Latest news with #UniversityofQueensland
9 News
19 hours ago
- Science
- 9 News
These seahorses started vanishing from Aussie waters. Here's why that's a problem
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Measuring about 15cm from top to tail, the endangered White's Seahorse is the kind of unique marine creature you have to look hard to find. Not just because they're tiny but because about 15 years ago, they started vanishing from Australian waters at alarming rates. A 2015 study revealed that some New South Wales populations were decimated by about 90 per cent in just five years. The White's Seahorse was declared endangered in 2020, yet there's still hardly any research on their populations in Queensland. (Supplied) And the same could be happening in Queensland, but scientists would never know it. There's currently no broad research about White's Seahorse populations in the sunshine state, meaning scientists have no baseline to measure current numbers against. That makes it difficult to track if these endangered seahorses are inching closer to extinction in Queensland waters, and limits the opportunity to introduce conservation measures that could save them. University of Queensland PhD candidate Rowan Carew intends to change that. Because if the White's Seahorse goes extinct, Australia's oceans will be in a dire state indeed. "Seahorses are what we call indicator species," Carew told Rowan Carew is on a mission to ensure the survival of the White's Seahorse in Queensland. (Supplied) "So if we lost our seahorse species in Queensland, that would indicate that the ecosystem or environment that they're in is unhealthy. "And that has a trickle down effect for all sorts of animals in these ecosystems ... so we definitely don't want to lose them." Research has shown that habitat loss and flood events had a devastating impact on NSW populations of White's Seahorse between 2009 and 2015. Carew fears the same may be happening to populations in Queensland, especially after years of floods and Cyclone Alfred at the start of 2025. "The main threat that we're looking at potentially is habitat loss," she said. "Things such as weather events like the recent cyclone, things such as dredging, things such as coastal development, that all impacts their habitat." But their habitat also makes White's Seahorses difficult to study in Queensland. Finding a White's Seahorse in Queensland can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. (Supplied) In New South Wales, these seahorses tend to live around swim nets and soft coral colonies, making it easy for researchers to locate them in specific areas. Up north, they prefer to hang around in sea grass beds that can stretch for kilometers underwater, making these tiny critters much harder to find. "It's a little bit like looking for a needle in a haystack, which I think is why no one's really gone to a significant effort to do any research on them in Queensland," Carew said. The "only reason" her team is able to attempt it now is because they have the support of the Queensland Government and millions of potential citizen scientists. Researchers are calling on everyday Australians who spot a White's Seahorse in South-East Queensland while snorkelling or scuba diving to snap a photo and send it to them. Carew shows off a White's Seahorse she collected from a bed of sea grass. (Supplied) Not only will it allow them to collect additional data on individual seahorses, information sent in by citizen scientists may help them discover populations in unexpected locations. "Our team is very small, we can't get out into the whole of Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast," Carew said. "So it's really important to have the citizen science, because that basically informs where we're going to do our surveys." There's something in it for the citizen scientists too. If your sighting leads the research team to a location where they find and tag a White's Seahorse, they'll name it after you and update you on its progress. Carew hopes that her research will help establish key information about White's Seahorse populations in Queensland and facilitate conservation efforts that could help get them taken off the endangered list. Citizen scientists who help researchers find and study these seahorses can get one named after them. (Supplied) Breed and release programs and installing artificial habitats have already boosted numbers in NSW, which is a promising start. "That's the main reason for this research and trying to push for conservation in Queensland," Carew said. "Because we just don't have any of those kind of measures in place to keep numbers stable if something does go wrong." national queensland nature ocean animals science CONTACT US
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
He had cancer - but still won't quit smoking. Meet the influencer kids love
