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☆ Cane toads: This warty, toxic pest threatens entire ecosystems. These scientists have a secret weapon
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

For the most part, the battle against cane toads has been mounted by local ecological warriors wearing rubber gloves who scan the streets for adult toads. But the Australians have a secret weapon not yet available worldwide – a lure that attracts cane toad tadpoles so thousands can be killed in one hit. To prove the theory, and try to mimic it, they’d first need a heap of dead cane toads. “In Florida, cane toads are mainly a socio-economic issue. Northern quolls – small carnivorous marsupials – get a cane toad sausage, goannas are fed tiny live toads and freshwater crocodiles receive cane toad legs with a dose of lithium chloride.

Persons: Australia CNN —, Gary King, “ Who’s, ”, King, Australia’s, Cane, Luke, Austin Rogers, “, “ There’s, we’re, Rob Capon, Rick Shine, Capon, ” Capon, they’d, it’s, you’ve, Jacob LaFond, Steve Johnson, that’s, ” LaFond, That’s, Nikki Tomsett, ” Tomsett, they’re, Sara McAllister, Connor, John Holmes, Hilary Whiteman, Connor Holmes, John, ” John, ” Connor Organizations: Australia CNN, University of Queensland, Macquarie University . Shine, Macquarie University, University of Tampa, University of Florida, Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, CNN Locations: Brisbane, Australia, South, Central America, Queensland, United States, Japan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Pacific, Caribbean, United Kingdom, koalas, North Queensland, Florida, Miami, “, South Florida, Australian, Hawaii, Derby, Western Australia, Northern

☆ Giant ape’s extinction solved by new fossil analysis
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Many of the caves containing Gigantopithecus fossils have been found in Guangxi's distinctive karst landscape. “The early caves at 2 million years old have hundreds of teeth, but the younger caves around the extinction period — there are only 3-4 … teeth,” Westaway said. Isotope analysis of elements such as carbon and oxygen contained in the Gigantopithecus teeth helped the researchers understand how the animal’s diet may have changed over time. Kira Westaway/Macquarie UniversityQuestions remainNo Gigantopithecus fossils from the neck down have ever been found and documented. A November 2019 analysis of proteins found in a Gigantopithecus fossil suggested its closest living relative is the Bornean orangutan.

Persons: King Kong ” —, G.H.R, von Koenigswald, Gigantopithecus, “, ”, Renaud Joannes, Boyau, Yingqi Zhang, Kira Westaway, We’ve, Westaway, Zhang, ” Westaway, Feng Cave, It’s, Wang Wei, Wang Organizations: CNN, colossus, Southern Cross University, Macquarie University, Shandong University’s Institute of Cultural Heritage Locations: Hong Kong, China, Australia, Guangxi, Vietnam, Asia, Shandong, Qingdao, Indonesia, what’s, Bose

☆ Astronomers detect mysterious 8 billion-year-old energetic burst
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A fast radio burst, or FRB, is a pulse of radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation. It lasts a small fraction of a second but outshines most other sources of radio waves in the universe. Radio waves have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. "The radio waves in FRBs are similar to those used in microwave ovens. Fast radio bursts were discovered in 2007.

Persons: Ryan Shannon, Stuart Ryder, Shannon, Will Dunham, Daniel Wallis Organizations: ESO, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Australian SKA Pathfinder, European Southern, Swinburne University of Technology, Macquarie University, Thomson Locations: Handout, Western Australia, European, Chile, Australia

☆ Mysterious fast radio burst traveled 8 billion years to reach Earth
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The fast radio burst is one of the most distant and energetic ever observed. Fast radio bursts, or FRBs, are intense, millisecond-long bursts of radio waves with unknown origins. Many FRBs release super bright radio waves lasting only a few milliseconds at most before disappearing, which makes fast radio bursts difficult to observe. “J-P showed that the (farther) away a fast radio burst is, the more diffuse gas it reveals between the galaxies. Astronomers said they hope that future radio telescopes, currently under construction in South Africa and Australia, will enable the detection of thousands more fast radio bursts at greater distances.

