Glacier retreat on Heard Island
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Everyday household items elevated as 'threat to humanity'
Plastic is found in human breast milk, brains, lungs, and male genitals, but are everyday household items like containers, toys and clothing actually bad for our health? One of the world's oldest peer-reviewed medical journals is concerned enough to label it a 'threat to humanity'. Overnight, The Lancet launched the Countdown on Health and Plastic scheme to collate independent data to help inform decision-makers on these four topics: Health impacts Exposures Production and emissions Interventions and engagement The announcement was made late on Monday (Australian time), advancing the crisis to the same level as climate change. It came as delegates from around the world gather in Switzerland for the fifth session of negotiations on a Global Plastics Treaty. Related: What happens when you put plastic in your dishwasher? Funding for the program is principally funded by Australia's Minderoo Foundation, a philanthropic organisation set up by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest and his then-wife Nicola. The Foundation's head of plastics and human health, Professor Sarah Dunlop, said there is 'overwhelming' evidence highlighting the dangers associated with plastic use. 'Toxic chemicals in everyday plastic items leach into our bodies, and harm human health at every stage of our lives,' she said. As the treaty negotiations offered an opportunity to increase regulation around its use, she said the launch of the Countdown is something that 'negotiators in Geneva cannot ignore'. Grim studies point to worrying impacts of plastic use Until now, collating disparate research and making sure it reached decision-makers has been a challenge for scientists. Studies on the impact of plastic are frequently published, but they are quickly forgotten and don't often result in a direct impact on its manufacture or use. A French study published in July estimated humans are breathing in 68,000 tiny plastic particles a day. But it's not just in human bodies where plastic is found — the substance litters some of the deepest parts of the ocean and the most remote corners of Antarctica. There is growing evidence that it's causing harm to wildlife, and it's been linked to a respiratory disease in birds. Emerging research from the Plymouth Marine Laboratory has linked its use to antimicrobial resistance. As new types of plastic are created, researchers say their impact on humans is unknown as they're rolled out to market. Most contain a cocktail of chemicals, and a study, published in the prestigious journal Nature in July, argued 4,200 should be banned from use. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Business Wire
3 hours ago
- Business Wire
Mission Success for Rocket Lab's Latest Constellation Deployment Launch for iQPS
MAHIA, New Zealand--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) ('Rocket Lab' or 'the Company'), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its 69 th Electron mission and deployed the latest satellite to orbit for Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS) - Rocket Lab's fifth dedicated mission in a multi-launch contract to build their constellation in low Earth orbit. 'The Harvest Goddess Thrives' mission lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 04:10 UTC on August 5 th. Electron deployed a single synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging satellite named QPS-SAR-12 (nicknamed KUSHINADA-I for the Japanese goddess of harvest and agriculture) to a 575km circular Earth orbit. It was Rocket Lab's fourth launch this year for iQPS and fifth mission overall, making Electron the most prolific launcher of their constellation to date. Four more dedicated iQPS missions are scheduled to launch on Electron through the remainder of this year and in 2026. Rocket Lab Founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: 'Every Electron launch is a demonstration of payload deployment precision for our customers – an especially critical element when scaling satellite constellations. Today's fifth and flawless deployment for iQPS once again underscores Electron's reliability and continues to prove that consistent tailored access to space is a reality on Electron for our customers.' iQPS CEO, Dr. Shunsuke Onishi, says: 'Building a satellite constellation requires both timely development and manufacturing, as well as highly precise launch execution. We are deeply grateful to both our team and the Rocket Lab team for their continued dedication in making this possible. As the number of satellites increases, so too does the frequency and value of the data we are able to provide. We will continue to accelerate our efforts to ensure that our satellite data can be leveraged in even more fields and applications.' 'The Harvest Goddess Thrives' marks Rocket Lab's 11th Electron mission of 2025 and its 69 th launch overall. Details of the next Electron launch will be shared in the coming days. Launch images: About Rocket Lab Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier, and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle, a family of spacecraft platforms, and the Company is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered over 200 satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab's spacecraft platforms have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a third launch pad in Virginia. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'Securities Act') and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 'Exchange Act'). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational expansion and business strategy are forward-looking statements. The words 'believe,' 'may,' 'will,' 'estimate,' 'potential,' 'continue,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'expect,' 'strategy,' 'future,' 'could,' 'would,' 'project,' 'plan,' 'target,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC'), accessible on the SEC's website at and the Investor Relations section of our website at which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
How Aussie farmers are turning the tide on $4.43 billion weed problem
Determined Aussie farmers are turning the tide on a pesky problem that is plaguing their crops and costing growers an estimated $4.43 billion every year. From council reserves to backyard gardens, weeds have received a lot of attention in recent years due to their ability to spread rapidly, strangle native plants and harm wildlife. Now, grain and cotton growers across the country are fighting back — and winning. According to a new report released by the CSIRO on Monday night, on average, weeds cost grain producers $4.3 billion a year — a seven per cent increase in costs compared to 10 years ago — but they are reaping the rewards of their investment. Grain producers drastically reduce impact of weeds on crop yield By focusing on 'smarter, long-term management strategies', farmers have been able to drastically reduce the impact of weeds on crop yield from 2.8 million tonnes in 2016 to 1.2 million tonnes in 2025. Their efforts, including harvest weed seed control, crop rotation and using new technologies such as camera-guided herbicide spraying, have led to higher production and therefore a higher income. 'Weed control remains one of the biggest annual costs for growers, but the investment is paying off,' said Dr Rick Llewellyn, a CSIRO research scientist who co-authored the report led by Jackie Ouzman. 'By staying ahead of the weed seed bank, resistance and adopting smarter, more targeted practices, growers are protecting long-term profitability and enabling flexibility in their system.' Improved summer fallow weed control — the removal of weeds that grow when a field is intentionally left uncultivated between cropping seasons — has helped tremendously, CSIRO reports. The method conserves moisture in the soil to better support crops in the drier seasons, and is a 'critical part of climate adaption', Dr Llewellyn said. 'With increasingly variable rainfall and larger cropping programs, growers need to sow crops when conditions are right without delays for weed control,' he said. 🌸 Warning not to touch invasive weed 'growing everywhere' in Aussie suburb 🚙 Alert issued to residents, travellers after dangerous find on side of roads 🌱 Common roadside plant wreaking havoc in Australia: 'Shocking way to die' Cotton industry forks out $145 million annually on weeds The cotton industry is also forking out $145 million annually on weeds, with growers shown to invest heavily in keeping densities exceptionally low, the study, which was funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), states. While new threats continue to emerge locally, across the country the most costly weeds remain the same: ryegrass, brome grass, sow thistle, wild radish and wild oats. The costliest weeds that emerge between cropping seasons are melons, heliotrope and fleabane. Dr Llewellyn said while Aussie farmers are leading the way for weed management globally, there needs to be continued research into how to 'stay ahead' while also reducing the costs for both industries. 'The only reason we're not seeing widespread yield losses from weeds today is because of years of sustained research and grower innovation,' he said. 'This is a quiet success story, but it's a battle where you can't pause — the weed challenge keeps evolving and demanding new solutions.' To do so, the GRDC is reinvesting in a five-year, $47 million Weed Management Initiative, which will support more than 20 weed research scientists, as well as 12 new PhD student scholarships. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
