The Conversation

We’re having a big impact on the planet. But what marks will we leave behind in deep time? Duncan Cook, Associate Professor in Geography, Australian Catholic University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research shows climate change will harm animal welfare – including your pet. Edward Narayan, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research dating and reading the rocks of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia reveals a fascinating story about how complex life emerged on our planet. Alan Collins, Professor of Geology, University of Adelaide Georgina Virgo, Research assistant, University of Adelaide Jarred Lloyd, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research shows densely populated countries in Southeast Asia and West Africa could harvest effectively unlimited energy from solar panels floating on calm tropical seas near the equator. Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University David Firnando Silalahi, Phd Candidate, School of Engineering, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate change is ramping up, and with it, so is the rhetoric for action. It’s a fine line to walk between sounding the alarm and being accused of alarmism. Noel Castree, Professor of Society & Environment, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Seine will be used for Olympic events in 2024 and remain open for public swimming, ending a century-long ban. It’s part of a global movement to make city rivers healthy and swimmable again. Gary Osmond, Associate Professor of Sport History, The University of Queensland Rebecca Olive, Vice Chancellor's Senior Research Fellow, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Interest in bird feeding surged soon after COVID lockdowns began in more than 100 countries. While this activity boosts people’s wellbeing, care must be taken to ensure it’s also good for the birds. Darryl Jones, Deputy Director of Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia should revisit introducing the much debated carbon tax according to a new study that finds it can have both economic and environmental benefits. Mona Mashhadi Rajabi, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It might surprise you to know we share our cities and towns with a huge range of native animals. But dog and cat poo can signal to wildlife that predators are about and they should stay away. Kylie Soanes, Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

By including five extinct species in its Bird of the Year competition, Forest & Bird provides a way to mourn what we’ve lost – and also strive to save what remains. Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Incrementalism and politics as usual cannot save the Barrier Reef from the largest threat it faces – the heat ramping up from climate change Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Professor, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sydney’s 14 wastewater treatment plants could be modified to also accept food waste, research shows. The ‘anaerobic digestion’ process would produce energy as well as nutrients for reuse. Melita Jazbec, Research Principal at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney, University of Technology Sydney Andrea Turner, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Ben Madden, Senior Research Consultant at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

What’s going on with the weather in Australia? It’s partly the result of natural drivers of our weather – and partly due to global warming. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The ban on gas connections to new homes in Victoria reflects global trends and will ultimately save households money and cut their emissions. Trivess Moore, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Alan Pears, Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT University Joe Hurley, Associate Professor, Sustainability and Urban Planning, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate change is going to bring social change. Will it drive ever-faster efforts to stave off the worst – or trigger social upheavals making it harder for us to respond? Sonia Graham, DECRA Fellow, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A study of purple-crowned fairy-wrens offers lessons for fire management along waterways in tropical savanna ecosystems. Niki Teunissen, Postdoctoral researcher, Wageningen University Anne Peters, Professor, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Open ocean sharks are globally threatened with extinction. Knowing where they are helps us protect them. Here, new research into silky sharks reveals priorities for conservation. Shona Murray, PhD candidate, The University of Western Australia Jessica Meeuwig, Wen Family Chair in Conservation, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some baby sharks eat their unborn siblings in utero, while others spend 100 years in childhood. Sink your teeth into the weird world of these juvenile wonders of the deep. Jaelen Nicole Myers, PhD Candidate, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australians are increasingly fighting climate change in court. With more than 127 cases in a new United Nations report, Australia comes second only to the United States for climate litigation. Jacqueline Peel, Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

You might see the heartbreaking videos of stranded whales and dolphins and wonder why we can’t rescue them. Sometimes we can – but time and tide make it harder Vanessa Pirotta, Postdoctoral Researcher and Wildlife Scientist, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.