New research published in BioScience has highlighted intensifying extreme climatic conditions, with alarming sea temperature anomalies recorded in 2023 and 2024. According to the article published on October 8th, global ocean temperatures have shattered historical records, signaling the potential for unprecedented natural disasters. “We are stepping into a critical and unpredictable new phase of the climate crisis,” the authors said. The article referenced the latest UN press release, which revealed that fossil fuel emissions have reached an all-time high, with the three hottest days on record occurring in July 2024. Experts believe humans have failed to avert the impending collapse of…
Author: Alice Lai
Water temperatures in the Great Barrier Reef reached 400-year highs in 2017, 2020, and 2024 according to research by University of Wollongong (UOW) Honorary Fellow and University of Melbourne Lecturer Dr Benjamin Henley, published this month in Nature. The research reconstructs 400 years of summer sea surface temperatures in the Coral Sea, showing an unprecedented rise in sea temperature that has led to recent ocean heat, further triggering severe coral bleaching and destroying the world’s largest and most biodiverse reef ecosystem. Although UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee made the decision not to list the Great Barrier Reef as endangered, Dr Henley is…
Brisbane’s oldest koala sanctuary, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, captured the world’s attention recently when it announced it would cease koala holds to promote awareness of koala conservation. The action was in response to strong visitor feedback that it was unnecessary to cuddle the koalas. “Just do what they do best — eating, sleeping, and relaxing within their own space.” Lyndon Discombe, the General Manager of Lone Pine said they were glad to see tourists’ emerging awareness of animal welfare. Studies have shown that koalas become stressed even in close proximity to humans, according to Dr Jennifer Ford, Zoologist and animal…
The declining birthrate in Taiwan has been implicated in the closure of seven universities across the country this year. The tertiary instutions, including Mingdao University, Taiwan Shoufu University, Chung Chou University of Science and Technology, Tungfang Design University, TransWorld University, Tatung Institute of Technology, and Dahan Institute of Technology, have permanently closed their doors to students and staff. Over a thousand students have been reassigned to other universities to continue their studies for the start of the new academic year. Regarding the unemployed faculty members, most schools said they have been processing to arrange retirement, layoffs, or finding…
A new disaster response initiative has been launched to reshape disaster recovery in Australia by prioritising community engagement, addressing housing challenges, and creating tools to support long-term recovery efforts. Funded by the Judith Neilson Chair in Architecture endowment at UNSW, HowWeSurvive has compiled survival stories from across Australia through research, advocacy, and collaboration, aiming to activate local communities’ participation with disaster recovery and resilience efforts. One particular focus of the initiative is housing recovery after a disaster. Many communities impacted by disasters face challenges with temporary shelters, high costs, and lengthy timelines for rebuilding. “HowWeSurvive champions best practices for community-centred…