UNSW Science

What do protecting threatened wildlife and ultrasonic signals have in common? 🤔

That's exactly what our team of Taronga and UNSW scientists are exploring!

New research funded by the Australia and Pacific Science Foundation found that ultrasonic signals deterred dingoes from specific sites. This has lead the team to consider and to test whether these signals might be used to protect nests of threatened species, without removing dingoes from the wider landscape.

As Australia's apex terrestrial predator, dingoes play critical roles in keeping ecosystems healthy, including suppressing invasive predators like cats and foxes. By allowing dingoes to be dingoes while also managing risk to threatened species, ultrasonic deterrents may just represent a rare win-win for conservation!

This research project is a perfect example of this year's National Science Week theme, Seeds of Science, and shows promise for a future where conservation doesn't have to choose between protecting threatened wildlife and maintaining the ecological role of native predators 🐕🌱💚

Find out more info about the study at https://www.linkedin.com/posts/taronga-conservation-society-australia_forthewild-scienceweek-seedso…



Disclaimer. These images are not AI generated but AI was used in the graphic design process.

That's a wrap on this year's Science in the Swamp!

Yesterday we joined Greater Sydney Parklands at Centennial Park to celebrate the start of this year's National Science Week.

Thousands of visitors investigated animal skulls like forensic scientists, experimented with slime, discovered materials with “superpowers”, tested whether they could trust their own brains and explored the strange physics of magnetic levitation.

Thanks to everyone who came along and made the day so much fun!

Missed it? We'll be back at Science in the Scrub in Western Sydney this weekend!

https://www.events.unsw.edu.au/event/unsw-x-national-science-week-2026

New research highlights just how interconnected our planet’s climate really is.

In a new UNSW study published in Climate of the Past, scientists looked at climate data from an ice age nearly 50,000 years ago and found that despite the ice never reaching Australia, its effects were felt here.

These ice sheets have long been known to transform the climate of the Northern Hemisphere, Europe and the North Atlantic, but researchers are discovering their influence extended much further.

Himadri Saini and Laurie Menviel write that this reordering of the global climate strengthened Australia’s summer monsoon, increasing summer rainfall across much of the continent.

The researchers say it’s a reminder of how connected the global climate system is – and that understanding Australia’s past and future climate requires looking far beyond our shores.

Read more on the UNSW Newsroom: https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2026/08/giant-ice-mountains-other-side-of-earth-once-dictated-australias-climate

Congratulations to Dr Aaron Eger, one of the 2026 NSW Young Tall Poppies.

His contributions to science, including founding the Kelp Forest Alliance, are already having an impact around the world.

Dr Eger’s research focuses on why some of the most productive ecosystems on Earth – kelp forests – are rapidly disappearing and how to restore them.

🔗 Read more via the UNSW Newsroom: https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2026/08/three-unsw-researchers-recognised-with-2026-young-tall-poppy-awards

Dive into National Science Week with an evening spent exploring the cutting-edge marine research happening beneath the waves!

Wed 19 Aug | 6:00–7:30PM
Colombo Theatre C, UNSW Sydney

Register here before spots fill up: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/where-marine-science-grows-tickets-1993983280669?aff=Web

Feral cats are already estimated to kill more than 1.5 billion native animals each year, new UNSW research suggests the true toll could be even higher.

Using a new DNA-based approach, researchers found significantly more native species in the cats' diets, including threatened animals such as bilbies that had gone undetected using older techniques.

The researchers say the work underscores that feral cats remain Australia’s conservation enemy number 1.

Read more over on the UNSW website: https://bit.ly/4h9BPxo

Think you know Eastern rosellas?

Not just an earworm, from their rainbow-coloured feathers to their surprising behaviours, these charismatic Australian parrots are full of fascinating facts.

Swipe through to discover a few fun facts about one of our most colourful native birds.