Author: Amalyah Hart
Tracing human origins by foot
Six-million-year-old Cretan footprints challenge beliefs about human evolution
Declining rainfall threatens vulnerable stream species in WA’s south-west
Species dying out as waterways trickle to a stop in the jarrah forests.
Undiagnosed endometriosis compromises fertility treatment
There’s more evidence – if any were needed – to underline the importance of correct diagnosis for endometriosis.
Human evolution: a last archaic hominin stronghold in India
New research reveals some of the last practitioners of an archaic human culture.
Nuclear power in Australia: is it a good idea?
The AUKUS submarine deal has re-ignited debate around nuclear power. What are the pros and cons?
Decoding the secrets of a forgotten human history during the Pleistocene
Dogged archaeologists continue to make discoveries that extend knowledge of early human history in this part of the world.
A new window into the peopling of Polynesia
Population genetics and machine learning draw timelines on Pacific Island migrations.
Can human bodies really be cryogenically frozen?
With Australia’s first cryogenics facility set to open this year, will human cryopreservation ever be a reality?
Native logging to end in Western Australia
The state will phase out native forest logging by 2024 – so is this decision backed by science?
Interview with ABC Tropical North: satellites
An interview with Meecham Philpott of ABC Tropical North about Space-X, satellites and the legality of putting things into orbit.
The fight for the Martuwarra
Competing interests are vying for the resources of WA’s magnificent Martuwarra (Fitzroy) River system, while Traditional Owners sound the alarm.
Fossil found in Brazilian police raid is best preserved of its kind
Illegal trade bust reveals a remarkable specimen of a ground-dwelling pterosaur.
First ancient human DNA from the gateway between Asia and Australia
Genomic clues from the grave of an ancient ‘princess’ reveal a vanished people.
Afghanistan’s unreachable US$1 trillion mineral bounty
A green-future wealth that could stabilise Afghanistan for decades lies trapped by the country’s past.
CFC ban slowed global warming
New research shows just how much the 1987 Montreal Protocol has protected the planet.
Breakthrough in quantum computing
A new way to manipulate spin qubits – and hasten the arrival of the quantum computer.
Here today, gone tomorrow: the IPCC’s new report predicts the sea-level rise flooding our backyard
It’s certain that rising sea levels are due to anthropogenic climate change, but the effects are not felt equally. Low-lying communities across Australia and the Pacific are already gasping for air – if action isn’t taken, some islands – and entire nations – could slip beneath the waves.
The journey of a 17,000-year-old woolly mammoth
The mammoth covered enough of Alaska’s ranging wilds to circle the Earth twice over – in only 28 years
Australians still believe in science
3M State of Science Index shows Aussies have deep trust in science and scientists
A 3,500-year-old epic text begins its journey home
A looted relic is finally returned to its rightful place, but the problem is enormous.
Middle-Eastern genomes fill historical gaps
137 full genomes from eight Middle-Eastern populations reveals links to agriculture
COVID concerns drive supplement use
Sales of complementary medicines have been driven up by COVID fears, but Immune-boosting claims for them are doing more harm than good.
Earth orbital space: who’s in charge?
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has said that his Starlink satellite-based internet will be able to connect anyone, anywhere – except the polar regions – by August of this year. Musk’s floating head made the extraordinary promise via video call at the 2021 Mobile World Congress (an annual mobile communications trade show) in early July. Starlink, a […]
Does nature have rights?
Ahead of World Environment Day, Amalyah Hart explores legal ‘rights of nature’.
The Arctic’s ‘Last Ice Area’ is melting quickly
Rapid and drastic melting last summer of the area predicted to be the Arctic’s final refuge of ice has been pinned to unusual meteorological conditions and climate change, with scientists suggesting the ‘Last Ice Area’ (LIA) is more vulnerable than previously thought. The LIA is a region north of Greenland and Ellesmere Island in the […]
Did Betelgeuse supernova? Or was it just a dusty fart?
