Latest news with #iNaturalist
1News
20 hours ago
- 1News
Erin Patterson mushroom trial nears end - what you need to know
The trial of Erin Patterson, accused of murdering three relatives and attempting to murder a fourth by serving them a meal allegedly laced with death cap mushrooms, continues in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Detective Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall has been on the stand for four days. His testimony has revealed new details about Erin Patterson's messages, devices and the digital evidence that investigators say helped build their case. Australia Correspondent Aziz Al Sa'afin wraps up week five of the trial. The case On July 29, 2023, Erin Patterson hosted a lunch at her home in Leongatha, Victoria, serving beef Wellington to her former in-laws: Don and Gail Patterson, Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, and Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson. ADVERTISEMENT Subsequently, all four guests fell ill with symptoms consistent with death cap mushroom poisoning. Don, Gail, and Heather died in the following days, while Ian survived after intensive medical treatment, including a liver transplant. Patterson has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, asserting that the incident was a tragic accident. Who is Detective Eppingstall? Detective Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall has led the investigation. This week, jurors have heard his detailed evidence over four consecutive days and both sides have put his case under a microscope. Prosecution's case Digital evidence and purchase history ADVERTISEMENT Detective Eppingstall presented evidence indicating that Patterson's computer had been used to access iNaturalist, a website documenting death cap mushroom sightings, in May 2022. Additionally, Woolworths Everyday Rewards data showed purchases of mushrooms, pastry, eye fillet, onions and mashed potato in the week leading up to the lunch Detective Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall. (Source: Nine) Mobile devices and SIM card activity Eppingstall testified that Patterson used multiple phones and allegedly swapped SIM cards during a police search of her home. One device, referred to as "Phone A", remains missing. Another phone was subjected to multiple factory resets, the court was told. Dehydrator and disposal ADVERTISEMENT The prosecution highlighted that Patterson initially denied owning a food dehydrator. However, a manual was found in her home and CCTV footage showed a woman getting out of a red SUV and disposing of a dehydrator at a local transfer station shortly after the lunch. Forensic analysis detected traces of death cap mushroom toxins on the dehydrator. Text messages and health claims Text messages presented in court revealed that Patterson had informed her former in-laws about undergoing cancer tests, a claim unsubstantiated by medical records. The prosecution suggests this was a fabricated excuse to for the lunch as well as to prevent her children from attending. Defence's argument Contextualizing digital evidence ADVERTISEMENT Defence counsel Colin Mandy SC argued the digital evidence, including internet searches and purchase histories, does not conclusively prove intent to harm. He emphasised that others could have accessed the computer and that receipts do not confirm which mushrooms were used in the meal. Emotional state and health concerns The defence acknowledged that Patterson lied about her health status but contended that these falsehoods stemmed from panic and longstanding health anxieties. Patterson had a history of researching potential ovarian cancer, which the defence argues contributed to her mental state. Relationship dynamics Messages from a Facebook group chat were introduced, showing Patterson expressing frustration toward her in-laws and estranged husband. ADVERTISEMENT The defence maintained that these messages were taken out of context and represented emotional venting rather than evidence of malicious intent. Police investigation scrutiny Under cross-examination, Detective Eppingstall faced questions regarding the thoroughness of the investigation. The defence pointed out during the initial search of Patterson's home, several electronic devices and bank records were not seized. Eppingstall admitted to certain oversights but defended the overall integrity of the investigation. Patterson's Police interview shown to court Detective who led the investigation reveals stark new details about Patterson's actions and behaviour following the fatal lunch. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT One of the most scrutinised parts of the case is Patterson's interview with police, recorded three days after the fatal lunch. The jury was played audio of the three-hour interview earlier in the trial. In it, Patterson appeared emotional but denied deliberately poisoning her guests. She repeatedly told officers she didn't know how the mushrooms could have become contaminated, saying: 'I didn't do anything... I loved them.' She said the beef Wellington was made with a mix of button mushrooms from the supermarket and dried mushrooms she believed were bought from an Asian grocer 'a long time ago'. Patterson insisted she had no reason to harm her former in-laws and described the incident as 'an accident'. However, Police noted that some of Patterson's statements conflicted with other evidence presented at trial, including: She said she didn't own a dehydrator yet CCTV showed a woman disposing of one at a rubbish tip on the day Patterson discharged herself from hospital. She initially told police she hadn't searched for mushrooms online, despite forensic evidence showing mushroom-related searches on a computer seized from her home. She said she cooked and ate the same meal as her guests, but hospital staff said she did not display symptoms consistent with mushroom poisoning. The defence has acknowledged that Patterson lied in parts of her interview but argued these were 'panicked omissions' from someone in shock and grief. They urged the jury not to treat her inconsistencies as proof of guilt, but rather as the behaviour of a distressed woman who was overwhelmed by the unfolding tragedy.
