Let’s be honest – environment news isn’t always the jolliest, and 2018 was no exception. From , to , to , at times it has felt like we’ve been lurching from one crisis to the next.
Here are ten stories that provide some hope that is not the case.
Cane toads cracked
In September, scientists announced they have , potentially paving the way for new weapons to repel the slimy invaders.
The successful effort potentially makes it easier to identify viruses that can be used to attack the toxic toads.
Cracking the cane toad genome.
Bears on the mend
The treatment of bears imprisoned in Asian bile farms is heartbreaking. But the good news is they can if given the right care during rehabilitation, going on to lead relatively stress-free lives even after years of torture.
Tasty trick
Blockchain isn’t just for bitcoin and other clever stuff best left to the financial experts. It can also help , helping to ensure the fish on your dish is more sustainable and bringing much-needed transparency to an important global industry.
Why did the fish cross the road?
Crossing roads is hard enough if you have legs. You might think it’s impossible for fish, and technically you’d be right. But Queensland researchers have that lets fish do the next best thing: swim upstream through culverts beneath the road, even if they’re facing a raging torrent in the opposite direction.
A breakthrough for fish.
Epic feat
The excitingly named “” proved that drones can do an even better job of surveying wildlife than human scientists. This development should help this under-resourced area of research finally take flight (sorry).
Hey, good lookin’
And before we leave the animal stories, there’s just time to take you back inside the world of million-dollar beauty pageants… . We guess beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.
Ready to wow the judges Source: Mahmood Al amri and Jaime Gongora
Feeling the energy
Yes, it was a spirit-sapping year for energy policy, with one round of bickering after another. But throughout the year, South Australia’s big battery has been .
It celebrated its birthday in late November, and although over what will happen when its battery packs need replacing, it made A$13 million during the first half of 2018, and has generally been a roaring success considering that it owes its existence to some .
Grounds for optimism
Your coffee habit could do more than give you a pick-me-up. Used coffee grounds can , as long as you compost them first.
Contain your excitement
And if you’re more of a cola drinker, take heart in the fact that container deposit schemes , by as much as 40% off the US and Australian coasts. We’ll drink to that.
And… breathe
The holiday season is traditionally a time to draw breath and recoup for the new year. So you might like to meditate on the fact that our breath (and other animals’ too) .
And if you like thinking about trees, why not to our series, with plenty more uplifting musings on some of Australia’s favourite species.
Based in Perth, Michael Hopkin joined The Conversation after several years as a journalist with Fairfax, The West Australian, and others. Before moving to Australia from his native UK, he was a senior news and features writer for Nature.
