We’re putting lots of transition metals into the stratosphere. That’s not good.
We successfully plugged the hole in the ozone layer that was discovered in the 1980s by banning ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). But, it seems we might be unintentionally creating another potential atmospheric calamity by using the upper atmosphere to destroy huge constellations of satellites after a very short (i.e. 5 year) lifetime. ⌘ Read more
Checkup time for Fido? The wait to get an appointment might be longer in rural areas
Most people can get their pets in for veterinary visits relatively quickly, but access to care could be improved in rural areas, suggests a recent study. ⌘ Read more
Ocean iron fertilization or artificial ocean alkalinization? Study reveals divergent effects on climate
Global warming poses a significant threat to human society. Rapid and substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are necessary measures to mitigate global warming. However, substantially reduced emissions alone may not be sufficient to achieve the temperature control targets of the Paris Agreement. ⌘ Read more
Canva unveils world-first AI model as it gears for blockbuster listing
The Sydney-based tech firm has made its biggest product launch yet as it eyes a sharemarket float within the next two years. ⌘ Read more
Plastic packaging could be a greater sin than food waste
Food waste has long been reviled as an immoral, largely preventable feature of our consumer society. ⌘ Read more
Three wolf pups sought in California’s Sierra Valley after parents euthanized
Three wolf pups from a pack whose adult members were euthanized by state conservation officials earlier in October had still not been captured despite weeks of searching by scientists and wildlife officers, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said. ⌘ Read more
Electrochemical system converts plant compound into two valuable products at once
A research team has created a new kind of electrochemical “two-in-one” system that turns plant-based molecules into two useful products at once. Using a finely tuned single-atom ruthenium catalyst, the process combines two chemical reactions, oxidation and hydrogenation, inside a single electrolytic cell, much like cooking two dishes in the same pot without mixing up the flavors. Details of the research were p … ⌘ Read more
Were Neanderthals capable of making art?
The ability to make art has often been considered a hallmark of our species. Over a century ago, prehistorians even had trouble believing that modern humans from the Upper Paleolithic (between 45,000 and 12,000 years ago) were capable of artistic flair. ⌘ Read more
Genome-wide analysis of gene expression in sorghum furthers efforts to improve stem biomass
Sorghum bicolor is a deep-rooted, heat- and drought-tolerant crop that thrives on marginal lands and is increasingly valued for its applications in biofuel, bioenergy, and biopolymer production. ⌘ Read more
EU in race against time to agree climate emissions target
European diplomats are scrambling to agree on a 10-year target to cut EU carbon emissions this week, with time running out ahead of the United Nations COP30 climate summit. ⌘ Read more
Eyes above the trees: LiDAR technology improves forest assessment with laser beams
Forests have been benefiting humanity since long before the health benefits of forest bathing were discovered. They are major carbon sinks that provide a wide range of ecosystem services, including timber and non-timber forest products, recreation, and climate regulation. ⌘ Read more
お知らせ：CyberNewsFlash「既知または弱いシークレットを設定したWebアプリケーションの改ざんリスクについて」 ⌘ Read more
Cubans flee the coast as Hurricane Melissa looms
Under sheets of rain and laden with possessions, residents of southeast Cuba fled inland Tuesday—escaping the peril of the coast before Hurricane Melissa’s arrival. ⌘ Read more
Melissa is a beast among a string of monster Atlantic storms. Scientists explain
Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica with record-tying 185 mph winds Tuesday, was a beast that stood out as extreme even in a record number of monster storms spawned over the last decade in a superheated Atlantic Ocean. ⌘ Read more
A $760 billion monster has just been set free
The maker of ChatGPT has an insatiable appetite, and need, for cash. A major move long in the making has just opened up its options. ⌘ Read more
This is the Milky Way as you’ve never seen it before
Astronomers have created the largest low-frequency radio colour image of the Milky Way ever assembled - and it’s stunning. ⌘ Read more
Researchers develop highly fluorescent helical quinolizinium salts via rhodium-catalyzed synthesis
A research team has successfully synthesized a new class of helical quinolizinium salts exhibiting exceptionally strong fluorescence in the orange-to-red light region (606–682 nm). ⌘ Read more
XMPP Interop Testing: Putting NTA 7532 to the Test (Literally)
You might have seen the XMPP Standards Foundation’s open letter to NEN about NTA 7532, the Dutch effort to standardise secure healthcare chat. It’s a good read, and, as it happens, right up our street.
