The Conversation

Mountaineer and scientist Will Steffen said climbing was similar to science: “That’s the buzz you get in science when you solve a big problem and suddenly see how it all fits together” John Finnigan, Leader, Complex Systems Science, CSIRO Pep Canadell, Chief Research Scientist, Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Steven J Lade, Resilience researcher at Australian National University, Stockholm University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our research looked at data from the government’s annual baking competition. Upon close analysis, we find a dangerous lack of diversity and biases towards cute, cuddly mammals. Eliza Middleton, Biodiversity Management Officer, University of Sydney Caitlyn Forster, Associate Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Dieter Hochuli, Professor, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Culling water buffalo is expensive. What if land managers could earn carbon credits for controlling the numbers of these methane-belching animals? Hugh Davies, Research Associate, Charles Darwin University Brett Murphy, Professor, Charles Darwin University Clément Duvert, Senior Research Fellow, Charles Darwin University Georgina Neave, PhD candidate, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Proponents of mining in space often point to the potential benefits for Earth and its people. But this research casts doubt on many of them. Juliana Segura-Salazar, Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Kathryn Moore, Senior Lecturer in Critical and Green Technology Metals, University of Exeter Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Levels of trace metals inside can be higher than the sources of contamination outside. It underscores the need for households to take care to prevent those contaminants being brought indoors. Mark Patrick Taylor, Victoria's Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Carlos Ibañez del Rivero, PhD candidate, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Kara Fry, Adjunct Fellow, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ensuring a swimming site is safe is key to getting people using it. That means giving people timely information about water quality. Ian A Wright, Associate Professor in Environmental Science, 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.

The more hard surfaces we build, the more stormwater we need to drain. Auckland must future-proof its urban design as climate change bites. Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The more the climate warms, the heavier the storm rainfalls will become. The Auckland emergency shows how urgently adaptive measures are now needed. James Renwick, Professor, Physical Geography (climate science), Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Queensland is still clearing large tracts of land to run more cattle. This comes at a huge cost to our native animals and plants. Michelle Ward, Postdoctoral research fellow, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A proposed scientific name is frenetic random activity periods (FRAPs). In rabbits, these high activity periods are called ‘binkies’. But many cat and dog-owners simply call them ‘zoomies’. Susan Hazel, Associate Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide Ana Goncalves Costa, PhD student, University of Adelaide Julia Henning, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

From a ‘worm’ that shoots deadly slime from its head, to a blind marsupial mole that ‘swims’ underground, let’s take a look at three leading candidates (plus 13 special mentions). Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The pet trade has spurred a wave of bird imports, leading to escapes or even deliberate releases of exotic species into the wild. New research reveals the threat they now pose to native birds. Margaret Stanley, Professor of Ecology, University of Auckland Ellery McNaughton, Research Assistant, University of Auckland Josie Galbraith, Curator Natural Sciences, Auckland War Memorial Museum Rachel Fewster, Professor of Statistics, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Chemical weapons and toxins are still being used in current wars. Without action, ecosystems and people are at risk. Stacey Pizzino, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Jo Durham, Senior Lecturer in Disaster Risk Management and Health, Queensland University of Technology Michael Waller, Senior Lecturer Biostatistics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Tasmania’s emus were hunted to extinction in the mid-1800s but we could have them back – and their return could help other species survive climate change. Tristan Derham, Research Associate, ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH) Policy Hub – Training and Education, University of Tasmania Christopher Johnson, Professor of Wildlife Conservation, University of Tasmania Matthew Fielding, Research Associate / Teaching Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s far easier to see how the stock market is doing than it is to find out the global price of carbon. That has to change. Bei Cui, Research fellow, Monash University Nga Pham. CFA, Senior Research Fellow, Monash University Ummul Ruthbah, Senior Research Fellow Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

From a shipwreck to ancient dunes, these researchers created 3D visualisations of seafloor features around Australia – from as shallow as 22 metres to depths of over 4.8 kilometres. Hannah Power, Associate Professor in Coastal and Marine Science, University of Newcastle Kendall Mollison, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Newcastle Michael Kinsela, Lecturer in Coastal and Ocean Geoscience, University of Newcastle Tom Hubble, Associate Professor, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Many gardeners worry these large larvae might damage plants. But before you squish them, read this. Tanya Latty, Associate professor, University of Sydney Chris Reid, Adjunct Associate Professor in Zoology, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Carp can make riverbeds look like golf balls – denuded and dimpled, devoid of any habitat. Releasing carp herpes virus is a controversial proposition, so let’s weigh up the risks and benefits. Ivor Stuart, Fisheries ecologist, Charles Sturt University John Koehn, Freshwater fish ecologist, Charles Sturt University Katie Doyle, Freshwater Ecologist, Charles Sturt University Lee Baumgartner, Professor of Fisheries and River Management, Institute for Land, Water, and Society, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The fashion industry is responsible for around 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It’s high time global fashion brands invest in greener alternatives. Rajkishore Nayak, Associate Professor , RMIT University Vietnam Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Feral cats double the size of domestic tabbies. Cane toads with longer legs. And dingoes with flexible joints. ‘Selection pressure’ is at work on introduced animals. Bill Bateman, Associate professor, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.