The Conversation
Australia's pristine beaches have a poo problem
Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs have raw and untreated sewage from 3,500 people discharged directly into the Tasman Sea.
Ian Wright, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science, Western Sydney University
Andrew Fischer, Senior Lecturer, University of Tasmania
Boyd Dirk Blackwell, Adjunct Researcher, University of Tasmania
Qurratu A'yunin Rohmana, Research Analyst, University of Tasmania
Simon Toze, Senior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO
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Built like buildings, boab trees are life-savers with a chequered past
The leaves, when boiled, can be eaten like spinach. The seeds can be roasted for a coffee substitute, and the pulp can be fermented to make beer.
Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne
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Adani is cleared to start digging its coal mine – six key questions answered
It's been years in the making, but Adani's controversial Queensland coal mine is finally shovel-ready. Yet significant scientific questions remain, such as the impact on the region's aquifers.
Adrian Werner, Professor of Hydrogeology, Flinders University
Matthew Currell, Associate Professor in Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University
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Undocumented plant extinctions are a big problem in Australia – here’s why they go unnoticed
A recent global survey found almost 600 plants have gone extinct. And this figure is likely to be an underestimate.
David Coates, Adjunct Professor and Research Associate, University of Western Australia
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Why old-school climate denial has had its day
Ten years ago, politicians such as Tony Abbott would routinely voice disdain for climate science. Now, while the policy debate remains fierce, the battleground has shifted to economics and jobs.
Michael J. I. Brown, Associate professor in astronomy, Monash University
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Curious Kids: why do leeches suck our blood?
Leeches need blood to grow and reproduce- they can do this easily as all leeches are both male and female at the same time. They still have to mate with another leech but both partners can lay eggs.
Mark Sandeman, Honorary Professor, Federation University Australia
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How New Zealand’s well-being budget delivers for the environment
A recent report on the state of New Zealand's environment painted a bleak picture of species losses and freshwater pollution. Budget 2019 signals a shift, but more in intention than sufficient funding.
Troy Baisden, Professor and Chair in Lake and Freshwater Sciences, University of Waikato
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Not everyone cares about climate change, but reproach won't change their minds
In the end, climate policy didn't swing the federal election, and for those on the losing side it can be tempting to play the blame game. But listening and respect are much better ways to move forward.
Chloe Lucas, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Tasmania
Adam Corner, Research Director, Climate Outreach & Honorary Research Fellow, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff University
Aidan Davison, Associate Professor, University of Tasmania
Peat Leith, Research Fellow, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania
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5 ways the government can clean up the Murray-Darling Basin Plan
The Murray-Darling Basin might not survive future climate change shocks without changes to the plan.
Barry Hart, Emeritus Professor Water Science, Monash University
Martin Thoms, Professor - Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education; School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences , University of New England
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This centuries-old river red gum is a local legend – here's why it's worth fighting for
This massive red gum has stood for 300 years, as if in defiance of the modern world and the development that has encircled it.
Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
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Curious Kids: why don't ladybirds have tails?
Ladybirds do not have tails because they have no backbones.
Heshani Edirisinghe, PhD student, Massey University
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Why there's more greenhouse gas in the atmosphere than you may have realised
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are at 414 parts per million. But thanks to a recalculation of methane's warming power, the total amount of greenhouse gases is now equivalent to more than 500.
Zoe Loh, Research Scientist, CSIRO
Blagoj Mitrevski, Research scientist, CSIRO
David Etheridge, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO
Nada Derek, Research Projects Officer, Oceans and Atmosphere, Climate Science Centre, CSIRO
Paul Fraser, Honorary Fellow, CSIRO
Paul Krummel, Research Group Leader, CSIRO
Paul Steele, Honorary Fellow, CSIRO
Ray Langenfelds, Scientist at CSIRO Atmospheric Research, CSIRO
Sam Cleland, Officer in Charge, Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, Australian Bureau of Meteorology
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Whichever way you spin it, Australia's greenhouse emissions have been climbing since 2015
Australia's new emissions data for the December 2018 quarter show a rise on the previous quarter, although the raw figures actually dropped. Here's what that all means.
Tim Baxter, Fellow - Melbourne Law School; Associate - Australian-German Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne
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How we're helping the western ground parrot survive climate change
Here's how climate change affects recovery efforts for the elusive western ground parrot.
Shaun Molloy, Associate research scientist (Ecology), Edith Cowan University
Robert Davis, Senior Lecturer in Vertebrate Biology, Edith Cowan University
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Australia should give victims a voice in tackling environmental crimes
Evidence shows restorative justice can help fix environmental crime – so why isn't Australia using it more?
Hadeel Al-Alosi, Lecturer, School of Law, Western Sydney University
Mark Hamilton, PhD Candiate (Law); Sessional tutor in criminology (School of Social Sciences), UNSW
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What does a koala's nose know? A bit about food, and a lot about making friends
Did you know koalas rub noses to say hello?
Ben Moore, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University
Edward Narayan, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, Western Sydney University
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A deadly fungus threatens to wipe out 100 frog species – here's how it can be stopped
The island of New Guinea is home to 6% of the world’s frogs, but if the deadly chytrid fungus invades it could wipe out 100 species.
Deborah Bower, Lecturer in Ecosystem Rehabilitation, University of New England
Simon Clulow, MQ Research Fellow, Macquarie University
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Curious Kids: how would the disappearance of anglerfish affect our environment?
We know very little about the deep sea and how its inhabitants, including anglerfish, will respond to change. In fact, more people have walked on the Moon than have been to the bottom of the ocean.
Andy Davis, Director - Institute for Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, University of Wollongong
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Explaining Adani: why would a billionaire persist with a mine that will probably lose money?
Gautam Adani might be willing to lose a large share of his wealth to show that he can’t be pushed around, or he might want more public money,
John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland
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Adani's finch plan is approved, just weeks after being sent back to the drawing board
The Queensland government has green-lit an updated version of Adani's plan to protect the black-throated finch at its Carmichael mine site, after the earlier plan was branded inadequate.
Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
Brendan Wintle, Professor Conservation Ecology, University of Melbourne
David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
Don Franklin, Adjunct Research Fellow, Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University
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