Fresh Science

A Sydney scientist has identified a second ‘off-switch’ for El Niño, which helps govern Australia’s cycles of drought and floods with the help of La Niña. Dr Shayne McGregor, of the University of New South Wales, has discovered that a surface wind shift that occurs during El Niño is the other off-switch for the event,…

Genetics can be used to shape plants underground so they absorb water better Recent discoveries by a University of Queensland agricultural scientist provide the basis for custom designing plant roots. Her discovery is already being used by plant breeders to develop drought-resistant sorghum crops.

320 tonnes of acid spills into river- Ben Wilson Research into acid-producing soils along major rivers in northern NSW has illustrated the threat posed by Mother Nature, not only sugar cane farmers, on fish stocks in the region, according to Dr Ben Wilson from Charles Sturt University.

Ocean unlocks more clues to Australia’s climate as El Nino goes walkabout – Scott Power. Scott’s new research shows that a long term fluctuation in the Pacific’s temperature can have a profound influence on El Nino and La Nina.