western australia

A newly discovered koala species, Phascolarctos maxillaris, once roamed western australia, differing significantly from its eastern relatives. This prehistoric marsupial, identified by unique cheekbone grooves, possessed a more robust skull and slender build. Its extinction around 28,000 years ago, linked to drastic climate change and habitat loss, serves as a stark warning for modern conservation efforts.

Researchers in western australia have discovered evidence of the elusive giant squid in the East Indian Ocean using environmental DNA. This groundbreaking study, conducted in deep canyons off the Ningaloo coastline, analyzed water samples to detect genetic traces, revealing a thriving, largely unknown ecosystem. The findings highlight the potential of eDNA for marine conservation and understanding biodiversity in extreme environments.

western australia's Mammoth Cave reveals ancient secrets, including evidence of arboreal kangaroos and long-beaked echidnas, suggesting a past humid climate and rich ecosystem. New research indicates early Australians were not just hunters but possibly the world's first palaeontologists, collecting and valuing fossilized bones, transforming the cave from an 'abattoir' into a source of ancient narratives.

western australia has detected vaccine-derived poliovirus in Perth's wastewater, a strain seen globally. Health officials emphasize the risk to the public is extremely low due to a high vaccination rate of 92% among children. This discovery, while not a public health emergency, serves as a crucial reminder of polio's presence elsewhere and the vital importance of ongoing vaccination efforts.

With US now increasingly disinterested in the quadrilateral grouping, does it serve India’s interests to hang on? As Trump & Xi summit today, New Delhi must take a hard call

Scientists have identified the Yarrabubba impact crater in western australia as the Earth's oldest, dating back 2.229 billion years. This ancient collision, occurring when Earth was covered in ice, may have released massive amounts of water vapour, potentially ending a global ice age. The discovery offers crucial insights into early Earth's climate history.

Earth's longest mountain range is not on land but beneath the ocean. The Mid-Ocean Ridge System stretches an incredible 65,000 kilometers, far surpassing any terrestrial range. This vast underwater chain is formed by tectonic plate movement. While unseen, it is a dynamic geological feature shaping our planet. Famous ranges like the Andes and Rockies rank lower in length.

A British couple, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, on a motorcycle trip to Australia, were arrested in Iran in early 2025 and accused of espionage. Despite their family's pleas and a hunger strike, they were sentenced to 10 years in Evin Prison. Their son campaigns for their release, while the UK government presses Iran for their freedom, calling the charges unjustifiable.

Discover the Children's Python, a small, non-venomous snake from Australia, ideal for beginners. Named in honor of John George Children, this nocturnal hunter grows up to 4 feet and thrives in diverse Australian habitats. With a captive lifespan of 15-30 years, it's a fascinating and manageable pet.

A rare long-period comet, C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), is currently visible in southern skies for a limited time. Originating from the Oort Cloud, this ancient remnant is now moving away from the Sun, causing its brightness to decline. Observers in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa have a brief window to view its blue-green glow with binoculars or telescopes.

Brazilian scientist Luciano Moreira tenderly handles a glass box of swarming mosquitoes infected with a bacterium that blocks the transmission of dengue. In the south of the country, which used to be much colder, there was no dengue before, but now there is," Moreira, 59, told AFP. The world's largest breeding factory for the mosquitoes -- nicknamed "wolbitos" after the Wolbachia bacterium they were injected with -- is located in the southern city of Curitiba.

Andy Donaldson set a record 55km “dam to dam” swim along western australia’s Ord Rivxer in 11 hours 51 minutes, becoming the fastest and first man to complete the route. The ultramarathon swimmer navigated remote conditions, heat and wildlife concerns in the crocodile-inhabited river, describing the challenge as “magical” and the most beautiful swim of his career.

Scientists in Goa have identified the highly venomous box jellyfish, Morbakka virulenta, for the first time in Indian waters off Caranzalem beach. This discovery, confirmed through morphological and molecular analysis, expands the species' known range and highlights the need for continuous coastal monitoring due to the potent venom and increasing jellyfish stings.