I wrote about the rehoming research animals - and a New Zealand program - for Cosmos Magazine in 2024. As independent ethics consultant, Dr Monique Janssens says: “They are small but the richness of their lives is equal". connectsci.au/news/news-pa...

First Australian facility for rehoming rats used in scientific research - with capacity for 120 animals. [There's at least 30,000 rats used in research in NSW and Vic] www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06...

Just resharing this because it's clearly needed: Australia's data centre hotspots have nearly twice the grid emissions intensity as America's data centre hotspots.

Endangered pink cockatoos travel with a "packed lunch", and excavate hollows that shelter themselves and other animals. But two fires in 12 years wiped out most of the nesting trees in Wyperfeld national park, their largest Victorian breeding site 🪽 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Dunnarts! The photos in this ABC story are wonderful. "They do have a fairly big personality for such a small animal." www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05...

New proposal by #datacentre developers to super-size their twice rejected #gas generation plans spark outrage and a call for #protests.. https://reneweconomy.com.au/protests-called-as-data-centre-developer-super-sizes-plans-for-fossil-gas-generation-in-southern-highlands/

Do insects feel pain? Crickets certainly seem to, according to new research which finds they stroke and groom a sore antenna in much the same way as a dog nurses its hurt paw. 🦗 🦗 🦗 www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

Don’t reach for the bug spray: crickets stroke a sore antenna, as cues suggest insects feel pain

Government schools are offering students more VCE subjects than some of the state’s most costly private institutions www.theage.com.au/national/vic...

Spoke to residents in three different communities across Australia who are concerned about massive new data centres being built near them. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

"Fibre content labelling laws lapsed nationally in 2010, and the last individual state laws, in New South Wales, expired in 2019." www.abc.net.au/news/science...

A story that manages to be both inspiring and horrifying. “Rescue teams later said Elbie had walked halfway around the building – about 45 metres above the ground – on a ledge just 10 centimetres wide.” www.theage.com.au/national/nsw...

An “incomprehensible” disaster is unfolding at wetlands in New South Wales after the state water agency abruptly stopped environmental flows in the state’s north-west, leading to the deaths of turtles, waterbirds, frogs and sheep.

I too 💚 kākāpō cam. Great cameo from a short-tailed bat in this Guardian highlights video. Article by @evacorlett.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

They've gone and shrinkflationed a dozen ..

"It's just nice to know that there are two more kinds of possum than we thought."

A Melbourne-based e-waste #recycling company has been fined for shipping undeclared e-waste to Singapore, including solar inverters and lithium-ion #batteries.

First time growing sunflowers. I assumed they would all face the same way/ face the sun. Mine seem utterly confused. 🌻

With fires still burning across Victoria, the effects on wildlife are only starting to emerge. There are serious concerns for eastern bristlebirds after fires near Mallacoota burned about 60% of their Vic habitat at Howe Flat. Some plant species could be extinct. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

New all-time record set for Victoria, Walpeup 48.9°C, noting that Ouyen won’t report until tomorrow as it is a manually recorded site. reg.bom.gov.au/places/vic/

How long is it safe to be outside at 49C? Dr Arnagretta Hunter: I think the answer is: it’s not safe to be outside at 49C for any protracted period of time. Worrying explainer on heat and health by @donnadlu.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

The news we all need www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

Data centres are coming for what’s left of Australia’s green export superpower dream, v interesting read by @ketanjoshi.co www.crikey.com.au/2025/12/23/d...

A snapshot of some of the issues under consideration as the Australian code for animals in science is reviewed for the first time in over a decade www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Queensland to continue to allow farmers to shoot flying foxes after revoking ban on controversial practice

Story today about Doug Gimesy's flying fox photography, capturing these flying mammals (aka 'sky puppies') doing belly dips, pollinating flowers and caring for their young. 🦇

I cannot read The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek without tearing up. 'What am I?' Nominate your favourite Australian children's picture book - a great opportunity to celebrate the writers and illustrators behind these treasures. 📚 www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...

When a whale starts to breach and a sucker-fish flees: that's remora www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Bats in the ’burbs: how to give nature’s nighttime acrobats a helping hand

They’re around our buildings and in our back yards, some as small as walnuts: as the weather warms up, bats become more active. 🦇 #batweek may have come to an end, but it’s never too late to give nature’s nightcrew a helping hand #batweek2025 www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

It was “wonderful” for people to see sharks going about their daily lives in such close proximity, Dr Vanessa Pirotta, a wildlife scientist said. “They were doing it close to shore and people had the opportunity to see them naturally foraging.” www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

In our work, we hear everything from genuine concerns about renewables impact on environment, through to blatant untruths. We also see genuine concerns leveraged by people with other agendas.

“We often go through life trying to cover up our flaws... But Doug taught me that our flaws can be the very things that define us” www.theguardian.com/environment/...

For a fairy-tale ending, vote 🥇 Australian fairy tern for bird of the year #boty 🧚

Kaurna custodian Susan Dixon: “Our cultural footprint is in that site. We wouldn’t knock down Adelaide’s cathedral. We need to honour this parkland. It should have the same value.” Story by @henrybelot.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

I like big bats and I cannot lie! A cartoon... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Sadly this adorable cuddly bat is critically endangered. Who do we think we are!? | First Dog on the Moon

The federal environment minister has conceded that successive governments acted unlawfully when they failed to create mandatory recovery plans for native species threatened with extinction

A/Prof Kaempf said he was "absolutely gobsmacked" when told his position would be axed, along with experts in coastal erosion, whale and dolphin research. "The skills that you lose is understanding algae blooms, mass strandings of whales and marine heatwave impacts.” www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

For all those folk in Vic, you might be interested to know that the wild winds we've had last few days has resulted in the lowest 24hr period of brown coal generation on record 🎉

It’s the last native mammal on the island, but the “incredibly cute and fluffy” Christmas Island flying fox is critically endangered with no recovery plan and severely outdated conservation advice.

The toy swap is a community event that aims to shift consumption practices and normalise climate action. It also aims to bring people together and support them in a cost-of-living crisis.

A bumper season for southern right whales in South Australia - a “sign of hope” www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Western treatment plant is definitely on my to-do list! 🪶

Melbourne

Beautiful sunrise in Melbourne this morning (if only photographs could fully capture it)