Dieter Hochuli

James D. Morgan/Getty

September 15, 2026

Our new research shows humans have maligned bandicoots for decades, making them more vulnerable to extinction

Annabel Ellis, University of Sydney; Dieter Hochuli, University of Sydney, and Peter Banks, University of Sydney

Humans have had a complex relationship with this marsupial, known for its pointy snout, thin tail and large hind feet.

Colossal Biosciences

April 15, 2025

‘De‑extinction’ of dire wolves promotes false hope: technology can’t undo extinction

Martín Boer-Cueva, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; Dieter Hochuli, University of Sydney; Marco Salvatori, University of Florence, and Peter Banks, University of Sydney

Claims of ‘bringing back’ any species take away focus from proven solutions that can actually fix the extinction crisis.

Overall winner of the 2018 competition, a Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis) by EnviroDNA @enviro_DNA. @enviro_DNA

January 31, 2023

Enough with the koala cakes – the government’s annual Threatened Species Bake Off seriously neglects fish, plants and other lesser‑loved species

Eliza Middleton, University of Sydney; Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney, and Dieter Hochuli, University of Sydney

Our research looked at data from the government’s annual baking competition. Upon close analysis, we find a dangerous lack of diversity and biases towards cute, cuddly mammals.

AAP Image/James Ross

September 9, 2021

How urban soundscapes affect humans and wildlife — and what may have changed in the hush of lockdown

Kurt Iveson, University of Sydney and Dieter Hochuli, University of Sydney

Soundscapes impact the well-being of human and non-human urban inhabitants. Here’s how noise can change animal behaviour, both in and out of lockdown.

August 15, 2021

1 in 2 primary‑aged kids have strong connections to nature, but this drops off in teenage years. Here’s how to reverse the trend

Ryan Keith, University of Sydney; Dieter Hochuli, University of Sydney; John Martin, University of Sydney, and Lisa M. Given, Swinburne University of Technology

New research found girls particularly liked to see wildflowers, hear nature sounds and touch animals and plants.

Lukas Koch / AAP

March 24, 2021

After the floods, stand by for spiders, slugs and millipedes – but think twice before reaching for the bug spray

Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney; Dieter Hochuli, University of Sydney, and Eliza Middleton, University of Sydney

If you find your house overrun by bugs after the floods, go easy on them. Here’s what you can do instead of using pesticides.

Lucy Taylor

April 20, 2020

3 ways nature in the city can do you good, even in self‑isolation

Lucy Taylor, The University of Melbourne; Dieter Hochuli, University of Sydney, and Erin Leckey, University of Colorado Boulder

Noting nature around you – it could be a glance outside, tending plants, or ‘green’ exercise – will improve your well-being, research shows. The coronavirus pandemic has made it even more important.

Noise pollution is usually associated with aeroplanes flying overhead, not happy children. from shutterstock.com

July 18, 2018

Do ‘screaming children’ in playgrounds ruin neighbourhood parks?

Lucy Taylor, University of Sydney and Dieter Hochuli, University of Sydney

Parks should service a variety of needs, not just cater to one group of people.

A park, in this case Hyde Park in Sydney, is one of the easiest and most accessible ways to engage with nature in the city. Lucy Taylor

April 17, 2016

Reducing stress at work is a walk in the park

Lucy Taylor, University of Sydney and Dieter Hochuli, University of Sydney

Nature is dispersed through our cities, even if we don’t notice it. And there’s abundant evidence that engaging with nature, even in urban settings, is good for us.

New research shows golden orb weaving spiders are larger in cities compared to their relatives in the bush. Lizzy Lowe

August 20, 2014

City spiders are getting bigger — but that’s a good thing

Lizzy Lowe, University of Sydney and Dieter Hochuli, University of Sydney

Find yourself thinking that the spider living in your garden is the biggest you’ve ever seen? You could be right. New research shows some spiders are getting larger and even doing better in cities than…

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