The Conversation

A barrier just 50km wide might stop water-reliant cane toads in their tracks. Mike Letnic, Professor, Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate extremes are killing Australian trees, but we don't know where they're dying. Scientists are asking the public to use their phones to help. Belinda Medlyn, Professor, Western Sydney University Brendan Choat, Associate Professor, Western Sydney University Martin De Kauwe, Senior Research Fellow, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With strategic planning, the marine protected area network could be a third smaller, cost half as much, and still meet the international target of protecting 10% of every ecosystem. Kerstin Jantke, Postdoctoral Researcher on conservation biology, University of Hamburg Alienor Chauvenet, Lecturer, Griffith University Hugh Possingham, Professor, The University of Queensland James Allan, Postdoctoral research fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Kendall Jones, PhD candidate, Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The moss that grows in pavement cracks and on the edge of basketball courts in every town and city in Australia has a secret superpower. Alison Haynes, PhD Candidate, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Invasive tropical fire ants spread by eating their fat useless sons. Pauline Lenancker, PhD student in biology and ecology, James Cook University Lori Lach, Associate Professor, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Feral horses are a clear point of division between parties in this weekend's election. Labor has pledged to repeal the Coalition government's bill to preserve large numbers of brumbies. Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Victoria's environment is taking a pounding, but an ambitious report offers a way forward – not just for that state, but for the whole of Australia. Geoffrey Wescott, Honorary Research Fellow, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Gas mining is expanding across Australia, and has been touted as part of the answer to cutting emissions. But there is evidence that this rollout will pose significant health and environmental risks. Melissa Haswell, Professor of Health, Safety and Environment, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland University of Technology David Shearman, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We need a global treaty to combat plastic pollution, but a small group of countries is blocking real action. Trisia Farrelly, Senior Lecturer, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Backyard burial for your beloved animals raises some surprising problems. Rachel Allavena, Associate Professor, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sometimes, two different animals will evolve to have a similar adaptation, even when they are not closely related. Flight is an excellent example. Amy Edwards, Post Doctoral Researcher, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Giving female marsupials a sniff of prospective partners increases the chance of a successful love connection. Marissa Parrott, Reproductive Biologist, Wildlife Conservation & Science, Zoos Victoria, and Honorary Research Associate, BioSciences, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The guinea flower grows right across Australia. Betsy Jackes, Adjunct professor, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The overwhelming majority of recreational fishers support no-fishing marine sanctuaries. Matt Navarro, Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Western Australia Marit E. Kragt, Senior Lecture in Agricultural and Resource Economics Tim Langlois, Research Fellow, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Facing up to the horror of climate change can help us work towards a more sustainable culture. Young people are leading the way. Blanche Verlie, Associate Lecturer, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The week highlighted, yet again, that instead of a credible energy policy, the government has only confusion and black holes. Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A plant-growth-regulating spray might be the solution for vineyards affected by heatwaves. Christopher Davies, Team Leader, CSIRO Christine Bottcher, Research scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When it comes to environmental activism, optimism is key. Dominic McAfee, Postdoctoral researcher, marine ecology, University of Adelaide Sean Connell, Professor, Ecology, University of Adelaide Zoe Doubleday, Research Fellow, University of South Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research looked at human impacts on more than 5,000 threatened species and found that a quarter of them have almost nowhere left to go to escape from the threats posed by human development. James Allan, Postdoctoral research fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland Christopher O'Bryan, PhD Candidate, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

By investing in solar panels and going electric for your motoring and heating, you can directly offset your greenhouse emissions. And in the long run, the upfront costs will repay themselves. Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.