Another troubling consequence of the bushfire smoke is its effects on our eyes. But there are some steps we can take to minimise irritation and any risk of longer term harms.
Large and small particulates in fire smoke can irritate the the thin lining of the respiratory tract, causing throat irritation, coughing and breathing difficulties.
Erik Anderson/AAP
Bushfire smoke is making it difficult for some people to breathe. Those with asthma are at particular risk, but not everyone with the condition has been diagnosed. Here’s what to look out for.
Smoke from recent bushfires has shrouded major Australian cities.
AAP/Erik Anderson
The risk of mental health problems associated with this bushfire season extends well beyond those living in directly affected regions.
Bushfire-related class action suits against the government have had little success in the past, but there are other benefits to pursuing a case.
Steven Saphore/AAP
In a landmark case in the Netherlands, the courts have ordered the government to cut carbon emissions. A similar strategy would be difficult in Australia, but other legal options could bring change.
Studies show having one less child is one of the most effective individual actions to mitigate climate change.
Dean Lewins/AAP
Having fewer children is one of the most effective ways an individual can mitigate climate change.
Leaving water out for wildlife is important during droughts and bushfires but if it’s not changed regularly it can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Roger Smith/Flickr
Temperatures are soaring and bushfires are decimating Australia’s wildlife. So how can we avoid creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes when putting water out for thirsty birds and animals?
Australia is a bushfire-prone nation. But several factors make this fire season worse than those past.
Victorian Government
Babies and toddlers might not be able to communicate well or at all with words, but they show their distress during disasters through behaviour. Here’s how parents can help them cope.
After heavy rainfall, debris could wash into our waterways and threaten fish, water bugs, and other aquatic species.
Jarod Lyon
Fire debris flowing into Murray-Darling Basin will exacerbate the risk of fish and other aquatic life dying en masse in a repeat of the shocking fish kills of last summer.
Anthony Albanese led Scott Morrison 43-39 as preferred prime minister in the first Newspoll of the new year.
Marc Tewksbury/AAP
Morrison suffered a drop in his job performance rating, with 37% saying they were satisfied, down eight points from early December, and 59% saying they were dissatisfied, up 11 points.
When polling resumes after the summer, Scott Morrison may be surprised by the public’s assessment of his government’s handling of the bushfires.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
There is an obvious point upon which the LNP, Labor and Greens might agree to move policy forward: the national ‘cap and trade’ emissions trading system proposed by John Howard in 2007.
Throughout history, Australian bushfires have spread smoke over our cities. But this time it’s different.
David Mariuz/AAP
Employers obligations are set out clearly. What’s important is what they “know or reasonably ought to know”.
‘In Australia, beds are burning. So are entire towns, irreplaceable forests and endangered and precious animal species such as the koala.’
State Government Of Victoria Handout/EPA
I am a climate scientist on holiday in the Blue Mountains, watching climate change in action.
A targeted, coordinated online campaign has tried to mislead the public. While the myths have been debunked, the culpable parties remain unknown.
SEAN DAVEY/AAP
We found about 300 suspicious Twitter accounts, which we suspect included a high proportion of bots and trolls pushing the #ArsonEmergency narrative.
Regrowth one month after fires at Colo Heights, NSW. A legacy of displacement and racism inflames bushfire trauma for Aboriginal Australians.
Vanessa Cavanagh
As Australia picks up the pieces after the fires, we must understand the unique grief Aboriginal people experience from a loss of country.
Scott Morrison’s much-parodied trip to Hawaii in the midst of the bushfire crisis is just one example of a leader not being where he should be.
Scott Marsh/AAP