SCIENCE

An emergency warning for a bushfire that continues to blaze west of Camberwell has been downgraded to watch-and-act. The fire has progressed towards the New England Highway and is close to the village.

Sydney is forecasted to face more sweltering days and warm nights ahead. The week’s heat is expected to be more pronounced in the west of Sydney as Penrith is set to hit 42 degrees on Monday and Tuesday respectively. Meanwhile, Parramatta reaches 36 degrees on Monday and 41 degrees on Tuesday.

An alert has been issued for three states –- South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales –- as thunderstorms are expected to up the possibility of flash flooding. Heavy rain and thunderstorms will likely impact the three states.

International agencies have confirmed that 2016 was the hottest year on record. The growing concern comes as a reminder to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to reduce global warming.

Australia’s east coast is experiencing a scorching heatwave that is expected to last three days. Residents in affected areas have been urged to stay cool. Extremely hot conditions are expected to persist in parts of southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales.

A 44-year-old mother from Sydney left her children of under 10 years of age inside a locked car Wednesday. The police and paramedics were notified about the incident by a passerby. The woman has been charged and will be appearing before the court in February.

A 1.5 meter long saltwater crocodile was spotted in a children's playground south of Cairns on Tuesday. A group of people contained the animal using a wheelie bin before wildlife officials arrived.

An air pollution alert has been issued for Sydney. An excessive level of ozone will prevail in the atmosphere, which could adversely affect those suffering from respiratory disorders.

The Great Barrier Reef is under threat, there is little doubt to it. But the reef, one of the greatest natural wonders in the world, doesn’t fail to surprise and overwhelm whomever comes by to take a peek.

Bureau of Meteorology’s Annual Climate Statement confirmed on Thursday that 2016 was the fourth-warmest year on record in Australia. The average national mean temperature rose 0.87C above average.

The deadly Irukandji jellyfish is moving south and may soon reach Sunshine Coast. These cold-blooded, square-shaped and translucent creatures are the size of a thumbnail and live in tropical waters.

This will be the first solar eclipse visible from contiguous United States in almost 40 years.

Australian Antarctic Division scientists have got a rare glimpse of the mysterious underwater world that’s present beneath the Arctic sea ice. Stunning images of spidery starfish, dandelion-like worms, coconut-shaped sponges and pink encrusting algae were captured by an underwater robot that the scientists deployed at O’Brien Bay, near Casey research station in East Antarctica.

A Harvard University scientist has said that Earth is slowly turning into a red barren and lifeless land just like Mars.

Cyclone forecast 2016 suggests that four potential cyclones may threaten Australia, particularly Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. Rough weather is predicted for QLD while NT and WA are on high alert.

Christmas Day weather forecast 2016 has been unveiled by the Bureau of Meteorology. Australia is likely to witness a tale of two Christmases this year.

More December sky shows are set to happen this week including the Ursid meteor shower, December 2016 solstice and a vivid Jupiter alongside a waning crescent moon.

The astrological event -- which believers have reasoned for various changes and communication shortages -- will kick off again in a few days.

NSW Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers warned that New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory are extremely vulnerable to bushfires in summer as temperature may exceed 33 C.

In order to keep the weight of the space aircraft as light as they should, NASA is developing new healthy and lightweight food bars that astronauts can take along with them to their Mars mission.

A hot air mass, also known as the heatwave, is moving across Australia's southeast regions and is predicted to cause the mercury to hit 34 in several parts of the country.

Scientists have found the tail of a 100 million-year-old dinosaur. It is for the first time that they are getting a tail that contains muscles and bones. The finding will lead to a better understanding of evolution, they believe.

Check out how and when to best view in Australia 2016's mid-December sky shows highlighted by the Geminid meteor shower and supermoon.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull dismissed Coalition members’ suggestions that climate change policy review could be dangerous, even after Senator Bernardi said that it is one of the “dumbest things” he has heard in politics in recent times.

Former Vice President Al Gore is ready to set their differences aside and find common ground on more important issues.

The Solar Dynamics Observatory of NASA has released a picture that shows various features of sun making it look like a face with crooked smile.

Malcolm Turnbull plans to axe Tony Abbott's Green Army. The scheme is an environmental program that offered employment to around 15,000 young Australians. However, the Government had to axe to make savings.

Virgin Galactic's founder Sir Richard Branson witnessed the successful free flight of its brand new VSS Unity on Saturday.

In just about four years, Australia has already spent nearly 20 percent of its greenhouse gas allowance for year 2050.