Clipmarks | pokkets's Australia collection

Tassie devil highlights species decline

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:59:47 GMT

clipped by: pokkets

Hundreds of animals, including the Tasmanian devil, have been added to the list of species threatened with extinction, according to the latest edition of the 'Red List' released today.

The Red List of Threatened Species, compiled by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and published in the journal Science says more than half of the world's mammals are falling in number, with Asian primates particularly at risk.

Overall, 38% of 44,838 species catalogued in the index are listed as "threatened" with extinction: a quarter of all mammals, one out of eight birds, one out of three amphibians and 70% of plants.

In Australia, 788 species appear on the threatened list, including fish, birds and plants. Of that number, 57 of the country's native mammals are at risk of extinction.

Professor Chris West, a zoologist from the University of Adelaide, says Australia's ranking in the red list is one of the worst for developed countries.

Australia to 'gain' from open access

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:48:44 GMT

clipped by: pokkets
clipper's remarks: The public pay for a considerable amount of research. They are entitled to benefit from the findings

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Anna Salleh

Australia is poised to take a lead in the move to free up the results of publicly-funded research, say international experts.

Less than 20% of publicly funded research is freely available to the public, say experts

comments follow the federal science minister's expression of support for making government-funded research freely available on the internet under a creative commons licence - one of the recommendations in the recently-released Cutler report on innovation

"As a net importer of knowledge and ideas, Australia has everything to gain from the kind of 'global digital commons' outlined in the Cutler report," Senator Kim Carr told the Open Access and Research Conference in Brisbane this week by video link

"The government is weighing these recommendations and will respond to them in an innovation policy white paper."

"I think it's important that the government has decided this is a major issue and that Australia is going to take the lead," says

UK open access expert Dr Alma Swan

Over 100 new sharks, rays in Australia

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:41:06 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: news.nationalgeographic.com

PHOTOS: 100+ New Sharks, Rays Named in Australia

The skate--a type of ray--is among 113 new species of Australian sharks and rays discovered during a study of museum specimens, scientists at the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization (CSIRO) announced this week. (Read full story.)

Fossil Reef found in Aussie outback

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:16:22 GMT

clipped by: pokkets
clipper's remarks: So now they think Animal life evolved 80 million years earlier than we had calculated.
clearly 'Scientific' discoveries are too often base with too little evidence. one of the Basic Principles of "science' is the development of a method and a control where a method can be repeated in an attempt to get similar or 'Identical'- through the imposition of specific qualifications. this can be difficult when most natural situations are unique, or 'one offs'
There's generally no harm in 'looking', we just have to be careful the way we describe what we find

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Heather Catchpole

Australian scientists have discovered an ancient reef that may push back the evolution of the earliest animals by 80 million years.

Jonathan Giddings stands next to the 650-million-year-old fossilised layers found in the Northern Flinders Ranges

The unpublished research, by geoscientists Associate Professor Malcolm Wallace, Estee Woon and Jonathan Giddings from the University of Melbourne, will be presented at the Geological Society of Australia's Selwyn Symposium on Thursday.

The researchers say they have uncovered complex organisms that in some ways resemble multicellular life in a large reef located in the Northern Flinders Ranges, 700 kilometres north of Adelaide in South Australia.

A closeup image of the fossiled coral layers from Flinders Ranges (Malcolm Wallace)

If the fossils, which are around 650 million years old, are of multicellular organisms, they would be the earliest examples of primitive animal life discovered so far, the researchers say.

Australia in biosecurity hotspot

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:04:33 GMT

clipped by: pokkets
clipper's remarks: Germs don't need a passport. We cannot encase ourselves in a bubble. We cannot stop the evolution of pathogens. Our best defense is in our own immune systems. We need to know more about our immune system, than the germs, because lethal strains can develop at random. Our immune system is something we all have in common.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Dani Cooper

Australia is "encased by a ring of fire" with modelling by international experts showing Asia to be the most likely source of the next global infectious disease outbreak.

The panel of biosecurity and infectious disease experts also warn that a "fortress Australia" approach is not enough to stop bio-threats entering the country.

Instead Australia must also help develop the region's capacity to deal with and prevent infectious disease outbreaks, they say.

The presentation came ahead of today's launch, by the Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, of the Biosecurity Risk Intelligence Scanning Committee.

Committee chair Professor John Edwards, Dean of the School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at Murdoch University, says the group aims to predict emerging threats and inform research priorities.

Edwards says greater attention needs to be given to animal viruses as up to 70% have zoonotic potential - can be passed to humans.

'Toxic time bomb' awaits OK Tedi

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:26:20 GMT

clipped by: pokkets
clipper's remarks: The OK Tedi Copper Mine in Papua New Guinea.
The Volume of Toxic sulpur can Wipe out an ecosystem.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Anna Salleh

More attention should be given to a potential environmental disaster in Papua New Guinea near one of the world's largest copper mines, warn some scientists.

A contaminated section of river near the Ok Tedi mine (Source: Ian Campbell)

Melbourne-based river scientist Dr Ian Campbell is concerned about large areas downstream from Papua New Guinea's Ok Tedi mine being affected by acid mine drainage.

