A thought to be extinct species of fish and a giant squid has been discovered in Western Australian waters, thanks to a modern-day DNA sequencing tool that filters genetic materials in marine systems. In the past two months, Curtin University and indigenous researchers have used the technique, called environmental DNA testing, to detect a thought-to-be-extinct […]

Winter is set to arrive in full force across western Australia this week, with strong showers and high winds forecast to lash Perth during the coming days. Off the back off of some pleasant weather on Tuesday, the rain is forecast to be in full effect by as soon as Wednesday evening, with an expected […]

Recreational fishers are turning to the long-held WA tradition of salmon-run fishing as a short-term sustainable fix to combat the state’s controversial fishing bans. Late last year, the State Government introduced sweeping fishing reforms that ban the taking of demersal species – such as pink snapper and dhufish that live and feed near the bottom […]

West Australian can expect a hotter and drier winter this year with climate experts warning of a “super” El Niño developing in the Pacific Ocean.  Bureau of Meteorology senior hydrologist Dr Paul Feikema said the state faces risks of water shortages and extreme heat, which could  increase fire danger in parts. Dr Feikema said recent […]

Critically endangered hammerhead shark populations throughout the Point Peron region continue to decline despite conservation efforts since 2019. For the past seven years, University of Western Australia scientists have used drones and underwater cameras to monitor the scalloped hammerhead population. UWA ecologist Dr Naima Andrea-Lopez said monitoring of the shark aggregations and behaviors has revealed […]

Farmers can “cane toad-proof” their lands and help stop the invasive species from marching into the Pilbara,  Curtin University researchers say.  Curtin University molecular scientist Judy Dunlops says making small changes to cattle water points can halt the spread of the large, poisonous toads without affecting farm work. Humans first brought cane toads to Australia […]

Feral carp continue to wreak havoc throughout Perth wetlands, as scientists pin their hopes on an introduced herpes virus to kill the invasive species. The highly contagious water-borne virus was first meant to be introduced into the Murray-Darling Basin in 2022, under the federal $15m National Carp Control Plan – but that has been delayed […]

A new safe plastic that is biodegradable in soil, land and water is being developed by Murdoch University in the fight to curb microplastic pollution. MU Bioplastics Innovation Hub scientist and lead Joseph Boctor said his team is “reprogramming and re-teaching” bacteria to replace synthetic plastics. “We are getting certain bacteria to produce certain types […]

A feral honeybee invasion is threatening the survival of native Australian species, experts warn. A Curtin University study completed by native bee ecologist Kit Prendergast has revealed that European honeybees, once thought to have limited impacts on the Australian environment, reduce food supply and impact offspring. “In and around Perth, we have a really high […]

Western Australians can hold off reaching for the winter coat, with unseasonally dry and warmer temperatures forecast until the end of May.   The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says the nation can expect “above average” daytime temperatures during the coming months following “serious rainfall deficiencies” since January. “There is an increased chance of below average […]

Things that glow in the dark may usually be associated with Halloween, but now scientists are uncovering the chemical make-up of Australian mammal fur to work out what makes it light up under ultraviolet light. While researchers have long-known that feathers, shells and even human hair are luminescent, the exact chemistry behind the glow was […]

At first glance, the plants look like any other supermarket fodder, but these fruit and vegetables have a hidden secret – they’re space food. Now, Perth will be given a chance to view the fruit and vegetables that have been genetically modified to survive beyond Earth and feed astronauts. Researchers say, this is the future […]

Months after a neurological condition began felling magpies at record numbers across WA, scientists are are yet to uncover what’s causing paralysis in the birds, as government officials pass the buck.  WA rescue centres across Perth begun reporting up to a five-fold increase in the number of magpies, ravens, mudlarks and karawans being admitted with […]

A giant goose skull from Australia’s megafauna past has been uncovered in South Australia by a group of Flinders University researchers. The fossilised foul, Genyornis newtoni, roamed Australia’s outback around 45,000 years ago and was believed to be the same height as a full-grown male giraffe, while weighing the same as a baby grand piano.  […]

Researchers are advancing organoid research by using machine learning to develop personalised treatments for liver cancer, sparking ethical questions among experts. Lead organoid researcher Dr Benjamin Dwyer and his team at Edith Cowan University (ECU) are creating “mini organs in a dish” from patient stem cells to mimic the structure and function of tissues. “Their […]

A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool to detect and classify brain tumours has been developed by Australian National University researchers. The tool, DEPLOY, analyses tissue to look for chemical changes in DNA and allowing doctors to quickly and more accurately diagnose tumours. ANU biomedical data scientist Dr Danh-Tai Hoang says the process uses a three-pong […]

One man’s trash could be the aviation industry’s treasure with researchers turning methane gas into jet fuel. While landfill emissions are already captured for electricity generators, The University of Sydney researchers are turning the methane into “efuels”, such as diesel and jet. Landfills globally major emitters of greenhouse gases, particularly CO2 and methane. UoS chemical […]

It may not be the Ritz Carlton, but a new fish hotel installed just outside of Narrogin is hoping to provide respite for the inhabitants of the Harvey River. For the first time in WA, scientists have installed the wooden structures that will hopefully become a breeding ground for endangered freshwater species. The nine “hotels” are constructed […]

The role of religion, a fear of dying and nightmares is being investigated by scientists hoping to improve sleep therapies. The first-of-its-kind study to be carried out at UWA was launched earlier this month, and it tackles the relationship between dreams and if people of religious faith are less likely to have dreams about death. […]

Extreme heat and dry weather are forecast to fuel more bushfires in summer, with El Niño expected to hit Australia by the end of the year.   The Bureau of Meteorology has declared a 70 per cent chance of the weather phenomenon, which reduces rainfall, increases daytime temperatures and bushfire danger.  CSIRO senior research scientist Dr Nandini Ramesh said […]

The secret world of pollinating insects is being revealed by scientists using new DNA technology that can pinpoint which species are interacting with flowers. Curtin University research has revealed analysing the “environmental DNA” of avocado flowers can more effectively identify which insect species interacted with plants compared to traditional methods, such as camera recordings and […]

Bacteria transfer during sex could be the new secret weapon to uncovering perpetrators of sexual assault. The so-called “sexome” bacteria, coined by Murdoch University forensic scientists Brendan Chapman and Ruby Dixon, will be a game-changer for sexual assault investigations. The researchers say while everyone has the same “sexome” bacteria, an individual’s bacterial genetic code is […]

By Maryam El-Malak The survival of dozens of Australian reptile species, including turtles, crocodiles and lizards are threatened with extinction, a global team of scientists have revealed. A 20-year study, involving hundreds of researchers, including a team from the University of Western Australia, have found that 1 in 5 reptiles in Australia could become extinct […]