ScienceAlert - Environmental Science

Fishing ban keeps starfish away

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:43:14 +0100

Reefs where fishing is not allowed are much less likely to have outbreaks of the devastating crown of thorns starfish, according to a new analysis of research.

Agriculture stops insect sex

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:54:40 +0100

Agricultural environments drive insects to reproduce without sex but may provide methods for controlling their damaging effects, according to research.

New approach to sustaining reefs

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:29:40 +0100

Coral reef conservation in key regions of the world faces serious risk of failure under climate change, according to researchers, who have devised a new approach.

Feature: Drugs in your drinking water?

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Consumers should not be drinking water from local wastewater treatment plants, according to Michael Angove.

Shifting species as fast as climate

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:13:14 +0100

Moving species may be the only way to save some plants and animals from the impacts of climate change on their habitats, according to a group of researchers.

Opinion: An initial reaction to Garnaut

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

There’s nothing new in Garnaut's draft report that would cause those who take an interest in the debate to sit up and take notice, writes Don Aitkin.

Feature: Reporting on the GM Debate

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Ultimately, the most critical issue for sustainable farming is whether we can grow enough food to sustain the human population, writes Nerissa Hannink.

Solar shades can't reverse warming

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:09:39 +0100

According to a recent study, putting mirrors in orbit to block sunlight might work to mitigate global warming, but would not bring back the old climate conditions.

Opinion: Electric cars ARE the future

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:12:07 +0100

The search for alternative ways to fuel vehicles is in full swing now but it appears Australia is slow to get in on the act, writes Klaas Woldring.

Opinion: Sustainability bandwagon is unsustainable

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:20:40 +0100

Research organisations following the craze for sustainability research initiatives should be careful they don’t become fashion victims, advises Dr Thomas Barlow.

Feature: Thoughts on a broader national sustainability agenda

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

With the dust settled on the national election, and more recently the 2020 summit, Ecos magazine asked five commentators for their top priorities in terms of a national sustainability agenda.

Feature: Budgets green side draws a mixed response

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

There have been mixed responses to the environmental decisions made in the Australian Government's 2008–09 Budget. Mary-Lou Considine explores both sides of the discussion.

Coal powers CO2 captured

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Australian scientists have managed to capture CO2 released from power station flue gases, a technology that could cut greenhouse emissions.

Warming could disrupt coral's sex

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Climate change could alter coral reproduction by disrupting the signals that prompt a reef's simultaneous mass-orgasm, research has warned.

Opinion: The UN climate change numbers hoax

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

The IPCC needs to come clean on the real numbers of scientist supporters, according to Tom Harris and John McLean.

Feature: Turning household wastes into energy

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Australian researchers are working hard to turn our biodegradable waste into energy, writes Carmelo Amalfi.

Opinion: Who owns your sewage?

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

It is time to rethink how we dispose of our sewage and if it can be put to a profitable use, believes Valerie Yule.

Oceans more acid than expected

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:53:21 +0100

New coral evidence has suggested that ocean acidification is occurring faster than scientists expected, which could mean time is running out for many marine species.

Australia's droughts will worsen

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:13:01 +0100

A report has found that droughts may soon occur twice as often and will be more widespread, putting further pressure on Australia's agriculture industry.

Opinion: Is climate 'the' issue, or is it just one of many?

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

A recent debate asked if 'climate change is the only issue'. But is there really a need to determine a winner in a photo-finish, asks Darren Lewin-Hill?

Opinion: Experts comment on greenhouse findings

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

The Garnaut Climate Change Review draft may be a work in progress but many believe it is a step towards addressing the reality of global warming and the effect it will have on Australia's economy. This is a collection of Australian experts' opinions on the report.

Feature: Scientists in a bid to help cure affluenza

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Many Australians are spending beyond their means and burning up tonnes of fossil fuels just to impress people they don't like - and it could be a symptom of a bigger problem. Catherine Madden looks into this increasingly common syndrome dubbed affluenza .

Test to verify organic food

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Researchers have found a way to check that food has been organically grown, by chemically testing the food to see what type of fertiliser was used.

Opinion: Nurses willing and able

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:23:59 +0100

The Government should recognise primary healthcare extends beyond the services of a general practitioner, believes Ged Kearney.

Warming threatens 'living fossils'

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:13:41 +0100

Global warming could ensure the extinction of a prehistoric reptile, the threatened tuatara, by causing females to produce only male offspring, research has found.

Feature: Redefining our agricultural future

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:36:35 +0100

The latest international reports show that global agricultural practices must change if we are to reduce hunger, poverty and environmental degredation, writes Wendy Pyper.

Introduced plants 'weeds in waiting'

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Many introduced plants could become weeds, according to a new database that helps gardeners identify both 'weeds in waiting' and safe non-native species.

Opinion: A whole new level of crazy

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Developers and officials in China and India are unlikely to bother themselves too much about the Western obsession with carbon, argues Mark Lawson.

Protection to slow dolphin's decline

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Research has found that new protection measures to be put in place in New Zealand will slow, but not stop, the decline of Hector's dolphin.

Landslide crushes climate theory

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Discovery of an ancient landslide could destroy key evidence that climate change is happening simultaneously around the world.

ScienceAlert - Environmental Science

Fishing ban keeps starfish away

Agriculture stops insect sex

New approach to sustaining reefs

Feature: Drugs in your drinking water?

Shifting species as fast as climate

Opinion: An initial reaction to Garnaut

Feature: Reporting on the GM Debate

Solar shades can't reverse warming

Opinion: Electric cars ARE the future

Opinion: Sustainability bandwagon is unsustainable

Feature: Thoughts on a broader national sustainability agenda

Feature: Budgets green side draws a mixed response

Coal powers CO2 captured

Warming could disrupt coral's sex

Opinion: The UN climate change numbers hoax

Feature: Turning household wastes into energy

Opinion: Who owns your sewage?

Oceans more acid than expected

Australia's droughts will worsen

Opinion: Is climate 'the' issue, or is it just one of many?

Opinion: Experts comment on greenhouse findings

Feature: Scientists in a bid to help cure affluenza

Test to verify organic food

Opinion: Nurses willing and able

Warming threatens 'living fossils'

Feature: Redefining our agricultural future

Introduced plants 'weeds in waiting'

Opinion: A whole new level of crazy

Protection to slow dolphin's decline

Landslide crushes climate theory

Feature: Budgets green side draws a mixed response