Despite having a testicle removed due to cancer, cream bun-scoffing social media personality Alex Wood has no plans to quit smoking. Those familiar with his posts on Instagram and TikTok, each with 70,000-75,000 followers, may know him as the "cream pie guy" or "happy Allan". The Gold Coast 29-year-old has even made an appearance on national breakfast television as the man who - literally - stuffs whole cream buns into his mouth. And he's frequently seen with a cigarette between his lips or tucked behind his ear and a beer in hand, sharing videos of drinking sessions and chronic hangovers. He's not alone. Sixty-one per cent of young people report seeing content about vaping and smoking on social media. A 2024 University of Queensland study found young people exposed to these posts were more likely to try them. But for Mr Wood, it's all part of being his authentic self, warts and all. "I just am who I am," he told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, over the phone while on the way to the gym one morning. "I genuinely love having a beer and a cigarette." Mr Wood, who is charismatic and comes across as sincere, said he does not advocate smoking and encourages people who've never tried cigarettes to steer clear. "I've got ADHD, so I've got an addictive personality, so I get addicted to everything," he said. "A lot of people resonate with that because there's so many fake people online now; they pretend to be someone else when it's not who they are." In the under-regulated world of social media - and in the context of strict bans on tobacco and e-cigarette advertising in Australia - Mr Wood, who says he's not being paid to promote alcohol or cigarettes, is not breaking any laws. Though he does have plenty of impressionable child fans, including nine-year-olds who ask for selfies. "I just enjoy an afternoon beer and I like going out on the weekends and letting some steam off and having some fun," he said. "Everyone's adults; they can make their own decisions." Mr Wood said he promotes "balance" and "moderation" by also going to the gym every day, journaling, and taking breaks through fundraisers like "dry July" where he stops drinking for a month. (He started dry July two weeks early in 2025 because he said he needed a reset.) "I'm pretty real on my page, so I told people I was obviously drinking too much, so I think it's good to show the boys, and whoever follows me, that if you do feel like you are drinking too much, it's OK to take a break," he said. Australian health guidelines recommend people aged under 18 should not drink alcohol and adults should consume no more than 10 standard drinks a week - and no more than four standard drinks on any one day. When ACM approached the eSafety Commissioner, which regulates online safety, about the potential harms of alcohol and smoking content on social media - especially for children - it was directed to the federal health department. The department limited most of its responses to the legal and regulatory restrictions on alcohol and tobacco advertising and sponsorship. But a spokesman said Health Minister Mark Butler had urged social media companies to do more to limit this kind of content on their platforms. "[Mr Butler] has previously written to social media companies regarding tobacco and e-cigarette content appearing on their platform, and encouraged social media companies to take a proactive approach to ensuring those products do not appear on their platforms," the spokesman said. He also pointed to government initiatives like the 2024 "Give up for Good" campaign, as well as resources like and information about the dangers of vaping. All these materials state there is no safe level of smoking or vaping. Jocelyn Brewer, a psychologist who specialises in digital wellbeing, said social media accounts like Mr Wood's could be a "teaching moment" for children and parents. "Parents need to be clear that social media platforms allow anyone to post publicly on whatever content they want to," she said. "[And] what the community guidelines around content cover (and don't cover), and the risks of kids being exposed to certain content - especially how algorithms promote sensationalised content over factful kinds." In the absence of content restrictions, parents should have regular, casual conversations with their kids about social media trends and reinforce their family's values. "We have a responsibility to teach young people [the] skills to recognise and navigate content that is mis/dis/malinformation and have media literacy skills to be able to identify, report and distance themselves from content that is low grade, risky, misaligned and simply dumb," she said. Observing the minimum age restriction of 13 on most platforms was also important, though new laws in late 2025 will ban children under 16 from accessing social media. For his part, Mr Wood has no plans to change what he presents on social media, which includes sculling "breakfast beers", eating "hungover asf cream pie", and attempting to drink six cans of beer in a row to celebrate 60,000 followers. "I met this little kid the other day - he's only nine years old or something - and he was so nervous to come over and say hello, and I got a photo with him and everything," Mr Wood