Between November 2019 and March 2020, the star Betelgeuse – the second closest red supergiant to Earth, and a star that’s slowly pulsing towards the end of its lifespan – dimmed visibly, sparking global speculation about the cause. For many in the astronomical community, it was thought at first that Betelgeuse might be about to supernova – […]
Novavax announces high efficacy in phase 3 trials
American biotech company Novavax announced yesterday that their COVID-19 vaccine PREVENT-19 demonstrated 90% overall efficacy in its phase 3 trial, and provides 100% protection against moderate and severe disease. The phase 3 trial showed PREVENT-19 had high efficacy (90.3%) against newer variants of concern and variants of interest (VOC and VOI respectively). This means that PREVENT-19 may […]
Solar and wind cheapest energy source in Australia
Solar and wind are the cheapest sources of new electricity generation in Australia, and renewables are outcompeting fossil fuels for cost efficiency across the board, according to a new report from CSIRO. The latest report confirms findings from previous years that renewables are not just good for the planet, they’re good for the nation’s coffers […]
eDNA latest tool in fight against invasive species
The New Zealand mud snail is a small but hardy creature that can reproduce at epic rates. Dispersed across the globe on the waves of globalisation, populations of this tiny aquatic mollusc are crowding out native species in riverbeds around the world. Now, a team of scientists from the University of Iowa, US, have deployed […]
How does AI think?
Sometimes AI makes its own rules to solve puzzles. For Cosmos Magazine.
95% of cell lines used in clinical research of European descent
Scientists say pre-clinical cellular research needs to be diversified. For Cosmos Magazine.
Ethicists call for ‘soft’ mandatory vaccine policy for healthcare workers
Experts argue that health workers who choose not to get vaccinated should have their jobs modified. For Cosmos Magazine.
Oldest human burial in Africa unearthed
Discovery sheds light on the evolution of modern human behaviour. For Cosmos Magazine.
Successful Paris Agreement could halve ice loss by 2100
Two new papers assess the impact of melting land ice on sea level rise. For Cosmos Magazine.
Interstellar space probe to boldly go even further
NASA scientists to unveil planning for an interstellar space probe at the EGU General Assembly. For Cosmos Magazine.
First entanglement-based quantum network
Dutch researchers build the basis for the internet of the future. For Cosmos Magazine.
Anatomical secrets of ‘ridiculously long’ pterosaur necks
Scientists discover unique anatomical quirk that enabled giant, flying pterosaurs to support their long necks. For Cosmos Magazine.
What is radiometric dating?
Dive headfirst into the weird world of dating by radioactive decay. For Cosmos Magazine.
Monkeydactyl: the new pterosaur with the oldest opposable thumbs
Newly discovered flying pterosaur found to have the oldest truly opposable thumbs. For Cosmos Magazine.
Year of the quiet ocean
An international team aims to monitor the impact of 2020’s ‘quiet’ oceans on marine life. For Cosmos Magazine.
Bone tools from the Kimberley among oldest in Australia
A new study of bone artefacts found in the Kimberley region reveals the secrets of their deep antiquity and diverse use. For Cosmos Magazine.
Poorer children “failed by system”
Study reveals the extent of poverty as a barrier to education in low and middle income countries. For Cosmos Magazine.
Marine species flee the equator
Warming waters are triggering a mass exodus of marine creatures from the tropics. For Cosmos Magazine.
The staggering cost of biological invasion
New study reveals that invasive species have cost US$1.28 trillion globally over the past 50 years. For Cosmos Magazine.
Papua New Guinea COVID-19 update
The COVID crisis in PNG worsens as a new strain is identified and 8,000 vaccines are delivered. For Cosmos Magazine.
Snap-lockdowns: How to Safeguard Your Mental Health
How to protect your mental health in lockdown. For Life Supports Counselling.
2I/Borisov: Interstellar interloper
New comet is only the second ever interstellar visitor detected entering our solar system. For Cosmos Magazine.
Ancient tree-climbing kangaroo discovered
Researchers discover extinct kangaroo adapted for life in the upper storey. For Cosmos Magazine.
Diverse crocodiles underwent rapid evolution
New study reveals ancient crocodiles were far more disparate than today, thanks to rapid evolution. Cosmos Magazine.
Explainer: Cryptocurrency
How digital currencies work, and why we should care. For Cosmos Magazine.
Standing sentinel: The vanishing giants of the Central Highlands
In Victoria’s Central Highlands, ancient survivors of a lost world cling on against the odds. Economy and industry, fires and drought, loom as close threats. Amalyah Hart journeys deep into the forest, navigating the human stories that will shape it’s future.
