Latest news with #QueenslandUniversity
ABC News
a day ago
- Science
- ABC News
Cryo-preservation used to save endangered Qld tree
There are only about 380 angle-stemmed myrtle, left in the wild, mostly found in areas around Logan and parts of the Gold Coast. But now a team at Queensland University has developed a scientific protocol to indefinitely store plant tissue at ultra-low temperatures.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researcher discovers rare ocean phenomenon serving as unlikely ally to reefs: 'Could offer a blueprint'
A Queensland University of Technology researcher in Australia discovered an ocean phenomenon that could save coral reefs despite the changing climate, the university shared via Marine scientist Dr. Catherine Kim documented Pyrosoma atlanticum — pyrosomes, a strange sea creature made up of a colony of tiny plankton — moving in swarms along the northern Australian coast, where coral can actively feed on them. She published the study in the journal Ecology to share a mechanism that could make coral reefs more resistant to climate change. Dr. Kim studied the Coral Triangle within the young nation of Timor-Leste, a Southeast Asia/Pacific biodiversity hot spot. She found that corals can be more opportunistic than vulnerable and digest large plankton when given the opportunity. She observed a pyrosome bloom driven by a major ocean current transporting large amounts of water through the Indonesian seas from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian. This flow provides extensive water movement to regulate water temperatures and deliver cooler waters filled with nutrients during critical coral growth times. "Timor-Leste's reefs could offer a blueprint for coral resilience in a warming world," Dr. Kim said. This research finding is encouraging because it offers hope for coral reefs struggling because of our extreme weather patterns and our steadily warming planet. Coral reefs face many environmental challenges because of the prevalence of microplastics and the impacts of human drilling for dirty energy sources. Fortunately, many scientists have been studying the issues affecting our world's coral reefs and finding ways to save future coral populations. Satellite mapping, for example, can be useful for monitoring coral reefs and protecting these fragile marine ecosystems. From this Australian study, scientists can gain a better understanding of how ocean currents and food availability create coral reef refuges. High-energy prey help offset the stress coral reefs face in order to survive and grow faster with more efficient photosynthesis. Observing these effects can help researchers identify which reefs have more readily available food and which need more attention because of poor resilience. Should we be harnessing the ocean to power our homes? Absolutely Leave it be It depends I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. You can take local action to protect coral reefs where you live by learning about what human activities impact them and sharing what you learn with people you know. Coral reefs are part of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet and support more species than anything else. Beyond their ecological balance benefits, they hold the promise of developing drugs to treat human diseases and protecting coastlines from storms and floods caused by increasingly extreme weather events. The study's author concluded her report by recommending additional research in this field by stating: "Identifying and managing localized reef refugia includes determining whether these upwelling areas provide more food for corals, all of which is fundamental to understanding how to sustain reefs in the future." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
ABC News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Pacific call for clarity around deportee numbers from US
An immigration crackdown of undocumented migrants in US cities has captivated the world in recent weeks, sparking fears a wave of deportees may be about to enter the Pacific. US immigration documents have marked hundreds of Pacific migrants for deportation, most of which come from Fiji, Tonga and the Marshall Islands. But as for how and when they'll be sent back remains anyone's guess. And and now a push is underway for Pacific leaders to hold a panel with US officials to get an idea of what to expect. FEATURED: Danielle Watson, associate professor with the Queensland University of Technology's School of Justice
Kuwait Times
15-06-2025
- General
- Kuwait Times
Guardians of Kuwait's seas: Kuwait Dive Team inspires nationwide culture of marine conservation
Beneath the surface of Kuwait's shoreline, boats, ships, and yachts once lay broken and buried — remnants of a war that scarred both land and sea. In 1991, just after the Iraqi invasion, a group of volunteers dove into the water to begin reviving those sunken vessels. That first mission marked the beginning of the Kuwait Dive Team — a grassroots movement that has spent more than 30 years salvaging over 900 marine objects, removing tons of waste and protecting fragile coral reefs. Today, the team comprises 30 to 50 active members, most in their mid-thirties, united by more than a love for the sea. 'What keeps us going, whether in the cold, the heat, or even in harsh, dusty conditions, is a deep sense of national and environmental duty,' said Waleed Al-Shatti, Vice President of the team. 'This environment isn't ours alone; it belongs to all of humanity. What we do is not just for Kuwait, but for the world.' To carry out their wide-ranging missions, team members undergo rigorous certification through accredited diving programs. Many are trained in specialized techniques such as night diving, current diving and underwater search and recovery. This expertise allows them to respond quickly and effectively — whether rescuing a stranded vessel, conducting semi-weekly sea patrols or clearing marine hazards. While much of their work is closely coordinated with state institutions, the public also plays a key role. Fishermen, divers and boaters frequently report oil spills, abandoned fishing nets, or signs of illegal activity — tip-offs that often prompt rapid interventions. Yet the team's impact goes far beyond emergency response. Education and community engagement are central to their mission. With a marine conservation curriculum now adopted by Kuwait's ministry of education, students are introduced to the importance of environmental stewardship from an early age. National beach cleanup campaigns, run in partnership with the ministries of social affairs and education, have brought together thousands of volunteers - Kuwaitis and expatriates alike, including Indians, Pakistanis, Filipinos and others - fostering a shared sense of environmental responsibility. In addition to awareness efforts, the team leads several proactive environmental projects, focusing primarily on the protection of Kuwait's scarce coral reefs. Al-Shatti emphasized their ecological importance in filtering seawater, producing oxygen, sheltering marine species and acting as natural wave barriers. To monitor reef health, the team partners with Queensland University in Australia. The data they collect - on coral color, water temperature, and reef conditions - is shared with international environmental research databases. Visual storytelling is another powerful tool in their strategy. Through underwater photography, short films and printed educational materials distributed in schools, the team highlights the beauty of Kuwait's marine ecosystem, aiming to inspire a culture of care. On the international stage, the team proudly represents Kuwait at marine conservation exhibitions, sharing expertise and collaborating with environmental organizations around the world. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed: the Kuwait Dive Team has received repeated global recognition, including winning the Global Energy and Earth Prize two years in a row - outperforming more than 400 international competitors. Kuwait Dive Team lifts three tons of waste and debris from coral reefs off the southern island of Qaruh. Kuwait Dive Team successfully removes an abandoned fishing net. Kuwait Dive Team monitoring coral reefs. Kuwait Dive Team lifts nets from Um Deera reef, north of Qaruh Island. Kuwait Dive Team removes abandoned fishing nets in Bnaider. Kuwait Dive Team replaces and installs cables on the island of Kubbar as part of a maintenance project. Kuwait Dive Team rescues a shark entangled in a net.
ABC News
23-05-2025
- ABC News
ATM skimming still happens - but the future of cybercrime is changing
In New South Wales, two men have been charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through an ATM card skimming scheme. It's a type of scheme that's been around for a while - but with more of us ditching physical bank cards and cash for digital payment methods, what new vulnerabilities could criminals exploit? Professor at the Queensland University of Technology's School of Justice, Dr Cassandra Cross spoke with ABC NewsRadio's Rachel Hayter.
