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Earth Sciences

These termite hills have been active for over 34,000 years — and they hold a snapshot of South Africa's ancient climate

Researchers used radiocarbon dating to determine some termite mounds in an arid region were about 34,000 years old.
Four people smile in front of a termite mound.

How the discovery of a 509-million-year-old fossil flipped palaeontology on its head

Scientists were taught that they would never find fossils in volcanic rock but a recent discovery shows the complete opposite.
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A group of insectoid like creatures swimming away from a cloud of ash

Hobart is Antarctic icebreaker Nuyina's home port — but a funding stoush has put WA on the radar

In the wake of tensions between the federal and Tasmanian governments over the redevelopment of the RSV Nuyina's base in Hobart, WA says it's open to discussions about the future of the Australian Antarctic Program.
Front on view of an icebreaker ship.

Hobart's status as Antarctic gateway under threat as federal minister weighs in on TasPorts wharf fight

Hobart's hosting of the icebreaker research vessel the RSV Nuyina is at risk due to the "exorbitant cost" of the redevelopment of Macquarie Wharf 6, the federal environment minister warns.
An aerial shot of the happy couple on the RSV Nuyina, icebergs floating in the background.

From the Sydney police beat to a remote subantarctic outpost, station leader Justine returns from 'Jurassic Park'

Justine Thompson has investigated crooks and crashes on Sydney's beat, but on remote Macquarie Island, halfway to Antarctica, she had 50-knot winds, orcas, major refuelling operations and people to manage.
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A fluffy bird (light mantled albatross chick) in a nest with water and large rock formations in the background.

Earth has recorded its 12th month in a row of record heat — so when will it end?

As the world hits an alarming climate milestone, a new report by a US research team shows the staggering amount of extreme heat days each country experienced last year, with the majority made more likely by human-induced climate change.
A view of sign board warning of extreme heat in Death Valley, California

Aurora chasers may have damaged ancient ecological site

Aurora chasers in south-western WA may have caused irreversible damage to an ecological site at Lake Clifton hosting 2,000-year-old examples of the Earth's earliest life forms.
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thrombolites in water with rainbow on horizon

'Spectacular' airdrop in Antarctica as Defence sends much-needed supplies to Mawson Station

After weeks of planning, a RAAF C-17 Globemaster has completed a 10,000-kilometre mission to Antarctica to drop off essential cargo to expeditioners who were left with limited supplies after a recent voyage by Australia's icebreaker didn't go to plan.
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Crew members shake hands inside a military aircraft with rear door open.

Crewing and maintenance costs, fuel consumption leaves troubled vessel facing $100m cost blowout

A newly released report shows Australia's icebreaker, the RSV Nuyina, is facing a $100 million cost blowout by 2030 due to rising crew, fuel and maintenance costs.
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Large ship seen from above.

Could climate change be behind the increase in air turbulence?

Passengers on a flight that experienced significant turbulence as it travelled from London to Singapore last week are still coming to terms with what happened.
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ABC News Current
Duration: 5 minutes 30 seconds

BOM's official winter outlook unpacked

Every inch of the country is likely to have higher-than-normal temperatures between June and August, according to the Bureau of Meteorology's official winter outlook. Just how wet it will be, however, is less clear.
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Two people walking on the beach in Sydney with rainclouds looming above.

Expeditioners love visiting 'beautiful' Macquarie Island, except for the mouldy, asbestos-riddled accommodation

Expeditioners at Australia's research station on Macquarie Island sometimes have to stay in mouldy, asbestos-riddled accommodation blocks. To improve conditions and enhance scientific capabilities, a major upgrade costing hundreds of millions of dollars is underway.
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People sitting on a boat look out at a mountain and some rocks protruding from the ocean.

Planes are going to be dodging more turbulence in a warming world

As the world continues to burn fossil fuels, global temperatures are rising, and turbulence is just another natural phenomenon that's affected by that warming.
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The interior of the Singapore Airlines plane

Australian explorer pulling 70kg sled for 20km a day in freezing conditions through Greenland in research mission

The team is trekking 560 kilometres to the summit of the Greenland ice cap after NASA reported it had shrunk a fifth more than previously thought. 
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A man wearing a blue jacket skis through snow pulling a sled.

Missed the aurora australis? You should get another chance to see the southern lights tonight

The Earth has seen its biggest geomagnetic storm in more than 20 years, creating spectacular auroras across the globe. And the Bureau of Meteorology says the southern lights should be visible again tonight. 
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Pink lights in the sky over a beach

Budding outback geologist Archie cracks the 'beautiful' rock market, all for a good cause

Growing up in Kununurra, Archie Stanley has developed a passion for geology — and he's putting his interests to a worthy cause.
A 10 year old boy, sits on the red dirt and rocks barefoot holding a large rock with crystals.

Shirley the giant prehistoric wombat-like marsupial now has an age. And she's old

Just over a decade ago, an outback cattle station worker in the NT stumbled across a rare diprotodon fossil sticking out of the red soil. Now fondly known as Shirley, scientists have discovered how old the marsupial is.
Diprotodon

While April was Australia's coldest in almost 10 years, the world keeps breaking heat records

Australia may have just shivered through the coldest April in almost 10 years, but the rest of the world continued to break heat records for the 11th month in a row. 
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The sun sets over the chimneys of an oil refinery

No end in sight: The reason NSW's weather is stuck in a rain streak and why it matters

If you're living in south-eastern Australia, the weather has probably been feeling a bit like Groundhog Day. What's been causing this extended rain streak? And why does it matter for Australia's weather? 
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Two people stand under black umbrellas, with their pants rolled up as the road floods under heavy rain.

Some of the cleanest air in the world is located in Tasmania

Kennanook/Cape Grim boasts some of the cleanest air in the world, allowing scientists to use it to monitor the planet's baseline atmosphere and help solve a climate puzzle.
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Breath of Fresh Air, Earth Sciences: A radio tower on a headland with a stormy bay behind it.
Duration: 3 minutes 46 seconds

Take a deep breath. This Tasmanian cape has the purest air in the planet and it's helping scientists unravel a climate mystery

When the wind blows in from the Southern Ocean, the north-western tip of Tasmania receives the purest air on the planet. For scientists, it's the perfect place to resolve a puzzle that's messing with climate models.
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Aerial Kennaook_Cape Grim baseline air monitoring station in Tasmania

Why a surging gold price is driving renewed interest in its 'poor cousin' silver

With Australia holding the biggest share of the world's silver reserves, an 18 per cent price rise over the past six months has people talking — especially when it comes to the silver lining of technology.
Silver bullion bars

On a patch of earth 'big as a Bunnings car park', renters get to muscle in on the solar boom

A five-hour drive from Sydney, a community garden of sorts has sprouted. But instead of sharing tomatoes or lettuce, "gardeners" harvest solar energy. And it's already a hit with people otherwise excluded from the rooftop solar boom.
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Lines of solar panels on a paddock

Scientists discover extinct marsupial double the size of the red kangaroo

Researchers from Flinders University have described three new species of extinct kangaroo, helping to solve a nearly 150-year-long scientific mystery.
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A skeleton of a giant extinct kangaroo placed over a white background. The bones are brown and arranged horizontally.

Australian Antarctic icebreaker hit by technical issues and industrial action

Two main cranes malfunctioned during the RSV Nuyina's recent resupply mission to Antarctica, adding to a growing list of problems plaguing the $528 million vessel.
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A large white and yellow ship with cranes and lifeboats on the side.