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New research has found a quarter of pregnant sharks and rays lose their pups when caught, threatening some species

Australian researchers have found a quarter of pregnant sharks and rays abort their pups when captured, revealing a little-known risk to the survival of the slow-growing animals.

An analysis of recorded instances of sharks and rays either aborting their pups or undergoing a premature birth once captured found 24% of pregnant females across 88 species lost their young. In some species, such as the pelagic stingray, the rate of abortion on capture was 85%.

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Australia has ratified an agreement to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, a manmade compound once hailed as the saviour of the ozone layer. What went wrong? Jenny Fisher, Senior Lecturer in Atmospheric Chemistry, University of Wollongong Stephen Wilson, Associate Professor, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The potential involvement of China state-owned contractors and financiers may help Adani in its push for the mega coal mine in Queensland.

It's not just old coal power plants that are being closed down. In Italy, the US, and the Netherlands, coal plants that are barely teenagers are being targeted for closure.

Energy technology pacesetter Wattwatchers is delighted to announce the appointment of Justine Jarvinen as non-executive Chair. Ms Jarvinen is currently Chief Operating Officer of the Energy Institute at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and her prior corporate roles include Head of Emerging Technologies at AGL Energy. Ms Jarvinen will lead the Wattwatchers Board […]

Rooftop solar has helped push grid demand in Western Australia to its lowest levels in more than eight years.

Extreme weather events are inevitably followed by disease outbreaks. So why not team health professionals with climate experts? Aparna Lal, Research Fellow, Australian National University Rebecca Colvin, Knowledge Exchange Specialist, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ineos exaggerated the threat posed by protesters to justify its temporary legal action, court hears

A multinational firm has been accused of using “flimsy and exaggerated” evidence when it obtained an “astonishingly broad” injunction against all anti-fracking protesters, a court has heard.

Petrochemicals giant Ineos is seeking to enforce a sweeping injunction to prevent any protester from obstructing its fracking operations. Campaigners face being jailed, fined or having their assets seized if they break the injunction.

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There will be further autumnal signs in the northern hemisphere in November, while the southern hemisphere can finally begin to enjoy springtime. We’d like to see your photos of this month’s wildlife near you

What sort of wildlife will we all discover on our doorsteps this month? We’d like to see your photos of the November wildlife near you, whether you’re a novice spotter or have been out and about searching for wildlife for years.

Related: Your best pictures of insects around the world

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Wildlife officials rushed to help when the elephant was found trapped.

The former US Secretary of Defence, William J. Perry says Donald Trump's statements may embolden North Korea to use nuclear weapons against the US.

Exclusive: report says outcomes of climate negotiations have been skewed to favour biggest corporate polluters

Global negotiations seeking to implement the Paris agreement have been captured by corporate interests and are being undermined by powerful forces that benefit from exacerbating climate change, according to a report released ahead of the second meeting of parties to the Paris agreement – COP23 – next week.

The report, co-authored by Corporate Accountability, uncovers a litany of ways in which fossil fuel companies have gained high-level access to negotiations and manipulated outcomes.

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As the peace deal opens up new areas to extractive industries, a long-running fight for land and the environment has erupted anew as indigenous communities try to reclaim their territory

• Read more: Indigenous people of Colombia fighting for their lands

• The defenders: 158 environmental defenders killed so far this year

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RSA launches food and farming inquiry as it highlights small quantity of these crops grown in UK and picked by non-EU staff

The UK faces serious health implications if the government fails to agree a Brexit deal, finds a report that says of 35 portions of fruit and vegetables, a figure relating to the five-a-day recommendation for individuals, just one “portion” is grown in the UK and picked by British or non-EU workers.

The report, to mark the launch of a new RSA commission examining the impact of Brexit on food and farming, found that the five-a-day health target – which adds up to the 35 portions of fruit and vegetables a week – was overwhelmingly met by food grown in the EU or harvested by EU workers in the UK.

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Wenlock Edge, Shropshire Scratch-calls and white strobing underwings announce a flock of fieldfare in the abbey ruins

Yew berries glow brilliant red at the green edges of the tree’s inner darkness. It is five minutes to closing time when I slip into the Wenlock Priory ruins. Lawns have been freshly cut; towering stones radiate warmth on one of the last of the fine autumn days; no other feet tread the paths.

It is still bright as the church clock strikes five. Lime, hazel and beech have the smouldering brassy ochre of a slow autumn’s burn, only now reaching their peak. A large horse chestnut bough has been downed in a recent gale. Tall pines rise skyward like those marking drover roads in the hills. Where they end the sky is blue beyond smoky clouds.

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Billionaires get it. A million households get it. And so do thousands of businesses. So why does Australia's government - and its principal regulators - fail to understand that the way to a cheaper, cleaner and more reliable grid is with more renewables, not less.

Sudden jump in shipping rates from China to Australia is adding 20-30% to costs of suppliers to Australian wind and solar developments.

A web-based interactive map – dubbed the Uber of the electricity market - will help pave the way for a smart and renewable grid.

Fatal shark bites are very rare. But the stats do suggest that the likelihood of an attack proving fatal is higher in Australia - probably because our waters are home to the "big three" dangerous species. Blake Chapman, Adjunct Research Fellow, Science Communicator, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Human activity, along with a strong El Nino, drove 2016 greenhouse gas levels to new heights with an unprecedented jump in annual emissions.