Latest news with #MacquarieUniversity
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
A doomed exoplanet is caught in a 'death spiral' around its star. Can it survive?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A massive planet trapped in a death spiral around its star could unlock some of the secrets surrounding star systems. However, the fate of this world is not yet set in stone, with two deaths and one "rebirth" possible in its future. The extrasolar planet or "exoplanet" in question is TOI-2109b, which has five times the mass of Jupiter and is located around 870 light-years from our solar system. The planet orbits so close to its parent star, TOI-2109, that it has a year that lasts just 16 hours. These characteristics mean that TOI-2109b is classified as an "ultrahot Jupiter," a rare class of planets that account for around 1 in 500 planets in the over 5,000 worlds in the catalog of known exoplanets. But TOI-2109b stands out even among those incredibly hot, star-hugging worlds. "This is an ultra-hot Jupiter, and orbits much closer to its star than any other hot Jupiter ever discovered," Macquarie University Research Fellow Jaime A. Alvarado-Montes said in a statement."Just to put it into context, Mercury's mass is almost 6,000 times smaller than Jupiter's, but it still takes 88 days to orbit our sun. "For a huge gas giant such as TOI-2109b to fully orbit in 16 hours, it tells us that this is a planet located super-close to its star." That makes TOI-2109b the perfect laboratory to study planets' death spirals into their host stars, or more accurately, the phenomenon of orbital decay. The three deaths of TOI-2109b Alvarado-Montes and colleagues set about investigating TOI-2109b using archival data from multiple telescopes, including NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and the European Space Agency (ESA) space mission Cheops. This constituted data regarding the transits of TOI-2109b across the face of its parent star from 2010 to 2024. "Using all of the data available for this planet, we were able to predict a small change in its orbit," Alvarado-Montes said. "Then we verified it with our theory and with our planet evolution models, and our predictions matched the observations. That's quite exciting." The matching theoretical estimations and observational evidence suggested that the orbit of TOI-2109b will decay by around 10 seconds over the next three Earth-years. Though this is a tiny change, it proves TOI-2109b is spiraling toward its parent star. The ultimate fate of TOI-2109b is uncertain, as there are three possible ways that this death spiral could play out. The first and most dramatic final fate of TOI-2109b would see the ultrahot Jupiter plunge into its parent star. This will occur if the orbital decay of this planet begins to accelerate. "The star will absorb it and kill it, of course, in the process – completely burn it, and the planet will disappear," Alvarado-Montes said. This would create a flash of light that is similar to ZTF SLRN-2020, a signal first observed in May 2020 when a gas giant planet plunged into its red giant stellar parent. The second possible fate of TOI-2109b is slightly less dramatic, but no less catastrophic. This would happen if the orbital decay of the planet continues unabated and sees the gravity of its parent star generate destructive tidal forces within the planet. These forces would literally rip TOI-2109b apart. "The gravitational interactions are so strong that the planet starts being distorted," Alvarado-Montes said. "It starts looking more like an elongated doughnut ... the gravity of the planet is no longer able to hold its spherical shape." There is a third possible fate which would see the planet transformed rather than being destroyed. In the third possible scenario for TOI-2109b, the intense radiation experienced by the ultrahot Jupiter strips away the planet's gassy outer layers in a process called photoevaporation. This would expose the rocky inner core of TOI-2109b. "As the planet gets even closer to the star, all of the gas molecules could start being dissociated, and the planet gets smaller and smaller," Alvarado-Montes explained. "And if the planet shrinks quickly enough, then when the planet reaches the position where its Roche limit would have been, it's not going to be five Jupiter masses anymore, but it will be small enough that the Roche limit moves closer to the star, so it could escape destruction." This could ultimately result in the creation of a rocky "super-Earth" around the size of Uranus or Neptune. Related Stories: — The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered its 1st exoplanet and snapped its picture (image) — Astronomers discover origins of mysterious double hot Jupiter exoplanets: 'It is a dance of sorts' — NASA exoplanet-hunting spacecraft and citizen scientists discover a cool new alien world The team will continue to monitor TOI-2109b over the next three to five years, which should reveal the fate that will befall this doomed world. The investigation of TOI-2109b has implications beyond its own fascinating and fateful situation. It provides astronomers the chance to study how hot Jupiters evolve and what happens when planets migrate toward their host stars. "This planet and its interesting situation could help us figure out some mysterious astronomical phenomena that so far we really don't have much evidence to explain," Alvarado-Montes concludes. "It could tell us the story of many other solar systems." The team's research was published on Tuesday (July 15) in The Astrophysical Journal. Solve the daily Crossword
