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Mining companies in the West are facing two overarching challenges in trying to produce enough metals to enable the energy transition, and at the same time build alternative supply chains to lessen their dependence on China. There is little doubt that Australia is a country well-placed to play a major role in supplying many of the metals vital to the energy transition. The previous models for developing mines appear no longer effective, and even if some projects do progress, they are nowhere near enough to provide enough material for the energy transition. Michael Willoughby, global head of metals, mining and transition materials at HSBC, told a forum at IMARC that there is capital available for mining, but it's located in developing countries such as China, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. What's not being talked about is how all the new mines, mineral processing and renewable energy equipment is going to be funded.

Persons: Washington Alves, Michael Willoughby, Willoughby, Miral Organizations: Sigma Lithium Corp, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters . Mining, Mining, Resources Conference, HSBC, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil, China, Sydney, Asia, Australia, CHINA, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, New South Wales, U.S

JOURNEY STARTSIron-flow batteries were developed decades ago but have yet to be deployed as a grid-scale energy storage solution. ESI Managing Director Stuart Parry believes iron-flow batteries are an idea whose "time has come." Parry doesn't see iron-flow batteries replacing lithium-ion units, rather they are complementary with lithium batteries able to arbitrage power prices by acting rapidly, while iron-flow units are more likely to act as baseload firming for the grid when renewables tail off. Parry also says iron-flow batteries work out about a third cheaper than lithium ion units when looking at the cost on a MWh basis. On the surface, iron-flow batteries seem like a solid solution to how to run an electricity grid dominated by variable renewables.

Persons: Stuart Parry, Parry, Lincoln Organizations: Stanwell Corp, Energy Storage Industries Asia, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Greenough, Walkaway, Perth, Australia, LAUNCESTON, Queensland, Rockhampton

The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its World Energy Outlook 2023 report released on Tuesday that China is reaching an inflection point and its total energy demand is likely to peak around the middle of this decade. But the sheer scale of China's energy demand means that even though it's making vast strides to deploy renewables and electrify its vehicle fleet, it will still be consuming vast quantities of fossil fuels for decades to come. "In our scenarios, China's GDP growth averages just under 4% per year to 2030," the IEA said. "This results in its total energy demand peaking around the middle of this decade, with robust expansion of clean energy putting overall fossil fuel demand and emissions into decline." This means that from a climate change perspective, encouraging and supporting China's energy transition is probably the most meaningful goal that can be achieved.

Persons: it's, It's, Sam Holmes Organizations: International Energy Agency, Energy, IEA, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Europe

☆ Ancient landscape formed by rivers revealed deep under Antarctic ice
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Researchers said on Tuesday they have detected buried under the continent's ice sheet a vast ancient landscape, replete with valleys and ridges, apparently shaped by rivers before being engulfed by glaciation long ago. Ancient palm tree pollen has been discovered from Antarctica, not far around the coast from our study site," Jamieson added. Some previous studies similarly have revealed ancient landscapes beneath Antarctica's ice including mountains and highlands, though the landscape discovered in the new study was the first of its type. Right before 34 million years ago, Antarctica's landscape and flora likely resembled today's cold temperate rainforests of Tasmania, New Zealand and South America's Patagonia region, Ross added. When that ice growth occurred, the conditions between the base of the ice and the landscape changed to become very cold - and in this way it was no longer able to erode our landscape.

Persons: Stewart Jamieson, Antarctica's, Jamieson, Neil Ross, Ross, Will Dunham, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Durham University, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Antarctica, Nature Communications, Newcastle University, Thomson Locations: Belgium, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica, Antarctica, East Antarctica's Wilkes Land, ., Maryland, England, Patagonia, Greenland, Tasmania , New Zealand, South, Africa, South America, Australia

Refiners also called on stockpiles in July, though, when refinery processing exceeded the total volume of available crude by 510,000 bpd. The inventory draws in September and July came as China's refiners boosted throughput to meet rising domestic demand and higher fuel exports. As well, a strong rally in global oil prices has lowered the incentive to keep crude imports at elevated levels. China total available crude vs refinery throughputIMPORTS DROPPING? China's crude imports were 11.13 million bpd in September, down 10.5% from August's 12.4 million bpd, according to customs data.

