Issue 252

Nature’s cleaners

Tiny organisms – or microbes – are being explored for mine water treatment at Evolution Mining’s Mt Rawdon gold operation, where the company plans to adopt a wetland-like system to remove contaminants.

Climate link between krill and whale populations

New research reveals how climate change could influence future krill abundance and whale populations in the Southern Hemisphere.

Nature’s motherlode of data via supercomputers

Bioregional Assessments was a project that delivered the world’s first integrated regional‑scale assessment of the water impacts of coal resource development. An enormous human challenge which tested some of the world's most sophisticated supercomputers.

Evaluating the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef

The Australian public has united with scientists to help them identify what truly makes the Great Barrier Reef ‘beautiful’.

Why renting, rather than buying, carbon might help mitigate climate change

To mitigate climate change we might have to re-examine the rules which define carbon credit-worthy sequestration actions – that might include renting, rather than buying.

Sowing the idea of a seed database

Most plant research focuses on grown plants or on seedling behaviour. It is only now that researchers are beginning to examine seed traits and how the beginning of a plant’s life affects everything which comes after.