-
Why plastic bag bans triggered such a huge reaction
Rebekah Russell-Bennett | July 17, 2018Despite the obvious benefits of reducing litter and waste, the removal of single use plastic bags from supermarkets has sparked a hostile reaction from some shoppers.
-
Australia’s newest snake may already be endangered
Open Forum | July 17, 2018The ink has barely dried on a scientific paper describing a new species of snake, yet the reptile may already be in danger of extinction due to mining. A team of biologists led by The University of Queensland’s Associate Professor Bryan Fry discovered a new species of bandy-bandy snake at Weipa on the west coast of the Cape York Peninsula.
-
Australian cities need to green up their buildings
Sara Wilkinson | July 9, 2018Research shows that encouraging greenery on Australia’s city buildings will reduce temperatures as well as create new habitats for wildlife – and human socialising.
-
Smart city planning can preserve old trees and the wildlife that needs them
Philip Gibbons | July 7, 2018The ecological value of old trees is irreplaceable for native Australian fauna. Identifying and preserving these trees in cities through smarter planning strategies is important for local wildlife.
-
Combined stresses push nation’s ecosystems to ‘tipping point’
Open Forum | July 7, 2018New research argues suggests that Australia’s ecosystems are at a ‘tipping point’ due to the combined stresses of climate change and extreme weather events.
-
Irrigation and development threaten the birds of Narran Lakes
Open Forum | July 6, 2018A long-term UNSW Sydney study shows the impact of irrigation and development on the breeding of colonial waterbirds in Narran Lakes.
-
Saving the northern white rhino from ‘extinction’
Daryl Holland | July 5, 2018There are only two female northern white rhinos left in the world, but the species could soon make a comeback thanks to assisted reproductive technologies and a little help from their southern cousins.
-
Australian scientists crack the koala’s genetic code
Open Forum | July 4, 2018A team of Australian and international scientists have made a significant breakthrough by successfully sequencing the full koala genome.
-
Newly recognised seabird species already critically endangered
Open Forum | July 2, 2018A newly identified species of diving petrel in New Zealand is already threatened by coastal erosion of the birds’ sand dune habitat.
-
Drought weakens trees resistance to pests and diseases
Open Forum | June 29, 2018A new review paper examines the death of trees from drought and dehydration using specialised non-invasive methods, a timely issue as Australia’s drought worsens and the world grapples with climate change.
-
The media feeding frenzy
Peter Simmons | June 28, 2018The media loves a good shark tale, but sensationalist stories of shark attacks stoke up public fears far beyond the point of reason and, in reality, entire shark species are under threat from mankind.
-
Feral cats kill 650 million Australian reptiles every year
Open Forum | June 26, 2018Australian cats are killing about 650 million reptiles per year, according to new research published in the journal Wildlife Research. The findings are based on a study of more than 10,000 cat dietary samples that were contributed by researchers from across Australia.