said. "Then his dad came up to me afterwards and was like, 'Mate, he bloody loves you, thank you so much for taking the time to say hello to him'." Mr Wood, who grew up in a single parent household and had a mother, father and grandmother who smoked, said he was trying to be an advocate for doing better. He was fiercely anti-gambling, for example. But the nicotine-laced, addictive cigarettes were here to stay. "I don't think I want to quit fully, to be honest. "I love sitting down, having a beer and a cigarette, having a coffee and a cigarette in the morning," he said. "That's what I enjoy doing. And if I stay healthy otherwise then, you know, it is what it is." Though he acknowledged it was not "the smartest thing" after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and had a testicle removed. "I've got these boys around my age, or 25 to 30, and now [they are] all getting their testicles checked," Mr Wood said. "I do put out some really good messages to people." Tobacco, alcohol and illegal drug use combined accounted for 14 per cent of Australia's total disease burden in 2024, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Despite having a testicle removed due to cancer, cream bun-scoffing social media personality Alex Wood has no plans to quit smoking. Those familiar with his posts on Instagram and TikTok, each with 70,000-75,000 followers, may know him as the "cream pie guy" or "happy Allan". The Gold Coast 29-year-old has even made an appearance on national breakfast television as the man who - literally - stuffs whole cream buns into his mouth. And he's frequently seen with a cigarette between his lips or tucked behind his ear and a beer in hand, sharing videos of drinking sessions and chronic hangovers. He's not alone. Sixty-one per cent of young people report seeing content about vaping and smoking on social media. A 2024 University of Queensland study found young people exposed to these posts were more likely to try them. But for Mr Wood, it's all part of being his authentic self, warts and all. "I just am who I am," he told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, over the phone while on the way to the gym one morning. "I genuinely love having a beer and a cigarette." Mr Wood, who is charismatic and comes across as sincere, said he does not advocate smoking and encourages people who've never tried cigarettes to steer clear. "I've got ADHD, so I've got an addictive personality, so I get addicted to everything," he said. "A lot of people resonate with that because there's so many fake people online now; they pretend to be someone else when it's not who they are." In the under-regulated world of social media - and in the context of strict bans on tobacco and e-cigarette advertising in Australia - Mr Wood, who says he's not being paid to promote alcohol or cigarettes, is not breaking any laws. Though he does have plenty of impressionable child fans, including nine-year-olds who ask for selfies. "I just enjoy an afternoon beer and I like going out on the weekends and letting some steam off and having some fun," he said. "Everyone's adults; they can make their own decisions." Mr Wood said he promotes "balance" and "moderation" by also going to the gym every day, journaling, and taking breaks through fundraisers like "dry July" where he stops drinking for a month. (He started dry July two weeks early in 2025 because he said he needed a reset.) "I'm pretty real on my page, so I told people I was obviously drinking too much, so I think it's good to show the boys, and whoever follows me, that if you do feel like you are drinking too much, it's OK to take a break," he said. Australian health guidelines recommend people aged under 18 should not drink alcohol and adults should consume no more than 10 standard drinks a week - and no more than four standard drinks on any one day. When ACM approached the eSafety Commissioner, which regulates online safety, about the potential harms of alcohol and smoking content on social media - especially for children - it was directed to the federal health department. The department limited most of its responses to the legal and regulatory restrictions on alcohol and tobacco advertising and sponsorship. But a spokesman said Health Minister Mark Butler had urged social media companies to do more to limit this kind of content on their platforms. "[Mr Butler] has previously written to social media companies regarding tobacco and e-cigarette content appearing on their platform, and encouraged social media companies to take a proactive approach to ensuring those products do not appear on their platforms," the spokesman said. He also pointed to government initiatives like the 2024 "Give up for Good" campaign, as well as resources like and information about the dangers of vaping. All these materials state there is no safe level of smoking or vaping. Jocelyn Brewer, a psychologist who specialises in digital wellbeing, said social media accounts like Mr Wood's could be a "teaching moment" for children and parents. "Parents need to be clear that social media