West Australian
3 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Lithium Universe finalises deal to revolutionise solar PV recycling
Lithium Universe has secured the exclusive rights to a patented microwave technology for recycling silver and critical metals from solar photovoltaic panels by completing its acquisition of licensee New Age Minerals. The acquisition gives Lithium Universe access to Macquarie University's microwave joule heating technology, which efficiently recovers silver and other critical minerals from discarded photovoltaic panels. New Age Minerals has an exclusive licensing agreement with the Sydney-based university for the technology. The buy-out positions Lithium Universe to tap into a growing $154 billion silver recovery market, amid growing demand for the relatively rare and expensive metal. Each solar panel contains about 20 grams of silver on average, valued at $36 at current prices following a 126 per cent surge in prices since 2018. The silver is used to make a conductive paste for electrical contacts in the panels. Global demand for silver is projected to hit 680 million ounces in 2025, driven by photovoltaics and artificial intelligence systems, prompting an anticipated market deficit of 117.6 million ounces of silver. Macquarie's platform uses microwave technology to selectively heat silicon, softening the plastic encapsulant in solar panels for easy delamination at room temperature. This method avoids extreme temperatures - up to 1400°C - and hazardous chemicals required in traditional recycling. Traditional recycling also often requires mechanical crushing, leading to cross-contamination and lower recovery rates. The new technology enhances the extraction of valuable metals such as silver, silicon, gallium and indium from discarded PV panels. The International Energy Agency estimates there will be 60–78 million tonnes of solar waste globally by 2050, with about 1 million tonnes expected to have been created in Australia by 2035. It would be valued at more than $1 billion. Currently, only 15 per cent of solar PV panels are recycled due to the complex processes required and most end up in landfills. Lithium Universe is collaborating with Macquarie University to advance its microwave joule heating technology research and development, focusing on optimising silver and critical metal recovery. The company's board, comprising chemical extraction specialists, is evaluating high-yield recovery methods for end-of-life modules. The acquisition, completed after legal due diligence and licensing agreement amendments, strengthens Lithium Universe's position in the sustainable energy sector. Lithium Universe's strategic acquisition and cutting-edge technology signal a bright future for sustainable solar panel recycling, poising the company to help meet rising global demand for critical metals while reducing environmental waste. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
West Australian
14-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Lithium Universe targets silver through solar panel recycling
Lithium Universe Limited has kicked off a pioneering project to extract silver from discarded photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, leveraging technology developed by scientists at Macquarie University in Sydney. Global silver demand is set to reach a record 680 million ounces in 2025, driven by a 7 per cent compound annual growth rate in industrial use, photovoltaics and artificial intelligence, triggering an anticipated 117.6-million-ounce market deficit for the expensive and relatively rare metal. Each solar panel contains about 20 grams of silver, worth $36 at current prices, which is used to make conductive paste for electrical contacts. Silver prices have surged 126 per cent from US$15 an ounce in 2018 to US$34 an ounce in 2025, underscoring the economic potential of recycling. Lithium Universe secured exclusive global rights to Macquarie University's innovative microwave joule heating technology (MJHT) in June 2025. The technology uses microwaves to soften the plastic encapsulant in the solar panels, enabling efficient delamination of the panels at room temperature, avoiding the need for high heat or the release of toxic chemicals. The process facilitates cleaner material separation when compared with traditional mechanical crushing and recycling, which also typically results in lower recovery rates. A complementary silver extraction technology for delaminated silicon wafers is under patent development and will be licensed to Lithium Universe when finalised. The company is also conducting independent research to optimise silver recovery methods. Global PV solar panel waste is projected to reach 60–78 million tonnes by 2050, with Australia alone expecting 1Mt by 2035, valued at more than $1 billion. Only 15 per cent of PV cells are currently recycled globally due to the complex processes involved, which sees most scrap panels discarded in landfills. Lithium Universe's initiative positions it to capitalise on a potential $154 billion silver recovery market. Future development phases will also explore the extraction of silicon, gallium and indium, which are critical for semiconductors and solar technology and could help strengthen vulnerable supply chains dominated by China. China is the dominant global supplier of both gallium and indium, producing about 80 per cent of gallium and more than 60 per cent of indium supplies. Gallium is primarily a by-product of aluminium production, while indium is extracted during zinc mining. Other notable, albeit smaller, gallium producers include Germany, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, while Canada and Peru are significant producers of indium. With piles of valuable waste building up on the horizon, Lithium Universe's innovative approach to the global issue of burgeoning waste solar panels aims to enhance sustainability and economic returns in the clean energy sector. