Students don't feel safe on public transport but many have no choice but to use it

Mar 06, 2019 13:55 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

The worst-case scenario has happened twice for young women using public transport in Melbourne in the past nine months. In June 2018, Eurydice Dixon, 23, was walking from the tram to her home, through a well-used park just...

How do we save ageing Australians from the heat? Greening our cities is a good start

Mar 01, 2019 13:42 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Heatwaves have killed more Australians than road accidents, fires, floods and all other natural disasters combined. Although recent research shows extreme cold is a worry in some parts of Australia, our hottest summer on...

Carbon emissions: our research shows a decade of steady decline across Europe and the US

Feb 26, 2019 14:56 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

A sliver of hope against a backdrop of gloom: 18 countries showed a sustained decline in their carbon emissions from fossil fuel use over the past decade. This trend, averaging 2.2% a year over the period 2005-2015, is...

Eighteen countries showing the way to carbon zero

Feb 26, 2019 14:55 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Eighteen countries from developed economies have had declining carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels for at least a decade. While every nation is unique, they share some common themes that can show Australia, and the...

Sexual selection in action: Birds that attract multiple mates change their songs more quickly

Feb 24, 2019 06:50 am UTC| Nature

How do individuals choose their mates? Why are some more successful at attracting mates than others? These age-old questions are broadly relevant to all animals, including human beings. Darwins theory of natural...

What happens to the natural world if all the insects disappear?

Feb 19, 2019 17:00 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

There are an awful lot of insects. Its hard to say exactly how many because 80% havent yet been described by taxonomists, but there are probably about 5.5m species. Put that number together with other kinds of animals with...

Why stop at plastic bags and straws? The case for a global treaty banning most single-use plastics

Feb 08, 2019 12:12 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Single-use plastics are a blessing and a curse. They have fueled a revolution in commercial and consumer convenience and improved hygiene standards, but also have saturated the worlds coastlines and clogged landfills. By...