platforms allow anyone to post publicly on whatever content they want to," she said. "[And] what the community guidelines around content cover (and don't cover), and the risks of kids being exposed to certain content - especially how algorithms promote sensationalised content over factful kinds." In the absence of content restrictions, parents should have regular, casual conversations with their kids about social media trends and reinforce their family's values. "We have a responsibility to teach young people [the] skills to recognise and navigate content that is mis/dis/malinformation and have media literacy skills to be able to identify, report and distance themselves from content that is low grade, risky, misaligned and simply dumb," she said. Observing the minimum age restriction of 13 on most platforms was also important, though new laws in late 2025 will ban children under 16 from accessing social media. For his part, Mr Wood has no plans to change what he presents on social media, which includes sculling "breakfast beers", eating "hungover asf cream pie", and attempting to drink six cans of beer in a row to celebrate 60,000 followers. "I met this little kid the other day - he's only nine years old or something - and he was so nervous to come over and say hello, and I got a photo with him and everything," Mr Wood said. "Then his dad came up to me afterwards and was like, 'Mate, he bloody loves you, thank you so much for taking the time to say hello to him'." Mr Wood, who grew up in a single parent household and had a mother, father and grandmother who smoked, said he was trying to be an advocate for doing better. He was fiercely anti-gambling, for example. But the nicotine-laced, addictive cigarettes were here to stay. "I don't think I want to quit fully, to be honest. "I love sitting down, having a beer and a cigarette, having a coffee and a cigarette in the morning," he said. "That's what I enjoy doing. And if I stay healthy otherwise then, you know, it is what it is." Though he acknowledged it was not "the smartest thing" after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and had a testicle removed. "I've got these boys around my age, or 25 to 30, and now [they are] all getting their testicles checked," Mr Wood said. "I do put out some really good messages to people." Tobacco, alcohol and illegal drug use combined accounted for 14 per cent of Australia's total disease burden in 2024, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Despite having a testicle removed due to cancer, cream bun-scoffing social media personality Alex Wood has no plans to quit smoking. Those familiar with his posts on Instagram and TikTok, each with 70,000-75,000 followers, may know him as the "cream pie guy" or "happy Allan". The Gold Coast 29-year-old has even made an appearance on national breakfast television as the man who - literally - stuffs whole cream buns into his mouth. And he's frequently seen with a cigarette between his lips or tucked behind his ear and a beer in hand, sharing videos of drinking sessions and chronic hangovers. He's not alone. Sixty-one per cent of young people report seeing content about vaping and smoking on social media. A 2024 University of Queensland study found young people exposed to these posts were more likely to try them. But for Mr Wood, it's all part of being his authentic self, warts and all. "I just am who I am," he told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, over the phone while on the way to the gym one morning. "I genuinely love having a beer and a cigarette." Mr Wood, who is charismatic and comes across as sincere, said he does not advocate smoking and encourages people who've never tried cigarettes to steer clear. "I've got ADHD, so I've got an addictive personality, so I get addicted to everything," he said. "A lot of people resonate with that because there's so many fake people online now; they pretend to be someone else when it's not who they are." In the under-regulated world of social media - and in the context of strict bans on tobacco and e-cigarette advertising in Australia - Mr Wood, who says he's not being paid to promote alcohol or cigarettes, is not breaking any laws. Though he does have plenty of impressionable child fans, including nine-year-olds who ask for selfies. "I just enjoy an afternoon beer and I like going out on the weekends and letting some steam off and having some fun," he said. "Everyone's adults; they can make their own decisions." Mr Wood said he promotes "balance" and "moderation" by also going to the gym every day, journaling, and taking breaks through fundraisers like "dry July" where he stops drinking for a month. (He started dry July two weeks early in 2025 because he said he needed a reset.) "I'm pretty real on my page, so I told people I was obviously drinking too much, so I think it's good to show the boys, and whoever follows me, that if you do feel like you are drinking too much, it's OK to take a break," he said. Australian health guidelines recommend people aged under 18 should not drink alcohol