Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

UNSW Climate Change Research Centre @ccrc.bsky.social · 9d

CCRC Senior Research Fellow @drjucker.bsky.social explains in this Conversation article what is happening above Antarctica right now, and how it might impact us: theconversation.com/air-temperat...
@unswbees.bsky.social

Air temperatures over Antarctica have soared 35ºC above average. What does this unusual event mean for Australia?

The stratospheric polar vortex high above Antarctica has rapidly heated up. These sudden bursts of heat can bring rapid weather changes in Australia

theconversation.com

1 3 4

UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences @unswbees.bsky.social · 17d

UNSW scientists outline what makes Antarctica a laboratory like no other news.unsw.edu.au/en/breaking-...

Breaking the ice: why study Antarctica?

From unique wildlife to resilient microbes, world-changing climate dynamics to untapped biotechnological potential – four UNSW scientists outline what makes Antarctica a laboratory like no other.

news.unsw.edu.au

1 2

UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences @unswbees.bsky.social · 20d

Excited to share that we’re part of ANZIC! This collaboration means our researchers (and students!) get a seat at the table for international drilling expeditions — bringing home samples and discoveries that shape our understanding of Earth. www.iodp.org.au/2025/09/18/1...

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Living Seawalls @livingseawalls.bsky.social · Sep 4

We’re honoured to have won the Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Environmental Research! Huge thanks to our amazing partners Reef Design Lab, global collaborators, and the many supporters who made this possible. It was incredible to celebrate alongside so many of the nation’s leading scientists!

1 2

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Australian Museum Eureka Prizes @eurekaprizes.bsky.social · Sep 3

🏆 Dr Aaron Eger from @unsw.edu.au is awarded the Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science. #EurekaPrizes

Learn more: youtu.be/M06od5P7s1s

2 2

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Australian Museum Eureka Prizes @eurekaprizes.bsky.social · Sep 3

🏆 @livingseawalls.bsky.social is awarded the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Eureka Prize for Environmental Research: youtu.be/l76BDpJ7HU4

#EurekaPrizes @sims-australia.bsky.social @melaniejbishop.bsky.social @cariocamayer.bsky.social @marialvozzo.bsky.social

4 13

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Daniela Wilner @danielawilner.bsky.social · Sep 1

Another chapter of my PhD at @unswbees.bsky.social is out!! 🎉 #OpenAccess with
@nathwilliamb.bsky.social & Russell Bonduriansky in Biological Reviews @camphilsoc.bsky.social
👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Sexual conflict as a constraint on asexual reproduction: an empirical review

Theory predicts that facultatively asexual animals, which can leverage the advantages of both sexual and asexual reproduction, should outcompete obligately sexual and obligately asexual animals. Yet,....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

1 2 7

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

ARC 21st Century Weather @21stcenturyweather.bsky.social · Aug 22

We are hosting a Masterclass for our partners and stakeholders from government and industry! Deepening your knowledge and understanding of weather and climate science! 🎓

📌 UNSW Law Theatre, Sydney
⏱️ Tue 2 Sep: 9:30am-5pm
💵 Free to attend
Register here: lnkd.in/gCUMhpuv
Agenda here: lnkd.in/gHdZHMj8

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

lnkd.in

2 4

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Professor Matthew England FAA @profmattengland.bsky.social · Aug 21

From sea ice to ocean currents, Antarctica is now undergoing abrupt changes – with global ramifications theconversation.com/from-sea-ice...

From sea ice to ocean currents, Antarctica is now undergoing abrupt changes – and we’ll all feel them

The vast ice of Antarctica has long seemed impregnable. But sudden changes are arriving – from shrinking sea ice to melting ice sheets and slowing ocean currents.

theconversation.com

2 19 33

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Conversation AUNZ @aunz.theconversation.com · Aug 21

New research suggests dingoes are distinct enough to have their own scientific name. If this is accepted, it will have far-reaching consequences.

Dingoes are not domestic dogs – new evidence shows these native canines are on their own evolutionary path

theconversation.com

4 17 34

UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences @unswbees.bsky.social · Aug 16

On today - come and see us in Centennial Park to learn more about UNSW Science www.scienceweek.net.au/event/scienc...

Science in the Swamp 2025 - National Science Week

Join us on Sunday 17 August for Science in the Swamp – a FREE family fun day out at Centennial Park! Loch Avenue South will transform into a pop−up village of scientific wonder this National Science W...

www.scienceweek.net.au

1

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Living Seawalls @livingseawalls.bsky.social · Aug 6

We are honoured to announce that we are a 2025 #EurekaPrizes finalist for Environmental Research!

@eurekaprizes.bsky.social are Australia's peak scientific awards, recognising the achievements of researchers across all scientific disciplines.

Check it out!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yrR...

2 7

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Professor Matthew England FAA @profmattengland.bsky.social · Aug 2

This week I joined the wonderful Robyn Williams on the ABC Science Show to discuss our recent North Atlantic Nature paper plus a range of other topics — marine heat waves, polar vortex wobbles, the AMOC, and the deep cost of climate inaction. Part 2 airs next week.
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Oceans are becoming hotter, long-term trends show - ABC listen

Matthew England is studying global changes in ocean heat and circulation. The AMOC - the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is showing signs of slowing, and as it does, impacts are being felt...

www.abc.net.au

7 19

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Tim Raupach @timraupach.com · Jul 31

I had the pleasure of joining @sarahinscience.bsky.social and @instrachan.bsky.social on the Totally Cooked podcast from @21stcenturyweather.bsky.social to talk about hail - how it forms, where it hits, and how climate change might affect it. Listen here: 21centuryweather.org.au/engage/total...

