Geography
Young Aussies quite keen on Queen
civicsAn unusual poll that floats the idea of Australia inventing its own royal family finds a surprising number of young adult Australians are in favour of being ruled by the British one
Ancient tooth provides clue to extinct humans
historyThe discovery of a child’s tooth in a Laos cave can teach us a lot about an extinct and mysterious group of ancient people known as Denisovans
Ariarne sets world record at Aussie swim trials
sportAussie Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus has stunned the global swimming community, breaking the world record in her pet event after Zac Stubblety-Cook breaks the 200m breaststroke barrier
Latest
Golden arches go dark across Russia
From fast food to fast exit, the world’s most recognisable golden arches will be dismantled across Russia as the burger giant quits the country for good due to the crisis in Ukraine
Aussie teen’s triumphant Everest trek
There were happy tears as Melbourne teenager Gabby Kanizay made it the top of Mt Everest after a six-week trek and became the youngest ever Australian to conquer the world’s highest peak
Monstrous megaraptor unearthed in Argentina
Boasting terrifying talons, one mighty big belly and a bulky body the length of a three-storey building, this Cretaceous era Argentinian dinosaur was once the apex predator of the Andes
Chopper catches rocket … then drops it
In scenes straight from the set of a Hollywood blockbuster, a real life helicopter crew in New Zealand has attempted to catch a falling rocket midair – and very nearly pulled it off
Giant jungle bridge made of glass
A huge glass-bottomed bridge is set to bring international visitors to Vietnam after Covid, with Guinness World Records expected to confirm that the ‘white dragon’ is the biggest bridge of its kind
Migrant population shrinks for first time in decades
Australia’s migrant population has declined for the first time in 20 years amid the Covid-19 pandemic
Crocs no match in trapdoor plant quest
Australian researches had to trek for three days in a crocodile-infested WA river to find a rare carnivorous plant that captures its prey with a trapdoor
Beacon to send out message to aliens
No ordinary invitation to meet the neighbours, NASA’s new Beacon in the Galaxy signal includes plans to mark out Earth’s location for any aliens living in the Milky Way
World’s oldest person dies at 119
Born in 1903, married a century ago and recognised by Guinness World Records as the planet’s oldest person, Kane Tataka has passed away peacefully in her home country Japan
Spinosaurus’ underwater life was in its bones
Scientists have scratched their heads over Spinosaurus since the Cretaceous carnivore was first discovered – now a study has shed new light on how the giant dinosaurs hunted prey underwater
Inside tragic final months of King Tut’s life
Archaeologists don’t know for sure what killed Egypt’s “Boy King” Tutankhamun but a new documentary reveals his final months were probably pretty miserable
Taxis jump queue to get queen bees to hives
An exclusive new chauffeur service delivers VIP levels of comfort and security to a very small but vital customer base – queen bees in need of a ride as they relocate with their hives
Ibis ‘bin chicken’ to the big time?
Worshipped by Ancient Egyptians, the ibis has been down on its luck since arriving in Australia – but all that might change after calls to make the nation’s ‘bin chicken’ an Olympic Games mascot
Baby squirrel monkeys for Taronga
Monkey mania has landed at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo with the birth of six highly sociable little squirrel monkeys, taking the total number of these critically endangered residents to 24
Flying dino had two tummies
New pterosaur fossils from the Late Jurassic period suggest these flying predators had two stomachs, great for digesting unlucky prey they gobbled in one gulp
Towering ice volcanoes found on Pluto
NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft has identified giant ice volcanoes on Pluto unlike anything else in our solar system – and they could still be active
How vampire bats got a blood diet
Scientists have figured out why vampire bats are the only mammals that live on blood alone, with a low-fat, low-carb diet keeping these ‘living Draculas’ flying high in the night sky
Simultaneous heatwave at North and South Poles
A weather event has seen temperatures jump at opposite ends of the globe despite the Arctic and Antarctic regions being in opposing seasons
It’s lights out for the planet this Earth Hour
Millions of people around the world will switch off their lights for Earth Hour this weekend. What’s this event all about?
