The Effects of the Collision of Cyclones Seroja and Odette
In 2021, the world saw a rare and powerful weather event: two major cyclones, Seroja and Odette, collided and caused severe destruction in different parts of the world. Though they started in separate oceans, they came together off the western coast of Australia, creating devastating effects. This anomalous occurrence showed how unpredictable and powerful tropical storms can become when they interact.
Global Warming is Causing Dengue Cases to Soar
Whether it’s stress and uncertainty from forced displacements from wildfires, rises in sea level, or fear and hunger from poor nutrition in places where people can’t grow food, climate change is one of Earth’s biggest threats. Recent scientific discoveries show that mosquito-induced Dengue cases are set to double in the next 25 years, especially in warmer areas like the Americas and Asia, and could potentially affect over 250 million people. “It’s evidence that climate change already has become a significant threat to human health and, for dengue in particular, our data suggests the impact could get much worse,” says Dr Erin Mordecai, an infectious disease ecologist at Stanford University.
The Great Hunt
Imagine hunting a species that is ten meters larger than you. Well, that is what a pod of killer whales are doing in the Gulf of California. Last year, marine biologist, Erick Higuera, and his colleagues researchers uncovered the killer whales to have learned a series of unique skills to hunt down whale sharks, the world’s largest fish.
Ancient Writing Discovered in Syria
Imagine writing a gift tag, only for it to be discovered and marvelled at thousands of years later. Recently, at the American Society of Overseas Research meeting held in Boston, archaeologists presented evidence for the world’s oldest writing on a clay cylinder found in a 4,400-year-old Syrian tomb. The cylinder, described as an ancient gift tag, bore the word “Silanu,” which researchers speculate could be a name. This discovery was revolutionary as it both showed signs of humans experimenting with communication technologies and also showed a different perspective that the word may be alphabetic letters rather than another type of writing system.
Life on Mars?
Imagine a secret colony of talking creatures inhabiting Saturn or purple and rose-coloured aliens living on Jupiter. Whether life exists beyond Earth is one of the most intriguing and debated topics in science, and a recent discovery on Mars might answer the debate. A discovery in July of 2024, conducted by NASA scientists, uncovered a vein-filled rock on Mars that featured chemical signatures and structures that could have been formed by microbial life billions of years ago. This discovery suggests that there is a high possibility that life once inhabited Mars.
Old Clothes and Carpet Turning into Concrete: A New Way to Reduce Textile Waste
Textile waste is a large problem, and when items have come to the end of their lives, it can be hard to recycle them, as individual fabrics require different processes to be correctly recycled. A recent project at RMIT University in Melbourne is turning textile waste into concrete sustainability. Engineers have been experimenting with incorporating fibres from old clothes and carpets into the concrete mixes, offering a solution to textile waste.
Cool Water Saving a Wonder of the World?
Great Barrier Reef, AUS — Daddy bear’s porridge was far too hot. Mummy bear’s porridge was far too cold. Baby bear’s porridge, however, as just right. This familiar tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears is a parallel to the current problem of Great Barrier reef coral bleaching. Coral bleaching is a significant problem for the great barrier reef; however, researchers have recently discovered cold patches of water that keep some coral reefs not as badly bleached, due to upwelling.
Genetically Engineered Fruits
Genetic Engineering has sparked debates and interests. It has the power to modify the building blocks of life, while also increasing income, agricultural efficiency and potentially even reducing food waste. Technologies for genetically modifying foods offer dramatic responses for meeting some of the greatest challenges of the 21st century.
CSIRO is Shaping Energy’s Future with New Innovations
Australia’s national science organisation, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), is researching and creating new innovations that are unlocking new possibilities for solar energy. Led by Noel Duffy, head of Solar technology, they are using concentrated solar thermal technologies and tandem solar cells, to convert sunlight into electricity, and solar cells that work at night. All in all, CSIRO is dedefining how Australia generates and uses power (CSIRO).
Tropical Cyclones Collide!
In April 2021, tropical cyclones Seroja and Odette merged with one another in the Indian Ocean, just north-west of Australia. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) described this merger as rare. Two scientists from the University of Oldenburg, Germany have studied this phenomenon in detail to understand how these newer, more unpredictable weather patterns, driven by climate changes, are impacting us.