The Conversation

Federal Labor has promised to give rebates of up to $2,000 to 100,000 households to install batteries to store power from solar panels. Is this good energy policy, or just middle-class welfare? Guy Dundas, Energy Fellow, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Trading rhino horn has been legalised in a bid to undercut poachers and the black market. Hubert Cheung, PhD Candidate in Conservation Biology, The University of Queensland Duan Biggs, Senior Research Fellow Social-Ecological Systems & Resilience, Griffith University Yifu Wang, PhD Candidate, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If you see moths and their larvae near your clothes, it's a sign that it's time to wash all your clothes and air them out in the sun. Andreas Zwick, Molecular Systematist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Drinking water in Australia can be contaminated by natural and manmade processes, especially in communities. Innovation is needed to ensure water is ‘fit for purpose, place and people’. Nina Lansbury Hall, Lecturer, Environmental Health Unit, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland Susan Mott, Senior Research Officer, The University of Queensland Wendy Hoy, Professor of Medicine; Director, Centre for Chronic Disease, and Director, NHMRC CKD.CRE, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

At an international summit in Egypt this month, nations will hopefully make progress towards recognising the economic value of wildlife and other environmental assets. Michael Vardon, Associate Professor at the Fenner School, Australian National University Carl Obst, Honorary Research Fellow, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Despite its global importance, the rainy 'Maritime Continent' around Indonesia is hard to capture using global climate models. But fear not - new research shows how to improve our forecasts. Andrew King, ARC DECRA fellow, University of Melbourne Claire Vincent, Lecturer in Atmospheric Science, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Logging in the Thomson Catchment could reduce water supply by the equivalent of 600,000 people by 2050. David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Chris Taylor, Research Fellow, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current provides a barrier to heat that keeps warm subtropical waters away from Antarctica. Yet, there are a few places where the heat gets through. Helen Phillips, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Benoit Legresy, CSIRO Nathan Bindoff, Professor of Physical Oceanography, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Anti-fossil fuel activism is gaining ground where previous climate campaigns have failed, largely because it resonates better with people. Fergus Green, PhD Candidate in Political Theory, Department of Government, London School of Economics and Political Science Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When water turns from a gas into a liquid, it forms droplets. Whether those droplets are dew or rain depends on where the droplet forms. Dylan Korczynskyj, Associate Professor, University of Notre Dame Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The California fires are just the most recent in a series of major wildfires. Together, they suggest we need to look at alternative ways of living with fire. David Bowman, Professor, Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The farming system, lauded as a solution to drought, involves slowing water flow in streams using 'leaky weirs'. Ian Rutherfurd, Associate Professor in Geography, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The reality is that without human intervention, ecosystems will reshape themselves in response to climate change. The Queensland government has launched a climate plan for the state's ecosystems. Sarah Boulter, Research Fellow, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Isolation at work can be unhealthy. But it can also be a good thing – as this researcher found out when he walked solo from Melbourne to Sydney. Agustin Chevez, Adjunct Research Fellow, Centre For Design Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A lack of sustainability, profitability and transparency in the global fishing industry is exacerbating the problem of slave-like working conditions for crew. Here are the warning signs to look out for. Jessica Meeuwig, Professor & Director, Marine Futures Lab, University of Western Australia Andrew Forrest, PhD Candidate, University of Western Australia David Tickler, PhD Candidate in Marine Ecology, University of Western Australia Dirk Zeller, Professor & Director, Sea Around Us - Indian Ocean, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The forecast arrival of El Niño may mean the east coast of Australia will experience an exceptionally hot and dry summer, but does this mean there will be fewer mosquitoes buzzing about? Cameron Webb, Clinical Lecturer and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Pharmaceuticals were found in every invertebrate sampled from six Melbourne streams - including a waterway in a national park. Erinn Richmond, Research Fellow, School of Chemistry, Monash University Mike Grace, Associate Professor, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

While industry bodies fight over who can claim that their mānuka honey is authentic, Māori interests are often left out of the debate. Jessica C Lai, Senior Lecturer in Commercial Law, Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More and more people are adopting plant-based diets in Australia and other western nations. But also seemingly on the rise is resentment towards vegans and vegetarians. Tani Khara, PhD student in Sustainability, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

While drought insurance schemes have produced mixed results to date, there remains hope for the future. Neal Hughes, Senior Economist, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.