The Age
a day ago
- The Age
Ten technology changes that will transform your next holiday
Travel for good By collecting valuable research data, citizen science is a hands-on way for travellers to help give back to the destinations they visit. Not too long ago, expensive hardware made researchers reluctant to hand over the controls to inexperienced travellers, but advances and cheaper technology are opening new opportunities. Guests at Ritz-Carlton Maldives can aid turtle conservationists by piloting drones (after completing simulation training) to detect harmful ocean plastic and ghost nets, and at Tanzania's Usangu Expedition Camp they can help set up camera traps to monitor big cat activity. The iNaturalist app has also gamified conservation tourism by helping travellers collect wildlife sightings, much like Pokemon. Antarctic cruise operator HX encourages travellers to download the app once onboard to help document whale, seal and penguin sightings on a voyage to the White Continent. See GPS self-guided tours Elon Musk's SpaceX has ambitious plans to launch thousands of satellites into orbit, with a record number of satellites launched in 2024. More satellites armed with next-gen technology will lead to stronger GPS systems, which is making independent travel more accessible. Australia-based European adventure company UTracks now provides hikers with a GPS-enabled app designed to help them navigate the trail and alert them if they go off-course. Closer to home, Australian Cycle Tours has developed a similar app that gives cyclists turn-by-turn instructions and statistics, such as distance covered, while suggesting local sights, cafes and restaurants for a pitstop. See Hotel service goes digital One legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it forced companies, such as Hilton Hotels, to adopt socially distanced digital room keys that can be downloaded to your phone. That innovation has since diverted hundreds of tonnes of plastic cards, so expect it to become more widespread as hotels increasingly go green. Also on the rise are AI-powered concierges such as Jean, the digital butler recently introduced at Park Regis by Prince Singapore. Jean can be called on for room service or to help decide how to spend your day in Singapore. Marriott Hotels has also created Renai, which merges staff insights with ChatGPT and other open-source data to create local recommendations. See Smart gate tech rolls out Last year, Sydney's International Airport joined the rollout of SmartGate systems across Australia, joining Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth in the move to the new Gen 3 technology, reducing the time it takes to clear customs (in theory, at least). While biometric technology has been in airports for a while now, a push for frictionless travel will see automated electronic gates introduced at border crossings and ports. Testing is already under way in Malaysia, Singapore, Bhutan, India and Zimbabwe, with updated algorithms that can adapt to a growing problem with deepfakes and spoofing, such as fake fingerprints and facial masks. Power banks tighten up In April, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and other Asian carriers tightened their rules on carrying lithium-ion power bank battery packs due to the fire risk posed by overheating. Battery packs can still be taken onboard along with other carry-on items, but travellers won't be allowed to use it, charge it using seat-back power outlets, or place it in overhead lockers. South Korea has indicated it will also require battery packs to be stored in a plastic bag. Virgin Australia and Qantas now allow power banks to be used or charged onboard and don't plan to change their policies, though Qantas advises against using power banks during flights. Drones take flight Aided by AI and armed with specialist accessories, drones are now being deployed to do more than just capture sweeping beach panoramas. Case in point: New Zealand, Spain, France and the United States are trialling lifeguard drones to patrol tourist beaches and deliver life vests to struggling swimmers. Drones armed with bacteria-destroying ultraviolet light are being used to clean airports and aircraft cabins, while cities such as Dubai, Shanghai and Miami are embracing environmentally friendly drone light-shows instead of fireworks. Australia has joined in on the aerial entertainment with Wintjiri Wiru, a light show at Uluru that brings Aboriginal storytelling to life using 1200 drones. See Loading Emissions-free flights With the International Air Transport Association aiming to achieve net zero by 2050, the race is on to decarbonise Australia's aviation industry, which produces about 5 per cent of Australia's carbon emissions. Smaller Australian aviation companies are already retrofitting existing aircraft with green propulsion systems, such as Kite Magnetics in Victoria and Stralis in Queensland. But fleet manufacturers such as Boeing will need more time to adapt, transitioning to blended fuels made from waste by-products before switching entirely to electric. Perth-based FlyOnE is expecting to offer fully electric commercial flights later this year, with cheaper emissions-free air travel to be more widespread in the next five years. See
IOL News
5 days ago
- Science
- IOL News
Discovering a new Velvet Worm species in the Swartberg Mountains
