New study pinpoints twin triggers of Triassic era extinction event

Curtin-led research has revealed an increase in levels of both acid and hydrogen sulfide in the ocean was the double whammy that wiped out marine life during a mass extinction event 201 million years ago.

Lead author, Curtin PhD graduate Dr Calum Peter Fox, from the WA-Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC) in Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said the research revealed the twin processes that combined to the end the Triassic era, paving the way for the emergence of dinosaurs in the Jurassic period.

“The end-Triassic event saw rapid increases in CO2 due to a surge in volcanic

It’s all smiles at Happy Valley Reservoir

More than 50,000 people have visited Happy Valley Reservoir in less than a month since it opened for recreational access, in yet another sign of the incredible popularity of the Marshall Liberal Government’s historic Opening up our Reservoirs program.

This takes overall visitor numbers to South Australian reservoirs since the program started at Myponga Reservoir in April 2019 to more than 400,000.

Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs said for the first time in 120

Almost half of eligible South Australians now boosted!

New figures revealed today by the Marshall Government show that 44 per cent – nearly half – of currently eligible South Australians have now had their all-important booster shot.

In fact, in the last seven days alone, booster shots have increased faster than the growth in eligible population, with over 95,000 doses administered just last week – and over 260,000 doses in arms so far.

Doses administered are set to grow with the Mile End Booster Clinic coming online from

OPINION ARC grants: if Australia wants to tackle the biggest issues, politicians need to stop meddling with basic research

Basic research is best when it’s allowed to proceed on merit, rather than with political interference, says an open letter from 63 leading researchers protesting government interference in ARC grants.

Acting Education Minister Stuart Robert. Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP Image

In countries like Denmark and Germany, gifts are given on Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas morning. Likewise, on Christmas Eve 2021, 587 groups of researchers at universities around Australia received a festive gift from the Australian Research Council (ARC), in the form of news that their 2022 Discovery Projects were to be funded.

More brutally, 2508 other groups of researchers also received the less than festive

UNSW receives over $3m in funding to support rare cancer and disease research

Projects to develop therapies for childhood cancer and phantom limb pain have been awarded MRFF grants.

Research funding will help improve the health outcomes of patients with rare cancers and diseases. Photo: Pexels

UNSW Sydney researchers have received over $3 million from the 2021 Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need (RCRDUN) grant program funded under the Medical Research Futures Fund (MRFF).

The two UNSW grants were among the 27 projects awarded RCRDUN funding, which

ServiceWA app launches to help keep WA safe

• Free app allows people to show proof of vaccination, check in with SafeWA and access G2G Pass for interstate travel - all in one place
• App to make proof of vaccination requirements more robust and convenient
• Live clock timer, shimmering coat of arms and animated certificate tick to prove the user's COVID-19 digital certificate is authentic
• The app uses a Federal Government Digital Identity for enhanced security and proof of vaccination 
• Expanded proof of vaccinations requirements to be finalised in coming days

The McGowan Government has today launched the ServiceWA app - a free, convenient and secure mobile application that will help Western Australians with WA's Safe Transition.

 

The app allows people to show proof of vaccination, check in at businesses and venues with

Ready, set, grow! Funding to bring community garden projects to life

• 12 community garden projects share $99,674.50 in State Government grants
• Grants support the establishment or upgrading of community gardens
• Some grants will fund projects that improve disability access to community gardens

Twelve community-based organisations from across Western Australia will have garden projects brought to life thanks to the State Government's Community Gardens Grants Program.

 

Grants provided through the program support the establishment and upgrading of

Western rail lines restored after floodwaters damaged tracks

Queensland’s Western and South Western train lines have all been repaired and reopened after heavy rain caused severe flooding which damaged tracks, forcing parts of the rail network to close for weeks.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey thanked crews who worked quickly and safely to repair more than 4,000 metres of track.

“When wild weather lashed the state late last year, there was some significant damage to

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FLOODED FRASER COAST AND GYMPIE RESIDENTS IN QUEENSLAND

Personal Hardship Assistance is now available to support residents of 13 localities within the Fraser Coast and Gympie Regional Council areas, including Maryborough, impacted by the devastating heavy rainfall and flooding associated with ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth from 7 – 10 January 2022.

Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said grants of up to $180 per person, to a maximum of $900 for

Clean Group Releasing Do-It-Yourself Cleaning Guides to Help Businesses Learn the ABC’s of COVID-19 Cleaning

covid cleaners in Sydney working 24/7

commercial cleaning company logo

covid cleaner in medical centre

covid cleaner in warehouse

SYDNEY, NSW, AUSTRALIA, January 11, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Clean Group, a Sydney-based well-known provider of commercial cleaning and disinfection cleaning services, is releasing a series of do-it-yourself covid cleaning guides for self-cleaning and maintenance of homes, vehicles, small offices, stores, childcare centres, etc. during the pandemic. The guides are intended to help small businesses and households in Australia to learn the basics of covid cleaning so that they can properly clean their spaces on their own and keep their loved ones safe by limiting the spread of infection in their premises, according to the Clean Group CEO, Suji Siv.

“Small businesses in Sydney and other parts of the country are going through a rough patch because of the pandemic. Many of them are struggling to pay bills and simply cannot afford to hire a full-time cleaner or outsource cleaning. To help out such businesses and residents cut costs on cleaning and still get the desired results with self-cleaning, Clean Group is releasing a series of detailed & self-explanatory DIY covid cleaning guides prepared by subject experts,” said Suji Siv in his statement.

What is Clean Group’s Do It Yourself COVID-19 Cleaning Guide?

These Do It Yourself Cleaning Guides cover topics such as “house covid cleaning”, “cleaning a small office space for covid-19”, “childcare centre covid cleaning and disinfection”, “Cleaning and Disinfecting Cloths for Covid-19”, “Cleaning and Disinfecting Retail Outlets for Covid-19”, and others. All the guides/articles are or will be prepared by experts having good knowledge of the subject matter with the purpose to help those businesses and residents who wish to DIY clean their own premises for COVID without professional assistance. The guides will also act as a tool for businesses and individuals looking to learn the basics of covid clean whether to serve their own purposes or make a career out of it. Small businesses can easily learn covid cleaning from Clean Group experts to cut costs on cleaning and prevent the spread of covid on their facilities.

The DIY cleaning guides, along with helpful tips and cleaning checklist, are available on the Clean Group blog (https://www.clean-group.com.au/blog/) and are free to use for