and adults should consume no more than 10 standard drinks a week - and no more than four standard drinks on any one day. When ACM approached the eSafety Commissioner, which regulates online safety, about the potential harms of alcohol and smoking content on social media - especially for children - it was directed to the federal health department. The department limited most of its responses to the legal and regulatory restrictions on alcohol and tobacco advertising and sponsorship. But a spokesman said Health Minister Mark Butler had urged social media companies to do more to limit this kind of content on their platforms. "[Mr Butler] has previously written to social media companies regarding tobacco and e-cigarette content appearing on their platform, and encouraged social media companies to take a proactive approach to ensuring those products do not appear on their platforms," the spokesman said. He also pointed to government initiatives like the 2024 "Give up for Good" campaign, as well as resources like and information about the dangers of vaping. All these materials state there is no safe level of smoking or vaping. Jocelyn Brewer, a psychologist who specialises in digital wellbeing, said social media accounts like Mr Wood's could be a "teaching moment" for children and parents. "Parents need to be clear that social media platforms allow anyone to post publicly on whatever content they want to," she said. "[And] what the community guidelines around content cover (and don't cover), and the risks of kids being exposed to certain content - especially how algorithms promote sensationalised content over factful kinds." In the absence of content restrictions, parents should have regular, casual conversations with their kids about social media trends and reinforce their family's values. "We have a responsibility to teach young people [the] skills to recognise and navigate content that is mis/dis/malinformation and have media literacy skills to be able to identify, report and distance themselves from content that is low grade, risky, misaligned and simply dumb," she said. Observing the minimum age restriction of 13 on most platforms was also important, though new laws in late 2025 will ban children under 16 from accessing social media. For his part, Mr Wood has no plans to change what he presents on social media, which includes sculling "breakfast beers", eating "hungover asf cream pie", and attempting to drink six cans of beer in a row to celebrate 60,000 followers. "I met this little kid the other day - he's only nine years old or something - and he was so nervous to come over and say hello, and I got a photo with him and everything," Mr Wood said. "Then his dad came up to me afterwards and was like, 'Mate, he bloody loves you, thank you so much for taking the time to say hello to him'." Mr Wood, who grew up in a single parent household and had a mother, father and grandmother who smoked, said he was trying to be an advocate for doing better. He was fiercely anti-gambling, for example. But the nicotine-laced, addictive cigarettes were here to stay. "I don't think I want to quit fully, to be honest. "I love sitting down, having a beer and a cigarette, having a coffee and a cigarette in the morning," he said. "That's what I enjoy doing. And if I stay healthy otherwise then, you know, it is what it is." Though he acknowledged it was not "the smartest thing" after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and had a testicle removed. "I've got these boys around my age, or 25 to 30, and now [they are] all getting their testicles checked," Mr Wood said. "I do put out some really good messages to people." Tobacco, alcohol and illegal drug use combined accounted for 14 per cent of Australia's total disease burden in 2024, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Despite having a testicle removed due to cancer, cream bun-scoffing social media personality Alex Wood has no plans to quit smoking. Those familiar with his posts on Instagram and TikTok, each with 70,000-75,000 followers, may know him as the "cream pie guy" or "happy Allan". The Gold Coast 29-year-old has even made an appearance on national breakfast television as the man who - literally - stuffs whole cream buns into his mouth. And he's frequently seen with a cigarette between his lips or tucked behind his ear and a beer in hand, sharing videos of drinking sessions and chronic hangovers. He's not alone. Sixty-one per cent of young people report seeing content about vaping and smoking on social media. A 2024 University of Queensland study found young people exposed to these posts were more likely to try them. But for Mr Wood, it's all part of being his authentic self, warts and all. "I just am who I am," he told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, over the phone while on the way to the gym one morning. "I genuinely love having a beer and a cigarette." Mr Wood, who is charismatic and comes across as sincere, said he does not advocate smoking and encourages people who've never tried cigarettes to steer clear. "I've