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
The Advertiser
13-07-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Mushrooms to mice: our fears of nature are costing us
If you've ever steered clear of a spider, refused to manhandle a mushroom or opted out of an ocean dip because of sharks, you're not alone. These aversive reactions to the natural world - known as biophobias - are surprisingly widespread and they're shaping more than just our fears. One-in-five Australians have a biophobia and they are having an enormous impact on human health, wildlife survival and environmental sustainability. And while some fears serve a protective purpose, many biophobias are irrational. "We experience anxiety, fear, disgust when we don't need to," says Professor Melissa Norberg, a psychologist at Macquarie University, co-author of the article Beyond mental well-being: A One Health perspective on biophobias. "So yes, sometimes it's good to be anxious when there's a funnel web ... but do we need to be wearing gloves in our houses to protect us from spiders? No." Prof Norberg says disgust in particular plays a major role in food-related biophobias. "Disgust is often about disease," she explains. "So the dangerous aspect is, 'I might eat something that could make me very ill or could kill me or there could be a contamination somewhere ... that might get me sick'." That fear is heightened by a growing disconnect from nature, reinforced by urbanisation. "I would not know how to survive if there was a zombie apocalypse without grocery stores," Prof Norberg admits. "I think that is a tragedy of becoming more urbanised ... now we've become so reliant on it that we don't know how to take care of ourselves as we would just 100 years ago." Fear of mushrooms, for instance, can be traced both to lack of education and cultural taboos. "People have promoted ideas like, you know, mushrooms can kill you," Prof Norberg says. "So we might not even eat mushrooms that are in the store." The recent mushroom poisoning trial of Erin Patterson, which gripped Australia for months, reignited some of those fears. The deaths of three people after eating a meal laced with death cap mushrooms stunned the nation and the case became a media obsession. It is rare events like this that can run the risk of distorting public perception and reinforcing phobic responses. According to Prof Norberg's recent research, biophobias are more common than people realise. As many as 22 per cent of individuals irrationally fear insects, spiders and other natural elements. Yet these fears rarely align with actual risks: bees and wasps kill far more Australians each year than sharks, snakes or spiders. Worse, unchecked biophobias have broader consequences. "We waste a lot of food in Australia," she says. "'Best Before' (dates) are not for the public … but many people interpret it … and throw things away." Her research argues that biophobias are not only under-recognised in mental health settings but can harm ecosystems too - prompting people to kill harmless animals or avoid the outdoors altogether. She believes a "One Health" approach, which connects human, animal and environmental wellbeing, is needed to address these impacts. "We need people in schools who do know how to forage, who do know how to rub two sticks together and make a fire," she says. "Having kids do that repeatedly ... that would be immensely helpful." If you've ever steered clear of a spider, refused to manhandle a mushroom or opted out of an ocean dip because of sharks, you're not alone. These aversive reactions to the natural world - known as biophobias - are surprisingly widespread and they're shaping more than just our fears. One-in-five Australians have a biophobia and they are having an enormous impact on human health, wildlife survival and environmental sustainability. And while some fears serve a protective purpose, many biophobias are irrational. "We experience anxiety, fear, disgust when we don't need to," says Professor Melissa Norberg, a psychologist at Macquarie University, co-author of the article Beyond mental well-being: A One Health perspective on biophobias. "So yes, sometimes it's good to be anxious when there's a funnel web ... but do we need to be wearing gloves in our houses to protect us from spiders? No." Prof Norberg says disgust in particular plays a major role in food-related biophobias. "Disgust is often about disease," she explains. "So the dangerous aspect is, 'I might eat something that could make me very ill or could kill me or there could be a contamination somewhere ... that might get me sick'." That fear is heightened by a growing disconnect from nature, reinforced by urbanisation. "I would not know how to survive if there was a zombie apocalypse without grocery stores," Prof Norberg admits. "I think that is a tragedy of becoming more urbanised ... now we've become so reliant on it that we don't know how to take care of ourselves as we would just 100 years ago." Fear of mushrooms, for instance, can be traced both to lack of education and cultural taboos. "People have promoted ideas like, you know, mushrooms can kill you," Prof Norberg says. "So we might not even eat mushrooms that are in the store." The recent mushroom poisoning trial of Erin Patterson, which gripped Australia for months, reignited some of those fears. The deaths of three people after eating a meal laced with death cap mushrooms stunned the nation and the case became a media obsession. It is rare events like this that can run the risk of distorting public perception and reinforcing phobic responses. According to Prof Norberg's recent research, biophobias are more common than people realise. As many as 22 per cent of individuals irrationally fear insects, spiders and other natural elements. Yet these fears rarely align with actual risks: bees and wasps kill far more Australians each year than sharks, snakes or spiders. Worse, unchecked biophobias have broader consequences. "We waste a lot of food in Australia," she says. "'Best Before' (dates) are not for the public … but many people interpret it … and throw things away." Her research argues that biophobias are not only under-recognised in mental health settings but can harm ecosystems too - prompting people to kill harmless animals or avoid the outdoors altogether. She believes a "One Health" approach, which connects human, animal and environmental wellbeing, is needed to address these impacts. "We need people in schools who do know how to forage, who do know how to rub two sticks together and make a fire," she says. "Having kids do that repeatedly ... that would be immensely helpful." If you've ever steered clear of a spider, refused to manhandle a mushroom or opted out of an ocean dip because of sharks, you're not alone. These aversive reactions to the natural world - known as biophobias - are surprisingly widespread and they're shaping more than just our fears. One-in-five Australians have a biophobia and they are having an enormous impact on human health, wildlife survival and environmental sustainability. And while some fears serve a protective purpose, many biophobias are irrational. "We experience anxiety, fear, disgust when we don't need to," says Professor Melissa Norberg, a psychologist at Macquarie University, co-author of the article Beyond mental well-being: A One Health perspective on biophobias. "So yes, sometimes it's good to be anxious when there's a funnel web ... but do we need to be wearing gloves in our houses to protect us from spiders? No." Prof Norberg says disgust in particular plays a major role in food-related biophobias. "Disgust is often about disease," she explains. "So the dangerous aspect is, 'I might eat something that could make me very ill or could kill me or there could be a contamination somewhere ... that might get me sick'." That fear is heightened by a growing disconnect from nature, reinforced by urbanisation. "I would not know how to survive if there was a zombie apocalypse without grocery stores," Prof Norberg admits. "I think that is a tragedy of becoming more urbanised ... now we've become so reliant on it that we don't know how to take care of ourselves as we would just 100 years ago." Fear of mushrooms, for instance, can be traced both to lack of education and cultural taboos. "People have promoted ideas like, you know, mushrooms can kill you," Prof Norberg says. "So we might not even eat mushrooms that are in the store." The recent mushroom poisoning trial of Erin Patterson, which gripped Australia for months, reignited some of those fears. The deaths of three people after eating a meal laced with death cap mushrooms stunned the nation and the case became a media obsession. It is rare events like this that can run the risk of distorting public perception and reinforcing phobic responses. According to Prof Norberg's recent research, biophobias are more common than people realise. As many as 22 per cent of individuals irrationally fear insects, spiders and other natural elements. Yet these fears rarely align with actual risks: bees and wasps kill far more Australians each year than sharks, snakes or spiders. Worse, unchecked biophobias have broader consequences. "We waste a lot of food in Australia," she says. "'Best Before' (dates) are not for the public … but many people interpret it … and throw things away." Her research argues that biophobias are not only under-recognised in mental health settings but can harm ecosystems too - prompting people to kill harmless animals or avoid the outdoors altogether. She believes a "One Health" approach, which connects human, animal and environmental wellbeing, is needed to address these impacts. "We need people in schools who do know how to forage, who do know how to rub two sticks together and make a fire," she says. "Having kids do that repeatedly ... that would be immensely helpful." If you've ever steered clear of a spider, refused to manhandle a mushroom or opted out