Fortnite profit to fund Ukraine aid
Epic Games to donate two weeks of proceeds from the game Fortnite to support Ukrainian relief efforts in response to the Russian invasion
Eiffel Tower gets a growth spurt
The Eiffel Tower was already the tallest building in Paris, but the French capital’s most recognisable structure just got even higher
Hi-tech hunt for pharaoh’s tomb
An ultra-powerful scan will be done of Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza under plans to identify two mysterious spaces that could house the pharaoh’s secret burial chamber
Two epic blobs below Earth’s surface
Beneath the surface of our planet lie two gigantic ‘rock blobs’ that are 100 times taller than Mount Everest and could be the remains of an alien world
Octopus fossil found with extra arms
A well-preserved, 10-armed fossil puts octopuses on Earth ahead of dinosaurs, more than 80 million years earlier than previously thought
Amazon could become treeless savanna
Lowering the Amazon Basin’s ability to withstand climate change and sustained deforestation would have worldwide impacts
Aussie weed could be turned into space food
A native Australian weed could join the next frontier of space food as scientists look for nutrient-rich options for astronauts
Explorer’s lost ship found after 107 years
Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ship, Endurance, hadn’t been seen since it was crushed by ice and sank in 1915 – until now
Rain could last until August
The east coast of Australia could be in for a wet, wet, wet autumn and winter as La Niña looks set to be here for the long haul
Stonehenge mystery finally solved
Experts believe Stonehenge was built as an ancient solar calendar that had 10 days in a week and three weeks in a month
Seals in hi-tech helmets help Antarctic study
Japanese researchers have fitted eight Weddell seals with hi-tech monitors to help survey the waters under the thick ice sheet of Antarctica
Tech exists to resurrect Tassie tiger
A bold plan to bring back the Tasmanian tiger in just 10 years is fuelling the scientific race to restore the lost species to life
PM Scott Morrison has Covid-19
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will isolate for a week after developing a fever and testing positive to Covid-19, while it’s back to work for the Queen
Global warming threat to outdoor sport
The Australian way of life will have to change unless leaders take greater action now to address climate change
T-rex may be three different species
Tyrannosaurus rex might have to make room on the dino royal throne, with experts believing there could be two more distinct species of T-rex dubbed the emperor and the queen
School’s out as Qld floods cause havoc
A deadly eastern brown snake became an unlikely saviour to mice and frogs during severe flooding, as Queensland closed nearly 1000 schools and the storms headed south to northern NSW
Red panda cubs born at Taronga
Cuteness levels have doubled at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo with the safe arrival of a pair of red panda cubs, whose early antics are being captured and shared via CCTV
Sportsmanship makes a comeback in cricket
Cricket fans around the world have praised a gracious act of sportsmanship that shows the spirit of cricket is alive and well. WATCH THE VIDEO
What is happening between Ukraine and Russia?
The situation between Russia and Ukraine is tense and a little scary – but it helps to understand what is going on and what other leaders are doing in response
Are Putin and Xi on similar paths?
The tough guys of international politics, Russian president Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping, share similar leadership styles and ambitions in Mark Knight’s latest cartoon
Flying reptile fossil has scientists ‘gobsmacked’
The discovery of a Scottish pterosaur shows the flying reptile grew larger much earlier than previously thought – and long before the Cretaceous period when they had to compete with birds
Giant strawberry sets world record
A gigantic Israeli strawberry has delighted its growers by setting a new world record even after shrinking in the freezer over the past year
Ever wanted to peek inside a lion’s mouth?
A lioness has given wildlife fans an amazing close-up after chomping on a GoPro camera. WATCH THE VIDEO
How did Beijing get Olympics blue sky?
Beijing’s smog is notorious. But the Chinese capital has enjoyed blue skies like this for much of the Winter Olympics. How did it do it?