got ADHD, so I've got an addictive personality, so I get addicted to everything," he said. "A lot of people resonate with that because there's so many fake people online now; they pretend to be someone else when it's not who they are." In the under-regulated world of social media - and in the context of strict bans on tobacco and e-cigarette advertising in Australia - Mr Wood, who says he's not being paid to promote alcohol or cigarettes, is not breaking any laws. Though he does have plenty of impressionable child fans, including nine-year-olds who ask for selfies. "I just enjoy an afternoon beer and I like going out on the weekends and letting some steam off and having some fun," he said. "Everyone's adults; they can make their own decisions." Mr Wood said he promotes "balance" and "moderation" by also going to the gym every day, journaling, and taking breaks through fundraisers like "dry July" where he stops drinking for a month. (He started dry July two weeks early in 2025 because he said he needed a reset.) "I'm pretty real on my page, so I told people I was obviously drinking too much, so I think it's good to show the boys, and whoever follows me, that if you do feel like you are drinking too much, it's OK to take a break," he said. Australian health guidelines recommend people aged under 18 should not drink alcohol and adults should consume no more than 10 standard drinks a week - and no more than four standard drinks on any one day. When ACM approached the eSafety Commissioner, which regulates online safety, about the potential harms of alcohol and smoking content on social media - especially for children - it was directed to the federal health department. The department limited most of its responses to the legal and regulatory restrictions on alcohol and tobacco advertising and sponsorship. But a spokesman said Health Minister Mark Butler had urged social media companies to do more to limit this kind of content on their platforms. "[Mr Butler] has previously written to social media companies regarding tobacco and e-cigarette content appearing on their platform, and encouraged social media companies to take a proactive approach to ensuring those products do not appear on their platforms," the spokesman said. He also pointed to government initiatives like the 2024 "Give up for Good" campaign, as well as resources like and information about the dangers of vaping. All these materials state there is no safe level of smoking or vaping. Jocelyn Brewer, a psychologist who specialises in digital wellbeing, said social media accounts like Mr Wood's could be a "teaching moment" for children and parents. "Parents need to be clear that social media platforms allow anyone to post publicly on whatever content they want to," she said. "[And] what the community guidelines around content cover (and don't cover), and the risks of kids being exposed to certain content - especially how algorithms promote sensationalised content over factful kinds." In the absence of content restrictions, parents should have regular, casual conversations with their kids about social media trends and reinforce their family's values. "We have a responsibility to teach young people [the] skills to recognise and navigate content that is mis/dis/malinformation and have media literacy skills to be able to identify, report and distance themselves from content that is low grade, risky, misaligned and simply dumb," she said. Observing the minimum age restriction of 13 on most platforms was also important, though new laws in late 2025 will ban children under 16 from accessing social media. For his part, Mr Wood has no plans to change what he presents on social media, which includes sculling "breakfast beers", eating "hungover asf cream pie", and attempting to drink six cans of beer in a row to celebrate 60,000 followers. "I met this little kid the other day - he's only nine years old or something - and he was so nervous to come over and say hello, and I got a photo with him and everything," Mr Wood said. "Then his dad came up to me afterwards and was like, 'Mate, he bloody loves you, thank you so much for taking the time to say hello to him'." Mr Wood, who grew up in a single parent household and had a mother, father and grandmother who smoked, said he was trying to be an advocate for doing better. He was fiercely anti-gambling, for example. But the nicotine-laced, addictive cigarettes were here to stay. "I don't think I want to quit fully, to be honest. "I love sitting down, having a beer and a cigarette, having a coffee and a cigarette in the morning," he said. "That's what I enjoy doing. And if I stay healthy otherwise then, you know, it is what it is." Though he acknowledged it was not "the smartest thing" after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and had a testicle removed. "I've got these boys around my age, or 25 to 30, and now [they are] all getting their testicles checked," Mr Wood said. "I do put out some really good messages to people." Tobacco, alcohol and illegal drug use combined accounted for 14 per cent of Australia's total disease burden in 2024, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
