The Conversation

A combination of tectonic plates, geography and poor infrastructure make Indonesia vulnerable to deadly tsunamis. Anja Scheffers, Professor, Southern Cross University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Today, many Australian urbanites see rivers as little more than picturesque places for a paddle. But in the colonial era, rivers served as highways, drinking sources, sewers, and routes to discovery. Imogen Wegman, Project officer, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This year's recycling crisis has prompted the federal government to pledge a move towards an economy in which materials are kept in use for as long as possible. But it still has a long way to go. Jenni Downes, Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Are our extremes moving past historical precendent into uncharted territory, or is this life as usual on a changeable continent? Madeleine De Gabriele, Deputy Editor: Energy + Environment Wes Mountain, Deputy Multimedia Editor Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Depending on the species, touching a stinging tree can be like 30 wasp stings at once or being burnt with hot acid and electrocuted at the same time. Marina Hurley, Visiting Fellow, Lecturer & Consultant (Writing Clear Science), UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As climate extremes mount, let's reflect on Victorian London's 'Great Stink' sewage crisis - when things finally became so bad authorities were forced to accept evidence, reject sceptics, and act. Chris Turney, Professor of Earth Science and Climate Change, ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australian wildlife can generally cope with drought, but they're not prepared for the combination of people, introduced animals, and no water. John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University Chris Dickman, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, University of Sydney Richard Kingsford, Professor, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sarah Legge, Associate Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

All three of the methods found to be most effective at protecting livestock do not involve killing carnivores. Lily van Eeden, PhD Candidate in Human-Wildlife Conflict, University of Sydney Adrian Treves, Professor of Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our new invention tackles one of the greatest impediments to fish migration in Australia: culverts, those tunnels or drains often found under roads. Jabin Watson, Postdoctoral researcher, The University of Queensland Craig E. Franklin, Professor in Zoology, The University of Queensland Harriet Goodrich, PhD student, University of Exeter Jaana Dielenberg, Science Communication Manager, The University of Queensland Rebecca L. Cramp, Senior Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Mosses are the only plants that can withstand life in East Antarctica's frozen landscape. But a new study shows that life is getting even harder, as ozone loss and climate change make conditions even drier. Melinda Waterman, Associate lecturer, University of Wollongong Johanna Turnbull, Associate Lecturer in Biology, University of Wollongong Sharon Robinson, Professor, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Grass trees are wonderfully odd. They fit no neat definition, and can live up to 600 years. John Patykowski, Plant ecologist, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The New South Wales government has turned its back on plans to create sanctuary zones covering 2.4% of waters around Sydney, despite evidence that these 'no-take' areas are crucial for protecting fish. David Booth, Professor of Marine Ecology, University of Technology Sydney John Turnbull, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Pumping very salty water into the ocean has surprisingly little impact on marine life. Graeme Clark, Senior Research Associate in Ecology, UNSW Emma Johnston, Professor and Dean of Science, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New genetic knowledge about cane toads could give us the knowledge we need to throw some more roadblocks in front of this persistent invader as it marches across Australia. Peter White, Professor in Microbiology and Molecular Biology, UNSW Alice Russo, PhD candidate, UNSW Rick Shine, Professor in Evolutionary Biology, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's quite hard to tell when a sea creature is extinct – there's always hope it will turn up somewhere. Tim O'Hara, Senior Curator of Marine Invertebrates, Museums Victoria Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With consultation underway to improve the New Zealand emissions trading scheme, experts argue that a reserve price on emissions units could help rebuild confidence in low-emission investment. Suzi Kerr, Adjunct Professor, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has suggested changing the rules to allow 'environmental' water to be diverted to drought-hit farms. But the idea would be far less straightforward in practice. Erin O'Donnell, Senior Fellow, Centre for Resources, Energy and Environment Law, University of Melbourne Avril Horne, Research fellow, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The bee product industry is booming and in unregulated markets, there is a strong economic incentive to cheat. Self regulation combined with legal deterrence could help clean up the sticky mess. Samuel Becher, Associate Professor of Business Law, Victoria University of Wellington Hongzhi Gao, Senior Lecturer, International Business; PhD, Victoria University of Wellington Jessica C Lai, Senior Lecturer in Commercial Law, Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In a few idyllic parts of Queensland grows the idiot fruit, a tall tree with intricate flowers and some of the largest seeds in Australia. Stuart Worboys, Laboratory and Technical Support Officer, Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Autopsies of 1,000 turtles washed up on Australian beaches paint a grim picture of the impact of plastic debris. Even a single piece can be deadly, and on average 14 pieces equals a 50% fatality rate. Britta Denise Hardesty, Principal Research Scientist, Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, CSIRO Chris Wilcox, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Kathy Ann Townsend, Lecturer in Animal Ecology, University of the Sunshine Coast Qamar Schuyler, Research Scientist, Oceans and Atmospheres, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.