Latest news with #UniversityofNewSouthWales
Malay Mail
5 hours ago
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Toxic algae bloom lingers off Australia, killing marine life
SYDNEY, July 22 — A vast toxic algae bloom has sparked growing concern in Australia as it lingers off the south coast, killing hundreds of marine species and disrupting fisheries. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unlocked federal funds this week to cope with the Karenia mikimotoi algae as it persists four months after first appearing. South Australia's government said it was holding an emergency meeting Tuesday to be briefed by scientists on the phenomenon. The algae, which damages the gills of fish and suffocates them, stretched across 4,400 square kilometres when it was first spotted in mid-March, according to the state government. While South Australian authorities hoped the bloom would disperse, it has instead spread across the region, the latest government update said. A marine heatwave in the area had 'largely abated', it said, but remained in some deeper waters. Beaches on wildlife-rich tourist draws such as Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula and Fleurieu Peninsula have been littered with the marine carcasses of sharks, rays, crabs and octopuses. 'It's hard to overstate the extreme severity of the algal-bloom environmental crisis in South Australia,' said marine ecologist Adriana Verges from University of New South Wales. 'We are talking about extensive mortality of nearly 500 different marine species, including key habitat-forming sponges and other invertebrates, as well as fish. It's completely devastating.' 'Red flashing warning' Karenia mikimotoi has been detected around the world, including in waters off Japan, Norway, the United States and China, since the 1930s and disrupted local tourism and fishery industries, causing millions of dollars worth of damage. Ian Mitchell, who manages a fish market in Adelaide, said some people had not caught anything since April. 'It's the worst I've ever seen it,' he told national broadcaster ABC. 'I'm speaking to fishermen on a daily basis, and I've got fishermen in tears on the phone.' The federal government announced on Monday A$14 million (RM38.6 million) in financial assistance to impacted fisheries, clean-up efforts and research into preparedness. The prime minister said a 'whole range of issues' had led to the event, including nutrient-rich floodwater runoff and above-average ocean temperatures. Historically fishing and aquaculture industries can take years to recover from these algae blooms, said Australian Marine Conservation Society chief executive Paul Gamblin. 'It's an enormous red flashing warning that climate change has arrived off Australia and it is having enormous impacts,' he told AFP. South Australia has not previously experienced a toxic algae bloom of this scale or duration. Local authorities have urged beachgoers to avoid swimming in water that is discoloured or foamy, warning that it can irritate the skin and affect breathing. Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and duration of marine heatwaves across Australia, which significantly affects marine ecosystems. — AFP
CNA
6 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Albanese's China visit signals trade-led reset: Professor
Weihuan Zhou, Professor at the Faculty of Law and Justice at the University of New South Wales, tells CNA that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's recent visit to China highlights a renewed focus on economic cooperation despite previous tensions and strategic concerns.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Cyborg Beetles Could Be Unlikely Heroes in Future Disaster Rescues
Disaster victims trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed building or mine may one day be rescued by a tiny and unlikely savior: a beetle with a backpack. Researchers have made major strides in cyborg technology, creating a breed of cyborg beetles that can climb walls, obstacles, and sloped surfaces while being remotely guided by a video game controller. Called "ZoBorgs," the cyborg beetles are a collaborative effort between The University of Queensland and the University of New South Wales, both in Australia, and Singapore's Nanyang Technological University. To imbue their darkling beetles (Zophobas morio) with remote control, the researchers equipped them with a microchip backpack that sends electrical signals to the beetles' antennae or forewings (elytra), prompting them to move in different directions. Related: Darkling beetles are also known as 'superworms' for the worm-like form of their larvae. These creatures may help the world in multiple ways. Culinarily, they're a rich source of fatty acids and protein, commonly consumed in