The Conversation

The blotched butterfly orchid (Sarcochilus weinthalii) looks fairly unremarkable when it’s not flowering, generally resembling the far more common orange blossom orchid. But when it flowers, it is exquisite… John Dearnaley, Associate Professor, University of Southern Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There are plenty of barriers, but if we really want to we can feed the world on plant protein (largely from legumes). Richard Trethowan, Director, IA Watson Research Centre, Narrabri Plant Breeding Institute, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Millions of dollars are being spent on trying to eradicate fire ants from Australia. But that might not be the only way to deal with the invasive pest. Daniel Spring, Research Fellow, School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne Jonathan Keith, Associate Professor, School of Mathematical Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Contemporary mining disasters echo the devastation caused by Victoria's gold fields. Victorians campaigned for some of the world's first laws against industrial pollution. Susan Lawrence, Professor, Department of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University Peter Davies, Senior Research Fellow, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia needs a viable domestic recycling industry – here's the current state of play. Jeff Seadon, Senior Lecturer, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Plants live off carbon dioxide, but higher levels of the greenhouse gas in the air doesn't necessarily lead to more biomass production. Sebastian Leuzinger, Associate Professor, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Black rats are originally from India and brown rats are originally from China. Peter Banks, Professor of Conservation Biology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Cold fronts swept south-eastern Australia, bringing snow and freezing temperatures. While snow is expected to decrease with climate change, cold snaps are likely to keep coming. Andrew King, ARC DECRA fellow, University of Melbourne Blair Trewin, Climate scientist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Linden Ashcroft, Lecturer in climate science and science communication, University of Melbourne Sonya Fiddes, PhD Candidate in Climate Science, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In the wake of decades of violence, ex-guerrillas in Colombia are making conservation part of the path to peace. Jaime Gongora, Associate Professor, Animal and Wildlife Genetics and Genomics, University of Sydney Federica Di Palma, Director of Science, Earlham Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The world needs to move towards sustainable agriculture – but what is that, exactly? Australia urgently needs coherent policy. Jacqueline Williams, Senior Research Fellow & Lecturer, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A group of scientists want a new Geneva Convention to safeguard the environment during wars and conflicts. We already have such rules, but they're inadequate, inconsistent and unclear. Shireen Daft, Lecturer, Macquarie Law School, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

On the outskirts of Darwin, small insects are gobbled up by strange plants. Enter the world of the bladderwort. Greg Leach, Honorary Fellow at Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Four wind farm operators must face the federal court over allegations they failed their basic responsibilities during the 2016 South Australian blackout. Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We don't know enough about the carbon footprint of vegan foods, and that needs to change. Maartje Sevenster, Research Scientist Climate Smart Agriculture, CSIRO Brad Ridoutt, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Agriculture, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The world has no hope of reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement without seriously reducing emissions from agriculture, forestry and land clearing. Mark Howden, Director, Climate Change Institute, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand's dairy industry is arguing consumers are being misled if the term "milk" is used for plant-based products such as almond or coconut milk, but consumers are savvier than that. Dan Weijers, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Co-editor International Journal of Wellbeing, University of Waikato Nick Munn, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Do you have a question about climate change? This collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre gives you the chance to ask – and we'll provide expert answers. Alexandra Macmillan, Senior Lecturer in environmental sustainability and public health and co-convenor of OraTaiao: NZ Climate & Health Council, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Forget eyecatching headlines about planting millions of new trees – natural mature forests are far better at storing carbon. Kate Dooley, Research Fellow, Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne Brendan Mackey, Director of the Griffith Climate Change Response Program, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The reported number of deaths of people campaigning to protect the environment has tripled over a 15 year period. Nathalie Butt, Postdoctoral Fellow, The University of Queensland Mary Menton, Research Fellow in Environmental Justice, University of Sussex Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There's precious little business case for nuclear power in Australia, but we could start with the end product: storing radioactive waste. Heiko Timmers, Associate Professor of Physics, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.