The Conversation

While running it briefly and intermittently at a very low temperature may feel thrifty, it will not be the most energy efficient choice. Here’s what to do instead. Mark Goldsworthy, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The impacts of record heat on the global water cycle were severe and wide-ranging – and the trend will continue in 2024. Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A heatwave in 2022 redefined scientific expectations of the Antarctic climate. Now the global community must prepare for what a warmer world may bring. Dana M Bergstrom, Honorary Senior Fellow, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia leads the world in rooftop solar per head. Can this small-scale power source be the secret weapon to fire up our struggling transition to net zero? Anna Bruce, Associate Professor in the Collaboration on Energy and Environmental Markets and the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, UNSW Sydney Baran Yildiz, Senior Research Associate, UNSW Sydney Dani Alexander, CEO, UNSW Energy Institute, UNSW Sydney Mike Roberts, Senior Research Fellow in the Collaboration on Energy and Environmental Markets and the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Conservation dogs perform vital roles across Australia. Some are guardians protecting wildlife from predators while others put their powerful sense of smell to use as sniffer dogs or detection dogs. Romane H Cristescu, Researcher in Koala, Detection Dogs, Conservation Genetics and Ecology, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With smartphones as commonplace as towels and sunscreen in the beach bag, why not add coastal data collection to your list of holiday activities this summer? Look for the CoastSnap camera cradles. Mitchell Harley, Scientia Senior Lecturer, UNSW Sydney Fred Chaaya, Project Engineer, UNSW Water Research Laboratory Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Are plant-based treats like catnip, cat thyme and silver vine safe for cats? And it it ethical to use them? Mia Cobb, Research Fellow, Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne Anne Quain, Senior Lecturer, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Invasive species such as deer, pigs and rabbits might help boost native predator populations. Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Keeping your cat indoors is safer for your pet and wildlife. There are some simple steps you can take to ensure its quality of life doesn’t suffer. Tiffani J. Howell, Senior Research Fellow, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The climate crisis poses an existential threat to cricket. Governing bodies like New Zealand Cricket need to up their sustainability game. Chris McMillan, Professional Teaching Fellow in Sociology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When people first came to Australia 65,000 years ago, the Earth was in an ice age. Then the seas rose, drought and floods came – and still people endured. Penny van Oosterzee, Adjunct Associate Professor James Cook University and University Fellow Charles Darwin University, James Cook University Barry Hunter, Acting CEO, North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance, Indigenous Knowledge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There is a rich history of people really loving frogs. But the history of human-frog relations is long and complicated – and not all of it is nice. Susan Broomhall, Director, Gender and Women's History Research Centre, Australian Catholic University Andrea Gaynor, Professor of History, The University of Western Australia Andy Flack, Senior Lecturer in Modern and Environmental History, University of Bristol Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

One way to protect our ecosystems is to confer legal rights on them. This idea is at the heart of the ‘rights of nature’ movement – but Australia has few examples of this principle in action. Alexandra McEwan, Lecturer: Law, CQUniversity Australia Michael Hewson, Senior Lecturer Geography Rolf Schlagloth, Koala Ecologist, CQUniversity Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia has nearly 100 mistletoe species and they’re the source of plenty of magic and mystery. We even have a couple with their own home-grown associations with Christmas. Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A deadly strain of bird flu is circulating in animals. So far the virus has been detected in seabirds on islands near Antarctica. What does this mean for wildlife, tourism and research? Hanne E F Nielsen, Senior lecturer, University of Tasmania Meagan Dewar, Lecturer in the School of Science, Psychology and Sport, Federation University Australia Michelle Wille, Senior research fellow, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Did the enormous West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse the last time global temperatures were 1.5°C above preindustrial levels? The answer lay in the DNA of an octopus. Sally Lau, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, James Cook University Jan Strugnell, Professor Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University Nerida Wilson, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The North Queensland floods remind us of the need to build community resilience to disasters – during the event, in the immediate aftermath and beyond. Rebecca McNaught, Research Fellow, University of Sydney Amanda Howard, Associate Professor, University of Sydney Jean S. Renouf, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, Southern Cross University Jo Longman, Senior Research Fellow, The University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With a record hot summer expected, will rooftop solar cover our need to be cool? Wasim Saman, Emeritus Professor of Sustainable Energy Engineering, University of South Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

All 54 drownings on the Australian coast last summer occurred in locations not patrolled by professional lifeguards or volunteer surf lifesavers. That is a stark statistic. Rob Brander, Professor, UNSW Beach Safety Research Group, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Grassfires are normal in central and northern Australia. But fast-growing invasive grasses are supercharging grassfires – and this summer looks like it will be big. Andrew Edwards, Research Fellow Bushfires, Charles Darwin University Christine Schlesinger, Associate Professor in Environmental Science, Charles Darwin University Ellen Ryan-Colton, PhD candidate, Charles Darwin University Greg Barber, PhD student, Charles Darwin University Peter Jacklyn, NAFI Service Manager and Knowledge and Adoption Coordinator, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.