Persons: FRB 20220610A, ”, Dr, Stuart Ryder, Ryan Shannon, ” Shannon, “, Jean, Pierre Macquart, ” Ryder, you’re Organizations: CNN —, Macquarie University, Southern, Swinburne University of Technology, “ Locations: Western Australia, Australia, Chile, Australian, South Africa

☆ An FDA advisory group confirmed some popular decongestants are ineffective. Now what do we do?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

It is safe to use, but an independent advisory committee to the FDA agreed Tuesday that it is ineffective in pill form. But before then, there are things you can do at home to help relieve your symptoms, he said. Warm compresses, hot showers and hydrationNoses like to be hydrated and warm, Brodner said. But steam from a hot shower or a warm compress placed over your nose can also heat things up nicely. That runny nose will help drain mucus from your sinuses — and hopefully flush out whatever is irritating it, Brodner said.

Persons: ”, David C, “ You’ll, ” Phenylephrine, Brodner, guaifenesin, Richard J, Harvey, Shanna Miko, you’re, ” Brodner, Stephen Rennard, Larson, Rennard, “ Organizations: CNN, Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Macquarie University, Epidemic Intelligence, US Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center Locations: Boynton Beach , Florida, Omaha

☆ BMC Ecology and Evolution image competition 2023 reveals nature's more obscure side
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A photo of a bright orange fungus growing on deadwood, with its striking color resplendent against the darkness, has been crowned winner of this year’s BMC Ecology and Evolution image competition. The image competition showcases the “intersection between art and science,” organizers said, in all its weird and wonderful forms. An image depicting an embryonic dinosaur developing within an egg between 72 million and 66 million years ago won the Paleoecology category. It was submitted by Jordan Mallon from the Candian Museum of Nature and created by Wenyu Ren from Beijing, China. A selection of the winning and runner-up images can be viewed in the gallery above.

Persons: Cornelia Sattler, palaeontologists, Roberto García, João Araújo, Victor Huertas, Jordan Mallon, Wenyu Ren Organizations: CNN, BMC, Macquarie University, University of Lund, New, Botanical Garden, James Cook University, Australia, Coral, Candian Museum of Nature Locations: deadwood, Australia, Roa, Sweden, Guinea, Beijing, China

☆ ‘Boys Love’ genre finds new audiences in South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Jake Kwon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Not only was the TV series part of a genre — Boys’ Love, or BL for short — that was lesser-known in South Korea, it depicted something rarely seen on the country’s screens: same-sex romance. “Semantic Error,” which was based on a popular web novel of the same name, tells the story of two male college students who fall in love. And the risk paid off: “Semantic Error” became a hit upon its release in 2022. There are currently more than 20 BL shows being produced in South Korea. The on-screen adaptation of "Semantic Error" stars Park Seo-ham as Jang Jae-young and Jaechan as Chu Sang-woo.

Persons: Park Jae, chan, ” Jaechan, Jaechan, Chu Sang, “, ”, —, Kim Hyo, Jeong Areum, Kakao, Kim, Jennifer Konig, J, Kim Hye, ” Kim, Jang Jae, Thomas Baudinette, Jeong, South Korea’s, Go Tae, Holland, ” Holland, “ That’s Organizations: CNN, Elle, Cosmopolitan, BL, Seoul National University . Local, Sydney’s Macquarie University, South Locations: South Korean, South Korea, Japan, Seoul, Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Korean

☆ Factbox: Potential candidates as next chief of Australia's central bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, July 5 (Reuters) - The Australian government will announce this month whether it would reappoint Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Philip Lowe or replace him. * Michele Bullock, 60, became the first female Deputy Governor of the RBA when she was appointed in the role in April 2022. She studied economics at the University of New England and a masters from the London School of Economics. He studied economics at Sydney University, and completed a PhD in health economics at the Australian National University. He has PhD degrees in physiology from Cambridge University and in economics from the Australian National University.

