The Conversation

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a floating accumulation of rubbish the size of a continent, has whales and dolphins in its heart. Chandra Salgado Kent, Associate Professor, School of Science, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Huge gum tree plantations shelter big koala populations, but when the trees are cut down the koalas flood into nearby habitat. Kita Ashman, PhD candidate in koala conservation, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The New Zealand robin has learnt to hide left-over food for later consumption, and it turns out that male birds with the best spatial memory have the greatest breeding success. Rachael Shaw, Rutherford Discovery Fellow, Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our reaction to the horse-slaughter scandal show a double standard, and suggest we care more about what racehorses mean to us than what's best for the animal. Cathrynne Henshall, PhD Candidate, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Once water is used in washing, cleaning or even sewerage it can be safely and reliably treated. The treated water is then safe to drink – identical to the original water. Roberta Ryan, Professor, UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance and UTS Centre for Local Government, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Advertisers that tell a good story can persuade the public of all sorts of things. But some messages are disingenuous and misleading. Sergio Brodsky, Sessional Lecturer, Marketing, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia's renewables revolution proves that there's cause for hope in our emissions reduction goals. But we cannot rest on our laurels. Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Matthew Stocks, Research Fellow, ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Speaking with The Conversation's politics podcast, McCormack said in hindsight, it would have been better to have told Nationals who'd been agitating for the code that negotiations were underway. Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Following tensions in the Nationals party room over the bring-forward of the dairy code for Pauline Hanson, the Deputy PM admits that the party leadership mishandled the situation. Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Despite voting to remain a member of an Australian coal lobby group, there are growing divisions between fossil fuel extractors and the larger energy industry. Christian Downie, Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A particular brand of climate denial among coastal property owners presents a conundrum for councils and governments trying to plan for sea-level rise. Vanessa Bowden, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Newcastle Christopher Wright, Professor of Organisational Studies, University of Sydney Daniel Nyberg, Professor of Management, Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There is evidence for catastrophic climate change from protracted volcanic eruptions in the past, but since the 1950s the emissions we produce far exceed those from volcanic activity. Michael Petterson, Professor of Geology, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Racing industries put enormous effort into procuring the best young horses, but pay little attention to the fate of former (or simply unsuccessful) racers. Phil McManus, Professor of Urban and Environmental Geography: Head of School of Geosciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If Australia is the biggest gas exporter in the world, why are we shipping it back in? Because the gas market is dysfunctional - and it means consumers are suffering. Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An investigation by ABC journalists has revealed hundreds of former racehorses are slaughtered after retiring. Kate Fenner, PhD Candidate (Equine Training and Welfare), University of Sydney Dr Michelle Lenore Hyde, Senior Lecturer Animal Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Penny Whetton made the lives of those around her richer, more interesting and more human. Her death leaves a massive void. John M Clarke, Team Leader, Regional Projections, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An Australian horse app has been launched that allows vets and owners across the globe to log their horses' physical, mental and social development. Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of Sydney Bethany Wilson, Honorary Affiliate, University of Sydney Dr Michelle Lenore Hyde, Senior Lecturer Animal Sciences, University of Sydney Kate Fenner, PhD Candidate (Equine Training and Welfare), University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Cats have lived around dogs for tens of thousands of years. So using dingoes to control feral cats will not protect our wildlife. Bronwyn Fancourt, Adjunct Research Fellow, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In New Zealand, where more than 80% of electricity is renewable, the carbon footprint of electric cars is 62% lower than that of fossil cars. But their lithium battery has other environmental impacts. Md Arif Hasan, PhD candidate, Victoria University of Wellington Ralph Brougham Chapman, Associate Professor , Director Environmental Studies, Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Yes, Australia naturally cycles through dry and wet periods. But that doesn't mean we can simply build more dams and trust they'll be filled. Emma Kathryn White, PhD Candidate, Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.