countries like Mexico and Thailand. The larvae also love dining on one of the world's most prevalent plastics, polystyrene, which is used to make common conveniences like packing materials and disposable cutlery. This is not good for the beetles, but copying how they digest the substance could help us tackle the plastic waste problem. At up to 32 millimeters (1.26 inches) in body length and about 8 millimeters (0.3 inches) in height, darkling beetles are small and nimble, possessing natural gifts that allow them to maneuver where robots cannot: within the tight confines of dense, jumbled rubble. Featured in Advanced Science, the new study harnesses the beetles' natural gifts and "adds programmable controls that allow for precise directional guidance, without affecting the lifespan of the beetle," says engineer Thang Vo-Doan of the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering at The University of Queensland. These programmable controls are transmitted via a beetle-backpack with electrodes that act like electrical reins. Stimulating the antennae causes the beetle to turn, decelerate, or walk backwards. Stimulating both elytra causes acceleration or forward walking, while stimulating a single elytron causes sideways movement. As a result, the ZoBorgs can cross obstacles equal to their body height with a success rate of 92 percent. They can also move from horizontal to vertical surfaces with a 71.2 percent success rate – a rate unmatched by previous cyborg insects or robots. Lachlan Fitzgerald, an engineer at The University of Queensland, explains that while "robots at this scale have made strides in locomotion, the transition from horizontal surfaces to walls remains a formidable challenge for them." But not so for the ZoBorgs. Plus, using beetles means that researchers do not have to design actuators, sensors, or control systems – the beetles are already naturally equipped by many millions of years of evolutionary adaptations. These climbing adaptations include flexible, adhesive footpads, gripping claws, and rigid but agile body structures. In combination with their antennae, insects use sensors in their legs and mechanoreceptors in their exoskeletons to sense physical stimuli, such as surface textures and vibrations. Future advances may focus on improving the beetles' climbing ability and autonomy by incorporating an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that provides real-time, non-visual data like acceleration and other forces. The addition of a compact, lightweight visual camera can further boost control mechanisms, and will be necessary for identifying trapped individuals in search and rescue situations. Finally, cyborg advances described here could inspire innovations in robotics, such as the incorporation of beetle-like feelers to improve robots' navigational abilities. Notably, scientists maintained ethical practices to ensure the beetles' well-being. Compared to other animals used in research, the beetles lived in relatively ritzy conditions, sleeping on wheat-bran bedding and eating fresh apple slices. Following the experiments, they received care for the remainder of their three-month lifespans. This study demonstrates that cyborg science is making essential strides. It may not yet be the robotic organs promised by science fiction, but a cyborg beetle may be just as likely to save lives. This research is published in Advanced Science. Quantum Breakthrough Could Make Your Devices 1,000 Times Faster New Viral Indie Rock Sensation Reveals They're 100% AI ChatGPT: 5 Surprising Truths About How AI Chatbots Actually Work
DW
09-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
Australia's climate visa: A model for sinking islands? – DW – 07/09/2025
As rising seas threaten to swallow the island nation of Tuvalu, Australia's "climate visa" aims to reach out to Tuvaluans, helping them make choices in the face of slow-moving disaster. In the tiny South Pacific nation of just over 10,000 people, one in three citizens has already entered the ballot for a world-first climate visa which would allow them to permanently migrate to Australia. Tuvalu is classified as being extremely vulnerable to climate change and rising seas and Funafuti, Tuvalu's capital, is a thin strip of land, with a vast lagoon on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. It is home to half the country's citizens. But with rising tides and worsening climate change, flooding has become routine and scientists warn the entire island could be underwater within 35 years. For a country where 70% of people are between the ages of 15 and 64, the threat is existential. In November 2023, responding to Tuvalu's call for help, Australia signed the Falepili Union Treaty. The agreement covers climate cooperation, dignified mobility and shared