He presented his concerns at this week's River Symposium in Brisbane.

"It's a nightmare waiting to happen, I think," says Campbell, who recently advised on environmental issues for 16 months at Ok Tedi Mining Limited.

He says sulfur-laden mine waste has built up in and around the Fly River, and if the river's floodplains dry out this could trigger a mass poisoning of animals and plants.

He says his reading of company data suggests around 150 square kilometres of the Fly River floodplains, downstream from the Ok Tedi mine could be potentially affected by acid mine drainage.

Glow worms turn on to a rhythm

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:49:29 GMT

clipped by: pokkets

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Anna Salleh

An Australian researcher has foudn that glow worms switch their prey-catching light on and off to a daily rhythm.

Glow worms hang beads of mucus from an overhang to snare their prey (Source: Anthony O'Toole/UQ)

Dr David Merritt of the University of Queensland reports his findings in the current issue of the journal Biological Rhythms.

"A biological rhythm in the animal determines when they will turn on and when they will turn off," says Merritt.

Glow worms, not to be confused with fire flies, are larvae of a particular type of fly that only lives in Australia and New Zealand.

Special cells in the rear end of the animal produce light that is used to attract prey.

The larvae use strings of silk, beaded with sticky drops of mucus, to snare their victims that are attracted to the light.

"It's like a spider with its web," says Merritt.

"In the rainforest, the daylight causes them to switch off. They only turn on at night and turn off around dawn," he says.

Nemo's nose helps find way home

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:20:11 GMT

clipped by: pokkets
clipper's remarks: They discovered some of the scents that attracted the clown fish to to the reefs that provide a suitable habitat. The scent from the leaves of one coastal plant Xanthostemon, a kind of myrtle attracted them. They also found scents, such as the leaves from the Melaleuca Nervosa, a kind of paperbark which is another type of myrtle, that repelled them. They say this could have implications regarding tree planting and reforestation near marine habitats.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Darren Osborne

The animated clownfish Nemo may have found his way home a lot sooner if he had trusted his nose

research by scientists from Australia, France and the US, has revealed that a species of clownfish (Amphiprion percula) uses its olfactory senses to help it locate a suitable habitat.

The findings appear in the latest edition of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Professor Geoff Jones of James Cook University, Townsville, says that although previous research has shown clownfish can smell, these new findings identify the scents they are using.

"We've actually narrowed down the chemical signals that they may be using to find their home."

Almost all exhibited a strong preference for water collected from reefs that contained islands.

The researchers then used water that contained the scent of an anemone or leaves from coastal plants such as Xanthostemon.

When given a choice between scented or unscented water the fish spent more than 90% of their time in the scented water.

Sweet edge on waterproof paper.

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:09:33 GMT

clipped by: pokkets
clipper's remarks: You can't recycle waxed boxes. The wax interferes with the paper making process. I hadn't thought of that, but it make sense, wax being waterproof because it's 'oily'
The number of boxes that are coated for use with foods is unimaginable.
They've had success with a spray on version of this recyclable waterproof coating .
There were few details as a result of 'Commercial Confidentiality' which means they must be on to something

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Anna Salleh

Totally recyclable waterproof paper and cardboard containers can be made using a new coating developed from sugarcane, say Australian researchers.

Organic chemist, Dr Les Edye, and colleagues from the CRC for Sugarcane Innovation through Biotechnology in Brisbane, say the coating could replace wax and plastic coatings currently used on fruit boxes and food and drink containers.

"Wax-coated cardboard boxes, for example, used for packaging fruit aren't recyclable."

He says conventional coatings like wax interfere with paper-making equipment.

Edye and colleagues have developed a new coating from sugarcane lignin.

Lignin is the rigid, waterproof 'cement' that helps give plants their structural strength.

We have a different kind of process for separating the sugarcane

so that the lignin is still useful

the coating has been found to be "functionally equivalent" to wax coatings, but with obvious benefits

"It can be put back into the pulping process to make recycled paper," he says.

Community control key to windfarms

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:48:03 GMT

clipped by: pokkets
clipper's remarks: The clip is about wind farms in Australia, but there are already working examples elsewhere in the world particularly Germany.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Anna Salleh

Making the most of wind energy in Australia could depend on the community owning and operating small-scale wind farms, say some experts.

Community-owned projects could have greater appeal to those opposed to outisde companies large-scale wind farms

The comments come as a cooperative in Daylesford, Victoria seeks support for their proposal to build and operate Australia's first community-owned and operated wind farm.

"Wind farms are vital if we're going to reduce our carbon emissions," says Professor John Thwaites, chairman of the Monash Sustainability Institute at Monash University.

"But we're not going to be able to do that if we've got widespread community opposition."

He says community owned wind farms are common in some parts of the world, especially in Europe.

"If you look at Germany for example, about a half of their wind farms are community owned or have a community owned component," says Thwaites

"This is a way communities can take control," he says.

Improved tsunami detection for region

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:21:29 GMT

clipped by: pokkets

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Dani Cooper

A million dollar facility that can help track tsunamis through the Asia-Pacific region is being proposed for north-west Australia.

