The Conversation
A brutal war and rivers poisoned with every rainfall: how one mine destroyed an island
This mine has destroyed thousands of lives and livelihoods in Bougainville, an island in Papua New Guinea. It’s time Rio Tinto cleaned up its mess.
Matthew G. Allen, Professor of Development Studies, The University of the South Pacific
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NZ election 2020: survey shows voters are divided on climate policy and urgency of action
New Zealand voters are divided on climate policy along party lines, with the majority on one side of the political spectrum calling for urgent action while at the other end most recommend caution.
Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University
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Spring is here and wattles are out in bloom: a love letter to our iconic flowers
With their vibrant blooms and a lineage tracing back to the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana, wattles have a lot going for them.
Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne
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Climate explained: are consumers willing to pay more for climate-friendly products?
Our intention to buy climate-friendly products does not always match our buying behaviour, especially when we pay more for such products.
Gary Mortimer, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Queensland University of Technology
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Does Australia really have the deadliest snakes? We debunk 6 common myths
The weather is warming up, and snakes are coming out to bask in the sun. But we don't need to tell tall tales to appreciate snakes – the truth is far more fascinating.
Damian R. Michael, Senior research fellow, Charles Sturt University
Dale Nimmo, Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University
Skye Wassens, Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University
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Birthdays, holidays, Christmas without mum or dad: how to support kids with a parent away fighting fires
My research focuses on how to support children with a parent who must travel afar for work. Strategies that boost understanding and maintain connection with the absent parent build resilience.
Marg Rogers, Lecturer, Early Childhood Education, University of New England
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Australians recorded frog calls on their smartphones after the bushfires – and the results are remarkable
Some 45 frog species, included some rare and threatened, were recorded calling after the fires.
Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum
Will Cornwell, Associate Professor in Ecology and Evolution, UNSW
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We accidentally found a whole new genus of Australian daisies. You've probably seen them on your bushwalks
This stroke of serendipity shows how much there is still to be learned about the natural history of Australia. Surely more surprises are out there waiting for us.
Alexander Schmidt-Lebuhn, Research Scientist, CSIRO
Ben Gooden, Plant ecologist, CSIRO
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Greyhound pups must be tracked from birth to death, so we know how many are slaughtered
We must make ensure that puppies born into the greyhound racing don't slip through the cracks.
Alexandra McEwan, Lecturer: Law, CQUniversity Australia
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We looked at 35 years of rainfall and learnt how droughts start in the Murray-Darling Basin
To fully understand why droughts begin, persist and end, we need to answer the question: where does Australia’s rainfall come from? It may seem basic, but the answer isn't so simple.
Chiara Holgate, Hydrologist & PhD Candidate, Australian National University
Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University
Jason Evans, Professor, UNSW
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New Zealand companies lag behind others in their reporting on climate change, and that's a risk to their reputation
More than 70% of New Zealanders agree that industries receiving substantial financial assistance as part of the COVID-19 recovery should be required to lower their carbon emissions.
Jagadish Thaker, Senior Lecturer, School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, Massey University
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‘The good, the bad and the ugly’: here's the lowdown on Australia’s low-emissions roadmap
It's encouraging that the federal government recognises its role in industry policy. But its choice to support some technologies is disappointing.
Llewelyn Hughes, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Jorrit Gosens, Research Fellow, Australian National University
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Our toxic legacy: bushfires release decades of pollutants absorbed by forests
Leaded petrol hasn't been used since 2002, but new research found traces of it end up back in the air after bushfires.
Cynthia Faye Isley, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Science, Macquarie University
Mark Patrick Taylor, Professor of Environmental Science, Macquarie University
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‘Like trying to find the door in a dark room while hearing your relatives scream for help’: Tasmania's whale stranding tragedy explained
More than 450 long-finned pilot whales are stranded in Tasmania. Saving them is a race against time.
Olaf Meynecke, Research Fellow in Marine Science, Griffith University
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Our new model shows Australia can expect 11 tropical cyclones this season
A new statistical model predicts the number of tropical cyclones up to four months before the start of the season from November to April.
Andrew Magee, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Newcastle
Anthony Kiem, Associate Professor – Hydroclimatology, University of Newcastle
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Angus Taylor's tech roadmap is fundamentally flawed — renewables are doable almost everywhere
The government's latest energy plans are a failure of logic, and will lock in fossil fuel use for decades.
Mark Diesendorf, Honorary Associate Professor, UNSW
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Climate explained: humans have dealt with plenty of climate variability
We have had to adapt to several changes to our climate since we started our migration out of Africa many thousands of years ago.
Frédérik Saltré, Research Fellow in Ecology & Associate Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University
Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Fellow in Global Ecology and Models Theme Leader for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University
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Trump's TikTok deal explained: who is Oracle? Why Walmart? And what does it mean for our data?
Plot twists in the TikTok saga continue to emerge daily, with a proposed deal to secure its future in the US now in doubt. Here's what it means for TikTok users — and for geopolitics.
Paul Haskell-Dowland, Associate Dean (Computing and Security), Edith Cowan University
Nathalie Collins, Academic Director (National Programs), Edith Cowan University
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'I didn't mean to hurt you': new research shows funnel webs don't set out to kill humans
Funnel webs are considered one of Australia's most fearsome spiders, but their ability to kill humans is by accident rather than design.
Bryan Fry, Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland
Volker Herzig, Associate Professor, University of the Sunshine Coast
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The Morrison government wants to suck CO₂ out of the atmosphere. Here are 7 ways to do it
Energy Minister Angus Taylor is this week expected to release the government's first Low Emissions Technology Statement. It's likely to include ways to remove CO₂ from the air – but do they work?
Annette Cowie, Adjunct Professor, University of New England
Han Weng, Research academic, The University of Queensland
Lukas Van Zwieten, Adjunct Professor, Southern Cross University
Stephen Joseph, Visiting Professor, School of Material Science and Engineering, UNSW
Wolfram Buss, Postdoctoral fellow, Australian National University
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