Daily Links Mar 15

Post of the Day

Climate, coffee, cocoa, Corona

As evidence mounts that we’ve ignored opportunities to prepare for the infectious onslaught that’s now upon us – not enough hospital beds, test kits, or even alcohol swabs – let’s think about the 30 years of warning signs we’ve had to halt, or at least cope with, climate change.

 

On This Day

Mar 15

 

Ecological Observance

Buzzards Day – Ohio

 

Climate Change

Heat stress may affect more than 1.2 billion people annually by 2100

Heat stress from extreme heat and humidity will annually affect areas now home to 1.2 billion people by 2100, assuming current greenhouse gas emissions, according to a Rutgers study

 

Responding to ‘wild’ online comments about climate change

A climate scientist has jumped into news.com.au’s comments section to debunk the climate change myths that just won’t die. She didn’t hold back.

 

Climate, coffee, cocoa, Corona

As evidence mounts that we’ve ignored opportunities to prepare for the infectious onslaught that’s now upon us – not enough hospital beds, test kits, or even alcohol swabs – let’s think about the 30 years of warning signs we’ve had to halt, or at least cope with, climate change.

 

Patriotism could be the unlikely answer to solving the climate crisis

Anatol Lieven

Last week’s [UK] budget was a missed opportunity: we need to mobilise our attachment to country

 

National

Embarrassed, ridiculed and threatened: Alinta’s customers speak up

Jenna McDonald, a financially strapped carer who is battling her own medical issues, says Alinta Energy shamed and embarrassed her then threatened to disconnect her after she missed a payment on her plan.

 

Tracking study reveals secret life of great white sharks [$]

A five-year groundbreaking tracking program — set up in the wake of a series of fatal shark attacks — has uncovered some startling facts about great white sharks, from their migration patterns to what times of the day they are on the prowl. SEE WHERE TAGGED SHARKS TRAVELLED

9m ago

 

Fallout still being felt across Australia [$]

Grantlee Kieza

Way we were Almost two centuries after Britain sent the First Fleet to Australia with the refuse of its prison system, they began sending us their nuclear fallout as well.

 

New South Wales

‘Biological hazard’: GM cows and the experiment that went wrong

In a paddock in rural Australia are five calves that look just like any others. But they’re not — they’re considered “biological hazards”. And this is the story of how they got here.

 

State MPs dismayed at NSW Forestry logging unburnt habitat after bushfires

Endangered species have lost up to 82% of their habitat but Environment Protection Authority says logging of unburnt forest is legal

 

Plea to save ‘hundreds of millions’ of fish killed by irrigation pumps

Recreational fishers are appealing to farmers to work with them to save the millions of fish killed in irrigation pipes each year.

 

ACT

Loss of open space source of communities’ frustrations

John and Robin Davies looked for a long time to find a place to live with a green buffer between them and the urban environment, but now that looks set to be lost for a temporary car park.

 

Think before you flush: the fatbergs clogging up Canberra

In 2012, when Rob Allen was relatively new to the water and waste game, he was called to the Dickson shops to find sewage spilling out from below the street onto footpaths and roads.

 

Queensland

Breeding clownfish to save the species

A Central Queensland research centre tries to breed clownfish for pet shops in a bid to save the species from extinction

 

State may fall short on protected land pledge [$]

There are fears threatened species will be placed at risk with the State Government set to miss its 2020 to lock up protected land.

 

South Australia

Kimba nuclear dump moves a step closer

A bid to stop the construction of a nuclear waste dump in the SA outback on native title grounds has failed.

 

Tasmania

Major Projects Legislation to be discussed in parliament [$]

A month is not enough time for communities to be consulted about major projects legislation, the Tasmania Conservatory Trust says.

 

Working hard to cultivate ‘super kelp’ forests

Colonies of tiny “super kelp” off Tasmania are helping scientists find a global remedy for habitat loss caused by climate change.

 

Northern Territory

Remote Top End communities closed off to non-essential travel due to coronavirus

The Northern Land Council says all existing permits to Top End Aboriginal communities for non-essential travel will be suspended and no new permits will be granted until further notice.

 

Travel ban implemented in the NT [$]

Kakadu could be closed to visitors, if concerns about coronavirus spreading in remote communities held by Traditional Owners are listened to by Parks Australia

 

Sustainability

Invisible plastics in water

A Washington State University research team has found that nanoscale particles of the most commonly used plastics tend to move through the water supply, especially in fresh water, or settle out in wastewater treatment plants, where they end up as sludge, in landfills, and often as fertilizer.

 

Long-term analysis shows GM cotton no match for insects in India

In India, Bt cotton is the most widely planted cotton crop by acreage, and it is hugely controversial. Supporters long touted increased yields and reduced pesticides to justify its pickup. But that argument does not hold up under the first long-term study of Bt cotton impacts in India.

 

Treated wastewater may safe for aquaculture — Ben-Gurion University researchers

A new study in aquaculture by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has determined that organic micropollutants (OMPs) in the water – trace elements of heavy metals, pharmaceuticals and personal care products as well as pesticides, solvents, and detergents – result in minimal accumulation in fish. Additionally, the wastewater does not appear to affect other commercially important traits of fish.

 

Computer model solves mystery of how gas bubbles build big methane hydrate deposits

New research from The University of Texas at Austin has explained an important mystery about natural gas hydrate formations and, in doing so, advanced scientists’ understanding of how gas hydrates could contribute to climate change and energy security.

 

Can poor air quality make you gain weight?

A new study links air pollution to changes in the human gut microbiome which could fuel diabetes, obesity and inflammatory bowel diseases like colitis and Crohn’s disease.

 

SUTD develops missing link to circular economy while tackling global waste

Urban waste and bio-inspired engineering provide key ingredients to 3D printed bioplastic, allowing for global adoption of sustainable manufacturing processes.

 

Pathways toward realizing the promise of all-solid-state batteries

UC San Diego nanoengineers offer a research roadmap describing four challenges that need to be addressed in order to advance a promising class of batteries, all-solid-state batteries, to commercialization.

 

I rode a $12,500 e-bike and this is what I learned [$]

Nathan Davies

E-bikes are the future, they say. Nathan Davies wasn’t convinced so he bludged one with a price tag that would fit a decent car and put it to work. Here’s what happened.

 

Nature Conservation

How the world’s fattest parrot came back from the brink

New Zealand’s kākāpō has long been endangered, but when a deadly fungal disease struck the country’s vets came to the rescue

 

HKU scientists find high concentrations of toxic phenyltin compounds in local Chinese white dolphins

An HKU research team confirmed the occurrence of biomagnification of toxic substance TPT compounds along the marine food chain resulted in very high concentrations of TPT in two top predators, the Chinese white dolphin and the finless porpoises.

 

UM professor helps Malaysia develop conservation areas, protect species

Jedediah Brodie has spent a career tromping around tropical rainforests, conducting on-the-ground research in some of the world’s most lush and diverse regions.

 

Now for something completely different
Here’s why the gathering ban will start on Monday and not immediately

We were warned that more extreme measures to control coronavirus were coming. Now, the Prime Minister has outlined what they are. We look at how they will affect you and the rest of the population.