Peripatopsis barnardi represents the first ever species from the little Karoo, which indicates that the area was historically more forested than at present. It is one of seven new species from the Cape Fold Mountains described in a paper published in Ecology and Evolution. Image: Savel Daniels In March 2022, Stellenbosch University (SU) student Rohan Barnard was out and about on a farm in the Swartberg Mountains between Calitzdorp and Oudtshoorn, flipping over rocks looking for ants, reptiles and other critters, when he stumbled upon the finding of a lifetime. Buried deep in the moist sand below a pile of leaf litter at the periphery of a small river, he found a slate black velvet worm. Being familiar with how rare velvet worms are, he took a specimen and also posted an image of it to the biodiversity observation app, iNaturalist. 'I had a basic knowledge of the Cape velvet worms, having found one for the first time on Table Mountain in 2019. My older brother was under assignment from his zoology lecturer, Prof. Savel Daniels, to collect velvet worms. With my interest in ants, I gladly assisted him in this task,' Rohan, now a third year BSc student in Conservation Ecology and Entomology, explained. Velvet worms' lineage dates back to over 500 million years ago., making it a living relic of the Cambrian period. With their soft bodies and non-jointed legs, these critters have changed little over millions of years, earning them the title of 'living fossils'. Little did Rohan know at the time that he had just found a new species of velvet worm, now aptly named Rohan's velvet worm or, in scientific terms, Peripatopsis barnardi. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ A new velvet worm species, Peripatopsis barnardi, is named after Rohan Barnard, currently a third year BSc student in Conservation Ecology and Entomology at Stellenbosch University. He found a specimen while looking for insects in an ancient forest patch in a kloof in the Swartberg Mountains. Image: Supplied. Even more remarkable is the fact that it representsthe first ever species from the little Karoo, which indicates that the area was historically more forested than at present. In other words, with prehistorical climate changes, and aridification, the species became isolated and underwent speciation. According to Prof. Daniels, an evolutionary biologist from SU's Department of Botany and Zoology and one of South Africa's foremost specialists on velvet worms, it is utterly remarkable that such a prehistorical lineage is still around today. After viewing this rare find on iNaturalist, he visited the same area in July 2022 and collected a paratype and another nine specimens for analysis. The results of his analysis, and the announcement of seven new species of velvet worms, were published in the journal Ecology and Evolution recently. Daniels, the first author on the paper, said South Africa's velvet worms are mainly found in prehistoric Afro temperate forest patches that persist in deep gorges in the Cape Fold Mountains 'The origin of these forest patches can be traced to the early Miocene, about 23 to 15 million years ago, when the region used to be temperate and sub-tropical. During the late Miocene, however, the region underwent significant climatic changes, with a decrease in rainfall due to the advent of the proto-Benguela current along the West Coast and two geotectonic uplifting events. These events resulted in a complex mosaic of habitat connectivity and isolation, what we know today as the Cape Fold Mountains, driving the speciation of habitat specialists such as velvet worms,' he explains. Daniels used new mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequencing techniques, combined with morphological analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), to determine that P. barnardi diverged from its most recent common ancestor about 15.2 million years ago. Another novel finding from the Cederberg Mountains, P. cederbergiensis, can trace its lineage to 12.47 million years ago. Daniels welcomes the efforts of citizen scientists to share their findings on biodiversity apps: 'It is thanks to citizen science data that we were able to identify the new species. In the Cape Fold Mountains, we now know that every mountain peak has an endemic species. This suggests that in unsampled areas there are likely to be additional novel diversity, waiting to be found.' Most importantly, though, it means that we must conserve these prehistoric forest fragments to limit extinction. To Rohan, it still feels surreal to have such a fossil-like creature named after him: 'It is incredible to realise that I've uncovered a living fossil. It is as if I have found a missing link that we did not even know about. It gives me hope that there is still so much left to discover. But it also makes me worried for the future, that we will lose animals and plants to extinction that we did not even know existed,' he warned. The seven new species are P. fernkloofi, P. jonkershoeki, P. kogelbergi, P. landroskoppie, P. limietbergi and P. palmeri. Apart from P. barnardi, all the new species were named after their places of origin. The results were published in the article titled 'Perched on the plateau: speciation in a Cape Fold Mountain velvet worm clade' in Ecology and Evolution. Why are velvet worms so unique? Like the indestructible water bears (Tardigrades), modern velvet worms are looked on as a separate line of evolution (and placed in a distinct phylum) that arose independently from some long forgotten marine ancestor – probably the Hallicogenia. Fossils show that velvet worms have not changed much since they diverged from their ancient relative about 540 million years ago. This means Onycophorans have been living on Earth ever since what is called the Cambrian period of prehistory. Today, modern velvet worms live on land and are found only in damp, moist habitats in areas that were originally part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana
West Australian
6 days ago