Persons: Refiners, China's, China doesn't, It's, LSEG, Tom Hogue Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, Benchmark Brent, United, United Arab Emirates, Diesel, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, It's, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, Asia

The decline has been driven by weakness in producing fuels such as gasoline and naphtha, even as the margin on middle distillates has performed strongly. The trend for refining in Asia is increasingly characterised by strong margins for middle distillates, which are enough to offset weakness in gasoline and even losses for naphtha. Asia's total exports were 7.4 million metric tons in September, equivalent to about 1.85 million bpd, according to data from LSEG. Data from commodity analysts Kpler is also far from convincing, with just 660,000 metric tons of diesel shipments from China so far in October. Effectively, Asia's refiners are happy to suffer weak margins on fuels such as gasoline and naphtha because the profits on middle distillates are so high.

Persons: it's, refiners, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, China, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Kolkata, India, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, Asia, Singapore, Dubai, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, China, Beijing

The exception among major commodities was copper, where imports of the unwrought metal were up in September from August, but down from the year earlier month. Copper imports were 480,426 metric tons in September, up from August's 473,330, but down 5.8% from 509,954 in September last year. For the first nine months of 2023, unwrought copper imports were down 9.5% to 3.99 million metric tons. Crude oil imports were 11.13 million barrels per day (bpd) in September, down from August's 12.4 million bpd, although it's worth noting that August was third strongest month on record. IRON ORE, COALIron ore imports dropped to 101.18 million metric tons in October, down 4.9% from August's 106.42 million, but it's worth noting that August was the strongest month since October 2020.

Persons: Aly, China's, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Port, Shanghai, China, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, August's

☆ Australia rejects Indigenous referendum in setback for reconciliation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Australia on Saturday decisively rejected a proposal to recognise Indigenous people in the constitution, in a major setback to the country's efforts for reconciliation with its First Peoples. Nationwide, with 45% of the vote counted, the "No" vote led "Yes" by 57.35% to 42.65%. A successful referendum requires at least four of the six states to vote in favor, along with a national majority. Because of Australia's time zones, voting in Western Australia was still under way as it became clear the referendum was lost. Supporters of the proposal believe entrenching an Indigenous Voice into the constitution would unite Australia and usher in a new era with its Indigenous people.

Persons: Dean Parkin, South Australia —, I'm, Thomas Mayo Organizations: Wests Ashfield Leagues Club, Saturday, First Peoples . Nationwide, ABC, Aboriginal Locations: Sydney, Australia, Australian, South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Torres

Tiny but bountiful, Antarctic krill make up one of the planet’s largest biomasses, nourishing everything from fish to marine mammals and seabirds. At Steinberg’s lab, researchers are examining how warming oceans — Antarctic krill need water colder than 4 degrees Celsius (39 Fahrenheit) to survive — are altering krill’s life cycle. However, a leading marine biologist the industry once relied on to burnish its environmental credentials has since denounced krill fishing. She accepted with the hope that she could help mitigate the effects of krill fishing on the Antarctic ecosystem. Today, she believes that krill fishing should be banned.