The Australian Earth Sciences Convention in Perth today heard that Geoscience Australia is already well along the path of developing the next-generation tsunami spotters.

Dr Barry Drummond, head of Earth Monitoring at Geoscience Australia told the conference the tsunami monitoring group is currently using a seismic array at Tennant Creek, in the Northern Territory, to analyse earthquakes in the region.

He says because seismic waves arrive at each seismograph at slightly different times, scientists are able to glean more information about the earthquake.

parameters such as the length of the rupture, how fast it occurs and in which direction it travels will determine where the tsunami is produced.

a slow rupture, for reasons currently unknown, causes a worse tsunami

the facility will provide extra time authorities for more time to alert the public

Cuckoo chicks are masters of deception

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:19:08 GMT

clipped by: pokkets

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Stephen Pincock

The chicks of a species of Australian cuckoo can adjust their call in order to fool other species into rearing them, despite never having heard the cry, researchers have found.

The Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo could have a range of call options genetically pre-programmed, researchers say

Like their European counterparts, Australian cuckoos are well known for laying their eggs in the nests of other birds.

Once the chicks hatch, they 'kick' out the host's eggs and set about convincing their foster parents to feed them by imitating the calls of the host's offspring.

But researchers from the Australian National University and the University of Cambridge, report in the latest issue of the journal Evolution, that one species of cuckoo can modify its call depending on which species it has hooked up with.

Chicks that hatch in a fairy-wren nest are known to copy that species' short 'cheep cheep'

chicks that hatch in the nests of thornbills imitate the thornbill's long, rasping whine

Study puts urine in the spotlight

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:17:21 GMT

clipped by: pokkets
clipper's remarks: A light that can show signs of urinary tract infections These infections are easily treated, but first must be detected. This light can be part of an instant or even home analysis kit without the need to wait 24hours (usually in a queue) and two visits to the doctor or hospital. Of course if they are expensive, they can become part of the 'Neighborhood Watch' program, but how much can it cost to switch on a light globe?
Every chemical has a unique signature. It is also hoped this technique can be used to detect other diseases , such as cancer, each of which have flags in the urine, due to the kidneys ability, and tendency to eliminate toxins from the system.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Dani Cooper

Australian researchers are developing a simple fluorescent light test that could provide an almost instantaneous diagnosis for urinary tract infections.

The Macquarie University researchers presented their preliminary findings at the recent 21st Congress of the International Commission for Optics held in Sydney.

Researcher Professor Ewa Goldys, of the university's Department of Physics, says the research could lead to a home diagnosis kit that uses simple technology now available.

And they say the fluorescence test may also help provide early detection for the other disorders and diseases including cancer.

UTIs are the cause of about 60 in 1000 patient consultations annually and are estimated to account for 30% to 40% of all hospital-acquired infections.

She says although urinary tract infections can be easily treated with antibiotics it is important to have a rapid and inexpensive form of diagnosis to stop any worsening of the condition.

Researchers close on chlamidia vaccine

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:22:10 GMT

clipped by: pokkets
clipper's remarks: For the Australian native koala. When combined with habitat destruction, chlamydial disease continues to be a major threat to koalas.
The disease is similar to the strain suffered by humans, and the research could help develop a vaccine in humans.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

A vaccine designed to protect koalas from the infectious disease chlamydia has shown positive results in an early trial, researchers say.

Professors Peter Timms and Ken Beagley from Queensland University of Technology's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation vaccinated 18 female koalas at Brisbane's Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary with the experimental vaccine.

"It seems to be going well," says Timms. "We are genuinely excited about the results we've seen so far."

Chlamydia infection is a major problem for Australia's koala population, causing a kind of conjunctivitis that can lead to blindness, and infections that render female animals sterile.

"As many as 25% to 50% of koalas coming into care in both Queensland and New South Wales are showing clinical signs of the disease and it seems to be getting worse," Timms says.

In the long-term, the results of the koala studies could also help in the development of an effective Chlamydia vaccine for humans, he added.

Australians set shining standard

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:47:02 GMT

clipped by: pokkets
clipper's remarks: They originally described the candela as the amount of light emitted by the average? candle. Since the definition has become more precise, but measurement is still improving. Here's the exact definition (for anyone that cares-don't ask me what a steradian is) from wikki:
Since the 16th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) in 1979, the candela has been defined as:
The luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540×1012 hertz and that has a radiant intensity in that direction of 1/683 watt per steradian.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Errol Atkinson and colleagues from the National Measurement Institute have refined the measurement of the candela, the basic unit of brightness, to eliminate all but 0.1% of uncertainty.

They set the standard by measuring the light from a mercury-xenon lamp shone through a set of filters, and finally through a small 5 millimetre aperture in a piece of metal.

"These light sources have a very consistent light output," says Atkinson. It was using them that allowed the institute to reduce the potential error in its standards to 0.1%.

The candela plays an important role in defining international lighting standards, and is used for a wide range of applications from household light bulbs, through to techniques to identify faults in the manufacture of jet engine components.

Atkinson says that because the amount of light coming out of a substance is also closely linked to its temperature, the advance could lead to a change in the way the SI standard for temperature is defined.