Experts issue warning as 'alien monster' spider spreads around the globe on cargo ships — here's why it's so dangerous
Australia may soon be invaded by a spider that scientists have called an "alien monster."
What's happening?
The New Zealand false widow spider, a native of the Canary Islands and Madeira in Spain, is an invasive species that is spreading rapidly via cargo shipments. According to the International Business Times, the spider that scientists have labeled an "alien monster" is believed to be making its way to Australia.
The false widow is known for adapting well to urban environments and can be found everywhere from mailboxes to garden sheds, so it will thrive in areas of Australia with similar environments.
However, this invasive species offers a double whammy with its bites, which is what earned it the label of "alien monster." Though the species is less aggressive than some other spiders found in Australia, its venom is neurotoxic and can cause swelling, pain, tissue necrosis, and low blood pressure.
Fatalities from the bite of this spider are rare; however, hospitalizations are not.
Even worse, though, is the fact that the false widow spider is a host for a plethora of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, meaning antibiotics don't always work on bites from this species.
Why are invasive species concerning?
Any kind of invasive species is a major concern for the country it invades, as they can cause immense damage to native species and local ecosystems.
As evidenced by the false widow spider in New Zealand, invasive species spread rapidly. They outcompete native species for vital resources, such as food, and introduce new diseases into local populations (or in this case, new neurotoxins and antibiotic-resistant pathogens).
Some invasive species can also impact human food supplies, destroy native plants, alter soil chemistry, and even exacerbate extreme weather conditions.
Protecting and prioritizing native species is a crucial way to help conserve natural resources, safeguard food supplies for both animals and humans, and limit the spread of new diseases.
Do you worry about air pollution in your town?
All the time
Often
Only sometimes
Never
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
What's being done about the New Zealand false widow spider?
Unfortunately, there's only so much that experts can do to stymie the tide when it comes to invasive species, especially in cases like this one where the species is small and can hide in cargo to enter the country.
According to IBT, experts in Australia have urged the government to increase the monitoring of imported goods, educate the public about the species, and make investments in containment measures to mitigate the risks associated with the false widow spider.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Great Barrier Reef suffers most widespread bleaching on record
Australia's famed Great Barrier Reef has suffered its most widespread coral bleaching on record, according to a government report released Wednesday that warns the natural wonder is in dire health. Scientists documented the "most spatially extensive" bleaching since records began almost 40 years ago, driven by sweltering ocean temperatures in 2024 that triggered "unprecedented levels of heat stress". The Australian Institute of Marine Science surveyed the health of 124 coral reefs between August 2024 and May 2025. Northern and southern branches of the sprawling reef had seen the "largest annual decline in coral cover" ever recorded, the government agency found. Reefs had been battered by tropical cyclones and infestations of crown-of-thorns starfish that feast on coral. But the "number one cause is climate change," said the institute's research lead Mike Emslie. "There is no doubt about that," he told AFP. Often dubbed the world's largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef is a 2,300 kilometre (1,400-mile) expanse of tropical corals that houses a stunning array of biodiversity. But repeated bleaching events have threatened to rob the tourist drawcard of its wonder, turning banks of once-vibrant coral a sickly white. Unusually warm tropical waters triggered widespread coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef in 2024 and in the first few months of 2025 -- the sixth such event in the past nine years. "The (Great Barrier Reef) experienced unprecedented levels of heat stress, which caused the most spatially extensive and severe bleaching recorded to date," the report found. Over the past two years a mass global bleaching event has drained the life from more than 80 percent of the world's coral reefs. Bleaching occurs when water temperatures rise forcing coral to expel the colourful microscopic algae, known as zooxanthellae, embedded in their tissues. If high temperatures persist, the coral can eventually turn white and die. Emslie said past coral growth would help cushion the record losses and that the Great Barrier Reef was still an "amazing place". - 'Worth fighting for' - "It is still worth fighting for. We can't throw our arms up and give up," he said. The report found a rapidly growing type of coral -- known as acropora -- had suffered the most. This coral is quick to grow, but is also one of the first to bleach. The report found that any recovery of the reef could take years and was dependent on future coral reproduction and minimal environmental disturbance. Richard Leck from the World Wildlife Fund compared the fluctuating health of the Great Barrier Reef to a "rollercoaster". "That is a sign of an ecosystem under incredible stress and what reef scientists are hugely concerned about is when the reef does not keep bouncing back the way it has," he told AFP. Leck said some coral reefs around the world were already beyond recovery, warning the Great Barrier Reef could suffer the same fate without ambitious and rapid climate action. The average sea surface temperature around Australia was the "highest on record" in 2024, according to Australian National University. Australia is currently developing its next round of emissions reduction targets, a key obligation under the landmark Paris climate agreement. The mining superpower remains one of the world's biggest coal exporters and continues to heavily subsidise its fossil fuel sectors. lec/sft/mtp
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Immutep Receives Positive Feedback from FDA on Late-Stage Clinical Development of Eftilagimod Alfa in Head and Neck Cancer with CPS <1