Persons: “ What’s, ”, Alistair Allan, Bob, it’s, Santa Cruz, Deborah Steinberg’s, ” Steinberg, Emma Cavan, Steinberg, Claire Christian, “ It’s, aren’t, Dirk Welsford, Matts Johansen, ” Johansen, Kjell Inge Røkke, Brett Glencross, “, Jesse Trushenski, Trushenski, Johansen, William Harris, he’s, Javier Arata, Helena Herr, CCAMLR, Ari Friedlaender, ” Friedlaender, Peter Hammarstedt, JoNel, Helen Wieffering, Fu Ting Organizations: Bob Brown Foundation, Soviet Union, Associated Press, Shepherd, Walton Family Foundation, AP, University of California, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, World Wildlife Fund, Imperial College London, Commission, Conservation, Antarctic Marine Living Resources, Antarctic, Southern Ocean Coalition, U.S, United Nations, Antarctic Provider, Aker BioMarine, Aker, Aker ASA, National Institutes of Health, University of South, Association, Pew, University of Hamburg, Foods, Amazon, Wildlife Fund, LCA, Sea Shepherd, Washington , D.C Locations: Antarctica, Chilean, Alaska, U.S, Soviet, Russia, China, South America, Orkney, Norwegian, Santa, Cavan, Tasmania, It’s, Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Texas, Australian, Montevideo, Uruguay, dwarfing, Norway, American, Europe, Canada, Australia, Houston, Aker, Oslo, Brussels, Boise , Idaho, University of South Dakota, Salt Lake City , Utah, Santa Cruz, Virginia, Peruvian, Ski, Los Angeles, Washington ,, Investigative@ap.org

A stacker unloads iron ore onto a pile at a mine located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia December 2, 2013. China iron ore imports vs SGX priceIMPORTS SLIPThere are also signs that China's iron ore imports may soften in October, although that is most likely related to the week-long holidays at the start of the month. The last official reading on iron ore imports was August's customs figure of 106.42 million metric tons, which was the highest monthly total since October 2020. A further possible concern for iron ore imports is what policy China will adopt regarding steel production for the coming winter period. One possible bullish factor for iron ore is the continuing retreat of China's port inventories, which suggests scope to import more to boost stockpiles.

Persons: David Gray, doesn't, SteelHome, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, China, HK, Garden, JPMorgan, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Pilbara, Western Australia, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, Beijing, Singapore, China's, China

The usual seasonal pattern for the spot price is a rally heading into the northern winter and summer peak demand periods, followed by a lull in the shoulder seasons in between. This figure already exceeds the 20.22 million metric tons from October last year and is likely to be revised upwards as more cargoes are assessed. Demand in top importer Japan is still following the usual seasonal pattern, which generally sees soft arrivals in October followed by strength as the colder weather arrives. India's imports have been trending higher, with September arrivals of 2.15 million metric tons the most since October 2021. Europe's LNG imports are also showing signs of life, with Kpler estimating October arrivals at 8.58 million metric tons, up from 7.4 million in September.

Persons: Snow, Gary Cameron, Wheatstone, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Japan, LNG, El, Chevron, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Lusby , Maryland, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, Asia, Ukraine, China, Japan, South Korea, Europe, EUROPE, El Nino, Western Australia, Israel, Persian, Qatar, United States

Smoke rises in the aftermath of rocket barrages that were launched from Gaza, in Ashkelon, Israel October 7, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLAUNCESTON, Australia, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Crude oil prices spiked higher in the wake of a massive Hamas attack on Israel, but the relatively modest increase masks the risk of an escalating Middle East conflict. These reactions from two key leaders in the Middle East underscore just how the Hamas attacks are likely to upend relationships in the Middle East. Overall, what the attacks by Hamas have likely achieved, for now at least, is place a pause on moves to normalise political relationships across the Middle East. There is no certainty as to how the current situation will play out, but uncertainty and heightened risks are likely bullish for crude oil prices.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Brent, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ebrahim Raisi, Joe Biden, Biden, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Brent, Hamas, Gaza, United Arab Emirates, U.S, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Ashkelon, Israel, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, Israeli, Iran, Saudi Arabia, IRAN, Tehran, East, U.S, Saudi, Russia

The trick for the Saudis and the Russians is whether the global economy can withstand an oil price closer to $100 a barrel than the $70 level that prevailed in the middle of 2023. Asia's crude oil imports dropped to 25.05 million bpd in September, the weakest outcome this year and down from 25.22 million bpd in August and 27.92 million bpd in July, according to data compiled by LSEG. China's retail gasoline price has risen from 8.06 yuan ($1.15) a litre at the end of June to 9.04 yuan currently, an increase of 12%. The outlier is India, where retail prices have been kept steady despite being market-linked, at least in theory. The retail price of gasoline in the capital New Delhi is currently 96.76 rupees ($1.16) a litre, a level that has persisted since April last year.