Young dinosaur was crocodile’s last meal
The mortal struggles of Cretaceous Queensland have been vividly brought to life with the discovery of an ancient crocodile that ate a young dinosaur as its own last meal
Cloned Tassie tiger gets closer
The Tasmanian tiger’s path back from extinction is one step closer after the successful genome mapping of its closest living relation
Parrot films high-flying getaway with stolen GoPro
A feathered thief has captured some spectacular aerial footage after swiping a family’s GoPro camera on a hiking holiday in New Zealand. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO
Teen pilot lands world record
Zara Rutherford, 19, has become the youngest woman to fly solo around the world, completing a 52,000km journey with stops in almost 30 countries
International Space Station set for splashdown
After more than two decades of service as the temporary home of astronauts in space, the International Space Station will plunge into a South Pacific safe zone in January 2031
Gold medal win for Jakara’s mighty moguls
Jakara Anthony dominated the women’s moguls from the start and got her fairytale finish, winning a gold medal and capping off a historic day for Australia that started with Tess Coady’s bronze
Row over ‘discovery’ of Captain Cook’s shipwreck
Australian maritime researchers believe they have found the wreck of HMS Endeavour, which Captain James Cook sailed to Australia in 1770. But US researchers have slapped down the claim
Giant ‘sea dragon’ fossil found in UK
Britain’s largest and most intact ancient ichthyosaur fossil has been found in England – and it’s estimated to be 180 million years old
How many species of trees are on Earth?
Have you ever wondered how many different types of trees are on the planet? A team of scientists has – and it has the answer
Face mask litter a major problem
Nearly two years since the pandemic began, the world is awash in discarded single-use face masks and this chief Covid protection poses a threat to wildlife and the environment
Bird sounds set for ARIA success
Endangered Australian birds could knock pop songbirds from their perch, with an album of birdsong in the running to debut in the ARIA Top 10
Great Barrier Reef’s coral baby boom
Corals born during an innovative IVF project have reached maturity in time for a reproductive rush at the Great Barrier Reef’s annual mass spawning event
Pygmy hippo birth, hip hip hooray!
With fewer than 3000 pygmy hippos estimated to be left in the wild, the birth of a waddling little calf at Taronga Zoo is certainly cause for big whoops of welcome
Barbados breaks from Britain and becomes republic
Prince Charles won’t be head of state in Barbados when he succeeds Queen Elizabeth II – but he was on hand at the historic inauguration of the first president to wish the nation well
Saving Mawson’s remote Antarctic huts
Extreme isolation on ice awaits a team tasked with preserving Sir Douglas Mawson’s 110 year old Antarctic timber huts
Wild horses to be reined in
Brumby numbers will be slashed in Kosciuszko National Park in NSW under a plan to reduce environmental harms caused by wild horses
Hybrid coral could withstand heat
Coral that survived multiple mass bleaching events added to Great Barrier Reef’s mass spawning mix so heat-resilient hybrid could be born
Great white an underwater warhorse
Stunning images of a heavily scarred great white shark suggest a battlefield lies beneath the surface of the ocean
Cold, wet summer Down Under
Dreams of the perfect Aussie summer have been dashed as La Niña starts to lash eastern states with rain, wind and cold
Assassin spiders dodge death
Kangaroo Island assassin spiders have been found alive almost two years after bushfires were feared to have wiped them out
Mystery of maritime disaster solved
Australia’s worst maritime tragedy created an 80-year mystery – but after 15 years of DNA testing, the Unknown Sailor has been identified at last
Eagle recovering after dramatic surgery
A wedge-tailed eagle is on the mend after surgeons successfully operated on his broken leg – but not before he managed to give rescuers a real run for their money
What is World Children’s Day all about?
