Queen

‘Osprey cam’ streams life of nesting seabirds perched at tip of 55 metre-long Queensland rainforest canopy crane

Researchers believe the same pair of birds has been mating and nesting in the unusual spot in the Daintree Rainforest for 15 consecutive years Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast It started by chance – but it should have come as no surprise that two ospreys would pick a hi-tech research facility to make their home. James Cook University’s 47-metre tall crane towers over the far-north Queensland rainforest canopy, making it the perfect nesting place for the seabird. Continue reading...

The Guardian Environment · 6/9/2026

Amid efforts to save Australia’s southern cassowaries, their numbers remain unknown

With a striking blue neck, jet black plumage and bright red drooping wattles, the southern cassowary cuts an imposing figure in the dense tropical rainforests of Far North Queensland, Australia. Standing up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall and armed with razor-sharp claws, it is often labeled as the world’s most dangerous bird. In reality, […]

Mongabay · 5/26/2026

Queenless wasp colonies explode into chaos but hidden helpers save them

When a queen wasp suddenly disappears, her colony doesn’t calmly choose a successor — it erupts into chaos. Researchers found that female wasps immediately begin battling for power, shattering the colony’s social order in a frenzy of aggression. But while some fight for the throne, others quietly become the colony’s unsung heroes, stepping up to gather food and care for the young so the society doesn’t collapse.

ScienceDaily Plants & Animals · 5/26/2026

Power bills to fall by up to 10% from July as renewables and batteries soar across Australia

Australia now a top-three global player in batteries, and renewable energy met nearly half of the nation’s power in 2025 Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Energy bills for households and small businesses will fall by up to 10% from July across parts of the eastern states, as a new industry survey shows record levels of renewables and batteries in the power grid. Households in New South Wales and south-east Queensland on standing electricity plans – known as the “default market offer” – can expect prices to fall between 3.4% and 10.7% compared to last year, according to the Australian Energy Regulator’s final offer for 2026-27. Some could save up to $155 per year. While, South Australian households on a flat rate could expect an increase of 1.4%. Continue reading...

The Guardian Environment · 5/26/2026

Australia news live: Queensland police shoot dead man north of Brisbane; David Pocock calls for Senate inquiry into CGT changes for businesses

Shooting of man who was allegedly armed with a firearm at a house in Narangba to be investigated Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Climate activists say they have blocked two coal ships from entering Newcastle port Climate activists say they have stopped two coal ships from entering the Port of Newcastle this morning after kayakers and a small boat entered the channel. I grew up in the best years economically in Australia’s history, and I can’t sleep at night thinking about my 5 great-grandkids trying to live on a dead planet if we keep mining coal. I want to see more people my age standing up for what’s right. There’s plenty of conversations going on all the time. I think there’s so many people in politics for the right reasons and, when you’re in there, you want to say, well, how do we actually ensure that people can elect people that are going to come here and really deal with the root causes of the problems that we’re facing, because we haven’t seen that

The Guardian Environment · 5/24/2026

River Thames in London gets first official bathing spot on Friday

Thames at Ham designated as one of 13 new swimming areas across England to be monitored for water quality The first designated bathing water area on the River Thames in London will welcome swimmers for the official start of the bathing season on Friday as one of 13 new monitored swimming areas across England. The Thames at Ham, in south-west London, has been designated as a new river bathing water area after campaigners gathered evidence to show thousands of people use the river for swimming throughout the year. Canvey Island foreshore, Essex East Beach at West Bay, Bridport, Dorset Falcon Meadow, Bungay, Suffolk Granville Parade Beach, Sandgate, Kent Little Shore, Amble, Northumberland New Brighton Beach (east), Merseyside Newton and Noss Creeks, Devon Pangbourne Meadow, Berkshire Queen Elizabeth Gardens, Salisbury, Wiltshire River Dee at Sandy Lane, Chester, Cheshire River Fowey in Lostwithiel, Cornwall River Swale in Richmond, Yorkshire River Thames at Ham and Kingston, Greater Lond

The Guardian Environment · 5/14/2026