Flora & Fauna
Male dolphins with close friends age more slowly
New research has found strong social bonds slow biological ageing in male dolphins.
Category: Flora & Fauna
Biodiversity
Celebrating Australia’s merry, once-misunderstood native mistletoe
Once considered a ‘nasty’ parasite, Australia’s mistletoe is now hailed as a solution to biodiversity loss.
Biodiversity
Rare carnivorous plant found near Perth
Conservationists have uncovered a large patch of insect-trapping sundews, one of Western Australia’s rarest carnivorous plants, just an hour outside of Perth.
Flora & Fauna
New technique could reveal if an animal illegally smuggled
If someone mentions criminal gangs, you might think of drug trafficking or financial crime. But one of the most persistent illegal trades in the world flies largely under the radar: wildlife smuggling.
Flora & Fauna
Velvet worm slime could be a new bioplastics source
A discovery by international researchers suggests slime produced by Australian velvet worms could underpin new sustainable materials.
Flora & Fauna
Gene-edited cane toads reveal the cost of albinism
The cutting-edge CRISPR technology that’s already revolutionising human medicine and genetics is also being explored by Australian evolutionary biologists.
Flora & Fauna
High-tech cameras capture venomous snake bites in incredible detail
Advanced video techniques reveal exactly how snake bites work and show various snake species have evolved very different strategies.
Flora & Fauna
Colour or camouflage?
While some animals use camouflage to hide from predators, others use bright colour to warn predators off. But which strategy is more effective?
Flora & Fauna
Getting to the heart of the arthropod world
Measuring our own heart rate seems like a straightforward idea, but how would you go about taking the pulse of a grasshopper or a spider?
Flora & Fauna
This seabird prefers to poo while flying
Researchers studying streaked shearwaters were surprised by their own discovery.