The Conversation

It has been reported that at least one snail lived as many as 14 years in captivity. His name was George and he lived in Hawaii, in the United States. Bill Bateman, Associate professor, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Freshwater data in the latest report on the state of New Zealand's environment suggest improvements in water quality are possible but many gaps in understanding remain. Troy Baisden, Professor and Chair in Lake and Freshwater Sciences, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Navigating Australia's recycling crisis is even harder during festive seasons. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. Jenni Downes, Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An appeal to the full court of the Federal Court still stands in the way of Adani's proposed Carmichael coal mine. Kristen Lyons, Professor Environment and Development Sociology, The University of Queensland Morgan Brigg, Associate Professor, Peace and Conflict Studies, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More electric vehicles and renewable energy means more mining for resources. Unless industry adopts cleaner habits urgently, the environment faces more damage. Elsa Dominish, Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Nick Florin, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Record-breaking summer heat might mean trees delay and mute their autumn hues. Matthew Brookhouse, Senior lecturer, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A yolk allows a developing animal to stay in an egg longer, boosting its chance of survival. The downside is the mother has to work hard finding extra food so her body can create a nutritious yolk. Maggie J. Watson, Lecturer in Ornithology, Ecology, Conservation and Parasitology, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Electric motors are used in everything from utes to mining trucks – because they pack plenty of oomph. Jake Whitehead, Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Bees might not be able to survive inside a person's eye, but they can be drawn to disgusting food sources. Manu Saunders, Research fellow, University of New England Tobias Smith, Ecologist, bee researcher and stingless bee keeper, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Instagram-able Eucalyptus salubris, better known as the Gimlet Gum, is well worth getting off the beaten track for. Michael Whitehead, Research Fellow in Evolutionary Ecology, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Concerns about the strain electric cars can put on the electricity grid are not unfounded, but there are some relatively simple fixes available. Marcus Brazil, Associate Professor and Reader in Engineering, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The transport sector is the fastest growing contributor of greenhouse gases. Electric vehicles are a cost-effective solution. Gail Broadbent, PhD candidate Faculty of Science UNSW, UNSW Graciela Metternicht, Professor of Environmental Geography, School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The world is on the brink of creating irreversible damage to the environment if better policy isn't rolled out. Read the findings of the UN report. Pedro Fidelman, Senior research fellow, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Animal-rights protesters have grabbed headlines this week, but research shows antagonism is not always effective. Tani Khara, PhD student in Sustainability, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fish deaths at the lower Darling can happen again. Here's what we can do about it. Robert Vertessy, Enterprise Professor, University of Melbourne Fran Sheldon, Professor, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Griffith University Lee Baumgartner, Associate Research Professor (Fisheries and River Management), Institute for Land, Water, and Society, Charles Sturt University Nick Bond, Professor of Freshwater Ecology and Director of the Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems, La Trobe University Simon Mitrovic, Associate Professor, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When people build fences across semi-arid landscapes we cut off vital paths to seasonal food and water. Bill Laurance, Distinguished Research Professor and Australian Laureate, James Cook University Penny van Oosterzee, Adjunct Associate Professor James Cook University and University Fellow Charles Darwin University, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Eucalypts have been in Australia for 45 million years. But hundreds of species appeared more recently than previously thought. Andrew Thornhill, Research botanist, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We've been here before. In fact we've been going round in circles on climate policy for decades, while the temperature (of the debate, as well as the planet) climbs ever higher. Marc Hudson, PhD Candidate, Sustainable Consumption Institute, University of Manchester Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Present in Asia and Australia, the origins of swamp foxtails have not always been clear. Genetic studies put uncertainties to rest. Roderick John Fensham, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Huon pines in Tasmania have locked up significant amounts of mercury pollution from the state's mining industrial history. And that can be released back to the atmosphere in bushfires. Larissa Schneider, DECRA fellow, Australian National University Kathryn Allen, Academic, Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne Simon Haberle, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.