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Our new model shows Australia can expect 11 tropical cyclones this season

Wed, 2020-09-23 06:05
A new statistical model predicts the number of tropical cyclones up to four months before the start of the season from November to April. Andrew Magee, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Newcastle Anthony Kiem, Associate Professor – Hydroclimatology, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
Categories: Around The Web

Angus Taylor's tech roadmap is fundamentally flawed — renewables are doable almost everywhere

Wed, 2020-09-23 06:04
The government's latest energy plans are a failure of logic, and will lock in fossil fuel use for decades. Mark Diesendorf, Honorary Associate Professor, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Climate explained: humans have dealt with plenty of climate variability

Wed, 2020-09-23 05:58
We have had to adapt to several changes to our climate since we started our migration out of Africa many thousands of years ago. Frédérik Saltré, Research Fellow in Ecology & Associate Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Fellow in Global Ecology and Models Theme Leader for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Trump's TikTok deal explained: who is Oracle? Why Walmart? And what does it mean for our data?

Tue, 2020-09-22 14:23
Plot twists in the TikTok saga continue to emerge daily, with a proposed deal to secure its future in the US now in doubt. Here's what it means for TikTok users — and for geopolitics. Paul Haskell-Dowland, Associate Dean (Computing and Security), Edith Cowan University Nathalie Collins, Academic Director (National Programs), Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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'I didn't mean to hurt you': new research shows funnel webs don't set out to kill humans

Tue, 2020-09-22 05:59
Funnel webs are considered one of Australia's most fearsome spiders, but their ability to kill humans is by accident rather than design. Bryan Fry, Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland Volker Herzig, Associate Professor, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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The Morrison government wants to suck CO₂ out of the atmosphere. Here are 7 ways to do it

Mon, 2020-09-21 05:43
Energy Minister Angus Taylor is this week expected to release the government's first Low Emissions Technology Statement. It's likely to include ways to remove CO₂ from the air – but do they work? Annette Cowie, Adjunct Professor, University of New England Han Weng, Research academic, The University of Queensland Lukas Van Zwieten, Adjunct Professor, Southern Cross University Stephen Joseph, Visiting Professor, School of Material Science and Engineering, UNSW Wolfram Buss, Postdoctoral fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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New Zealand will make big banks, insurers and firms disclose their climate risk. It's time other countries did too

Thu, 2020-09-17 17:46
I have criticised this government’s climate policy in the past for being big on promise but short on concrete policies. But this financial disclosure policy has some real teeth. Ivan Diaz-Rainey, Associate Professor of Finance & Director, Climate and Energy Finance Group, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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'A dose of reality': Morrison government's new $1.9 billion techno-fix for climate change is a small step

Thu, 2020-09-17 11:01
We cannot rely on technology development alone to deeply cut Australia's emissions. Other policies and more money will be needed. Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Environment Minister Sussan Ley faces a critical test: will she let a mine destroy koala breeding grounds?

Thu, 2020-09-17 05:54
The Brandy Hill Quarry expansion was approved under the weak environment laws of NSW. Now, the federal government must decide if it will proceed. The fate of many koalas is in Sussan Ley's hands. Lachlan G. Howell, PhD Candidate | School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Ryan R. Witt, Conjoint Lecturer | School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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New Zealand invests in growing its domestic recycling industry to create jobs and dump less rubbish at landfills

Thu, 2020-09-17 05:51
New Zealand's potential to expand its domestic recycling sector is enormous. It could create jobs and divert millions of tonnes of waste from landfills, as long as there are clear, measurable targets. Jeff Seadon, Senior Lecturer, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Australia's plants and animals have long been used without Indigenous consent. Now Queensland has taken a stand

Wed, 2020-09-16 13:25
Our medicine, cosmetics and other everyday products contain compounds taken from nature. But Traditional Owners may not have given permission for the materials or their knowledge to be used. David Jefferson, Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Daniel Robinson, Associate Professor, UNSW David Claudie, Invited User, Indigenous knowledge Jocelyn Bosse, PhD candidate in Law, The University of Queensland Margaret Raven, Senior Scientia Lecturer (Research), UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Climate explained: will the tropics eventually become uninhabitable?

Wed, 2020-09-16 05:52
Absolute temperatures are expected to rise more slowly in the tropics than in higher latitudes and polar regions, but the combination of heat and rising humidity will make life more challenging. James Shulmeister, Professor, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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No, Prime Minister, gas doesn't 'work for all Australians' and your scare tactics ignore modern energy problems

Tue, 2020-09-15 16:59
Under a rapidly changing climate, it's not just about keeping the lights on. We not only want energy, but we want to breathe clean air, have enough food and live in a sustainable community. Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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The first step to conserving the Great Barrier Reef is understanding what lives there

Tue, 2020-09-15 05:50
There are fundamental knowledge gaps around coral in the Great Barrier Reef, including how many species live there and where they're found. Our new study finally starts to fill those gaps. Tom Bridge, Senior Curator - Corals, James Cook University Andrea Quattrini, Researcher, Smithsonian Institution Andrew Baird, ARC Future Fellow, James Cook University Peter Cowman, Research Fellow in Ecosystem Dynamics, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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How bushfires and rain turned our waterways into 'cake mix', and what we can do about it

Mon, 2020-09-14 13:39
After the Black Summer bushfires, heavy rains extinguished many fires but turned high quality water in our rivers to sludge. This is how we better prepare for next time. Paul McInerney, Research scientist, CSIRO Anu Kumar, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Gavin Rees, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Klaus Joehnk, Principal research scientist, CSIRO Tapas Kumar Biswas, Senior scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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The NSW koala wars showed one thing: the Nationals appear ill-equipped to help rural Australia

Fri, 2020-09-11 14:16
It's in everyone's interests to ensure our environment stays healthy – including farmers. What did the Nats think they'd gain from this destructive game of brinkmanship? Tanya M Howard, Senior Research Fellow, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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New research finds Australian Labradoodles are more 'Poodle' than 'Lab'. Here's what that tells us about breeds

Fri, 2020-09-11 14:06
These results finally provide scientific evidence to what was considered common knowledge about our beloved pets. Frank Nicholas, Emeritus Professor of Animal Genetics, University of Sydney Claire Wade, Professor, Chair of Computational Biology and Animal Genetics, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Astronomers create 40% more carbon emissions than the average Australian. Here's how they can be more environmentally friendly

Fri, 2020-09-11 06:09
Supercomputing, frequent flying and powering up observatories: astronomy has an enormous carbon footprint. Adam Stevens, Research Fellow in Astrophysics, University of Western Australia Sabine Bellstedt, Research Associate in Astronomy, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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These Aussie teens have launched a landmark climate case against the government. Win or lose, it'll make a difference

Thu, 2020-09-10 15:01
These teens are finding creative avenues to pursue action, even if it means taking a long shot. And beating the odds is exactly how the law tends to evolve. Laura Schuijers, Research Fellow in Environmental Law, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Swimming with whales: you must know the risks and when it's best to keep your distance

Thu, 2020-09-10 12:54
Whale breaches and tail slaps look great from a distance. But they can pose a threat if you want to get up close and swim with these giants of the ocean. Chantal Denise Pagel, Doctoral student | Marine Wildlife Tourism Professional, Auckland University of Technology Mark Orams, Acting Dean, Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology Michael Lueck, Professor of Tourism, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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