Bigger, more venomous species of deadly spider discovered
The new species has been named Atrax christenseni after the man that discovered it.But it has been nicknamed "big boy" due how much larger it is than the Sydney species.It is around nine centimetres in length, the Sydney species is a lot more common and can grow up to five centimetres.Scientists from the Australian Museum, Flinders University and Germany's Leibniz Institute released research saying it would be classed as a separate species of funnel-web spider.
The Sydney-funnel web species are usually found within 93 miles (150km) of Sydney and are mostly active between November and April.The "big boy" species was first discovered in the early 2000s near Newcastle, which is around 105 miles (170km) north of Sydney. Christensen says people can find them in their garage or in their bedrooms if they come in at night and says he "would not recommend touching them".Don't worry though, the same antivenom used for the Sydney species can still be used in treating bites from the new species according to scientists.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Alien: Earth lead Sydney Chandler has unexpected family connection to beloved Hollywood star
Up-and-coming actress Sydney Chandler leads the critically acclaimed new series Alien: Earth, the latest entry in the long-running sci-fi horror franchise Alien: Earth actress Sydney Chandler is impressing viewers after the first two episodes of Noah Hawley's gripping Alien prequel series dropped on Disney+ yesterday (Wednesday, 13th August). The rising star portrays a hybrid named Wendy, a synthetic human who is the first person ever to have their consciousness uploaded into an artificial body. When a research vessel carrying precious and deadly cargo crash lands on Earth, Wendy and her cohort of other hybrids known as the Lost Boys are sent to investigate, bringing them face to face with the planet's greatest threat. Sydney takes on her most high-profile role to date alongside a stellar cast including Timothy Olyphant, Essie Davis, Alex Lawther, Samuel Blenkin, and Babou Ceesay. But what do we know about her life away from the series so far? Let's take a look. Famous Father Sydney Chandler already has plenty of experience with Hollywood as her father is well-known actor, Kyle Chandler. She was born to the Friday Night Lights star and his wife, Kathryn Macquarrie, in 1996, the year following their marriage. Kyle and Kathryn met at the University of Georgia and have been together ever since. Kathryn usually keeps a low profile, though regularly attends events with her husband and has two credits as an actress to her name, in the 1990s film The Willies and TV series Red Shoe Diaries. Sydney's father has been a constant presence in major Hollywood films for the past three decades, landing memorable supporting roles in the likes of King Kong, Super 8, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty and The Wolf of Wall Street. He has also appeared in acclaimed Oscar contenders such as Carol and Manchester by the Sea and returned to the King Kong franchise in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and Godzilla vs. Kong. After being cast in the role of Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern in October 2024, he's set to make his debut in the DC Universe in the upcoming HBO series Lanterns, set to be released next year. Love Life So far, Sydney has kept her private and professional lives separate so it's unknown if she is currently dating someone. However, she was previously linked to her Pistol co-star Louis Partridge, reportedly dating between 2021 and 2023. Little is known about the ins and outs of their romance, but they were seen attending the British Fashion Awards together. Louis is now dating pop star Olivia Rodrigo. Cover Shoot Absence Part of why fans don't know a whole lot about the upcomer is because Sydney herself is still working out how much of her personal life she wants to be known to the public. Earlier this year, the star was missing from a Variety cover shoot including Alien: Earth showrunner Hawley and her co-star Olyphant due to a "really unfortunate' misunderstanding. Sydney decided to decline taking part in a filmed game of 'How Well Do They Know Each Other?', which she says she didn't realise was a dealbreaker. "I really wanted to be there for the photo shoot, and I was ready to talk anything and everything Alien,' she told Entertainment Weekly. 'Again, new to this; I haven't done something like that before. I felt uncomfortable doing something like that. 'Unfortunately, I was uninvited from the rest of the shoot. I never meant to offend.' Other Roles Outside of her breakout Alien role, Sydney is best known for appearing in Pistols, alongside her ex Louis, portraying Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders. She has also landed roles in Olivia Wilde's psychological thriller film Don't Worry Darling with Harry Styles and Florence Pugh. On TV, she has also been seen in Facebook Watch's teen drama series SKAM Austin and Sugar, Apple TV+'s thriller starring Colin Farrell.