security. After months of domestic consultations, the treaty is now in force. From 2025, a so-called "special mobility pathway" has opened up that allows up to 280 Tuvaluans each year to live, work or study in Australia. The treaty says it recognizes the deep ancestral ties that Tuvaluans have to the land and sea. It commits to preserving Tuvalu's statehood and sovereignty even if its land becomes uninhabitable. The treaty grants Tuvaluans "freedom for unlimited travel" to and from Australia. In a nod to regional security, Australia has also agreed to assist Tuvalu in case of a major natural disaster, a public health emergency of international concern, or military aggression. Each year, a secret ballot will select 280 people who are over the age of 18, hold a Tuvaluan passport and were either born in Tuvalu or have a parent or grandparent born there. Tuvaluans have historically relied on Australia and New Zealand for support. This program is specifically for those without comparable options. People who already hold New Zealand citizenship, for example, are ineligible — underscoring the intent of the visa to prioritize those most in need. The visa is also open to people with disabilities, chronic health conditions or special needs — categories often excluded from other Australian visas. Already more than 3,000 Tuvaluans have applied for the first round. At 280 spots per year, that means an applicant today could face a wait of over 10 years. However there is a provision in the treaty to adjust those numbers if the need arises. Most visas tie migration to work or study requirements. Until now that was true for Tuvaluans too. Under the Falepili Union Treaty, people who win the ballot can move freely, without being locked into a job or course. As Jane McAdam, a law professor and expert in refugee law at the University of New South Wales, explains, "for some people it might be an opportunity to get their children a great education in Australia. For others, it will be a job opportunity, maybe sending remittances home." McAdam welcomes the scheme, calling it a reliable safety net for Tuvaluans. The permanent residency path comes with benefits such as subsidized education, medical insurance, disability insurance, family tax benefits, childcare subsidies and youth allowances. Traditionally climate disasters have fallen into a legal gap. For example, almost 30 years ago Australia's High Court ruled that those fleeing natural catastrophes could not qualify as refugees. The lack of international recognition continues to have consequences, as a 2022 case in New Zealand showed: A deaf Tuvaluan man argued he could not safely return home because he would not hear evacuation warnings during disasters. Yet the courts denied him protection. In the past year, Tuvalu experienced at least two major weather-related disasters: drought and flooding. Kamal Amakrane, who heads the UN's Global Centre for Climate Mobility, says the Falepili Union Treaty marks a shift in responses to climate change refugees. "This isn't a visa for climate refugees," he explains. "It's a climate mobility pathway." Unlike refugee status, which is granted for things like forced displacement after an armed conflict or political persecution, this approach recognizes climate change as a factor. It preserves agency and dignity, giving people the time to build resilience before deciding if they need to move. Other countries tend to act only after climate disasters strike. Argentina, for instance, launched a humanitarian visa in 2023 for people in Latin America hit by climate shocks — but only once they had already been displaced. Tuvalu is not alone. The Maldives, the Marshall Islands and Kiribati face similar threats and could also benefit from regional climate-mobility frameworks. The US has long operated Compacts of Free Association with Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau, allowing their citizens to live and work freely in the US. But these arrangements offer little access to public benefits and expose migrants to the risks of poverty. Other regional plans are being drawn up. In 2023 ministers from African member states endorsed the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change, pledging coordinated responses for people who want or need to move due to climate change. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video But at the same time, the crisis is also deepening. Between 2008 and 2018, over 80% of new disaster displacements worldwide happened in the Asia-Pacific — with Tuvalu right in the center of this risk zone. Experts argue that most people still hope to stay put if possible. "People do not want to leave the place they call home," Amakrane says. "So how do we help people stay where they belong? Enable their positive adaptation journey.'
