Urban sprawl and climate change are increasing fire dangers

Action has been taken to improve people’s safety in the event of bushfires, but two key risk factors – urban sprawl and climate change – aren’t being addressed.

Fire, drought and flooding rain: it’s time for national action on climate change

Australia can’t afford to waste resources on disparate, uncoordinated activities in climate, weather and climate change research and development. The biggest challenge is to make sure that our national efforts align, combine and complement each other—the sum must be greater than the parts.

How to make a finch extinct

An endangered Queensland bird is at risk of extinction because environmental legislation is failing to protect its habitat, according to a University of Queensland-led study.

Learning the lessons from bushfires – again and again and again

There have been more than 50 formal inquiries into bushfire management in south-eastern Australia since 1939, but what lessons have we learned?

“Bright words” can find common ground in environmental negotiations

We cannot create what we cannot imagine, and to imagine we need stories and words to tell them. Storytelling is a communication strategy that helps the tellers and the audience to find common ground on contentious environmental issues.

Small patches of habitat help nature hang on

Your neighbourhood’s last patch of remnant bushland could be playing a much bigger role in conserving biodiversity than you think, according to new research.

It’s time the Nullarbor caves had world heritage status

Australia’s Nullarbor caves are a precious time machine to millions of years ago, and crucial to understanding our future climate. So, why aren’t they World Heritage listed?

The stubborn high-pressure system behind this record heatwave

If you think the weather this month has been like Groundhog Day (albeit much hotter), you’d probably be right! Much like a stuck record, weather systems seem to have stalled over most of the country, so just what is going on?

Studying the air in Antarctica

Antarctica’s pristine air and waters – and a unique shipboard laboratory – are helping researchers investigate the effects of climate change and pollution on the atmosphere.

Saving the Murray-Darling

The recent death of up to a million fish on a stretch of the Darling River highlights the need for the full implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and greater water allocations for the natural system.

Environmental ‘timebomb’ warning for world’s groundwater reserves

Over half of the world’s groundwater flows could take over 100 years to respond fully to climate change, new research has revealed.

Cane toads pick up shady habits

Cane toads are picking up some shady habits, according to a new study co-authored by a Macquarie University researcher.