Persons: Philip Lowe, Michele Bullock, Bullock, RBA, Steven Kennedy, Kennedy, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Jenny Wilkinson, David Gruen, Wilkinson, Gruen, Martin Parkinson, Guy Debelle, Fortescue, Australia's, Debelle, Andrew, Carolyn Wilkins, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: SYDNEY, Australian, Reserve Bank of Australia, University of New, London School of Economics, Treasury, Labor, Sydney University, Australian National University, government's Department of Finance, Parliamentary, ANU, Princeton, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cambridge University, Macquarie University, Department of Prime, Adelaide University, Fortescue Future Industries, University of Adelaide, MIT, Bank of Canada, Thomson Locations: University of New England

☆ Early humans left Africa earlier than previously thought, fossil discovery reveals
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

DNA analysis of present-day human populations has supported the hypothesis that early modern humans left Africa around 50,000 to 60,000 years ago, and archaeologists have thought our early ancestors likely followed coastlines and islands through southeast Asia toward Australia. However, a growing number of older human remains discovered in China and the Levant show that this chapter in the human story is more complicated than first thought. The cave was occupied by early humans for about 50,000 years, archaeologists believe. At a nearby site, known as Cobra Cave, a tooth believed to belong to a Denisovan, an elusive early human, has been found. The team expects to unearth more human fossils from the region.

Persons: sapiens, ”, Kira Westaway, ” Westaway, Westaway, Tam Pa Ling, Tam Pà Ling Organizations: CNN, Macquarie University, UNESCO, Heritage, Nature Communications Locations: Africa, Laos, Australia, Asia, China, Tam Pa, Sumatra, Philippines, Borneo, Indonesia

☆ Fact Check-False claims about the sun and clouds at night shared online
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Contrary to online claims, the earth is 93 million miles from the sun, is not flat and there is plenty of night-time footage of the planet taken from space, experts told Reuters. It also says the earth is flat and questions why clouds can’t be seen in nighttime images of the earth taken from space. Orsola de Marco, an astrophysicist at Macquarie University in Sydney, told Reuters that visibility of clouds at night could also depend on camera angle and the light source. Rather than a spacecraft looking directly through a cloud, shooting from an angle makes clouds more visible because more light can be reflected off the clouds, she said. Photos shared by the European Space Station at night showing clouds can be seen (here), (here), and (here).

☆ Myanmar releasing 4 foreign prisoners in amnesty, including American
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Britain’s embassy in Yangon said Bowman, a former British ambassador to Myanmar, had not yet been released from prison. “Sean’s heart was with the people of Myanmar to help lift them out of poverty and help Myanmar reach its economic potential. Bowman, 56, was arrested with her husband, a Myanmar national, in Yangon in August. Kyaw Htay Oo, a naturalized American, returned to Myanmar, the country of his birth, in 2017, according to media reports. Myanmar did not release many details of the other prisoners who were being freed, but almost all would have been held on charges related to the protests.

☆ Medibank data breach: Australia blames cyber criminals in Russia for attack
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Medibank says the stolen data belongs to 9.7 million past and present customers, including 1.8 million international customers. Kershaw said police intelligence points to a “group of loosely affiliated cyber criminals” who are likely responsible for previous significant data breaches around the world, without naming specific examples. “These cyber criminals are operating like a business with affiliates and associates who are supporting the business. An initial ransom demand was made for $10 million (15 million Australian dollars), but the company said after extensive consultation with cybercrime experts it had decided not to pay. In his statement on Friday, Kershaw, the AFP Commissioner, said Australian government policy did not condone paying ransoms to cyber criminals.

"Given the economic and social strain caused by sticking to an increasingly unpopular COVID zero policy, Xi's speech might sound defensive to many Chinese citizens, insisting that the Party has their best interests in mind. ALFRED WU, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, LEE KUAN YEW SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE"It is obvious that security is Xi's greatest concern. ZHIWU CHEN, PROFESSOR OF FINANCE, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG"One significant change is to de-emphasise economic development and economic reform. BATES GILL, PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF SECURITY STUDIES AND CRIMINOLOGY, MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY, SYDNEY"This speech said 'continuity' and full speed ahead. "But this was not intended as a policy speech.

☆ Myanmar court jails Suu Kyi, Australian economist for 3 years - source
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sept 29 (Reuters) - A court in military-ruled Myanmar on Thursday sentenced deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her former economic adviser, Australian Sean Turnell, to three years in prison, a source familiar with the proceedings said. Both had been charged with violating an official secrets act, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years, and had pleaded not guilty. "Three years each, no hard labour," said the source, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue. Nobel laureate Suu Kyi has already been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison in separate cases, mostly related to corruption charges. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has previously said Canberra rejected a court decision to put Turnell on trial.

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