The Conversation

Fatal crocodile attacks are extraordinarily rare in Australia – and there is no evidence to suggest their numbers are too high. Brandon Michael Sideleau, PhD student studying human-saltwater crocodile conflict, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Keeping the lights on in Australia is not an easy task – and adding nuclear to the mix would add new complications. Asma Aziz, Senior Lecturer in Power Engineering, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It has been particularly cold this week, with a record low temperature recorded in Tasmania. Such records are increasingly rare as average temperatures continue to rise. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Modelling shows a shift to electric trucks is the better, faster option for cutting transport emissions under most plausible scenarios in Australia’s energy transition. Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology Dorsa Alipour, PhD Candidate, Swinburne University of Technology Hadi Ghaderi, Associate Professor in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Small renewable energy systems are replacing dirty diesel generators in remote communities. This study of 20 Australian microgrid feasibility projects reveals widespread benefits. Simon Wright, Senior Research Fellow, Energy & Circularity, Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Financial institutions have a key role to play in funding green building construction and retrofits to cut energy use, running costs and emissions. Ehsan Noroozinejad, Senior Researcher, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Nicky Morrison, Professor of Planning and Director of Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Mass adoption of e-bikes in Australia requires better infrastructure, new government regulation and price incentives. But you can still enjoy the benefits now. Muhammad Rizwan Azhar, Lecturer of Chemical Engineering, Sustainable Energy and Resources, Edith Cowan University Waqas Uzair, Research Associate, Advanced Battery Systems and Safety, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate change is making some parts of Australia unliveable or uninsurable. We need a national conversation about the planned relocation. A proposed National Relocation Authority can lead the way. Roslyn Prinsley, Head, Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Naomi Hay, Bachelor of Design (Honours) Convenor and Lecturer, School of Art and Design, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Understanding what to do when faced with flooding on the road is an important, yet often overlooked aspect of driver education, which could be the difference between life and death. Amy Peden, NHMRC Research Fellow, School of Population Health & co-founder UNSW Beach Safety Research Group, UNSW Sydney Kyra Hamilton, Associate Professor in Applied Psychology, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Coalition’s pledge to build seven nuclear reactors poses serious questions about whether this nation can meet its international climate obligations. Sven Teske, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Millions of people are being urged to take part in Plastic Free July. Yet we know consumer choice is only one part of the picture. Eliminating plastic waste requires broader structural change. Bhavna Middha, ARC DECRA and Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University Ralph Horne, Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation, College of Design & Social Context, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Only about 61% of dairy farm operators had reported their use of synthetic nitrogen a year after reporting rules came into force. Mike Joy, Morgan Foundation Senior Research Fellow in Freshwater Ecology and Environmental Science, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Megan Cornforth-Camden, Visiting Scholar, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Growing and changing demands for water and the increasing impacts of climate change are adding to the challenge of ensuring everyone has access to a safe and reliable water supply. Stuart Khan, Professor and Head of School of Civil Engineering, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Over millions of years, a stable climate helped create this biodiversity hotspot. Climate change now threatens it. Sean Buckley, Lecturer in Molecular Ecology and Environmental Management, Edith Cowan University Luciano Beheregaray, Matthew Flinders Professor of Biodiversity Genomics, Flinders University Mark Allen, Post Doctoral Fellow, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch University Stephen Beatty, Research Leader (Catchments to Coast), Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A member of Australia’s Climate Change Authority, Lesley Hughes, explains what this body does – in light of high profile NSW politician Matt Kean’s appointment to the top job this week. Lesley Hughes, Professor Emerita, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

About a third of insects attracted to artificial lights die by morning, often from exhaustion. But we can help them, and the vital ecosystems they serve, by reducing light pollution. Janice Lord, Associate Professor in Botany, University of Otago Connal McLean, Natural History Technician – Invertebrates, Te Papa Tongarewa Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Public ownership is back in vogue, after the Coalition promised publicly owned nuclear plants in a decade. The problem is, the public service has been hollowed out. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Increasing coral bleaching will be worst for the most biodiverse reefs along the equator, impacting the livelihoods and nutrition of the people who depend on them. Camille Mellin, Senior Lecturer and ARC Future Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide Damien Fordham, Associate Professor of Global Change Ecology, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our purpose-built “frog saunas” allow amphibians to warm up in winter and bake off chytrid infections. You can even DIY and build a frog sauna for your own backyard with our step-by-step guide. Anthony Waddle, Schmidt Science Fellow in Conservation Biology, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Nuclear power stations produce high-level radioactive waste. It is dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years — and so far, the world has failed to deliver a safe, permanent storage method. Rosemary Hill, Adjunct Professor, James Cook University Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.