Celebrated November 20 each year, World Children’s Day is the ideal time to think about other children, their lives and challenges. Find out about World Children’s Day and its history
Schools shut as smog smothers Indian capital
Authorities in the Indian capital of New Delhi have ordered the closure of schools and coal-burning power plants after air pollution reached more than 30 times the World Health Organisation’s recommended maximum
Tiny puggle recovers at Taronga
A perfect little puggle abandoned on a NSW property is loving life with its ‘surrogate mum’ at Taronga Wildlife Hospital
Antarctic penguin swims to New Zealand
After his epic adventure from Antarctica to New Zealand’s South Island, Pingu the penguin is released for the return leg
Tiny frog species found in NSW
A new species of ‘hip pocket’ frog discovered in NSW has been granted immediate habitat protection – its rare features including males that carry tadpoles in pouches
Monster appetite of whales boosts ocean health
Baleen whales are gigantic climate change crusaders, thanks to their huge hunger for krill – now they just need their own natural environment restored
Slave room found at Pompeii
Pompeii archaeologists have found a ‘slave room’ that they believe housed chariot handlers in the ancient city, before Mt Vesuvius erupted nearly 2000 years ago
Aurora Australis puts on a stunning southern show
Keen photographers made the most of Aurora Australis in the night skies over Victoria – a rare, beautiful sight invisible to the naked eye
Ivory trade leads to tuskless elephants
Humans have sped up evolution in Mozambique where ivory hunters have caused an increase in the proportion of female elephants born without tusks
Tips for a Covid-safe Halloween
Halloween fun might look a bit different this year. Take a look at our tips for safe trick-or-treating and find out where this spooky tradition came from
Top price of $10 million paid for triceratops
The preserved skeleton of a 66-million-year-old herbivore has set a new record price for triceratops sales, after a private American collector paid big bucks for ‘Big John’
Sword from Crusades salvaged at sea
Diver recovers a stunningly preserved ancient relic off the coast of Israel, from the dangerous days of knights, armour and swords
Lava flow makes Spanish island bigger
Satellite imagery shows molten rock has extended the size of La Palma’s western shore as volcanic eruptions continue
How rising sea levels could impact landmarks
Scientists have illustrated the possible impact of global warming in a series of digital images that show how rising sea levels could affect world landmarks including the Sydney Opera House
Life on Mars simulated in Israeli desert
A team of scientists and astronauts have created conditions in the Israeli desert to simulate a month-long mission to Mars as part of training for the real thing
Animal numbers up in Africa
The first wildlife census in Kenya has found an encouraging rise in the African elephant population after important gains in the ongoing fight against poachers
Thai taxis become bonnet and rooftop gardens
Without tourist trade keeping taxi fares ticking over in the Thai capital, one Bangkok cab company has devised a novel solution to help feed its unemployed drivers
Fraser Island to be renamed ‘paradise’
Queensland’s spectacular Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island, is to be renamed K’gari, the word for “paradise” in the language of the area’s traditional owners
Giant marine fossil dubbed ‘the mothership’
Canadian Palaeontologists have discovered a 506-million-year-old marine fossil – a giant in its day that stalked prey along the ocean floor
Lava slows after volcano erupts
Tourists and residents have been safely evacuated from affected areas of Spain’s Canary Islands after the region’s first volcanic eruption in 50 years
Bold plan to bring woolly mammoths back to life
Scientists have announced an ambitious plan to bring woolly mammoths back from extinction after thousands of years
Coral atlas maps the world’s reefs
The Allen Coral Atlas delivers the first-ever detailed, digital map of global coral for conservationists and ocean lovers the world over
Young albatross makes epic journey to Australia
We can’t travel far at the moment, but there were no such restrictions on a young albatross that was tracked on a 36,000km round trip from its sub-Antarctic island home to South Australia
New plan to save Aussie animals
NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean marked Threatened Species Day by announcing a bold plan to end extinction fears for Australia’s best loved fauna and flora
The hunt begins for sunken ships
Fishing fleets will hunt for hundreds of shipwrecks off the Victorian coast in a new push to preserve Australia’s maritime history
China cuts video gaming for kids
China has announced strict new time limits on kids playing video games, including banning online gaming altogether on school days
Four-legged whale fossil found in Egypt
The 43-million-year-old fossil of a fierce, four-legged whale species has been named after the ancient Egyptian god of death
Whale mums tour coast with calves
Mother Nature keeps delivering gifts through lockdowns and restrictions, lifting spirits coast to coast with these whale wanderers
China’s Mars rover keeps roaming
After successfully completing its first 90-day program, China’s red planet rover Zhurong is fully charged and ready to keep rolling
Teen takes flight in world record bid
Teenage pilot Zara Rutherford has taken to the skies to inspire women of tomorrow to study STEM subjects today
Giant panda delivers tiny cub
Chinese giant panda Kai Kai has become a mum in Singapore after a seven year effort, giving birth to the country’s first ever cub
The Big Pineapple’s Brisbane Olympics bid
Some Olympic mascots have completely missed the mark – but the Big Pineapple’s birthday bid to become the Brisbane 2032 mascot is a green and gold Queensland dream