weeks. We put it to the test. Morgan Gilmour, Adjunct Researcher in Marine Science, University of Tasmania Jennifer Lavers, Lecturer in Marine Science, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A federal government plan to increase soil carbon stores is a folly that misunderstands the technology. Robert Edwin White, Professor Emeritus, University of Melbourne Brian Davidson, Senior Lecturer, Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

They're a familiar sight on forest walks and long drives, but tree ferns are more fascinating than you may have realised. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The president of Kiribati plans to raise its low-lying islands to fight, not flee, sea level rise. Here's why it's an expression of human dignity. Patrick D. Nunn, Professor of Geography, School of Social Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast Roselyn Kumar, Adjunct Research Fellow in Geography and Social Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Twenty of these freshwater fish species have a 50% or greater probability of extinction within the next 20 years. Mark Lintermans, Associate professor, University of Canberra Hayley Geyle, Research Assistant, Charles Darwin University Jaana Dielenberg, Science Communication Manager, The University of Queensland John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University Stephen Beatty, Research Leader (Catchments to Coast), Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Despite this year's coronavirus lockdowns, more CO2 has accumulated in the atmosphere than during the same period in 2017 or 2018. Zoe Loh, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Helen Cleugh, Senior research scientist, CSIRO Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Paul Krummel, Research Group Leader, CSIRO Ray Langenfelds, Scientist at CSIRO Atmospheric Research, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The deteriorating Western Grassland Reserve in Victoria represents a failure of imagination. When the grasslands are steeped with history and culture, imagine its potential. Adrian Marshall, Academic, Landscape Architecture and Urban Ecology, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With tarantula-like orchids and giant bananas, New Guinea is officially the most floristically diverse island in the world. Bruce Webber, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Barry J Conn, Researcher, University of Sydney Rodrigo Cámara-Leret, Researcher, University of Zürich Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The moment a chick hatches from its egg, maggots burrow into its skin to drink its blood, usually killing it. But scientists have found a way to stop the blood-sucking parasites. Fernanda Alves, PhD student, Australian National University Dejan Stojanovic, Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Geothermal reservoirs supply more than 15% of New Zealand's electricity. The heat energy stored in geothermal fields is vast but not infinite. Susan Krumdieck, Professor and Director, Advanced Energy and Material Systems Lab, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The pending decision on the Narrabri Gas Project comes at a critical time for Australia's gas industry. Madeline Taylor, Lecturer, University of Sydney Susan M Park, Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Yes, transitioning Australia to a zero-carbon economy is essential, but the federal government must remedy this imbalance. Lily O'Neill, Research Fellow, Australian National University Brad Riley, Research Fellow, Australian National University Ganur Maynard, Visiting Indigenous Fellow, Australian National University Janet Hunt, Associate Professor, CAEPR, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Hydrogen is hailed as a new clean fuel, but little attention has been paid to the potential environmental challenges presented by the energy shift. Graeme Pearman, Professorial Fellow, Australian-German Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne Michael Prather, Distinguished Professor of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Six hours of streaming video may be the equivalent of burning one litre of petrol. Michael Fuhrer, Professor of Physics, Monash University Errol Hunt, Senior Communication Coordinator, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

From an effigy hanging from a noose to an angry opponent wielding scissors, those who've sought to protect the precious Australian Alps have always been up against it. Philip Gibbons, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Birdwatchers have long known that to conserve nature, we need not only the intellectual expertise of science but also an emotional affinity with the living things around us. Russell McGregor, Adjunct Professor of History, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Western science often focuses on specific parts of complex ecosystems, but Indigenous knowledge systems consider all parts as interconnected and inseparable. This achieves better conservation results. Aisling Rayne, PhD candidate, University of Canterbury Channell Thoms, University of Canterbury Levi Collier-Robinson, PhD Student, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.