Thomas Newsome

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2025-08-21T00:06:46Z – Dingoes are not domestic dogs – new evidence shows these native canines are on their own evolutionary path

New research suggests dingoes are distinct enough to have their own scientific name. If this is accepted, it will have far-reaching consequences

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2025-06-18T03:46:25Z – ‘Guerrilla rewilding’ aims for DIY conservation – but it may do more harm than good

Reintroducing endangered species into the wild isn't as straightforward as it seems. Sometimes it can go wildly wrong.

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2025-05-25T20:19:44Z – Urban rewilding has brought back beavers, hornbills and platypuses to city parks – and that's just the start

Bringing nature back to our cities doesn't just mean plants and birds. We can bring native animals back too.

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2024-10-11T10:08:03Z – Mundo caminha para um aquecimento de 2,7°C neste século, e o perigo é sem precedentes

Toda a civilização humana surgiu durante condições climáticas excepcionalmente benignas. À medida que as mudanças climáticas se intensificam, estamos começando a ver o que pode acontecer

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2024-10-08T19:01:41Z – Unprecedented peril: disaster lies ahead as we track towards 2.7°C of warming this century

All of human civilisation emerged during unusually benign climate conditions. As temperature records fall and climate damage intensifies, we are beginning to see what happens when we leave it behind.

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2024-09-29T20:27:32Z – 'Vegetarian' possums eat meat when the weather's cold

In Australia, people tend to think carnivores lead the clean-up crew after an animal dies. But brushtail possums – thought to be plant-eaters – also eat carcasses.

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2024-08-15T01:39:21Z – Islands in the sky: could steep-sided hilltops offer safe haven to our threatened species?

Rewilding is helping to save species from the brink of extinction. But reintroducing species to islands or fenced havens have limitations. What if we could use flat topped mesas as well?

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2023-02-17T03:38:25Z – Dead kangaroos make a surprising feast for possums in the Australian Alps

When they set up remote cameras throughout the bush, scientists were not expecting to capture these small marsupials scavenging for flesh.

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2022-07-19T08:33:53Z – 'Bad and getting worse': Labor promises law reform for Australia's environment. Here's what you need to know

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek acknowledges “it’s time to change” after the State of the Environment report revealed a bleak picture of Australia’s natural places. In a speech on Tuesday…

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2021-07-28T00:45:35Z – More livestock, more carbon dioxide, less ice: the world's climate change progress since 2019 is (mostly) bad news

But with new commitments getting made by governments all over the world, we hope to see this progress improve soon.

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2020-05-31T19:50:55Z – Forget ‘murder hornets’, European wasps in Australia decapitate flies and bully dingoes

The invasive species was likely brought to Australia unintentionally by ship. Now found in every state and territory, the wasps are decimating our ecosystems.

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2020-02-10T19:11:34Z – When introduced species are cute and loveable, culling them is a tricky proposition

Introduced species are often targeted for culling in conservation, but killing charismatic animals like foxes can be controversial.

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2020-01-15T19:08:32Z – Bushfires left millions of animals dead. We should use them, not just bury them

There's logic in burying carcasses as they can harbour nasty diseases, but they also help landscapes recover from fire.

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2019-11-05T18:58:47Z – 11,000 scientists warn: climate change isn't just about temperature

What if the nightly news had regular updates on forest clearing, ocean temperatures and fossil fuel consumption? These indicators sit alongside temperatures as signs of climate change.

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2019-07-14T18:46:32Z – Making deer fair game for unlicensed hunting is the right step for New South Wales

The NSW government has announced plans to remove feral deer from its list of official game animals. With careful monitoring, the resulting free-for-all could help curb their booming numbers.

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2019-02-26T19:10:51Z – We can 'rewild' swathes of Australia by focusing on what makes it unique

Rewilding is gaining popularity around the world, as a means to restore ecosystems to their ancient state. But just like Vegemite, Australian rewilding projects need to have a unique flavour.

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2018-10-19T04:38:27Z – Dingo dinners: what's on the menu for Australia's top predator?

A survey of 32,000 samples of dingo droppings and stomach contents reveal that this predator's appetite is as wide-ranging as Australia's landscapes. But medium and large mammals are top of the menu.

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2017-05-23T20:23:05Z – Thinking big gives top predators the competitive edge

Dingoes and wolves can help control destructive smaller predators, new research shows, but only if we encourage them across wide areas.

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Thomas Newsome wrote an article

2017-05-01T20:04:12Z – The bark side: domestic dogs threaten endangered species worldwide

Cats have a bad reputation as wildlife killers (deservedly so). But dogs aren't off the hook: new research shows domestic dogs have contributed to the extinction of at least 11 species.