The Conversation

Move over, bin chickens: bin cockies are here, and scientists say they're confirming the cultural intelligence hypothesis. John Martin, Adjunct lecturer, University of Sydney Barbara Klump, Researcher, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Lucy Aplin, Research Group Leader, University of Konstanz Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The process of manufacturing gallium-doped solar panels was under a patent until last year. It's only now that this method has started to pick up steam. Matthew Wright, Postdoctoral Researcher in Photovoltaic Engineering, UNSW Brett Hallam, Scientia and DECRA Fellow, UNSW Bruno Vicari Stefani, PhD Candidate, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More than ten offshore wind farms are currently proposed for Australia. If built, their combined capacity would be greater than all coal-fired power plants in the nation. Sven Teske, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Chris Briggs, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Mark Hemer, Principal Research Scientist, Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO Philip Marsh, Post doctoral researcher, University of Tasmania Rusty Langdon, Research Consultant, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

My new research shows Australia has spent more subsidising fossil fuel research indirectly via research and development tax credits than directly via grants. Will McDowall, Associate Professor, UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources, UCL Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

One quarter of monitored social housing properties recorded winter temperatures below World Health Organisation standards for more than 80% of winter, new research shows. Daniel Daly, Research Fellow at the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre, University of Wollongong Federico Tartarini, Associate research fellow, University of Wollongong Gordon Waitt, Professor of Geography, University of Wollongong Michael Tibbs, Energy Efficiency Researcher, University of Wollongong Paul Cooper, Senior Professor, Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC), University of Wollongong Theresa Harada, Research Fellow at Australian Centre for Culture, Environment, Society and Space, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There have been just six verified sightings of the pygmy blue whale off Sydney in 18 years. Rare sightings like these are crucial, because the giants are considered 'data deficient'. Vanessa Pirotta, Wildlife scientist, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Traditional ecological and cultural wisdom was embraced and valued, enhancing Western scientific knowledge of a beautiful, fragile marine area. Jim Underwood, Research Fellow and Indigenous Partnerships, Australian Institute of Marine Science Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Wild pigs are on every continent, except Antarctica. All up, they likely turn over the the same amount of soil as the area of Taiwan. Christopher J. O'Bryan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland Eve McDonald-Madden, Associate professor, The University of Queensland Jim Hone, Emeritus professor, University of Canberra Matthew H. Holden, Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland Nicholas R Patton, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Convention on Biological Diversity aims to achieve a world "living in harmony with nature". This won't happen if the plan goes ahead in its current form. Michelle Lim, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie Law School, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Just because coral is dying, doesn't mean marine life in reefs will end. New research found dead coral hosted 100 times more microscopic invertebrates than healthy coral. Kate Fraser, Marine Ecologist, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

India is expected to overtake China this decade as the world’s most populous nation. That puts it at the heart of the global challenge to beat climate change. Vigya Sharma, Senior Research Fellow, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When borders reopen, take an Aussie road trip and explore the continent's unique geology, from meteorites in the Nullabor Plain to rock formations that are billions of years old. Emily Finch, Beamline Scientist at ANSTO, and Research Affiliate, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A world-first study inspected 900 bird nest specimens from 1823 to 2018. The types of debris the birds use reflect changes in Australian society over time. Kathy Ann Townsend, Senior Lecturer in Animal Ecology, University of the Sunshine Coast Dominique Potvin, Lecturer in Animal Ecology, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

How do we ensure solutions to climate change doesn't make biodiversity loss worse? Fifty of the world's leading researchers on biodiversity and climate have sought to answer this question. Michelle Lim, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie Law School, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealanders have planted just over a quarter of a billion trees, about half of it native species, as part of an effort to increase carbon storage. Sebastian Leuzinger, Professor, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Survey respondents who overestimated the amount and speed of sea-level rise were more likely to express greater concern. But concern is not always helpful in prompting action. Rebecca Priestley, Associate professor, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Richard Levy, Principal Scientist/Environment and Climate Research Leader, GNS Science Taciano L. Milfont, Reader in Environmental Psychology, University of Waikato Timothy Naish, Professor, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Zoë Heine, PhD Candidate, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In the past, wildlife vigilantes have illegally moved Tasmanian devils off the island — an illegal practice known as "covert rewilding". They may well might try again. Michael Bode, Professor of Mathematics, Queensland University of Technology Zoe Nay, Research Associate, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia's first 'land account' is a great example of the nation's environmental policy culture: we develop or adopt good ideas, but then tinker with, or even discard them. Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University Michael Vardon, Associate Professor at the Fenner School, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Barnaby Joyce's pro-mining stance is at odds with the more progressive quarters of the party, and puts the Nationals in a difficult position on global carbon tariffs. Geoff Cockfield, Professor of Government and Economics, and Deputy Dean, University of Southern Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sri Lanka is still grappling with the consequences of the cargo ship fire, which dumped tonnes of plastic and hazardous chemicals into the ocean. Claudio Bozzi, Lecturer in Law, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.