ABC News
3 days ago
- Science
- ABC News
University of Queensland researchers survey population of endangered White's Seahorse
Researchers hope a survey of endangered seahorse populations in Queensland waters will lead to a better understanding of a fish "very little" is known about. White's Seahorse is found in seagrass beds along Australia's east coast, and scientists say their presence can illustrate the health of marine ecosystems. The species grows to between 10 and 15 centimetres, and is considered endangered in New South Wales and Queensland, as well as at a federal level. Lead researcher and PhD candidate at the University of Queensland (UQ), Rowan Carew, said most of research on the the seahorse has been done in NSW. "In Queensland we really don't know how many there are, how they live, what kind of habitats they're on and what kind of threats they're facing," Ms Carew said. Associate Professor Karen Cheney from UQ's school of environment said research would mostly take place in Moreton Bay, where the Brisbane River met the sea, as well as on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast. "We keep seeing them, we know that they're here, we just don't know anything about their population structure, what type of habitat they like to live on, and we just don't know how many we've got," she said. Recorded sightings by citizen scientists have given researchers an understanding of where solid populations might be, but Ms Carew said it was difficult to establish how many seahorses there were because there was no "baseline". "In terms of future conservation, we are trying to figure out what areas are going to be the most important," she said. Ms Carew said seahorses were "really awesome, charismatic little fish" that were considered an "indicator species" for ecosystem health. White's Seahorse can alter their colour, both long-term for camouflage and in short fast patterns, which are part of their mating rituals. The seahorses are "relatively monogamous" and do a replication of their mating ritual every morning to "learn each other's movements", Ms Carew said. "They colour match and flash different colours when they do their mating dance in the morning," she said. Dr Cheney said the species — sometimes called the Sydney Seahorse — was listed as endangered in NSW in 2020 after research showed some populations declined by 90 per cent over six years. That research led to conservation projects aimed at seahorse habitat, as well as breed and release programs in Port Stephens and Sydney. She said "very little" was known of the fish in Queensland, and researchers needed more data before similar efforts could be replicated in the state. Ms Carew said it was not even known if the Queensland seahorses were "genetically the same as the seahorses in Sydney". She said genetic testing would be a part of the project she hoped would lead to more studies in Queensland.
News18
3 days ago
- Health
- News18
Another Pandemic? Deadly New Bat Viruses Found In China, Scientists Warn Of 75% Fatality Rate
According to the study, two new henipaviruses found in fruit bats near farms may spread to humans or animals through urine-contaminated fruit, posing a serious zoonotic threat In a concerning development, scientists have detected 22 new viruses in bats that could pose a serious threat to global health. The discovery comes as the world continues to grapple with emerging COVID-19 variants, years after the pandemic began in Wuhan, China, in 2019. Experts warn that some of these newly identified viruses may lead to severe illness and potentially prove fatal. Researchers in China have identified at least 22 viruses in bats that could pose a future threat to both humans and animals. The viruses were detected in kidney tissues of 142 bats collected between 2017 and 2021 in Yunnan province. Notably, two of the viruses are closely related to the deadly Hendra and Nipah viruses. Experts have repeatedly cautioned that factors like climate change, deforestation, and expanding urban areas are forcing wildlife and humans into closer contact. This growing overlap raises the chances of new viruses jumping to humans, as witnessed in past outbreaks of SARS, Ebola, and COVID-19. According to the Bloomberg report, Tim Mahony, director of the Centre for Animal Science at the University of Queensland, noted that the study underscores just how little is known about the range of viruses circulating in bats and in the broader environment. Mahony, who was not involved in the research, stressed the importance of such findings in understanding future health threats. The study was carried out by a team of scientists from China and the University of Sydney, who examined kidney samples from 142 bats collected in Yunnan province over a four-year period. They detected a total of 22 viruses, 20 of which were previously unknown. Among the discoveries were two henipaviruses that are genetically similar to the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses—both