The Conversation

Crises in the Darling River have raised questions about cotton and rice farming in the Murray Darling Basin. Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Mass fish deaths are a blaring warning sign for the heath of the Murray Darling Basin, but just as worrying is the sight of dry areas in the Darling. Fran Sheldon, Professor, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Summer is here and the chance of blackouts is higher than normal. But the cause is unlikely to be the power station. The problem is usually much closer to home – in the local poles and wires. Guy Dundas, Energy Fellow, Grattan Institute Lucy Percival, Senior Associate, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Public confidence in the institutions in charge of the Murray Darling Basin has plummeted – with good reason. Jason Alexandra, PhD candidate, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Hundreds of thousands of fish have died in low-oxygen water. Here's what actually happened to the oxygen, and why we might see more deaths in the coming weeks. Stuart Khan, Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Vets treat largely treat injured wildlife for free, whenever they have time. Bronwyn Orr, Veterinarian and PhD candidate, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Algae blooms have killed hundreds of thousands of fish in the last two weeks, but what exactly are they and how do we get them under control? Michele Burford, Professor - Australian Rivers Institute, and Dean - Research Infrastructure, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

2018 was Australia’s third warmest year on record, as the NSW drought dragged into another year. Karl Braganza, Climate Scientist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ants have something similar to blood, but it's called haemolymph. Some insects use it in unusual ways. When threatened by a predator, blister beetles can squirt haemolymph from their knees. Tanya Latty, Senior Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Energy companies offer thousands of different prices, making finding the best deal all but impossible. Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Travel can come with danger, so dogs have mostly evolved to avoid being over-adventurous. That said, dogs may see some kinds of travel as a chance to find things they want -- like food or a mate. Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Studies show the presence of natural living things in homes improve wellbeing. So why not have your own version of a Christmas tree all year round? Cris Brack, Associate professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

One in five beachgoers has been injured by litter, with the most common incidents involving cuts and scrapes - but also including fractures, burns, poisonings and even blindness. So be careful out there. Marnie Campbell, Chevron Harry Butler Chair in Biosecurity and Environmental Science, Murdoch University Cameron McMains, PhD Candidate, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University Chad Hewitt, Professor and Director, Murdoch Biosecurity Research Centre, Murdoch University Mariana Campos, Lecturer and researcher, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Contrary to dozens of aquariums' warning signs, flash photography does not affect seahorses. Maarten De Brauwer, PhD-candidate in Marine Ecology, Curtin University Benjamin John Saunders, Lecturer / Research fellow in Marine Ecology, Curtin University Tanika Cian Shalders, Marine Scientist, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Don't let your dog's poo go to landfill and contribute to our waste problem - compost it instead. M. Leigh Ackland, Professor in Molecular Biosciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Heading off on a bushwalk in a national park over the summer break? Don't be tempted to bushwhack it. Research shows many walkers don't realise the danger of straying off the beaten track. Edmund Goh, Deputy Director, Markets and Services Research Centre, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical that can kill germs. It is found in two things many ants love to eat: nectar and honey dew. Tanya Latty, Senior Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fifty years ago people saw our planet from the outside for the first time. Dr Simon Torok, Honorary Fellow, School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne Colleen Boyle, Senior Advisor, Learning and Teaching, RMIT University Jenny Gray, Chief Executive Officer - Zoos Victoria, University of Melbourne Julie Arblaster, Associate Professor, Monash University Lynette Bettio, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Rachel Webster, Professor of Physics, University of Melbourne Ruth Morgan, Senior Research Fellow, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Yeah, we get it – environment news can be depressing. So here are ten uplifting stories from 2018 that prove it's not all doom and gloom out there in the natural world. Happy reading! Michael Hopkin, Editor: Energy + Environment, The Conversation Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia is facing an increase in extreme heat, fire danger weather, floods and marine heatwaves, according to the latest biennial snapshot from the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO. Michael Grose, Climate Projections Scientist, CSIRO Lynette Bettio, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.