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
The common deadly fan mistake experts say people do at home that could trigger heart attacks
WITH August's scorching weather showing no signs of letting up, staying cool at home has become more essential than ever. This is why an electric fan is likely to become your new best friend for the coming weeks, while you try to take the edge off and feel cooler. 2 2 But a new study from Australia suggests using the humble device could do more harm than good by increasing your risk of a heart attack. Scientists from the University of Sydney recruited 20 people to test how fans affect body temperature, heart rate, sweating and comfort when used in a hot and humid environment. They also wanted to find out whether hydration levels made any difference, since it's already known that fans can sometimes make heat stress worse. The participants completed the experiment in a climate-controlled chamber set to 39.2C with 49 per cent humidity. In two of the sessions, they were well hydrated, having consumed the recommended amount of fluids for 24 hours beforehand, and were also allowed to drink during the trial. In the other two sessions, they were deliberately dehydrated by avoiding fluids and foods with high water content for 24 hours and were not permitted to drink during the trial. Each hydration state was tested both with and without the use of a fan. A series of temperatures were measured, including their heart rate, rectal temperature, whole body sweat rate, thermal discomfort, and thirst level. The results revealed that fan use while dehydrated can worsen heart strain, which can eventually lead to heart attacks. The experts concluded that using a fan increased sweat losses by about 60 per cent, which could mean using a fan is more harmful if you are dehydrated. How to stay cool during hot weather The study lead, Connor Graham PhD said: "Most extreme heat decedents do not have air conditioning but often own electric fans. "Fan use can reduce heat-related elevations in thermal and cardiovascular strain at temperatures up to approximately 39 to 40C. "In hotter conditions, fans should be turned off, as they can worsen heat stress.' This, Connor said, is because the high temperature of the air causes the body to heat up faster than it can cool itself by sweating. This isn't the first time fans have been linked to an increased risk of heart issues. Previous research has found that fan use can reduce heat and heart strain in temperatures up to around 39C, but once the mercury edges past 40C it's better to turn them off. Researchers have previously also recommended only using fans when it's below 39C for healthy adults below 40 years old and 38C for older adults 65 or older. They also warned fans should only be used in temperatures above 37C in older adults on anticholinergic medications like oxybutynin for bladder control.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Heatwave warning: Common home fan mistake could be deadly, causing heart attacks, scientists warn
A new study has revealed that using an electric fan in hot temperatures could increase the risk of suffering a deadly heart attack. Researchers from the University of Sydney recruited 20 participants to test how fans affect body temperature, heart rate, sweating and comfort when used in a hot and humid environment. The study participants were asked to complete four separate three-hour trials in a climate chamber set to 39.2°C and 49 per cent humidity. For two of the sessions they were well hydrated, and had drank the recommended amount of fluids for 24 hours before the trial, and could also drink during the trial. For the other two, they were required to be dehydrated, avoiding fluids and foods with a high water content in the 24 hours before the trial and were forbidden from drinking during the trial. In each hydration state, the participants were tested with and without a fan. The study, which was outlined in a research letter published by journal Emergency Medicine, aimed to see whether hydration status changes the effect of fan use in hot, humid conditions—especially since it's known that fans can sometimes worsen heat stress. A series of temperatures were measured, including their heart rate, rectal temperature, whole body sweat rate, thermal discomfort, and thirst level. The data revealed that fan use while dehydrated can worsen heart strain, which can eventually lead to heart attacks. Furthermore, the researchers concluded that using a fan increased sweat losses by about 60 per cent, which might mean using a fan could be harmful if you're dehydrated. The study lead, Connor Graham PhD said: 'Most extreme heat decedents do not have air conditioning but often own electric fans. 'Fan use can reduce heat-related elevations in thermal and cardiovascular strain at temperatures up to approximately 39 to 40 °C. 'In hotter conditions, fans should be turned off, as they can worsen heat stress.' This, Mr Graham explained, is because the high temperature of the air causes the body to heat up faster than it can cool itself by sweating. This isn't the first link made between electric fans and death. Scientific studies have found that fan use can reduce heat and heart strain in temperatures up to around 39 (102.2F), but once the mercury edges past 40C (104F) it's better to turn them off. Researchers have also recommended only using fans when it's below 39C for healthy adults below 40 years old and 38C (100.4F) for older adults 65 or older. They also warned fans should only be used in temperatures above 37C in older adults on anticholinergic medications like oxybutynin for bladder control. Earlier this week, an amber heat-health warning was issued for five regions of England by the UK Health Security Agency (UKSA) and the Met Office. In response, Dr Paul Coleman, a public health expert at the watchdog, said: 'These temperatures can result in serious health outcomes across the population.' This is particularly a problem for, he said 'those who are vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with serious health conditions'. So he advised people to check in on friends, families or neighbours who are vulnerable to make sure they are coping well. To stay safe in the hot weather, the watchdog recommends, keeping your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun. They also urged people to know the symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke and what to do if you know or someone else has them. Heat stroke occurs when the body loses its ability to cool itself, and its inner temperature—which usually hovers around 37C—rapidly increases to over 40C. The heart begins frantically pumping blood to try to cool it against the skin's surface. The increased temperatures can also damage internal organs, leading to irreparable damage, or even catastrophic failure. According to the NHS, tell-tale signs of the precursor to heat stroke, heat exhaustion, include tiredness, a high temperature, excessive sweating, being thirsty and weakness. Others include fast breathing, rapid heart rate, being headaches, nausea, vomiting, clammy and/or pale skin, as well as cramps in the arms, legs and stomach. While symptoms are often the same in adults and children, those under 18 may become irritable too. If someone is showing these signs, the NHS advice is to cool them down and give them fluids. They add that heat exhaustion will not typically need emergency medical help if you can cool down within 30 minutes. But if symptoms persist or worsen after 30 minutes, it may have turned into a heat stroke—which can be life threatening so you should call 999 immediately. It can be fatal because when your body's temperature regulation system fails, it can lead to dangerously high temperatures that can cause organ damage. Other signs of heat stroke are a very high temperature, hot skin that's not sweating and might look red, rapid heartbeat, fast breathing, shortness of breath, confusion, lack of coordination, seizures or fits, and loss of consciousness.
