Doug Hendrie
@doughendrie.bsky.social
Editor, writer Deputy enviro editor at The Conversation Australia
There is a lot we can do to help Australia’s native wildlife survive and recover from H5N1 bird flu. It will require far greater care and investment from governments than we’ve seen so far. theconversation.com/powerless-ag...
Powerless against bird flu? Not entirely. Here are 8 ways to help protect Australia’s birds and mammals
As lethal bird flu spreads in Australian wildlife, it can be easy to think nothing can stop it. That’s an error – much can be done.
theconversation.com
One surprisingly large threat is poor water quality.When sediment is washed off farms,cities and bushland into rivers,it can be transported kilometres offshore,too much can smother corals and seagrass meadows.Fertiliser and pesticide residue can make things worse. theconversation.com/water-pollut...
Water pollution has long been a threat to the Great Barrier Reef – plans to fix it aren’t up to the task
There’s one big threat facing the Great Barrier Reef which Australian authorities can solve. But will they?
theconversation.com
China’s rise to EV dominance may seem sudden – but it’s the result of more than 20 years of state investment.
20 years ago, China bet big on electric vehicles. Now Western carmakers are feeling the pain
theconversation.com
The world’s oceans are the hottest on record for June – and El Niño is set to turn up the heat even more theconversation.com/the-worlds-o...
The world’s oceans are the hottest on record for June – and El Niño is set to turn up the heat even more
More than 90% of the heat trapped by greenhouses goes into the ocean. But what happens in the oceans doesn’t stay there.
theconversation.com
🌾 My new article in The Conversation: In this article, I discuss how El Niño affects rice production and why research into climate-resilient crops is critical for global food security. Read more here: theconversation.com/a-severe-el-...
A severe El Niño could threaten something essential to half of humanity – rice
Rice is life for billions of people. But this grain crop depends heavily on irrigation – and the looming El Niño is likely to bring dry conditions.
theconversation.com
Heat is destroying Australia’s underwater forests. Seaweed biobanks could help save them theconversation.com/heat-is-dest...
Heat is destroying Australia’s underwater forests. Seaweed biobanks could help save them
Many of Australia’s shimmering seaweed forests are disappearing as the oceans get hotter. It’s time for an insurance policy.
theconversation.com
Australia largely has enough off-street parking to do away with unsightly kerbside parking – and free up space for bikes, pedestrians and scooters.
Kerbside parking is great for drivers – but terrible for everyone else. Could we get rid of it?
theconversation.com
New article out in The Conversation with @dr-brock-hedges.bsky.social! We described and named three new species of cave cricket, one being the first known use of a Gundungurra word in Western #taxonomy. #bugsky theconversation.com/ever-seen-a-...
Ever seen a cave cricket? Australia now has three new species of these spindly, spider-like creatures
Caves have long been a refuge. But climate change could pose an existential threat to cave crickets and other cave dwellers.
theconversation.com
Rich countries have been burning through oil stockpiles and seeking other suppliers to avoid the global energy crunch. But these measures have limits.
4 reasons the ‘largest energy crisis’ on record has been held at bay – and why there’s pain to come
theconversation.com
this is what some of you look like in short sleeve button-up shirts
Loneliness is common – and so is our alienation from nature. New research shows we can tackle both at the same time
When we took 37 strangers into the urban bush, their loneliness began to ease
theconversation.com
My tribute to the one and only, Sir David Attenborough theconversation.com/from-fossick... Happy birthday!
From fossicking for fossils to a champion for life on Earth: Sir David Attenborough at 100
David Attenborough has captured and told the stories of nature to millions of people – and inspired scientists and conservationists the world over.
theconversation.com
Many oil refineries have caught fire recently. Whether caused by drone strike or accident, the result is the same: more pressure on shaky energy systems.
Oil refineries are catching fire in war or by accident. How does this worsen the energy crunch?
theconversation.com
Thousands of Australians are trying out their new EVs. The learning curve isn’t steep, but it does exist.
