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Zoe Kean

Zoe Kean

Damage to sensitive sea floor ecosystems sparks calls for tighter regulation of the tourist ship industry in the Antarctic region. 1h ago 1 hours ago Mon 9 Jun 2025 at 4:01am
In 1953 Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary become the first two people to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Just under 10 years later, Norgay made his mark in another place of wild beauty — Tasmania. Sun 17 Nov Sun 17 Nov Sun 17 Nov 2024 at 8:19pm
Huge patches of forest in Tasmania have rapidly turned brown over recent months, with many trees dying after a dry summer. As climate change causes hotter and drier weather, can we expect more tree deaths in the future? Wed 8 May Wed 8 May Wed 8 May 2024 at 11:19pm
Shimmering blue seas below pink and green skies are all possible in Australia's southern-most state which is a nexus for glowing oddities. Tue 22 Aug Tue 22 Aug Tue 22 Aug 2023 at 1:08am
Scientists say they can bring the extinct thylacine back from the dead within a decade, but does anybody want them to? The resounding answer to an ABC survey is "Yes". Sat 19 Aug Sat 19 Aug Sat 19 Aug 2023 at 9:33pm
Should the thylacine be brought back to life? Professor Andrew Pask — leader of the Thylacine Integrated Genetic Restoration Research Lab at Melbourne University — answers your questions about plans to de-extinct Australia's only marsupial apex predator. Sat 19 Aug Sat 19 Aug Sat 19 Aug 2023 at 9:33pm
How a tin miner living in remote Tasmania helped discover what may be the world's oldest and most mysterious clone that has excited scientists for years. Sat 29 Jul Sat 29 Jul Sat 29 Jul 2023 at 2:42am
Welcome to Tattsmania. From mountains, devils, tigers, and tunes, why is it that tattoos are so popular in Tasmania? Thu 20 Jul Thu 20 Jul Thu 20 Jul 2023 at 9:32pm
This simple task can help save you money and keep you warm in winter. You've just got to remember to do it. Sun 16 Jul Sun 16 Jul Sun 16 Jul 2023 at 11:50pm
The death of a platypus found in a city suburb may reflect the fate of the entire species if we don't pay closer attention to how this Australian animal is faring. Fri 14 Jul Fri 14 Jul Fri 14 Jul 2023 at 8:12am
How the pademelon often tricks the world into thinking it is the extinct thylacine, and seven other wild pademelon facts. Tue 11 Jul Tue 11 Jul Tue 11 Jul 2023 at 11:22am
In 1805 black swans, kangaroos, and the world's last King Island emu lived amongst the sweeping lawns of the Château de Malmaison in Paris. So how did this creature make it to an empress' garden? Tue 27 Jun Tue 27 Jun Tue 27 Jun 2023 at 7:23am
Tasmania's native bees aren't as notorious as the Tassie devil or the swift parrot. But these tiny, unassuming and strangely beguiling bugs are incredibly important to the state's forests and fields. Sat 20 May Sat 20 May Sat 20 May 2023 at 12:32am
James Chung Gon arrived in Australia to try his luck on the goldfields of Bendigo. Legend has it that all he had to his name was a shilling in his pocket, but he turned it into a fortune. Wed 3 May Wed 3 May Wed 3 May 2023 at 7:54am
Sometimes dubbed mermaid's purses, these strange and wonderful works of nature are a common find on Australian beaches and scientists want beachcombers to help them learn more. Mon 20 Mar Mon 20 Mar Mon 20 Mar 2023 at 5:48am
In 1997, Tasmania became the last Australian state to decriminalise sex between men, and one activist believes that enduring homophobia can be directly traced to the penal colonies of the island's past. Fri 3 Mar Fri 3 Mar Fri 3 Mar 2023 at 12:02am
First they discovered that wombats created their famously square poos in the intestine and not at "point of exit". Now, the same team of scientists has explained how wombats poo such "perfectly consistent" pellets. Thu 23 Feb Thu 23 Feb Thu 23 Feb 2023 at 3:28am
We want to hear from you — should the Tasmanian tiger be brought back to life? And what will that mean for First Nations people, the environment, and the ecosystem? Fri 25 Aug Fri 25 Aug Fri 25 Aug 2023 at 12:53am
The dingo fence does its job keeping the predator at bay — but that single change has cascading effects on the environment, right down to the shape of the sand dunes. Thu 9 Feb Thu 9 Feb Thu 9 Feb 2023 at 3:49am
Long-spined sea urchins — the "single biggest threat" for reefs in eastern Tasmania — are arriving via an ocean current supercharged by climate change. So what can be done about it? Thu 2 Feb Thu 2 Feb Thu 2 Feb 2023 at 10:18pm
Being an adult who does not drive can come with setbacks, judgement and unexpected benefits. Here are your stories. Thu 2 Feb Thu 2 Feb Thu 2 Feb 2023 at 3:17am
Unusually dry weather is leaving the state's Wilderness World Heritage Area sensitive to fire. It's a prospect that threatens a living fossil that traces its history to the ancient super-continent Gondwana. Fri 27 Jan Fri 27 Jan Fri 27 Jan 2023 at 8:48pm
Driving is seen as such a common skill that Rosie, Tim, and Sophie are often met with shock when they tell people they don't drive. Thu 19 Jan Thu 19 Jan Thu 19 Jan 2023 at 12:18am
While spotting a badly-stuffed platypus in an overseas museum may draw a laugh from visiting Australians, scientists say poor taxidermy is a serious matter that can affect a species' survival. Thu 5 Jan Thu 5 Jan Thu 5 Jan 2023 at 1:26am
Bushwalking can be about more than just the destination. For Bin Ling, it's also about the plants she sees on the way.
Fri 16 Dec Fri 16 Dec Fri 16 Dec 2022 at 3:05am

