The Conversation

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 Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

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 Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

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 Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

I have criticised this government’s climate policy in the past for being big on promise but short on concrete policies. But this financial disclosure policy has some real teeth. Ivan Diaz-Rainey, Associate Professor of Finance & Director, Climate and Energy Finance Group, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We cannot rely on technology development alone to deeply cut Australia's emissions. Other policies and more money will be needed. Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Brandy Hill Quarry expansion was approved under the weak environment laws of NSW. Now, the federal government must decide if it will proceed. The fate of many koalas is in Sussan Ley's hands. Lachlan G. Howell, PhD Candidate | School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Ryan R. Witt, Conjoint Lecturer | School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand's potential to expand its domestic recycling sector is enormous. It could create jobs and divert millions of tonnes of waste from landfills, as long as there are clear, measurable targets. Jeff Seadon, Senior Lecturer, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our medicine, cosmetics and other everyday products contain compounds taken from nature. But Traditional Owners may not have given permission for the materials or their knowledge to be used. David Jefferson, Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Daniel Robinson, Associate Professor, UNSW David Claudie, Invited User, Indigenous knowledge Jocelyn Bosse, PhD candidate in Law, The University of Queensland Margaret Raven, Senior Scientia Lecturer (Research), UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Absolute temperatures are expected to rise more slowly in the tropics than in higher latitudes and polar regions, but the combination of heat and rising humidity will make life more challenging. James Shulmeister, Professor, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Under a rapidly changing climate, it's not just about keeping the lights on. We not only want energy, but we want to breathe clean air, have enough food and live in a sustainable community. Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There are fundamental knowledge gaps around coral in the Great Barrier Reef, including how many species live there and where they're found. Our new study finally starts to fill those gaps. Tom Bridge, Senior Curator - Corals, James Cook University Andrea Quattrini, Researcher, Smithsonian Institution Andrew Baird, ARC Future Fellow, James Cook University Peter Cowman, Research Fellow in Ecosystem Dynamics, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

After the Black Summer bushfires, heavy rains extinguished many fires but turned high quality water in our rivers to sludge. This is how we better prepare for next time. Paul McInerney, Research scientist, CSIRO Anu Kumar, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Gavin Rees, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Klaus Joehnk, Principal research scientist, CSIRO Tapas Kumar Biswas, Senior scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's in everyone's interests to ensure our environment stays healthy – including farmers. What did the Nats think they'd gain from this destructive game of brinkmanship? Tanya M Howard, Senior Research Fellow, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

These results finally provide scientific evidence to what was considered common knowledge about our beloved pets. Frank Nicholas, Emeritus Professor of Animal Genetics, University of Sydney Claire Wade, Professor, Chair of Computational Biology and Animal Genetics, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Supercomputing, frequent flying and powering up observatories: astronomy has an enormous carbon footprint. Adam Stevens, Research Fellow in Astrophysics, University of Western Australia Sabine Bellstedt, Research Associate in Astronomy, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

These teens are finding creative avenues to pursue action, even if it means taking a long shot. And beating the odds is exactly how the law tends to evolve. Laura Schuijers, Research Fellow in Environmental Law, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Whale breaches and tail slaps look great from a distance. But they can pose a threat if you want to get up close and swim with these giants of the ocean. Chantal Denise Pagel, Doctoral student | Marine Wildlife Tourism Professional, Auckland University of Technology Mark Orams, Acting Dean, Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology Michael Lueck, Professor of Tourism, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The report by the World Meteorological Organisation shows that with large and rapid emissions cuts, we can still avoid the most severe climate change. But worryingly, we also have time to make it far worse. Pep Canadell, Chief research scientist, Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; and Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Rob Jackson, Chair, Department of Earth System Science, and Chair of the Global Carbon Project, Stanford University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With a bit of political vision, risk-taking and a national strategy led by government, Australia too can kickstart investment in the post-COVID recovery. Sung-Young Kim, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Discipline of Politics & International Relations, Macquarie School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University Elizabeth Thurbon, Scientia Fellow and Associate Professor in International Relations / International Political Economy, UNSW Hao Tan, Associate professor, University of Newcastle John Mathews, Professor Emeritus, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

About half of environmental scientists working for government had been prohibited from communicating scientific information. Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Bob Pressey, Professor and Program Leader, Conservation Planning, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Noel D Preece, Adjunct Asssociate Professor, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.