News
How the Great Barrier Reef shows record growth AND intense bleaching
High coral cover amid intense heatwaves and bleaching? Here’s how both can be true on the Great Barrier Reef.
Tag: science
News
‘Wake-up call to humanity’: research shows the Great Barrier Reef is the hottest it’s been in 400 years
The Great Barrier Reef is vast and spectacular. But repeated mass coral bleachings, driven by high ocean temperatures, are threatening the survival of coral colonies which are the backbone of the reef.
News
Stunning specimen of rare ‘demon duck’ fossil unearthed in Australian dig
Australian scientists digging in the Northern Territory have unearthed a near-perfect fossilised leg from an ancient flightless bird that survived in Australia up to 8 million years ago.
Dr Karl: Need to Know
Drunk from the inside: Dr Karl explains rare auto-brewery syndrome
Amazingly, some people can manufacture alcohol inside their body from the food they eat – carbohydrates, to be specific. Some do it so well, they can raise their blood alcohol level to eight times the legal driving limit!
History & Culture
Conserving the Kabayan mummies: from an Australian classroom to the Philippines mountains
What started as a mock grant proposal by three students at the University of Melbourne has become an opportunity to preserve an ancient culture under threat.
News
Alien invasion: which foreign species might enter Australia next?
Australia is renowned for its native flora and fauna, but did you know the continent is also home to about 3,000 “alien” species of animals, plants, fungi and microbes?
Science and Environment
Stopping cane toads from advancing across northern Australia
Scientists have launched a new weapon in the fight to keep cane toads from reaching the Pilbara, in north-west WA.
News
Biting back: Australian researchers say century-old drug could revolutionise cobra bite treatment
A team of researchers is uncovering the secrets of snake venom with results that could revolutionise cobra bite treatment.
News
Australian amber reveals our ‘living fossils’ existing for 42 million years
A discovery in Australian amber is helping scientists uncover mysteries from 42 million years ago.
News
Look up: A once-in-a-lifetime explosion is about to create a ‘new’ star in the sky
Any night now, a “new star” or nova will appear in the night sky. While it won’t set the sky ablaze, it’s a special opportunity to see a rare event that’s usually difficult to predict in advance.