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, Aug. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) ('Immutep' or 'the Company'), a late-stage immunotherapy company targeting cancer and autoimmune diseases, today announces it has received positive and constructive feedback from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regarding future clinical development of its first-in-class MHC Class II agonist, eftilagimod alfa ('efti'), for first line treatment of recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (1L HNSCC) patients who have PD-L1 expression below 1 (Combined Positive Score [CPS] <1). Based on its review of the encouraging data in 1L HNSCC with CPS <1 from the TACTI-003 (KEYNOTE-C34) Phase IIb trial evaluating efti in combination with MSD's (Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA) anti-PD-1 KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), the FDA agreed on the potential of efti in combination with KEYTRUDA to address the high unmet need in this CPS <1 patient segment and is supportive of the combination's further development. Paths for future clinical development and potential accelerated approval in light of the FDA's Project FrontRunner include a randomised registrational trial evaluating efti in combination with KEYTRUDA against standard-of-care therapy or alternatively a smaller single-arm study (e.g. 70 - 90 patients) with safety, response rate, and duration of response as key endpoints, followed by a confirmatory randomised study that builds on the existing data. 'We are pleased with the FDA's feedback and guidance that underscores the high unmet need of head and neck cancer patients whose PD-L1 expression level is below one. The FDA feedback positions Immutep to evaluate options for future collaborative clinical development paths to bring a new, effective and safe treatment option to this underserved patient population,' said Marc Voigt, CEO of Immutep. 'Our primary focus clearly remains the pivotal TACTI-004 Phase III evaluating efti as first line therapy for non-small cell lung cancer and we are excited with its progress to date and the consistent, encouraging feedback we hear from physicians. This focus and additional considerations will be reviewed internally and discussed with stakeholders and potential strategic partners in regards to forward paths in head and neck cancer,' added Mr Voigt. Project FrontRunner is an FDA Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE) initiative to encourage drug sponsors to consider when it may be appropriate to develop and seek approval of cancer drugs for advanced/metastatic disease, in an earlier clinical setting rather than the usual approach to develop and seek approval of a drug for treatment of patients who have received numerous prior lines of therapies or have exhausted available treatment options. In this setting, advancing new effective therapies has the greatest potential to significantly improve quantity and quality of patients' lives. Patients with CPS <1 in 1L HNSCC represent a treatment population with high unmet medical need. Up to 20% of 1L HNSCC patients have CPS <1 and despite immunotherapy's progress in fighting cancer, anti-PD-1 therapy alone (without chemotherapy) is only approved for patients who express PD-L1 (CPS >1). All currently available treatment options for patients with PD-L1 CPS <1 include chemotherapy. About Immutep Immutep is a late-stage biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune disease. The Company is a pioneer in the understanding and advancement of therapeutics related to Lymphocyte Activation Gene-3 (LAG-3), and its diversified product portfolio harnesses LAG-3's ability to stimulate or suppress the immune response. Immutep is dedicated to leveraging its expertise to bring innovative treatment options to patients in need and to maximise value for shareholders. For more information, please visit KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA. Australian Investors/Media:Eleanor Pearson, Sodali & Co.+61 2 9066 4071; U.S. Investors/Media:Chris Basta, VP, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications+1 (631) 318 4000;
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Scientists raise red flag over effects of microscopic threat to vital organs: 'A potential health risk'
Scientists raise red flag over effects of microscopic threat to vital organs: 'A potential health risk' A new study on mice has highlighted the damage that ingested microplastics can cause to different organs. What's happening? Researchers assessed the toxicity of polystyrene microplastics to the gut and mammary glands in subject mice, according to the study, published in the journal Science of Food. The scientists found that the tiny plastic particles accumulated in various tissues, causing significant harm to the gut and mammary glands. Specifically, they found that microplastics could "disrupt the intestinal barrier" and lead to inflammation of the colon and an imbalance of the gut microbiome. They also observed that microplastics can accumulate in mammary tissue, causing inflammatory damage there, among other effects. "These findings indicate that ingestion of microplastics poses a potential health risk," the authors stated. "Further control of microplastics contamination in food is needed to promote public health and wellness." Why are microplastics concerning? The study added to a growing understanding and body of research about the health impacts of microplastics. For instance, a previous experiment on pigs discovered that microplastic exposure can trigger an inflammatory response in the enteric nervous system, which affects functions including immune responses. The effects of microplastics on human health are still being explored. But other studies have linked microplastic exposure to health problems such as cancer, dementia, and impaired blood flow in the brain. What's being done about microplastics? Though microplastics pollute soil, water, food, and air, scientists are discovering new ways to remove them from our environment. For instance, one team found a way to get them out of soil by using a type of processed farm waste. You can help reduce the amount of microplastics entering the environment, and reduce your own exposure, by opting for plastic-free alternatives to everyday products. Choose reusable bottles and containers instead of single-use varieties, for instance. Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home? Majorly Sometimes Not really I don't know enough about them Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
