The fossil tooth fairy was smiling upon me today. After a snorkel we headed to bayside Melbourne to search for fossils. Soon after, I turned a rock, and found the …
It’s common that I’m asked, ‘Are ecosystems regulated top down or bottom up?’ But it’s not that simple. We have a terrible habit of looking for single causal mechanisms for …
Billions of years ago two bacteria formed a partnership. One lived on inside the other and became a mitochondria. Mitochondria harness energy. They are the battery that fuel animal cells. …
How important are soil invertebrates? A new paper in Science Advances may have the answer. Researchers have estimated the abundance of all land arthropods (animals like insects, crabs, spiders and …
Last year there was one morning when Tasmanian Blennies seemed to be everywhere on the mussel beds in Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay. They were swimming over rocks in abundance. The …
We recently visited the Mount Rothwell Sanctuary in Melbourne’s west. Originally created by John Wamsley, this 420 hectare predator-proofed sanctuary was bought in 2004 and is currently operated by the …
Sun bears are rarely observed. This one has climbed high above the ground, attracted by the sweet smell of fruiting figs. The bear’s behaviour has shaped the forest, influencing its …
How fragile is life on Earth? A rock from an iron ore mine housed in Museum Victoria gives us a clue. It’s a visual reminder of the instability that happens …