Persons: It's, JP Morgan, LSEG, Sonali Paul Organizations: Brent, U.S . Energy, Administration, JP, Retail, Australian Institute of Petroleum, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, OPEC, United States, ASIA, Asia, China, India, New Delhi

SYDNEY, Oct 3 (Reuters) - A bushfire in Australia's Victoria state more than trebled overnight and authorities urged residents in a remote part of Tasmania state to evacuate as a spring heatwave fanned fires across the country's southeast. Across the Bass Strait in Tasmania state, residents on the northern edge of Flinders Island were told to evacuate from an out of control bushfire. Fires are being stoked by hot, dry winds across southeast as the country experiences an unseasonably hot spring. Australia began spring with its driest September on record, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with rainfall 71% below the 1961-1990 average. Conditions are expected to change rapidly in Victoria Tuesday afternoon, with heavy rains expected to help douse fires but potentially trigger flash flooding.

Persons: Jason Heffernan, Heffernan, they're, Lewis Jackson, Richard Chang Organizations: SYDNEY, Country Fire Authority, Meteorology, Greater, Thomson Locations: Australia's Victoria, Tasmania, Victoria state's Gippsland, Bass, Flinders, Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Greater Sydney Region, Sydney's

The world's top importing region saw arrivals of 24.95 million barrels per day (bpd) in September, down from August's 25.22 million bpd, according to data complied by LSEG. September's imports were also almost 3 million bpd weaker than the 27.92 million bpd seen in July, which was the highest monthly total so far in 2023. China imported 11.53 million bpd in September, down from August's 12.49 million bpd, according to LSEG data. Russia was China's top supplier in September, providing 1.81 million bpd, eclipsing the 1.44 million bpd from Saudi Arabia. The main question for Asia's oil demand in the fourth quarter is just how hard the recent price rally will bite demand.

Persons: Vietnam's, China doesn't, Asia's, Jamie Freed Organizations: LSEG, Imports, Reliance Industries, SK Energy's Ulsan, Taiwan's CPC, Brent, U.S, world's, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, August's, Jamnagar, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Asia, CHINA, China, Russia, Iran

☆ Bushfires in Parts of Southeast Australia Amid Spring Heatwave
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Lewis JacksonSYDNEY (Reuters) - A bushfire in Australia's Victoria state more than trebled overnight and authorities urged residents in a remote part of Tasmania state to evacuate as a spring heatwave fanned fires across the country's southeast. "It is quite a large fire spread across a large area. Across the Bass Strait in Tasmania state, residents on the northern edge of Flinders Island were told to evacuate from an out of control bushfire. Fires are being stoked by hot, dry winds across southeast as the country experiences an unseasonably hot spring. Australia began spring with its driest September on record, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with rainfall 71% below the 1961-1990 average.

Persons: Lewis Jackson SYDNEY, Jason Heffernan, Heffernan, they're, Lewis Jackson, Richard Chang Organizations: Country Fire Authority, Meteorology, Greater Locations: Australia's Victoria, Tasmania, Victoria state's Gippsland, Bass, Flinders, Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Greater Sydney Region, Sydney's

The latest Guardian Essential poll shows the yes vote rose two points to 43% over the past fortnight, while the no vote slipped two points to 49%. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday that people tended to support the referendum once they understood the details of the proposal. Unlike New Zealand or Canada, Australia has no treaty with its Indigenous people, who make up about 3.2% of its population of 26 million. Indigenous groups were marginalized by British colonial rulers and are not mentioned in Australia's 122-year-old constitution. The referendum debate has divided opinion, with supporters arguing the Voice will bring progress for the Aboriginal community, while opponents say it would be divisive.

