Australia’s threatened species are experiencing widespread habitat declines thanks to more frequent fires and a reduction in unburnt areas according to Aussie researchers who say their findings paint a sobering picture for threatened species in fire-prone landscapes. The study looked at fire patterns across southern Australia from 1980 – 2021, spanning 415 reserves (21.5m hectares) which house 129 threatened species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and frogs. They found fire frequency had increased by 32% and the area of unburnt vegetation dropped from 61% to 36%. Unburnt vegetation, particularly ..read more

A study of Swedish Long COVID patients has revealed the symptoms most commonly associated with the afflication include dyspnoea and fatigue. The research led Umeå University and published in the BMG Public Health Journal found that dyspnoea – or a shortness of breath – occurred in around 1 in 8 Long COVID patients among around 6,400 diagnosed outpatients. The study was based off information gathered from multiple nationwide registries in Sweden. A connection was also observed with the severity of COVID-19 during the early stages of the disease and with those later diagnosed with PCS. Patients ..read more

  Semaglutide (sold as Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus) was initially developed to treat diabetes. It works by stimulating the production of insulin to keep blood sugar levels in check. This type of drug is increasingly being prescribed for weight loss, despite the fact it was initially approved for another purpose. Recently, there has been growing interest in another possible use: to treat addiction. Anecdotal reports from patients taking semaglutide for weight loss suggest it reduces their appetite and craving for food, but surprisingly, it also may reduce their desire to drink alcohol ..read more

Some mammals, like the Australian marsupial sugar glider, have special adaptations to glide through the air or even move about using powered flight like bats. How did this ability evolve? “We don’t quite understand how novel traits and adaptations originate from a molecular and genetic perspective,” says Princeton University assistant professor Ricardo Mallarino. “We wanted to investigate how an evolutionary novelty arises.” Mallarino is corresponding author on a paper published in Nature which looks at the genetic origins of the patagium – the thin skin membrane that allows some mammal speci ..read more

New research has found that targeted surveillance and culling of crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) can effectively suppress outbreaks to protect coral reef health and resilience on the Great Barrier Reef. While crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) are native to the reef, outbreaks are a major driver of coral mortality and reef degradation on top of other stressors such as coral bleaching. The new study found timely and sufficient control efforts during CoTS outbreaks resulted in a sixfold reduction in starfish numbers and a 44% increase in coral cover across impacted regions. CoTS ..read more

Despite the Montreal Protocol, the ozone layer, vital for obstructing UV radiation from the sun, isn’t fully repaired. This spells danger to Antarctic plant and animal species. The warning comes from 4 members of the UN’s Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, who write in the journal Global Change Biology that the annual ‘hole’ that widens in the ozone layer each year now remains open into Antarctica’s summer. This risks exposing species to harmful UV-B radiation at a time where plants and animals emerge periods of dormancy. The ozone hole typically peaked in September and October. “That’s ..read more

Fujianipus yingliangi fossil track. Credit: Anthony Romilio. Massive dinosaur fossil footprints have been found in southern China. They were left behind by a raptor which might be among the largest ever. Raptor is the term commonly given to members of the Dromaeosauridae and Troodontidae groups of bipedal dinosaurs. Analysis of their skulls indicates that these were pack-hunters and the smartest of dinosaurs, rivalling mammals for intelligence. It is believed that dromaeosaurids are the group which ultimately led to modern birds. Palaeontologists in China have identified many raptor species o ..read more

Soft drink manufacturers Coca-Cola and Pepsi account for a sixth of the world’s branded plastic waste and more than half can be traced to just 56 companies according to a global study. The 5-year study spanning more than 1,500 audits across 84 countries is part of a global citizen science collaboration, involving audit submissions from 200,000 participants. But while half of the world’s plastic can be traced to 56 companies, led by large, fast-moving consumer goods makers, half cannot be identified, prompting calls by the expert group for compulsory branding of plastic products for identifica ..read more

A new study reveals the complex dynamics of black holes in the centres of galaxies, how they slow down and interact with each other. This could help explain when and where black hole mergers occur. Led by researchers at Melbourne’s Monash University, the study is published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Unlike conventional astronomy, which is based on the emission of different wavelengths of light, the research used data from gravitational wave emissions resulting from black hole mergers. Gravitational waves, ripples in the fabric of space time caused by the most en ..read more

New South Wales researchers have been commissioned to design a medical drone. The specialised drone is to be equipped with a “medical capsule” to deliver cargo to remote regions. It will be able to transport pathology specimens, blood products, anti-venom, medications, medical supplies and other equipment. The drone will complement local primary health networks, telehealth and pathology services, and pharmaceutical delivery. ASAC Consultancy, which has funded the project, says research and development is for a hydrogen fuelled vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV ..read more