- West Australian
Erin Patterson: Online searches probed in mushroom murder trial
Lawyers acting for alleged triple-murderer Erin Patterson have begun questioning a digital forensics officer about digital records found on devices taken from the accused woman's house. Shamen Fox-Henry, from Victoria Police's cybercrime squad, returned to the witness box on Monday for cross-examination after giving evidence over three days last week. Under questioning by Ms Patterson's barrister Colin Mandy SC, Mr Fox-Henry was taken to a report generated on about 67 data artefacts pulled from more than 2½ million records on a Cooler Master computer. The jury was told the device was taken from Ms Patterson's home on August 5 and, after processing using proprietary software, investigators used keyword searches to identify items of interest. Records from the Cooler Master computer captured online activity over about three minutes from 7.20pm to 7.23pm on May 28, 2022. Last week the jury was told a Bing search for 'iNaturalist' was located at 7.20pm, followed by a visit to the iNaturalist homepage through the Microsoft Edge browser. Minutes later, at 7.23pm, a specific URL was visited with the recorded headline 'Deathcap from Melbourne, Vic, Australia on May 18 2022 … Bricker Reserve, Moorabbin – iNaturalist'. Just 21 seconds later another record captures a Google search for Korumburra Middle Pub at 7.23pm, a venue not far from Ms Patterson's home. Another record captured a phone number and 'Erin Patterson' being auto-filled by Google. Mr Mandy suggested this appeared to be an 'auto-fill purchase' from the pub, but Mr Fox-Henry confirmed that anyone with access to the computer could use the auto-fill. He told the jury that he did not examine the computer to check these settings, nor if the date and time of the computer was correct. He conceded that he could have, if asked, re-examined the records of the computer to look at activity before and after the three minutes of records. Questioned on if this could have given him more information about the activity, such as who conducted the search or past or subsequent activity, the forensic officer said 'potentially, yes'. Ms Patterson is facing trial after pleading not guilty to murdering three members of her husband Simon Patterson's family and the attempted murder of one more. Prosecutors allege she deliberately poisoned a lunch on July 29, 2023 with death cap mushrooms, while her defence argues the poisoning was an unintentional tragic accident. Don Patterson, Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson died in the week following the beef wellington meal, while Ian Wilkinson survived. The trial continues.
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Perth Now
3-minute window probed in mushroom trial
Lawyers acting for alleged triple-murderer Erin Patterson have begun questioning a digital forensics officer about digital records found on devices taken from the accused woman's house. Shamen Fox-Henry, from Victoria Police's cybercrime squad, returned to the witness box on Monday for cross-examination after giving evidence over three days last week. Under questioning by Ms Patterson's barrister Colin Mandy SC, Mr Fox-Henry was taken to a report generated on about 67 data artefacts pulled from more than 2½ million records on a Cooler Master computer. The jury was told the device was taken from Ms Patterson's home on August 5 and, after processing using proprietary software, investigators used keyword searches to identify items of interest. Senior digital forensics officer Shamen Fox-Henry returned to the witness box on Monday. NewsWire / Diego Fedele Credit: News Corp Australia Records from the Cooler Master computer captured online activity over about three minutes from 7.20pm to 7.23pm on May 28, 2022. Last week the jury was told a Bing search for 'iNaturalist' was located at 7.20pm, followed by a visit to the iNaturalist homepage through the Microsoft Edge browser. Minutes later, at 7.23pm, a specific URL was visited with the recorded headline 'Deathcap from Melbourne, Vic, Australia on May 18 2022 … Bricker Reserve, Moorabbin – iNaturalist'. Just 21 seconds later another record captures a Google search for Korumburra Middle Pub at 7.23pm, a venue not far from Ms Patterson's home. Another record captured a phone number and 'Erin Patterson' being auto-filled by Google. Ms Patterson has pleaded not guilty. Brooke Grebert-Craig. Credit: Supplied Mr Mandy suggested this appeared to be an 'auto-fill purchase' from the pub, but Mr Fox-Henry confirmed that anyone with access to the computer could use the auto-fill. He told the jury that he did not examine the computer to check these settings, nor if the date and time of the computer was correct. He conceded that he could have, if asked, re-examined the records of the computer to look at activity before and after the three minutes of records. Questioned on if this could have given him more information about the activity, such as who conducted the search or past or subsequent activity, the forensic officer said 'potentially, yes'. Lunch survivor Ian Wilkinson attended the court. NewsWire / David Geraghty Credit: News Corp Australia Ms Patterson is facing trial after pleading not guilty to murdering three members of her husband Simon Patterson's family and the attempted murder of one more. Prosecutors allege she deliberately poisoned a lunch on July 29, 2023 with death cap mushrooms, while her defence argues the poisoning was an unintentional tragic accident. Don Patterson, Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson died in the week following the beef wellington meal, while Ian Wilkinson survived. The trial continues.