How to survive a mass extinction
New study reveals how life on earth recovered after the most devastating mass extinction in geological history. Full article in Cosmos online at: https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/palaeontology/how-to-survive-a-mass-extinction/
Recycling hero: Justin Chalker
The recycling whizz-kid saving the planet one novel polymer at a time. Full article in Cosmos online at: https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/sustainability/recycling-heroes-associate-professor-justin-chalker/
Birdsong baffles babies
Researchers find that baby brains are bolstered by lemur and human voices – but not by birdsong. Full article in Cosmos online at: https://cosmosmagazine.com/animals/lemur-calls-help-babies-learn/
Bitcoin boom has huge carbon footprint
Researcher finds that Bitcoin mining alone may rival the carbon footprint of all global data centres combined. Full article in Cosmos online at: https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/computing/bitcoin-boom-has-huge-carbon-footprint/
How a baby T-Rex bites
Researchers use 3D modelling to examine the jaws of different-sized tyrannosaurs. Full article in Cosmos Magazine online at: https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/palaeontology/how-a-baby-t-rex-bites/
Next-wave technology inspired by the ingenuity of nature
If you know where to look, there’s almost no technological or design problem that nature hasn’t solved already. Amalyah Hart dives headfirst into the world of bio-inspiration. Full text here: https://www.thecitizen.org.au/articles/next-wave-technology-inspired-by-the-miracles-of-nature This article originally published in Cosmos Magazine issue 90.
Seared into country and memory, lessons for a fiery future
This year’s La Nina has allowed some respite and healing after the devastation of Black Summer, but scientists warn that recognising the risks of more fires, more often, will be crucial to species survival. Originally published at: https://www.thecitizen.org.au/articles/seared-into-country-and-memory-lessons-for-a-fiery-future The lush folds of the Newnes Plateau swamps, a critical but endangered habitat in the Blue Mountains […]
The Science of Healing Breath: How deep breathing can bring you calm, reduce anxiety and improve your health
This article originally published at: https://lifesupportscounselling.com.au/blog/benefits-of-deep-breathing-and-how-it-can-improve-your-life/ Breathing is the critical mechanism for the maintenance of human life. It confers oxygen into the bloodstream, pumping the body with the essential molecules it needs for metabolic processes, and ridding it of unneeded waste in the form of carbon dioxide. A growing body of evidence points to the […]
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Everything You Need To Know
This article originally published at: https://lifesupportscounselling.com.au/blog/understanding-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/ What is PTSD? Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition that develops in response to a traumatic event. It is characterised by intrusive recollections – ‘flashbacks’ – of the traumatising event that cause extreme emotional distress. The condition is associated with a vicious kaleidoscope of secondary symptoms, including […]
How Aboriginal health experts acted first and led the fight against the coronavirus
Enlisting local initiatives, networks and the lessons of the past, Aboriginal health services were quick off the mark when coronavirus came. Their success to date is powerful testimony to the importance of Indigenous leadership in narrowing the health gap, experts say.
Minding the gap: the dangers of deficit thinking
Global protests have prompted introspection in Australia about systemic racial issues, including the disparity in Indigenous health outcomes. However, Indigenous health experts say that viewing the problem through a narrow lens of “deficit” isn’t helping.
A multi-layered epidemic: mental health in the time of coronavirus
Mental health professionals in Victoria are reporting soaring issues as the pandemic continues.
Directors of Melbourne nightclub fear COVID-19 could destroy local music industry
The directors of a Melbourne nightclub say they fear the COVID-19 lockdown could put them out of business, and damage the city’s vibrant music industry.
Overcoming Loneliness in Isolation & Lockdown
Canadian poet Rupi Kaur couldn’t have anticipated our present moment any more vividly than when she wrote, “the irony of loneliness is we all feel it at the same time.”
The social distancing measures put in place to protect us from COVID-19 have drastically reduced the circle of people we have regular access to, making many of us lonely or isolated.
Understanding and Managing Fear
Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by a perceived threat of harm or suffering. Fear may be referred to by many different names; phobia, anxiety, social anxiety, panic, fight-or-flight and so on.
How positive thinking can help you through a global pandemic – and help your immunity, too
The COVID-19 pandemic has plunged all of us into a new and frightening way of living. In an unprecedented global health crisis, it’s natural to be experiencing anxiety, depression, or other forms of mental distress like a lack of motivation.