The Conversation
Welcome to Beating Around the Bush, wherein we yell about plants
Are you stressed? Of course you are. Read about awesome plants instead.
Madeleine De Gabriele, Deputy Editor: Energy + Environment
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NSW's no-cull brumby bill will consign feral horses to an even crueller fate
Failing to cull feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park may end up promoting environmental destruction while actually increasing the horses' suffering.
Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University
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We have no idea how much microplastic is in Australia's soil (but it could be a lot)
Ocean plastic has made a big splash, but there may be even more microplastic on land. The problem is that we have no idea exactly how much is in Australian soil, where it is, and what it's doing.
Alisa Bryce, Research Affiliate, University of Sydney
Alex McBratney, Professor of Digital Agriculture & Soil Science; Director, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, University of Sydney
Budiman Minasny, Professor in Soil-Landscape Modelling, University of Sydney
Damien Field, Associate professor
Stephen Cattle, Associate professor, University of Sydney
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The live export trade is unethical. It puts money ahead of animals' pain
In choosing not to ban the live export trade even in the hottest northern months, the federal government is allowing animals to be put in conditions where they cannot possibly escape suffering.
Peter Singer, Professor of Ethical Issues in Biotechnology, Justice and the Human Good, University of Melbourne
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Senate report: climate change is a clear and present danger to Australia's security
Australia faces many security issues driven by climate change, including more international migration and an increase in defence personnel being sent on disaster relief missions, a Senate inquiry has found.
Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland
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One-third of the world's nature reserves are under threat from humans
The world's national parks cover an area bigger than South America. But a new survey finds that one-third of this area is subject to pressure from human developments, potentially putting wildlife at risk.
James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland
James Allan, PhD candidate, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland
Kendall Jones, PhD candidate, Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland
Pablo Negret, PhD candidate, The University of Queensland
Richard Fuller, Associate Professor in Biodiversity and Conservation, The University of Queensland
Sean Maxwell, PhD candidate, The University of Queensland
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Logging burns conceal industrial pollution in the name of 'community safety'
Every autumn Victoria copes with smoke haze from planned burns that reduce bushfire risk, but a large part of that pollution actually comes from industrial logging activity.
Chris Taylor, Researcher, University of Melbourne
David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
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What happens to small towns whose water becomes big business for bottled brands?
Residents of a small Victorian town realised that delicious water can be a curse as well as a blessing, when they lost a legal battle to stop a local farmer shipping groundwater to a nearby bottling plant.
Emma Kathryn White, PhD Candidate, Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne
Rebecca Louise Nelson, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Melbourne
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Curious Kids: 'I would like to know why man lions have manes and lady lions don't'
People used to think that boy lions had big shaggy manes to protect their necks from being bitten or scratched during fights. But scientists soon realised this idea didn't make much sense.
Nadya Sotnychuk, PhD candidate, University of New England
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To get conservative climate contrarians to really listen, try speaking their language
Facts will only get you so far when it comes to climate change. To get conservatives on side, climate communicators must focus on the values conservatives hold dear, such as preserving the status quo.
Jamie Freestone, PhD student in literature, The University of Queensland
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If we can't recycle it, why not turn our waste plastic into fuel?
Plastic can only be recycled a few times before it becomes useless. But even non-recyclable plastic can be used to help produce petrol and diesel. Could this process help overcome the recycling crisis?
Muxina Konarova, Advanced Queensland Research Fellow, The University of Queensland
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Is that selfie really worth it? Why face time with wild animals is a bad idea
Here's some advice on taking selfies with wild animals: don't. It's not fun for the animal, and can have serious knock-on effects for their health. And you could be injured (or worse).
Kathryn Teare Ada Lambert, Adjunct Lecturer/ Ecologist, University of New England
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The secret agents protecting our crops and gardens
Not all bugs are bad! Put down the pesticides and get to know the predators and parasites hidden around you.
Lizzy Lowe, Postdoctoral researcher, Macquarie University
Manu Saunders, Research fellow, University of New England
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Here's how a complex low-pressure system sent temperatures plummeting
Rapidly dropping temperatures, rain and wind are hitting south-eastern Australia, due to a perfect combination of warm seas and low-pressure systems.
Adam Morgan, Senior Meteorologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology
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Good signage in national parks can save lives. Here's how to do it right
New research shows what type of signs are most effective at communicating safety messages in national parks - and what not to do.
Pascal Scherrer, Senior Lecturer, School of Business and Tourism, Southern Cross University
Betty Weiler, Professor, School of Business and Tourism, Southern Cross University
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Deal on Murray Darling Basin Plan could make history for Indigenous water rights
Indigenous water rights have been overlooked for a very long time. A bipartisan agreement on the Murray Darling Basin Plan may change that.
Sue Jackson, Professor, ARC Future Fellow, Griffith University
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Budget 2018 was old news for energy policy – the next big headlines won't come until July
Scott Morrison's budget speech held no surprises on energy, after months of debate over the National Energy Guarantee. The real news comes in July with the release of a crucial ACCC report on power prices.
David Blowers, Energy Fellow, Grattan Institute
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Can meat exports be made humane? Here are three key strategies
In the face of shocking footage of animals dying on ships, it seems impossible that our live export trade will remain as it is. Here are three areas to address.
Andrew Butt, Associate Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, RMIT University
Andrew Fisher, Professor of Cattle & Sheep Production Medicine, University of Melbourne
Shakira Hussein, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow; Writer and researcher, National Centre for Excellence in Islamic Studies, University of Melbourne
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From drone swarms to tree batteries, new tech is revolutionising ecology and conservation
Ecology is in the midst of a technological revolution. From tiny sensors that can be fitted to animals, to swarms of remotely-piloted drones, researchers have a host of new ways to study the natural world.
Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
Blake Allan, Deakin University
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Australia's fuel stockpile is perilously low, and it may be too late for a refill
Australia depends on imported fuel to keep running. We never got around to setting up an official reserve, and that means we're already at risk.
Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University
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Categories: Around The Web