The Conversation

One of the great Australian trees – messmate stringybark, Eucalyptus obliqua. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The sediments that accumulate beneath seagrass meadows can act as secure vaults for shipwrecks and other precious artefacts, by stopping water and oxygen from damaging the delicate timbers. Oscar Serrano, Doctor of Global Change, Edith Cowan University Carlos Duarte, Adjunct professor, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Dorte Krause-Jensen, Senior Researcher, Marine Ecology, Aarhus University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More than two-thirds of Earth's remaining wilderness is in the hands of just five countries, according to a new global map. A concerted conservation effort is needed to save our last wild places. James Allan, Postdoctoral research fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Jasmine Lee, PhD candidate, biodiversity conservation and climate change, The University of Queensland Kendall Jones, PhD candidate, Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The federal government is primarily to blame for the mess that is Australia's energy policy. It's time for the states to step up, to reduce both prices and emissions. Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Guy Dundas, Energy Fellow, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

National parks and nature reserves are vital for conservation, but are also great places for recreation. Balancing the two is tricky, but it can be done if we realise parks are not just playgrounds. Bill Laurance, Distinguished Research Professor and Australian Laureate, James Cook University David Salt, Science writer and editor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Standing 240m tall, the Statue of Unity celebrates India's development. But jarringly, it towers over a divisive and environmentally damaging dam project. Ruth Gamble, David Myers Research Fellow, La Trobe University Alexander E. Davis, New Generation Network Fellow, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The announcement of a new fast-charging network to link the major east coast cities will do much to encourage motorists to buy electric cars. But the power utilities need to get on board too. Iftekhar Ahmad, Associate Professor, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The federal government has floated the idea of underwriting new coal-fired electricity generation in a bid to keep power prices low. But doing so would be a defiance of economic and environmental reality. Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Geometric icebergs can form around Antarctica, although such a perfect rectangle is unusual. Sue Cook, Ice Shelf Glaciologist, Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems CRC, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Marine sponges are ancient organisms that have survived mass extinctions. Many are more tolerant of climate change and may dominate over corals in future reef systems. James Bell, Associate Professor of Marine Biology, Victoria University of Wellington Nicole Webster, Principal Research Scientist, Australian Institute of Marine Science Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Spinifex grass is a (slightly ugly) Aussie battler that keeps on giving. Kristian Bell, PhD candidate, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Camel beauty pageants are multi-million-dollar events on the Arabian Peninsula. Jaime Gongora, Associate Professor, Animal and Wildlife Genetics and Genomics, University of Sydney Mahmood Alamri, PhD student, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Nobel Prizewinning health researcher Peter Doherty reflects on the challenge of delivering a healthy climate for the world. From hydrogen power to wooden skyscrapers, the options are endless, but all require leadership. Peter C. Doherty, Laureate Professor, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

You could take the bus to work, or eat less meat. But how do you know if your efforts are making a difference? A new approach aims to break global environmental budgets down into digestible chunks. Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University Kate Meyer, Sessional Academic, School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Like reptiles, birds do not have two separate exits from the body. They have one, called the cloaca. It is quite similar to the human anus but the cloaca expels both indigestible bits and toxins. Gisela Kaplan, Emeritus Professor in Animal Behaviour, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Beyond trucking in hay and water, drought-stricken farmers need money and advice on improving the natural features of their land. David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Michelle Young, Director, Sustainable Farms, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An ancient relationship between plants and fungi could be used in sustainable agriculture. But there's still a lot we don't know, and new research suggests these fungi can sometimes do more harm than good. Adam Frew, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Breeding dogs for certain colours can affect their health, behaviour and life-span. Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of Sydney Bethany Wilson, Honorary Affiliate, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Nauru is best known as a site of Australian offshore asylum detention. But everyone on the island - not just refugees - is struggling with the issue of environmental change that threatens their lives and homes. Anja Kanngieser, Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

European settlers suspected Australia's high tropical forests hid native rhododendrons. Stuart Worboys, Laboratory and Technical Support Officer, Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.