The Conversation

There are calls from the backbench and elsewhere for the federal government to safeguard the future of coal. But do those calls make economic sense? A look at Queensland's energy landscape suggests not. Matthew Stocks, Research Fellow, ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science, Australian National University Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The average Australian feral cat kills 225 reptiles a year, which adds up to 596 million in total, according to a new estimate. Pet cats, meanwhile, kill a further 53 million. John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University Brett Murphy, Senior Research Fellow, Charles Darwin University Chris Dickman, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, University of Sydney Sarah Legge, Associate Professor, Australian National University Tim Doherty, Research Fellow, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Stick insects may be using birds to disperse their eggs, just as plant do. James O'Hanlon, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With electricity bills becoming more complicated, it's increasingly difficult for customers to know if they are getting a good deal. Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The news media routinely 'beats up' shark stories in search of clicks and profits, according to focus groups and surveys of social media posts. Peter Simmons, Associate Professor, Communication, Charles Sturt University Michael Mehmet, Lecturer in Marketing, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We rely on climate data to help us make important decisions for our future, such as building infrastructure. But what if a region's climate has long been more volatile than we realised? Jack Coates-Marnane, Post-doctoral research fellow, Griffith University Joanne Burton, Adjunct Research Fellow, Griffith University John Tibby, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Change, University of Adelaide Jon Olley, Professor of Water Science, Griffith University Joseph M. McMahon, PhD candidate, Griffith University Justine Kemp, Senior Research Fellow in Geomorphology, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The latest annual survey from the Lowy Institute shows that 59% of Australians support strong climate action, and 84% want the government to embrace renewable energy even if it's more expensive. Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The new Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council aims to overcome a management problem faced by many traditional owners: the fact that major rivers flow through lands home to many different groups and languages. Sue Jackson, Professor, ARC Future Fellow, Griffith University Sarah Laborde, Postdoctoral Researcher, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Waste byproducts from rice and glass combined with fungus can create a construction material with the potential to save lives and the planet. Tien Huynh, Senior Lecturer in the School of Sciences, RMIT University Mitchell Jones, PhD Student, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Puppies and kittens are born without teeth, but by around two months of age they have a full set of baby teeth. Anne Fawcett, Lecturer, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More logging will occur in NSW if conservation areas are rezoned by the state government. Oisín Sweeney, Senior Ecologist at the National Parks Association of NSW, Research Fellow, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia's business-as-usual plan will not be enough to achieve our 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Shirin Malekpour, Research Leader in Strategic Planning and Futures Studies, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The work honey bees do is critical for our ecosystems, but it comes at a high personal cost. Amélie Cabirol, Postdoctoral fellow, University of Trento Andrew Barron, Associate Professor, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For decades, China and India have clashed over their disputed Himalayan border. This clash is also playing out via a development boom that threatens the health of one of the world's biggest river catchments. Ruth Gamble, David Myers Research Fellow, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Wollemi pines have survived for hundreds of millions of years. Once covering Australia, they now survive in a few isolated spots – but they're coming back in a big way. Cris Brack, Assoc Professor Forest measurement & management, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A government proposal for weather radars to share frequencies with telecommunications providers has prompted fears for the accuracy of the Bureau of Meteorology's weather radar. Andrew Dowse, Director, Defence Research and Engagement, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new study shows that workers exposed to solvents in the vehicle collision repair industry are at greater risk of adverse health effects than other blue-collar workers. Samuel Keer, Research officer, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University Jeroen Douwes, Professor of Public Health; Director, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

What will Antarctica look like in 2070? Will the icy wilderness we know today survive, or will it succumb to climate change and human pressure? Our choices over the coming decade will seal its fate. Steve Rintoul, Research Team Leader, Marine & Atmospheric Research, CSIRO Steven Chown, Professor of Biological Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Since 1995, several ice shelves off the Antarctic Peninsula have abruptly disintegrated. A new analysis suggests that these events are triggered when ice shelves lose their buffer of floating ice. Luke Bennetts, Lecturer in applied mathematics, University of Adelaide Rob Massom, Leader, Sea Ice Group, Antarctica & the Global System program, Australian Antarctic Division and Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, Australian Antarctic Division Vernon Squire, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Professor of Applied Mathematics, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The poisoning of dozens of wedge-tailed hawks in Victoria could affect the entire wild population. Simon Cherriman, Ornithology, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.