Persons: Rita Wright, Loren Elliott, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, They're, Lewis Jackson, Tom Hogue Organizations: Australian, REUTERS, Rights, Guardian, Triple M Hobart, Nations, New, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Canada

☆ Opinion: Seaweed is nutritious, not slimy. Eating it could save the world.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Opinion Vincent Doumeizel | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

It can be a nutritious food, an alternative to plastic, restore our oceans and could even help tackle climate change. UliU/iStockphoto/Getty Images Seaweed has become popular in Western baking in recent years. James MacDonald/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesBut just as we are recognizing its untapped potential, seaweed is becoming increasingly vulnerable. California, Norway and Tasmania have all lost more than 80% of their kelp in recent years, the result of climate change, pollution and overfishing. If we learn to sustainably cultivate our ocean, we can contribute to feeding the entire global population while mitigating climate change and restoring biodiversity.

Persons: Vincent Doumeizel, Derek Davis, Dixie, Prannie Rhatigan, Rhatigan, Kate Waters, Natasha Breen, Jun Lee, Jonas Gratzer, James MacDonald Organizations: United Nations, Food, Lloyd’s Register, CNN, Southside Bakery, Portland Press Herald, Washington Post, University of Queensland, Bloomberg, Legend Press Locations: Portland, US, Washington , DC, Asia, Seoul, South Korea, Australia, Jakarta, British Columbia, Canada, California, Norway, Tasmania

☆ Why all signs point to an Australian summer of heat and fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

On top of El Niño, there’s another climate fluctuation in the mix that amps up the likelihood of heat and drought. A fire rages in Bobin, 350 km north of Sydney, on November 9, 2019, during Australia's catastrophic Black Summer fire season. A combination of extreme heat and wind would likely fuel very intense fires “that will seem to come from nowhere,” he added. Whether summer heat will be unprecedented remains uncertain. “Increasing extreme heat is the clearest example,”he said, but it’s worsening the impacts of drought and extreme rain too.

Persons: CNN — It’s, El, ”, David Bowman, Steve Christo, ” Bowman, Karl Braganza, “, –, Peter Parks, Robb Webb, rainier, ” Braganza, Andrea Taschetto, Jason Evans Organizations: CNN, Sydney Marathon, University of Tasmania, Sydney, Getty, Australia’s, Meteorology, El, National Council, University of New Locations: Australia, New South Wales, AFP, Bobin, Sydney, Sydney’s, University of New South Wales

☆ A 7-year journey to deliver an asteroid sample to Earth will soon end in Utah
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The cargo van-size spacecraft arrived in orbit around the asteroid Bennu in December 2018, providing detailed views of the spinning top-shaped space rock. Other worldsA training model of the OSIRIS-REx mission's sample return capsule was released from an aircraft in August, simulating the upcoming recovery operations. Keegan Barber/NASAThe OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will fly by Earth this weekend and drop off its precious sample from Bennu. Watch as the sample capsule is set to plunge through Earth’s atmosphere and land in the Utah desert, with NASA’s live coverage beginning at 10 a.m. As the capsule parachutes down, OSIRIS-REx will keep going, embarking on a new adventure to explore the asteroid Apophis.

Persons: CNN —, REx, NASA’s, Keegan Barber, ”, Deutsches, Monopoly, you’re, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, Rice University in Texas, Mechanical, Zimbabwe, Bochum, Iron, Swedish Museum of, Publishing, Andromeda Galaxy, CNN Space, Science Locations: Utah, Dürrnberg, Austria, Austrian, Zambia, Tasmania, Stockholm, Western Australia

☆ Strong winds fan bushfires as Australia battles spring heatwave
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Strong winds and a rare, intense heatwave in early spring fanned dozens of bushfires across Australia's southeast, prompting extreme fire danger warnings on Wednesday for the greater Sydney region, home to more than 5 million people. Parts of Australia are sweltering in an unusual five-day burst of spring heat, forecast to last until Wednesday, pushing temperatures well above the September average. After three years of heavy rains and frequent flooding, Australia is bracing for a warm and dry southern hemisphere spring and summer in 2023. On Tuesday, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology declared an El Nino weather pattern, typically associated with wildfires and droughts, was underway. Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Renju Jose, Sonali Paul Organizations: NSW Rural Fire Services, Greater, Sydney, Meteorology, El, Fire, Thomson Locations: Australia's, Sydney, New South Wales, NSW, Greater Sydney Region, Australia, Tasmania, El Nino, Sydney's, Turkey

