Nature & Wildlife
Tasmania’s whale stranding tragedy explained
Around 450 pilot whales are currently stranded just off Tasmania’s west coast. This is how it happened and how we may be able to rescue them.
Nature & Wildlife
Humpbacks ocean-bound after ‘unprecedented’ detour in Kakadu river
Two humpback whales are back at sea after their startlingly unexpected early-September appearance in Kakadu’s East Alligator River left marine scientists scratching their heads.
Nature & Wildlife
Scientists now know how male funnel web spiders became so dangerous
Funnel webs are considered one of Australia’s most fearsome spiders, but their ability to kill humans is by accident rather than design, our new research shows.
Nature & Wildlife
What on Earth is this crocodile doing? A crocodile expert explains
The bizarre behaviour was photographed by a tourist in Kakadu, and while onlookers were perplexed, crocodile scientists knew the behaviour all too well, and say it’s an example of their resourcefulness.
Nature & Wildlife
Scientists discover mass extinction event that heralded dawn of the dinosaurs
Geologists and palaeontologists generally agree on a roster of five mass extinction events, but now it may become six.
Nature & Wildlife
The Gympie-Gympie stinging tree contains the same toxins as that of spiders and scorpions, scientists find
If you’ve ever been stung by a Gympie-Gympie, no, you weren’t overreacting. Its venom is a lot like that of a spider and cone snail.
Biodiversity
Lines of defence: all-Aussie team builds high-tech device to keep our bees safe
Australia is one of the few countries still free of a deadly bee parasite. A team of Australians have built a high-tech device to keep our bees safe – and it’s inspired by the bees themselves.
Nature & Wildlife
New coins celebrate Indigenous astronomy
Two new coins have been released by the Royal Australian Mint to celebrate the astronomical knowledge and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Nature & Wildlife
Vale John Rumney
John Rumney was a true pioneer of ecotourism on the Great Barrier Reef and one of the region’s great characters.
Nature & Wildlife
Regent parrots thriving in SA wetland
Banrock Station’s Ramsar site is bringing in the birds – 191 species of them.