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘Australia leads in rooftop solar tech — we can boost India's green transition'
Down under: Australian HC Philip Green says global warming is a lived reality Philip Green , Australia 's High Commissioner to India, spoke to Srijana Mitra Das at Times Evoke about the climate crisis — and Australian responses: Are there energy and environmental transition areas India and Australia could collaborate in? ■ There are several — and for Australia, doing so is important because there is no global green transition without India, the most populous country on Earth and already the world's fifth largest economy. There are three areas where we have capabilities that are important to India. The first is critical minerals — the vast majority of the world's batteries are lithium ion now. Australia produces over 50% of the world's lithium — India is becoming a major manufacturer of batteries and electric vehicles. So, we're trying to get India direct access to our supply chain of lithium and other critical minerals. The second area is clean tech where we have advanced proficiency — for example, Martin Green at the University of New South Wales produced the fundamental Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell ( PERC ) technology found now in all solar panels. Our companies and individuals hold around 14,000 patents in solar and wind technology — that's about the same as Germany, which has thrice the population and is a well-known expert in science and engineering. Australia has huge innovation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo However, we're a long way from global markets and can't scale with our small population. India has the scale and connectivity to globalise our inventions — we'd like to link Australian innovation with Indian scale. During the India Energy Storage Week, we are bringing 22 companies to engage with Indian counterparts in solar to hydro tech. The third is skills — India has a huge, young labour force and Australia offers skills and capabilities training. We are already working with India's Skill Council for Green Jobs to support training 2,000 technicians, helping India reach its target of 10 million solar rooftops. What is Australia's experience of global warming? ■ Australia is the driest inhabited continent on Earth and very vulnerable to climate change — this now shows in the devastating bushfires we saw some years ago, rising temperatures, harsher storms, less predictable rain, etc. Australians feel a lived change with global warming — in our recent election, they voted for a party which has climate change high on its priority list. This is now a palpable reality for us. What are Australia's commitments — and achievements — on renewables? ■ We've been reliant on fossil fuels for many years — that is changing dramatically now. We have a goal for 82% of our national grid to be green by 2030. We've reduced coal-fired power generation from 70% to under 50% and we produce some of the lowest-cost renewable power in the world. We lead globally on rooftop solar — Australia has the largest per capita deployment on Earth. When our Prime Ministers met last year, they discussed Australia providing rooftop solar expertise to India. What are the challenges Australia faces in the energy transition while ensuring growth? ■ Our approach is to maintain Australia's economic prosperity while we make this vital transition — one particular challenge is our size. Australia is over twice the size of India — we can generate low-cost renewable power but transmission is a challenge with our vast distances. So, we've embarked on major grid modernisation — we're spending $20 billion on ' Rewiring the Nation ', a program for our grid to take on more renewable power and reach it reliably to households and businesses. Much of Australia's industry uses environmentally extractive processes — is there a plan to make these more sustainable? ■ We have mechanisms encouraging our largest emitters — many being mining companies — to reduce their emissions in line with our 2050 net zero goal. Hearteningly, big players are picking up on this — for example, Andrew Forrest's Fortescue Group has decided to decarbonise its operations, largely iron ore extraction and exports. They are spending over $6 billion to decarbonise their primary mining operations and fund electric trucks to move the ore from pits to trains. We also produce some of the world's most sizable amounts of 'green' metals — alongside lithium, we're among the world's largest cobalt producers. As our mining becomes greener, it is increasingly producing the minerals and metals required for other nations' green transition. What role does indigenous knowledge play in Australia's environmental strategies? ■ We are immensely proud that our country is home to the oldest living culture on Earth — Australian indigenous people have pursued ways highly respectful of the environment. Frankly, they have been better at preserving the land than later generations of migrants. We are seeking to engage our indigenous communities in better land management — in some parts, for instance, it makes sense to apply indigenous practices of burning grasslands in the cool season, so there is less material to combust in the heat. We are also deploying indigenous people to protect and advance our ecology. How are Australia's species faring with climate change? ■ Much of our flora and fauna, like koalas, wombats and kangaroos, are unique to Australia and we strongly seek to protect them. Currently, 22% of our landmass is national parks. We are seeing climatic effects on eucalyptus forests in some areas now, reducing koala habitat, etc. Perhaps less obvious to the eye, but no less crucial, is the marine domain — the population of White's seahorses in Sydney has greatly reduced due to warming oceans. We're concerned and following the '30 by 30 Target' — by 2030, we will protect 30% not only of our landmass but our marine environment as well via national reserves, etc. America's returned to the 'Drill, baby, drill ' mantra — does Australia have a view? ■ America makes its own choices. Australia has made its own very clear choice — we seek climate change action. Hence, our ambition is to reduce emissions, adopt renewables, etc. Also, we look beyond — our near-abroad are countries of the Pacific, many profoundly affected by climate change. Hence, Australia, with these Pacific nations, is bidding to host the next UN FCCC COP summit as climate change issues are now vital for us. (Views expressed are personal) Times Evoke 'Diplomaticus' is an occasional series with international envoys on climate, energy & geopolitics Koalas and seahorses now face climate change
