Do you remember when we'd eagerly await new model Cars that were more powerful than the previous model.'

Now its the latest mobile phones that compete for publicity.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-04/is-telstra-5g-evolution-or-revolution/10576342

Photon at December 3, 2018 at 9:16 PM

Do you remember when we'd eagerly await new model Cars that were more powerful than the previous model.'

Now its the latest mobile phones that compete for publicity.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-04/is-telstra-5g-evolution-or-revolution/10576342

Just a lot of fluff.

My dumb phone suits me quite well thank you.

How land-clearing and the introduction of a predator has changed the breeding behaviour of the endangered Swift Parrot, one of Australia's rapidly declining species.  The Swift Parrot breeds in Tasmania in spring and summer, but over-winters in mainland south-eastern Australia.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-12-05/sugar-gliders-induce-tragic-love-triangle-in-swift-parrots/10581070

Tardis001 at December 4, 2018 at 5:00 PM

How land-clearing and the introduction of a predator has changed the breeding behaviour of the endangered Swift Parrot, one of Australia's rapidly declining species.  The Swift Parrot breeds in Tasmania in spring and summer, but over-winters in mainland south-eastern Australia.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-12-05/sugar-gliders-induce-tragic-love-triangle-in-swift-parrots/10581070

I didn't know those cute sugar gliders were bird eaters.

Rumpole at December 4, 2018 at 11:27 PM

Tardis001 at December 4, 2018 at 5:00 PM

How land-clearing and the introduction of a predator has changed the breeding behaviour of the endangered Swift Parrot, one of Australia's rapidly declining species.  The Swift Parrot breeds in Tasmania in spring and summer, but over-winters in mainland south-eastern Australia.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-12-05/sugar-gliders-induce-tragic-love-triangle-in-swift-parrots/10581070

I didn't know those cute sugar gliders were bird eaters.

Yes, they are your classic omnivore.  Favourite foods are nectar and sap of acacia and eucalypt species, supplemented with large insects.  In winter, when insects are in short supply, they will eat lizards and small birds.  They are particularly good at finding and eating chicks, especially in nests that are in tree hollows. The problem facing the Swift Parrot is that it nests in tree hollows in prime habitat for Sugar Gliders. This predator was probably introduced into Tasmania at the time of European settlement and it's only been in the last 5 years or so that it's been known as a significant predator of Swift Parrot chicks.

A Christmas comet for stargazers.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-12-09/christmas-comet-46pwirtanen-and-geminids-meteor-shower/10583932

The Tasmanian Devil on sterioids:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-12-13/thylacoleo-marsupial-lion-tasmanian-devil-on-steroids/10609922

Tardis001 at December 12, 2018 at 11:04 PM

The Tasmanian Devil on sterioids:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-12-13/thylacoleo-marsupial-lion-tasmanian-devil-on-steroids/10609922

The term "dropbear" came to mind, but someone beat me to it.

Virgin Galactic's tourist rocket reaches the edge of space in supersonic test flight.

Good to see Richard Branson's crew back on track. 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-14/virgin-galactic-tourism-rocket-ship-reaches-space-in-test/10618704

Photon at December 13, 2018 at 9:27 PM

Virgin Galactic's tourist rocket reaches the edge of space in supersonic test flight.

 

Good to see Richard Branson's crew back on track. 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-14/virgin-galactic-tourism-rocket-ship-reaches-space-in-test/10618704

He and Musk should have an electric car race to Mars.

Revival biology again, will it ever happen ?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-12-16/de-extinction-species-thylacine-woolly-mammoth-passenger-pigeon/10616670

Rumpole at December 15, 2018 at 3:01 PM

Revival biology again, will it ever happen ?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-12-16/de-extinction-species-thylacine-woolly-mammoth-passenger-pigeon/10616670

This ABC podcast from last week discusses the ecological, technical and ethical issues.  It's more complicated than you think.

https://radio.abc.net.au/programitem/pe8Dwq7VaQ?play=true

Branson's space technology a lemon says Andy Thomas.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-17/andy-thomas-criticises-sir-richard-branson-over-space-technology/10627620

Budget getting back into the black, at the expense of research.

Barbarians at the gate.

https://theconversation.com/myefo-rips-a-130-million-per-year-from-research-funding-despite-budget-surplus-108919

Sand dunes preserved under water as rock.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-12-19/ancient-sand-dunes-preserved-as-stone-under-the-sea/10615124

Rumpole at December 18, 2018 at 4:20 PM

Sand dunes preserved under water as rock.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-12-19/ancient-sand-dunes-preserved-as-stone-under-the-sea/10615124

Very interesting.  I'm sure there are other locations around the Australian coastline where this has occurred and are waiting to be discovered.

If Joh BP was still around, he'd probably want to mine this rock and grind it back into sand for its mineral content.

Blind amphibian named after Donald Trump.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-19/blind-amphibian-buries-head-in-sand-named-after-donald-trump/10635134

State of the climate report.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-20/bom-csiro-biennial-state-of-the-climate/10631122

Rumpole at December 19, 2018 at 3:18 PM

State of the climate report.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-20/bom-csiro-biennial-state-of-the-climate/10631122

Not looking good, is it?   I heard Matt Canavan say on ABC News last night is that he's not worried about 2050, he's worried about providing affordable power today.  Bastard (apologies in advance for use of this language).

Tardis001 at December 19, 2018 at 5:55 PM

Rumpole at December 19, 2018 at 3:18 PM

State of the climate report.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-20/bom-csiro-biennial-state-of-the-climate/10631122

Not looking good, is it?   I heard Matt Canavan say on ABC News last night is that he's not worried about 2050, he's worried about providing affordable power today.  Bastard (apologies in advance for use of this language).

Fingers crossed he will be gone in a few months.

Interesting that the NSW Energy Minister got right up the Feds about carbon emmissions.

A genuine concern for the environment or just their seats in the NSW election ?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-19/morrison-climate-policy-out-of-touch-says-nsw-energy-minister/10633474