of an ocean dip because of sharks, you're not alone. These aversive reactions to the natural world - known as biophobias - are surprisingly widespread and they're shaping more than just our fears. One-in-five Australians have a biophobia and they are having an enormous impact on human health, wildlife survival and environmental sustainability. And while some fears serve a protective purpose, many biophobias are irrational. "We experience anxiety, fear, disgust when we don't need to," says Professor Melissa Norberg, a psychologist at Macquarie University, co-author of the article Beyond mental well-being: A One Health perspective on biophobias. "So yes, sometimes it's good to be anxious when there's a funnel web ... but do we need to be wearing gloves in our houses to protect us from spiders? No." Prof Norberg says disgust in particular plays a major role in food-related biophobias. "Disgust is often about disease," she explains. "So the dangerous aspect is, 'I might eat something that could make me very ill or could kill me or there could be a contamination somewhere ... that might get me sick'." That fear is heightened by a growing disconnect from nature, reinforced by urbanisation. "I would not know how to survive if there was a zombie apocalypse without grocery stores," Prof Norberg admits. "I think that is a tragedy of becoming more urbanised ... now we've become so reliant on it that we don't know how to take care of ourselves as we would just 100 years ago." Fear of mushrooms, for instance, can be traced both to lack of education and cultural taboos. "People have promoted ideas like, you know, mushrooms can kill you," Prof Norberg says. "So we might not even eat mushrooms that are in the store." The recent mushroom poisoning trial of Erin Patterson, which gripped Australia for months, reignited some of those fears. The deaths of three people after eating a meal laced with death cap mushrooms stunned the nation and the case became a media obsession. It is rare events like this that can run the risk of distorting public perception and reinforcing phobic responses. According to Prof Norberg's recent research, biophobias are more common than people realise. As many as 22 per cent of individuals irrationally fear insects, spiders and other natural elements. Yet these fears rarely align with actual risks: bees and wasps kill far more Australians each year than sharks, snakes or spiders. Worse, unchecked biophobias have broader consequences. "We waste a lot of food in Australia," she says. "'Best Before' (dates) are not for the public … but many people interpret it … and throw things away." Her research argues that biophobias are not only under-recognised in mental health settings but can harm ecosystems too - prompting people to kill harmless animals or avoid the outdoors altogether. She believes a "One Health" approach, which connects human, animal and environmental wellbeing, is needed to address these impacts. "We need people in schools who do know how to forage, who do know how to rub two sticks together and make a fire," she says. "Having kids do that repeatedly ... that would be immensely helpful."
Hans India
08-07-2025
- Science
- Hans India
Lizard Island on Australia's Great Barrier Reef faces alarming coral loss following 2024 bleaching
Sydney: Lizard Island on Australia's Great Barrier Reef has suffered one of the world's worst coral die-offs, with 92 per cent of surveyed corals lost after the 2024 bleaching event, new research has revealed. Researchers used drone imagery to assess the Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event in 2024 at Lizard Island, where 96 per cent of corals were bleached and mortality averaged 92 per cent, with some sites losing over 99 per cent of corals, according to a statement released recently by Australia's Griffith University. "This marks one of the highest coral mortality rates ever documented globally," said the study's lead researcher Vincent Raoult from Griffith University's School of Environment. Raoult described the mortality as "unprecedented," especially given that Lizard Island experienced less heat stress than other parts of the Great Barrier Reef. Drone technology enabled precise mapping of the widespread bleaching, said Jane Williamson from the Macquarie University in Sydney, also the study's senior author, who stressed the urgent need for climate action, warning that repeated heatwaves could irreversibly damage coral reefs, Xinhua news agency reported. Lizard Island's reefs remain fragile after years of repeated damage, such as bleaching, cyclones, and Crown-of-Thorns outbreaks, and scientists will monitor them through 2026 for signs of recovery, according to the study published in Coral Reefs, the journal of the International Coral Reef Society. "Prolonged heat stress throughout the Far Northern and Northern regions of the reef caused widespread bleaching," said the reef snapshot published by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australian Institute of Marine Science and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, earlier in April. Coral bleaching is a phenomenon that occurs when coral experiencing heat stress expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissue and turn completely white. Bleaching is not fatal in itself but bleached coral are more likely to starve and can take a decade or longer to recover.