known to cause severe respiratory illness and fatal brain inflammation in humans, with mortality rates reaching up to 75%. As reported by Bloomberg, the research team also uncovered two previously unknown bacterial species and a new parasite. Unlike most bat virus studies that typically analyse fecal samples, this investigation focused on kidney tissue—an organ linked to viral shedding through urine, a less-explored but potentially significant transmission pathway. The two newly identified henipaviruses were found in fruit bats residing near farmland, where bat urine could contaminate fruits consumed by humans or livestock. The researchers warned that this mode of exposure presents serious zoonotic risks. In their published findings, they emphasized the urgent need to monitor the potential of these viruses to cross over to humans or domestic animals. The newly identified viruses, named Yunnan Bat Henipavirus 1 and 2, were previously unknown and share 52 to 57 percent of their genetic makeup with other henipaviruses. Experts warn that these viruses could easily spread to humans through contaminated fruit or water. In addition to causing severe respiratory infections similar to COVID-19, they also have the potential to trigger brain inflammation, which could lead to long-term neurological damage. These newly discovered viruses were found in the kidneys of bats and have the potential to infect both humans and animals, posing a risk of serious illness. While researchers have not confirmed any outbreak, they are treating the findings with caution. Speaking to Bloomberg, Linfa Wang, a professor at the Duke-NUS Medical School's Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, said the findings add to the growing evidence of the wide variety of viruses harboured by bats—especially henipaviruses. While he acknowledged the need for close monitoring, Wang noted that there is no immediate cause for alarm based on current evidence. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
‘Just not on': Crimfluencer crackdown
The West Australian government will this week become the latest state to introduce new 'post and boast' laws aimed at punishing those who post illegal acts on social media. The Cook government announced on Tuesday legislation criminalising social media posts of illegal activity, with posts aimed at 'enhancing offenders' notoriety and humiliating victims' to be outlawed. The move makes Western Australia the fifth state to implement such laws following NSW, Victoria, Northern Territory and Queensland. Tasmania and South Australia have also committed to rolling out similar measures. The new laws will impose penalties of up to three years' jail for offenders and give West Australian courts the power to order the removal of offending material, with failure to do so punishable by up to 12 months' prison and a $12,000 fine. The punishments are the toughest among the states who have introduced similar laws, with most states imposing penalties of up to two years jail for offenders. Offences covered by the legislation include: • Assaults • Stealing and robbery • Property damage • Dangerous or reckless driving • Racial harassment and inciting racial hatred • Nazi symbols and salutes. Attorney-General Tony Buti said the laws sent 'a clear message' to those seeking to glorify criminal behaviour that posting these videos on social media was 'just not on, and there will be consequences'. 'Glorifying criminal behaviour on social media is simply not good enough, and these new laws will crack down on it,' he said. 'Community safety is a priority for this government, this includes ensuring people feel safe when online and protecting victim-survivors from retraumatisation.' The legislation will also apply to those who share illegal material, although sharing the material for purposes like journalism, complaining or warning about criminal conduct or 'genuine artistic or satirical purposes' will not be penalised. WA Premier Roger Cook has joined other states in criminalising social media posts of illegal activity. NewsWire/Philip Gostelow Credit: NewsWire Police Minister Reece Whitby said 'people trying to glamorise criminal or anti-social exploits on social media pose an unacceptable risk to community safety by encouraging imitators'. 'Western Australia will impose the highest maximum penalty among all the states that have introduced similar legislation. 'Importantly, the laws will compel offenders to take down posts and penalise those who choose to share them online.' The introduction of the laws across Australia have not been free of criticism. University of Queensland associate professor Renee Zahnow said there was a lack of empirical evidence that the laws prohibited criminal acts. 'If the aim is to address infamy and copycats, then it will not necessarily have any impact because most of the CCTV and video footage posted online and then shared and replayed continuously by media outlets does not originate from perpetrators but instead from members of the public,' Professor Zahnow told AAP.
