The Conversation

Lillipillies are one of Australia’s great gifts to the natural world. But the story of these homegrown heroes may be taking a grim turn. Darren Crayn, Professor and Director, Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The answer? By closing a highly polluting power station - and ramping up renewables. Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Historical accounts show the upokororo was once common in rivers across the country. It’s now officially extinct, but is there a chance survivors could still be found in remote waterways? Lachie Scarsbrook, DPhil Student, University of Oxford Kieren Mitchell, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Zoology, University of Otago Nic Rawlence, Senior Lecturer in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Cute and fluffy species get most of the attention that attracts resources to conserve them. But a new study finds people respond well to creepy crawlies if they’re given time in the media limelight. Meghan Shaw, PhD Student in Conservation Social Science, Deakin University Bill Borrie, Associate Professor, Environmental Management and Sustainability, Deakin University Emily McLeod, Senior Social Science Research Manager, Zoos Victoria, and PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Kelly K Miller, Associate Professor of Environment and Society, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the dead whales decompose, an astonishing and rare chain of events is likely to flow through the marine ecosystem – ultimately leading to an explosion of activity and new life. Culum Brown, Professor, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scooter share schemes actually become more popular in hot weather, as people turn to them to avoid breaking a sweat Anthony Kimpton, Adjunct Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Dorina Pojani, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, The University of Queensland Jonathan Corcoran, Professor, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland Julia Loginova, Research fellow, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland Richard Bean, Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Thomas Sigler, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The findings will help us better understand how biodiversity responds to a changing climate over time. Rieneke Weij, Postdoctoral researcher in Geochemistry/Palaeoclimatology, University of Cape Town Jon Woodhead, Research Scientist Kale Sniderman, Senior Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Liz Reed, Research Fellow, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia needs a set of clear numeric targets entrenched in our highest laws, namely our constitutions. Constitutions spell out our most sacrosanct commitments. They are hard to budge once enacted. Ron Levy, Associate professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Seas are rising in the Torres Strait, swamping crops and graveyards. Friday’s decision by a landmark UN committee is a breakthrough for Indigenous rights and climate justice. Kristen Lyons, Professor, Environment and Development Sociology, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

You’re meant to carry out your poo, if you visit Australia’s alpine backcountry. But not many people do – and it’s leaving plenty of evidence. Pascal Scherrer, Senior Lecturer, School of Business and Tourism, Southern Cross University Isabelle Wolf, Vice Chancellor Senior Research Fellow, University of Wollongong Jen Smart, PhD student, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our study found it wasn’t cafes with access to sugar-rich food that led to more miner aggression. In fact, gardens were where we recorded the highest amount of aggressive behaviour. Jade Fountain, PhD Student, University of Adelaide Paul McDonald, Professor of Animal Behaviour, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A technique called ‘energy arbitrage’ allows owners of local ‘microgrids’ to make a profit by designing the network to buy cheap power, store it and sell it back at a higher price. Soheil Mohseni, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Alan Brent, Professor and Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Termites are about to experience a significant global expansion in their prime habitat, thanks to climate change. Here’s what that means for deadwood. Alexander Cheesman, Senior Research Fellow, James Cook University Amy Zanne, Professor in Biology and Aresty Chair in Tropical Ecology, University of Miami Lucas Cernusak, Associate Professor, Plant Physiology, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

To maintain our role as a global food bowl, Australia has to keep innovating in agricultural technology. Sam Rudd, SIEF Ross Metcalf STEM+Business Fellow - Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia Drew Evans, Associate Professor of Energy & Advanced Manufacturing, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, University of South Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The number of live animals seized by the Australian Government has tripled since 2017, with blue-tongue lizards and sulphur-crested cockatoos frequently captured. Vanessa Pirotta, Postdoctoral Researcher and Wildlife Scientist, Macquarie University Justine O'Brien, Manager of Conservation Science, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, University of Sydney, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

By 2025, factories are on track to churn out enough silicon to produce the equivalent of all installed solar – every year. Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

80% of carbon on land in stored in soil. Our new research investigated how erosion transports this carbon to the bottom of lakes, where it’ll never be released into the atmosphere. Alexander Francke, Research Fellow, University of Adelaide Anthony Dosseto, Professor, University of Wollongong Haidee Cadd, Research associate, University of Wollongong Tim Cohen, Associate Professor and ARC Future Fellow, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Growing fresh produce on the outskirts of a city reduces food miles and increases food security. But the foodbowls next to our our big cities are fast losing their land to urban growth. Nicky Morrison, Professor of Planning and Director of Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Awais Piracha, Associate Professor of Urban Planning, Director Academic Programs, Geography Tourism and Urban Planning, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s great news Origin is walking away from fracking and gas. But other companies are still keen to frack the Beetaloo despite climate and environment concerns. Lily O'Neill, Senior Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Ben Neville, A/Prof and Deputy Director of Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In a warming world, a species’ ability to acclimatise to temperatures is crucial. But young ectotherms can struggle to handle the heat. Patrice Pottier, PhD Candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.