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Even Australia's EV owners believe misinformation about cars, study finds
Even Australia's EV owners believe misinformation about cars, study finds

ABC News

timean hour ago

  • ABC News

Even Australia's EV owners believe misinformation about cars, study finds

Australians are buying more electric vehicles (EVs) than ever before, but even owners are still falling for misinformation about the battery-powered cars. New research into public perceptions about EVs found myths had become deeply embedded in society and caught up in the culture wars. Now more people believed misinformation about EVs than disagreed with it. Drivers were particularly concerned about "discredited notions" that the vehicles were more likely to catch fire, and that batteries were designed to fail. The peer-reviewed study, published in Nature Energy, was carried out in Australia, Germany, Austria, and the United States. Researchers found that many people expressed "legitimate anxiety" that EV batteries may run out before reaching a destination. But there were several misinformation-related concerns that were so "grounded in myth" even EV owners agreed with them. Many people largely believed reports that batteries were made to be deliberately non-upgradeable. Consumers were also under the impression that EVs emit electromagnetic fields that can damage health, are less safe in a collision, and produce more carbon emissions over a lifetime than traditional cars. Chris Bretter from the University of Queensland, which led the study, described these types of claims as "demonstrably false". "We know this sort of false information is out there and circulating, but the scale of acceptance is concerning and poses a significant challenge to the global transition to more sustainable transport," Dr Bretter said. "The fact that even EV owners were more likely than not to agree with misinformation underscores just how embedded it's become in society." Media reports describing EVs as being highly combustive, "like a bomb" were contributing to fears about the cars' batteries catching fire, the researchers said. There was also a tendency for misinformation to be spread in conservative communication channels, raising concerns about EV attitudes being "drawn into the culture wars". "The fact that even owners had high levels of misinformation agreement underscores the extent to which misinformation has permeated the population," the report stated. The survey found that having a conspiracy mentality was the main factor influencing beliefs. The report said that suspicions could arise if there were perceived motives for government or industry to exaggerate the benefits of a technology and disguise its dangers. "Given that EVs are a multi-billion-dollar industry frequently supported by emissions-sensitive governments, it seems plausible they could become targets of suspicion for those who see such relationships through the lens of corruption and secret agendas," the researchers said. UQ Business School professor Matthew Hornsey said education played no role in whether survey respondents agreed with false information about EVs. "The biggest predictor of whether a person accepted misinformation statements was actually conspiracy mentality — a tendency to believe conspiracies occur and seeing the world through a lens of corruption and secret agendas," Professor Hornsey said. "This same outlook has also been associated with opposition to science-backed technologies like vaccinations and wind farms. "The results show public understanding of EVs has been distorted by an information landscape shaped by myths, selective framing and speculative reasoning," he said. The researchers tested strategies to reduce belief in EV misinformation, increase support for pro-EV policy and an intention to purchase the vehicles. They provided information to consumers using a traditional fact sheet and conversations with generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT. Both were found to have success in reducing misinformation. "Encouragingly, both strategies resulted in lower endorsement of EV misinformation, even 10 days on," Dr Better said. The researchers were particularly interested in the effect of dialogues with AI on public mistrust, and the results were encouraging. It resulted in "large and durable decreases in individuals' conspiracy theorising". "This is the first evidence that non-curated conversations with Generative AI can have positive effects on misinformation, showing its promise for possible future solution-focused interventions on a large scale," Dr Bretter said. "Given the global need to transition toward more sustainable transport options, it is crucial we address the prevalence of misinformation about energy efficient technologies like EVs." The project also involved researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Psychology and the University of Hohenheim in Germany. This research was supported by an ARC Laureate grant and a grant from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation).

