If Santa really lived at the North Pole his sleigh would run the risk of falling through the ice.

• COMMENT

As plans are made ahead of the festive season, why not consider someone who doesn't want anything from us but compassion ... and to be left off our plates.

A trial of aerial drones at Redhead Beach has been extended for the rest of the school holidays, after a drone found a three-metre great white shark swimming among surfers on Tuesday.

World temperatures are likely to dip next year from a sizzling record high in 2016, when man-made global warming was slightly boosted by a natural El Nino event in the Pacific Ocean, scientists said on Tuesday.

Sydneysiders will have to wait until the evening before relief from the heat arrives with a burst.

A dozen hopeful whale watchers got to see something few people have.

If someone asked you to name the necessary five steps for preparing your home for bushfires this season, would you be able to?

Canberrans opting for a traditional Aussie barbecue this Christmas might want to choose lunch over dinner or be left eating snags with a side of showers.

A new power station for south western Victoria will be among the offers to multinational Alcoa when federal and Victorian industry ministers Greg Hunt and Wade Noonan fly to New York on Monday.

The number of waterbirds across eastern Australia's wetlands hit another record low this year.

Numbers of migrating birds travelling from the Arctic to Botany Bay are dwindling.

A mystery object that washed up on a New Zealand beach continues to baffle officials.

Food shortage is having a grave impact on flying fox populations and ACT Wildlife has warned Canberrans to keep clear and report malnourished or dead bats to authorities.

Sydney could be celebrating a wet Christmas this year, with a chance of showers across the city.

Taronga Zoo opens Squirrel Monkey Jungle Walk

The world is a confusing place, fraught with danger and despair. We all want to do the right thing by the planet, but often it's difficult to determine exactly how to do that.

Perth Zoo has hit back at allegations zookeepers uses 'bullhooks' in order to coerce its Asian elephants into painting their famous portraits.

Biologist Chandler Robbins first placed an aluminium band around her ankle at Midway Atoll in 1956. Wisdom is now the oldest known breeding bird on Earth.

A gusty southerly cool change will bring much-welcomed end to Sydney's record-breaking heat.

Relief from the heat is just hours away after temperature records tumbled overnight.

• COMMENT

When it comes to climate science, President-elect Donald Trump has been a purveyor of conspiracy theories for years.

Tuesday night marked the third hottest December night on record in Canberra since 1940.

A sweaty night that has even bureau staff camping out in tents will make way for another hot day.

Queensland's main bird conservation group has called for a radical re-think of the Queensland Government's $1.3 billion plan to build a new marina and harbor where ferries connect to North Stradbroke Island at Cleveland.

The Arctic saw the warmest temperatures ever recorded in 2016, according to an annual report released Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Report reveals the growth rate of renewable energy jobs in the ACT is six times higher than any other state or territory.

For those wondering "when will this end", Melbourne's steamy conditions won't come to a close until about midnight.

A litter of six meerkats was born on last Wednesday at Sydney's Taronga Zoo, a record for the zoo.

Next time you're lying on the beach soaking up the rays, spare a thought for the sun-loving algae hiding in the sand grains beneath you.

A record warm December night is in prospect as sea breezes remain weak.