The Conversation

For dogs, grooming can mean dousing in water, restraint, manipulation of the body, and touching of taboo areas by unfamiliar people. Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of Sydney Melissa Starling, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Sydney Simone Blackman, Lecturer in Law, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Most fungi go unseen, but they play a vital role in ecosystems. Adam Frew, Lecturer, University of Southern Queensland Andy Le Brocque, Associate Professor, University of Southern Queensland Dale Nimmo, Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Eleonora Egidi, Researcher, Western Sydney University Jodi Price, Senior Lecturer in Vegetation Ecology, Charles Sturt University Leanne Greenwood, PhD candidate, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The government says it'll make a fracking ban 'permanent', but it can still be overturned by another government in future. Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

I entered firefighter school at 23 and thought I was hard enough to withstand anything thrown at me. Fourteen years later, I can say firefighters are not indestructible. Greg Penney, PhD Candidate, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A move towards working from home, less air travel and prudent stimulus spending could flatten emissions growth in the longer term. Glen Peters, Research Director, Center for International Climate and Environment Research - Oslo Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The lack of progress by governments in reducing global emissions means bold solutions across multiple fronts are now needed. David Blair, Emeritus Professor, ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery, OzGrav, University of Western Australia Bruce Hobbs, CSIRO David Franklin Treagust, John Curtin Distinguished Professor, Professor of Science Education, Curtin University Malcolm McCulloch, Professor, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Researchers expected to find koalas killed by the fires. But they were heartbroken to find those that died afterwards from starvation, thirst or injury. Romane H. Cristescu, Posdoc in Ecology, University of the Sunshine Coast Celine Frere, Senior lecturer, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Aerial baiting has been Australia's foremost weapon against pest species for the past 74 years. But at what cost? Justine M. Philip, Doctor of Philosophy, Ecosystem Management, Museums Victoria Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research from Australia’s national science agency shows a huge amount of ocean plastic ends up on land, where it gets trapped. Britta Denise Hardesty, Principal Research Scientist, Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, CSIRO Chris Wilcox, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

You’ve probably seen ants marching over your kitchen bench this summer. Should you get out the insecticide, or learn to live with them? Tanya Latty, Associate professor, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The oil deal is a side-show. Australian energy diplomacy instead must grapple with the rapid deployment of renewables. Christian Downie, Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Concentrations of carbon dioxide are now 147% above pre-industrial levels, according to a definitive report by the World Meteorological Organisation released today. Blair Trewin, Climate scientist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Pep Canadell, Chief research scientist, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; and Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The extent of this achievement is staggering, almost incomprehensible in a southern Australia context after the summer's devastating bushfires. Rohan Fisher, Information Technology for Development Researcher, Charles Darwin University Jon Altman, Emeritus professor, School of Regulation and Global Governance, ANU, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Future extremes from the Indian Ocean will be acting on top of global warming, giving a double whammy effect, like the record-breaking heat and drought we saw in 2019. Nicky Wright, Research Fellow, Australian National University Bethany Ellis, PhD Candidate, Australian National University Nerilie Abram, Professor; ARC Future Fellow; Chief Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The drought has pushed many trees to the brink, and whole stands are now dying. The ecological consequences are huge. Rachael Helene Nolan, Postdoctoral research fellow, Western Sydney University Belinda Medlyn, Professor, Western Sydney University Brendan Choat, Associate Professor, Western Sydney University Rhiannon Smith, Research Fellow, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fish, frogs, turtles and platypus at major risk of extinction following the bushfires. So why aren't they getting much attention? Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

People should always evacuate early to ensure their safety. But when they do decide to stay or they're told it's too late to leave, having a plan B is extremely important. Sahani Hendawitharana, PhD Scholar, Queensland University of Technology Anthony Deloge Ariyanayagam, Lecturer and Research Fellow, Queensland University of Technology Mahen Mahendran, Professor of Structural Engineering, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In this time of natural destruction, children's books featuring Australian wildlife are critical to fostering environmental awareness in the next generation. Ayesha Tulloch, DECRA Research Fellow, University of Sydney Kirsten Parris, Professor of Urban Ecology, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Each B&B is a green sanctuary for pollinators, containing pollinating plants and shelters like beehives and nesting boxes. Judith Friedlander, Post-graduate Researcher, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Autumn may bring wetter-than-average conditions in parts of southern Australia, indicating a gradual easing of the drought in some areas. Catherine Ganter, Senior Climatologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Andrew B. Watkins, Head of Long-range Forecasts, Australian Bureau of Meteorology David Jones, Climate Scientist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Skie Tobin, Climatologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.