☆ Australia braces for severe bushfires as Sydney swelters under record September heat
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The threat of intense bushfires looms over New South Wales as record spring temperatures and high winds fan the flames of more than 60 blazes already burning in Australia’s most populous state, authorities have warned. Several cities along the east coast saw record spring temperatures Tuesday, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meterology (BOM). Sydney, the NSW capital, was expected to record its hottest September day ever Wednesday, with BOM forecasting a high of 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). “The climate influences driving increased risk of bushfire this season are widespread,” said AFAC CEO Rob Webb. On Tuesday, BOM declared an El Niño weather event was underway, which typically results in a warmer, drier spring and summer and an increased risk for bushfires.

Persons: Miriam Bradbury, “, we’ve, ”, Rob Rogers, Rob Webb, climatologist Zhi, Weng Chua, BOM, Karl Braganza Organizations: CNN, Bureau, NSW, Fire Service, Facebook, ABC, Australasian Fire Authorities Council, ”, 9News Locations: New South Wales, Australia’s, Sydney, NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, Australia, Tennant, Northern Territory, New Zealand, ” Australia, El, BOM

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Sept 19 (Reuters) - China is building two-thirds of the coal-fired electricity generation capacity currently under construction globally, and this may not be as disastrous for the climate as it sounds. The world's largest producer and importer of coal has 136.24 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired generation under construction, according to data released in July by the Global Energy Monitor. China's under-construction coal generation is about 12% of its existing capacity, and adding more coal-fired power would seem incompatible with the stated goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2060. It makes sense from an economic and geopolitical perspective to power China's vehicle fleet using domestic electricity rather than imported crude oil. While it would obviously be better for the environment for China to stop building coal-fired power plants and instead accelerate the deployment of renewables, there is some logic to the current policy.

Persons: it's, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Global Energy Monitor, China Passenger Car Association, Reuters Graphics, ICE, U.S . Department of Energy's, U.S . Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, U.S . Department of Energy's Argonne

☆ Scientists recover RNA from an extinct species for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Geneticists have for the first time isolated and decoded RNA molecules from a creature that died out long ago. “This will add significant depth to our understanding of the biology of extinct animals and help us to build much better extinct genomes,” he added. Mármol Sánchez said this study is a proof of concept, and his colleagues now hopes to recover RNA from animals that died out much longer ago, such as the woolly mammoth. Recipe bookThe research team was able to sequence RNA of the skin and skeletal muscle tissues from the specimen and identify thylacine-specific genes. Understanding RNA allows scientists to put together a more complete picture of an animal’s biology, Mármol Sánchez said.

Persons: ”, Emilio Mármol Sánchez, Benjamin, Mármol Sánchez, Andrew Pask, “, Pask, that’s Organizations: CNN, Swedish Museum of, Stockholm —, Genome Research, Palaeogenetics, Beaumaris, University of Melbourne Locations: Stockholm, SciLifeLab, Sweden, Tasmania, Hobart , Tasmania, Australia

☆ In a first, RNA is recovered from extinct Tasmanian tiger
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But this study marked the first time that RNA - much less stable than DNA - has been recovered from an extinct species. While not the focus of this research, the ability to extract, sequence and analyze old RNA could boost efforts by other scientists toward recreating extinct species. The Tasmanian tiger resembled a wolf, aside from the tiger-like stripes on its back. The last-known Tasmanian tiger succumbed in a Tasmanian zoo in 1936. Private "de-extinction" initiatives have been launched aimed at resurrecting certain extinct species such as the Tasmanian tiger, dodo or woolly mammoth.

Persons: Emilio Marmol Sanchez, Handout, bioinformatician Emilio Mármol Sánchez, Marc Friedländer, Love, Mármol, Will Dunham, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Swedish Museum of, REUTERS Acquire, Tasmanian, Palaeogenetics, Genome Research, Stockholm University, SciLifeLab, Thomson Locations: Stockholm, SciLifeLab, Sweden, Australia, Tasmania, Tasmanian, Washington

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