If you’re building a chat system that has to actually talk to someone else’s chat system (and keep doctors happy while doing it), you’ll kno … ⌘ Read more
Plantation forests are key for koalas’ survival: Researchers say urgent rethink on logging is needed
A new study has shown areas of state forest in Northern New South Wales, currently zoned as hardwood eucalypt plantation and slated for logging in 2025–2026, are in fact vital koala habitat. ⌘ Read more
Unlocking cell identity: RNA sequestration in P-bodies directs cell fate transitions
A new study published in Nature Biotechnology shows that stem cell differentiation is linked to cellular structures called P-bodies, providing a potential means of controlling cell identity. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Colorado Boulder and collaborating institutions studied P-bodies in various developmental stages across multiple vertebrate species and found that selective RNA seques … ⌘ Read more
Geoscientist’s innovative approach aims to safeguard irrigation canals
Irrigation canal maintenance in western Nebraska is taking a giant step forward thanks to an innovative, non-invasive method by Husker geoscientist Mohamed Khalil to check canal integrity. His sophisticated time-lapse analysis pinpoints canal seepage and structural settlement far more accurately and efficiently than traditional approaches—using a technology that can have wide-ranging uses statewide for agriculture, … ⌘ Read more
The $4.1 million question: How did the BOM get its new website so wrong?
The Bureau of Meteorology claims it spent $4.1 million on a website and app redesign, as part of a broader $866 million, seven-year technology transformation dubbed “Robust”. Users are not pleased with the outcome. ⌘ Read more
$4bn wipe-out: WiseTech shares plunge after Richard White’s headquarters raided
Australian Federal Police and market regulators raided the software giant’s Sydney headquarters and executed a search warrant on Monday. ⌘ Read more
Cul-de-sac effect: Why Mediterranean regions are becoming more prone to extreme floods in a changing climate
In May 2023, Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region experienced devastating, if not unprecedented, floods that caused widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, businesses, and farmland. Seventeen people lost their lives, and the disaster caused an estimated €8.5 billion in damages. The persistent rainfall and resulting landslides and flooding displaced tens of thousands of residents, leaving a deep ma … ⌘ Read more
Now in 3D, maps begin to bring exoplanets into focus
Astronomers have generated the first three-dimensional map of a planet orbiting another star, revealing an atmosphere with distinct temperature zones—one so scorching that it breaks down water vapor, a team co-led by a Cornell expert reports in new research. ⌘ Read more
Sinking Indian megacities pose ‘alarming’ building damage risks
Sinking land is quietly destabilizing urban infrastructure in India’s largest cities, putting thousands of buildings and millions of people at risk, according to Virginia Tech scientists. ⌘ Read more
China’s Zhuque-3 reusable rocket passes key milestone
The Chinese company LandSpace continues to develop the Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3), a two-stage reusable launch vehicle inspired by SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy. They achieved their first milestone in January 2024 with a vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) using their VTVL-1 test vehicle at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northern China. By September, the company conducted a second VTVL test where the prototype hovered for over 200 … ⌘ Read more
Panic as breached details of 183m accounts, including Gmail, emerge
The news isn’t nearly as bad as some online would have you believe, but it’s always a good idea to check your security. ⌘ Read more
WiseTech offices raided in probe of trades by Richard White
Australian Federal Police and market regulators raided the software giant’s Sydney headquarters and executed a search warrant on Monday. ⌘ Read more