Zoe Kean
Zoe Kean

ABC News

time5 hours ago

  • ABC News

Zoe Kean

Damage to sensitive sea floor ecosystems sparks calls for tighter regulation of the tourist ship industry in the Antarctic region. 1h ago 1 hours ago Mon 9 Jun 2025 at 4:01am In 1953 Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary become the first two people to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Just under 10 years later, Norgay made his mark in another place of wild beauty — Tasmania. Sun 17 Nov Sun 17 Nov Sun 17 Nov 2024 at 8:19pm Huge patches of forest in Tasmania have rapidly turned brown over recent months, with many trees dying after a dry summer. As climate change causes hotter and drier weather, can we expect more tree deaths in the future? Wed 8 May Wed 8 May Wed 8 May 2024 at 11:19pm Shimmering blue seas below pink and green skies are all possible in Australia's southern-most state which is a nexus for glowing oddities. Tue 22 Aug Tue 22 Aug Tue 22 Aug 2023 at 1:08am Scientists say they can bring the extinct thylacine back from the dead within a decade, but does anybody want them to? The resounding answer to an ABC survey is "Yes". Sat 19 Aug Sat 19 Aug Sat 19 Aug 2023 at 9:33pm Should the thylacine be brought back to life? Professor Andrew Pask — leader of the Thylacine Integrated Genetic Restoration Research Lab at Melbourne University — answers your questions about plans to de-extinct Australia's only marsupial apex predator. Sat 19 Aug Sat 19 Aug Sat 19 Aug 2023 at 9:33pm How a tin miner living in remote Tasmania helped discover what may be the world's oldest and most mysterious clone that has excited scientists for years. Sat 29 Jul Sat 29 Jul Sat 29 Jul 2023 at 2:42am Welcome to Tattsmania. From mountains, devils, tigers, and tunes, why is it that tattoos are so popular in Tasmania? Thu 20 Jul Thu 20 Jul Thu 20 Jul 2023 at 9:32pm This simple task can help save you money and keep you warm in winter. You've just got to remember to do it. Sun 16 Jul Sun 16 Jul Sun 16 Jul 2023 at 11:50pm The death of a platypus found in a city suburb may reflect the fate of the entire species if we don't pay closer attention to how this Australian animal is faring. Fri 14 Jul Fri 14 Jul Fri 14 Jul 2023 at 8:12am How the pademelon often tricks the world into thinking it is the extinct thylacine, and seven other wild pademelon facts. Tue 11 Jul Tue 11 Jul Tue 11 Jul 2023 at 11:22am In 1805 black swans, kangaroos, and the world's last King Island emu lived amongst the sweeping lawns of the Château de Malmaison in Paris. So how did this creature make it to an empress' garden? Tue 27 Jun Tue 27 Jun Tue 27 Jun 2023 at 7:23am Tasmania's native bees aren't as notorious as the Tassie devil or the swift parrot. But these tiny, unassuming and strangely beguiling bugs are incredibly important to the state's forests and fields. Sat 20 May Sat 20 May Sat 20 May 2023 at 12:32am James Chung Gon arrived in Australia to try his luck on the goldfields of Bendigo. Legend has it that all he had to his name was a shilling in his pocket, but he turned it into a fortune. Wed 3 May Wed 3 May Wed 3 May 2023 at 7:54am Sometimes dubbed mermaid's purses, these strange and wonderful works of nature are a common find on Australian beaches and scientists want beachcombers to help them learn more. Mon 20 Mar Mon 20 Mar Mon 20 Mar 2023 at 5:48am In 1997, Tasmania became the last Australian state to decriminalise sex between men, and one activist believes that enduring homophobia can be directly traced to the penal colonies of the island's past. Fri 3 Mar Fri 3 Mar Fri 3 Mar 2023 at 12:02am First they discovered that wombats created their famously square poos in the intestine and not at "point of exit". Now, the same team of scientists has explained how wombats poo such "perfectly consistent" pellets. Thu 23 Feb Thu 23 Feb Thu 23 Feb 2023 at 3:28am We want to hear from you — should the Tasmanian tiger be brought back to life? And what will that mean for First Nations people, the environment, and the ecosystem? Fri 25 Aug Fri 25 Aug Fri 25 Aug 2023 at 12:53am The dingo fence does its job keeping the predator at bay — but that single change has cascading effects on the environment, right down to the shape of the sand dunes. Thu 9 Feb Thu 9 Feb Thu 9 Feb 2023 at 3:49am Long-spined sea urchins — the "single biggest threat" for reefs in eastern Tasmania — are arriving via an ocean current supercharged by climate change. So what can be done about it? Thu 2 Feb Thu 2 Feb Thu 2 Feb 2023 at 10:18pm Being an adult who does not drive can come with setbacks, judgement and unexpected benefits. Here are your stories. Thu 2 Feb Thu 2 Feb Thu 2 Feb 2023 at 3:17am Unusually dry weather is leaving the state's Wilderness World Heritage Area sensitive to fire. It's a prospect that threatens a living fossil that traces its history to the ancient super-continent Gondwana. Fri 27 Jan Fri 27 Jan Fri 27 Jan 2023 at 8:48pm Driving is seen as such a common skill that Rosie, Tim, and Sophie are often met with shock when they tell people they don't drive. Thu 19 Jan Thu 19 Jan Thu 19 Jan 2023 at 12:18am While spotting a badly-stuffed platypus in an overseas museum may draw a laugh from visiting Australians, scientists say poor taxidermy is a serious matter that can affect a species' survival. Thu 5 Jan Thu 5 Jan Thu 5 Jan 2023 at 1:26am Bushwalking can be about more than just the destination. For Bin Ling, it's also about the plants she sees on the way. Fri 16 Dec Fri 16 Dec Fri 16 Dec 2022 at 3:05am

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