Climate Change Series

Brazil's thriving soy industry threatens its forests and global climate targets

Apr 18, 2016 04:11 am UTC| Nature

Brazils economy is teetering on the edge of collapse. The countrys political regime has been rocked by recent corruption scandals, and impeachment proceedings are encircling the nations leaders. And yet things couldnt be...

Climate Change Series

Consensus confirmed: over 90% of climate scientists believe we're causing global warming

Apr 15, 2016 09:22 am UTC| Nature

When we published a paper in 2013 finding 97% scientific consensus on human-caused global warming, what surprised me was how surprised everyone was. Ours wasnt the first study to find such a scientific consensus. Nor...

What prairie dogs tell us about the effects of noise pollution

Apr 14, 2016 23:04 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

In todays busy online world, our brains are constantly stimulated by an onslaught of information. When faced with distractions such as ringing phones, noisy colleagues and floods of incoming emails, focusing on a complex...

Climate Change Series

Delaying shutting power stations will bring big disruption later: Climate Institute research

Apr 14, 2016 15:09 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Modelling done for the Climate Institute indicates that without big policy changes Australias path to zero emissions from the electricity sector by 2050 would mean huge disruption after 2030. The report, A Switch in...

Octopuses are super-smart ... but are they conscious?

Apr 14, 2016 15:07 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Inky the wild octopus has escaped from the New Zealand National Aquarium. Apparently, he made it out of a small opening in his tank, and suction cup prints indicate he found his way to a drain pipe that emptied to the...

Solomon Islands expedition seeks to conserve the extraordinary monkey-faced bat and giant rat

Apr 14, 2016 07:19 am UTC| Nature

The Australian Museum has announced a scientific expedition to the Solomon Islands to research a coconut cracking megabat and giant rat, with Professor Tim Flannery as one of the leaders of the program. The expedition...

Climate Change Series

Marine sediments unlock secrets about climate change in South Africa

Apr 14, 2016 04:50 am UTC| Nature

Climate change projections suggest that droughts will intensify in most parts of South Africa by the end of the 21st century. This is due to reduced precipitation and the loss of water through the combination of...