Bought a new EV? Here’s a quick guide to driving and charging
theconversation.com
Analysts had forecast China’s clean exports would plunge. But demand has surged to new heights amid conflict in Iran.
Is oil king again? China’s surging cleantech exports show the opposite is true
theconversation.com
Frustrations at slow global climate talks has led more than 50 nations to begin plans to phase out fossil fuels. This oil shock just raises the stakes. 👉 Read the full article: theconversation.com/the-end...
Australia produces enough food for 75 million people. But intensifying heat and natural disasters plus competition for water are eroding food security. 👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/overhea...
You can set your watch to autumn headlines declaring a catastrophic El Niño or La Niña. In this article, I throw a bucket of cold water on the heated headlines and reflect on why autumn forecasts of Nino3.4 are to be read with caution. theconversation.com/why-the-phra...
Why the phrase “Super El Nino” makes Australian climate scientists roll their eyes
Media reports have suggested a “super” El Niño is looming. The problem is, these autumn forecasts are notoriously unreliable.
theconversation.com
Nature and agriculture are often at odds. But an Australian study suggests farmers who plant more trees are better off – financially and environmentally.
Farmers are boosting their profits and production – with nature’s help
theconversation.com
Citizens have contributed to science in Australia for many decades – and the field is now undergoing rapid growth
There may be 10 times as many citizen scientists in Australia as we thought – and that’s great news for science
theconversation.com
Diesel powers most freight trucks. As oil prices spike, electric trucks are looking more attractive – if upfront cost and charging barriers can be overcome
Electric trucks are finally ready for prime time. Could high oil prices speed up the shift?
theconversation.com
A plantation worker photographed this creature in New Guinea, thought to have been dead for 6,000 years. 👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/meet-to...
15th century poem by Oswald von Wolkenstein listing the 12 types of drunkard
![Often a person believes himself to be so wise
and believes to gain highest fame thereby,
when the juice of the grapes has affected him negatively.
The next one believes that he is so rich
that even the emperor might not be an equal to him.
The third appears like an extremely hungry horse,
so no one can push enough of fresh or rotten food into the ever open mouth.
The fourth one screams cries over his heavy sins,
and his heart is passionately in flames out of deep repentance
for strange reasons that no one can comprehend.
The fifth one desires to do unchaste actions,
to which he is dedicated day and night,
once he has become addicted to the power of wine.
The sixth has a miserable practice:
He condemns the soul through [false] oaths
so that she will be entirely exhausted when facing God.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:o7cjkbvotxydby7uvvx32hkm/bafkreihj6mwjvb7agent37kz5vqtxnwlgknbejh4jzacfbpiqlzfcg6j3i)
People can retreat indoors from extreme weather, but crops can’t. Farmers are increasingly looking at nets, misters, polytunnels and greenhouses to protect crops.
From high-tech greenhouses to fruit netting: how protected cropping can shield crops from climate extremes
theconversation.com
Australia’s new fuel efficiency standards are already working to cut emissions – but the real story is behind the scenes. 👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/how-aus...
‘Blood cobalt’ is disappearing from batteries – and cheaper, cleaner batteries are arriving theconversation.com/blood-cobalt...
‘Blood cobalt’ is disappearing from batteries – and cheaper, cleaner batteries are arriving
Big batteries used in electric vehicles and grid storage have long relied on metals with tarnished supply chains. But this is changing.
theconversation.com
Extreme heat is fast becoming one of the biggest threats to global food systems. Our new piece in The Conversation looks at how intense heatwaves put crops and native species at risk — and what we can actually do about it. 🔗 theconversation.com/intense-heat...
Intense heatwaves directly threaten crops and native species. Here’s what we can do
Sustained extreme heat can damage, weaken and kill all living things, from wheat crops to koalas and fruit bats.
theconversation.com