Will hailstorms get worse with climate change?

What causes hailstorms, where they hits hardest, and how climate change affects them. Dr Tim Raupach unpacks the science, risks and modelling on Totally Cooked.

21centuryweather.org.au

4 9

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Lucinda Chambers @leh-chambers.bsky.social · Aug 1

Thrilled to see my work featured in @aunz.theconversation.com !!! 🦭🎶

Rockabye baby: the ‘love songs’ of lonely leopard seals resemble human nursery rhymes
theconversation.com/rockabye-bab...

Rockabye baby: the ‘love songs’ of lonely leopard seals resemble human nursery rhymes

Leopard seals in Antarctica live solitary lives. But the simple patterns of their underwater song, akin to nursery rhymes, bring mates from across the seas.

theconversation.com

1 3

UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences @unswbees.bsky.social · Jul 31

Outstanding to see three finalists for the 2025 Eureka Prizes from @unswbees.bsky.social - #3 Jodi Rowley who has done so much for conservation and understanding of our threatened frog species

Australian Museum Eureka Prizes @eurekaprizes.bsky.social · Jul 31

Dr @jodirowley.bsky.social from the @australianmuseum.bsky.social and @unsw.edu.au is a finalist in the Celestino Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science.

Learn more: youtu.be/89RP2I-HXWs

#EurekaPrizes

2 4

UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences @unswbees.bsky.social · Jul 31

Outstanding to see three finalists for the 2025 Eureka Prizes from @unswbees.bsky.social - #2 Aaron Eger, Founder of kelpforest.alliance.com

Australian Museum Eureka Prizes @eurekaprizes.bsky.social · Jul 31

Dr Aaron Eger from @unsw.edu.au is a finalist in the Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science.

Learn more: youtu.be/M06od5P7s1s

#EurekaPrizes

1 3

UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences @unswbees.bsky.social · Jul 31

Outstanding to see three finalists for the 2025 Eureka Prizes from @unswbees.bsky.social - #1 @cariocamayer.bsky.social and team with the fantastic @livingseawalls.bsky.social project

Australian Museum Eureka Prizes @eurekaprizes.bsky.social · Jul 30

@livingseawalls.bsky.social is a finalist in the NSW DCCEEW Eureka Prize for Environmental Research.

Learn more: youtu.be/9yrRzgyZqoI

#EurekaPrizes @sims-australia.bsky.social @melaniejbishop.bsky.social @cariocamayer.bsky.social @marialvozzo.bsky.social

1 3

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Conversation AUNZ @aunz.theconversation.com · Jul 28

For decades, Australia has relied on data from US satellites, floats and monitoring programs. Planned deep cuts put Australian forecasting at risk.

As US climate data-gathering is gutted, Australian forecasting is now at real risk

theconversation.com

1 7 8

UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences @unswbees.bsky.social · Jul 30

From check-in to baby boom: seahorse 'hotels' boost Sydney’s underwater life

A two-for-one local effort aims to restore endangered native seagrasses to Sydney’s urban waters along with one of their most charismatic inhabitants: the also endangered White’s seahorse.

news.unsw.edu.au

1

UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences @unswbees.bsky.social · Jul 30

Many fish are social, but pesticides are pushing them apart

Pesticides have polluted waterways worldwide. Understanding the subtle effects of these chemicals on fish behaviour can help guide better policy and regulation.

theconversation.com

UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences @unswbees.bsky.social · Jul 30

www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/new...

Citizen science behind countless new discoveries

An international team of researchers, including two from UNSW, have quantified the impact community driven nature identification app iNaturalist is having on scientific research.

www.unsw.edu.au

1

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

anikobtoth.bsky.social @anikobtoth.bsky.social · Jul 29

Pleased to share that I have a new paper out today. This paper took over seven years to complete but we are very pleased with the outcome!
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...

Effects of phylogenetic distance, niche overlap and habitat alteration on spatial co-occurrence patterns in Neotropical bats and birds | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Ecological interactions influence which species can coexist locally, but assessing the effects of interactions on species distributions at landscape to regional scales has proven challenging. Here, we...

royalsocietypublishing.org

1 2 8

Reposted by UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Tim Raupach @timraupach.com · Jul 28

New paper! Dr Joanna Aldridge and I simulated hailstorms in a warmer world over major Australian cities. We project increased hailstone size around Sydney/Canberra, Melbourne and Perth, and increased frequency around Sydney/Canberra and Brisbane. agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...

Changes in Hail Damage Potential in Major Australian Cities With Global Warming

Hail damage increases with larger hailstones or stronger coincident winds, yet climate change effects on these factors remain uncertain Convection-permitting downscaled simulations projected chan...

agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

3 13

UNSW Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences @unswbees.bsky.social · Jul 28

Predictions of more damaging hail for our big cities. Latest research from @timraupach.com @ccrc.bsky.social

Brace yourself for ‘giant hail’ as storms increase along east coast

As the atmosphere becomes warmer and wetter, some Australian cities will face more hailstorms while others will be hit with larger stones as well.

www.smh.com.au

5 7