Ozone pollution in US national parks is nearly the same as in large cities

Jul 19, 2018 14:31 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra (1911) Most Americans associate U.S. national parks with pristine environments that represent the...

The case for introducing rhinos to Australia

Jul 19, 2018 14:21 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Rhinos in Australia might seem like an insane proposition after all, weve had historically bad luck with introduced species. But on reflection its not quite as crazy as it sounds. There are five species of rhinoceros...

The origins of those sexual organs: a fishy tale much more primitive than we thought

Jul 19, 2018 14:10 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Fossil discoveries from the Devonian rocks of Scotland and Australia first revealed that the earliest jawed fishes, the placoderms, reproduced using copulation in much the same way as sharks and rays do today. They also...

Here's a funny thing: can comedy really change our environmental behaviours?

Jul 19, 2018 13:54 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Someone (possibly George Bernard Shaw) once said: If you want to tell people the truth, youd better make them laugh or theyll kill you. While comedy can certainly soften a message, can it really change our...

Red sky at night, shepherd's delight: the science of beautiful sunsets

Jul 18, 2018 05:58 am UTC| Insights & Views Nature

A red sky at night is a shepherds delight! A red sky in the morning is a shepherds warning. Perhaps this saying came to mind if you caught a spectacular sunrise or sunset recently. Since biblical times and probably...

How an alien seaweed invasion spawned an Antarctic mystery

Jul 17, 2018 14:31 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Two small pieces of seaweed found by a Chilean scientist on an Antarctic beach set in train research that may transform our understanding of ocean drift and reveal what the future holds for Antarctic ecosystems affected by...

It's a busy night sky this July, so make sure you look up

Jul 14, 2018 10:51 am UTC| Nature

The next fortnight will be a real treat for stargazers - there are five planets to see in the evening sky, Mars is looking the best weve seen in 15 years, and on the morning of July 28 there will be a total lunar...