Stronger winds could trigger rapid change in Southern Ocean

A new IMAS study has found that an increase in average wind speeds could lead to abrupt physical changes in the Southern Ocean, with significant implications for climate change.

Engineering plants for a sustainable future

Scientists have discovered the genetic master switches for a plant’s body mass production, creating the potential to produce new biomaterials and bioplastics.

3D scanning reveals secrets of extinct starfish

Advanced digital imaging has ‘virtually dissected’ the Derwent River Seastar, confirming it as a new but extinct species without damaging the precious remaining specimens.

Invasive Aussie snakes ‘hitchhiked’ to Guam on planes

A team of international scientists has discovered why brown tree snakes have become one of the most successful invasive species. The research team, led by University of Queensland scientists, has been studying why a type of cat-eyed snake has been devastating native bird populations on the island of Guam.

Tips for an eco-friendly backyard

Eco-friendliness is something we should all strive to achieve in our lives and the backyard is no exception. Here are some tips that should help you reduce wasting energy and resources, but still create the space of your dreams.

Desalination plants don’t affect marine environments

Highly saline flows from the Sydney Desalination Plant will not affect surrounding marine life as commonly believed, a major new study led by UNSW Sydney shows. 

The backflip over Sydney’s marine park is a defiance of science

The New South Wales government has turned its back on plans to create sanctuary zones covering 2.4% of waters around Sydney, despite evidence that these ‘no-take’ areas are crucial for protecting fish.

Scientists crack the cane toad’s genetic code

A group of scientists from UNSW Sydney, the University of Sydney, Deakin University, Portugal and Brazil have unlocked the DNA of the cane toad, a poisonous amphibian that is a threat to many native Australian species.

How your plastic litter kills sea turtles

Analysis of nearly 1000 turtles found dead and washed up on beaches around Australia showed that the more plastic a turtle consumes the greater the likelihood that it was killed by that plastic.

Unearthing the secret life of wombats

The most significant wombat conference in 20 years will bring experts from around the world to South Australia.

Is Australia set to follow Europe and North America with an extreme summer?

With no end in sight for the drought, bushfires already causing problems in Eastern Australia and a looming El Niño, the coming Australian summer could be a shocker.

Cooling Darwin to save lives

Urban overheating threatens the lives of people in Darwin, but researchers from UNSW’s Faculty of Built Environment have calculated how many lives could be saved by changing the city.