https://www.scimex.org/rss Latest publicly released Scimex stories https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/if-you-have-eyelash-extensions-you-might-also-have-tiny-mites-bugging-your-eyes A small study has found that women who regularly get eyelash extensions often also have tiny mites, called Demodex folliculorum, living on their lashes. The Ukrainian researchers surveyed around 350 women and found that almost one in four have had eyelash extensions, and almost half of those who had eyelash extensions said they had discomfort, redness, tearing or itching after the procedure. When they closely examined the eyelashes from 25 women who regularly had extensions, they found the not-so-glamorous skin mites in all but one of the women, alongside signs of skin irritation typically caused by skin mites in 18 women. The authors say that, while their findings do not suggest that people should completely avoid eyelash extensions, they highlight the importance of proper eyelid hygiene, awareness of symptoms and timely assessment when symptoms arise. 2026-09-11T10:30:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/if-you-have-eyelash-extensions-you-might-also-have-tiny-mites-bugging-your-eyes Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/gene-editing-advance-could-offer-lasting-cure-for-rare-liver-disease For children with certain genetic liver diseases, growth itself has long been the enemy of treatment. In studies of human liver cells and animals, CMRI researchers have found a way to repair the faulty gene at its source, rather than adding a copy that fades as the liver grows. These early results are promising, the researchers say, and the implications reach beyond this one disease. 2026-09-11T10:30:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/gene-editing-advance-could-offer-lasting-cure-for-rare-liver-disease Health / Medical Australia NSW https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/picket-fence-effect-first-antarctic-wide-map-of-grounded-icebergs Grounded icebergs anchor Antarctic sea ice and support marine ecosystems, yet their continent-wide distribution was previously unknown. Using satellite radar imagery and an automated artificial intelligence tool, nearly 40,000 stationary icebergs have now been mapped. 2026-09-11T09:30:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/picket-fence-effect-first-antarctic-wide-map-of-grounded-icebergs Environment / Climate / Energy Australia TAS https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/predator-control-boosts-some-native-skinks-but-fails-endangered-species A trial of intensive, small-scale predator control shows it may help small native skinks, but not larger, rarer species. Researchers monitored four types of native skink over 10 years of predator trapping in Canterbury's Port Hills, finding that numbers of two small species increased while counts of the endangered Canterbury spotted skink stayed near zero. The authors say trapping larger predators might let potentially more damaging animals like mice thrive, worsening the threat for lizards we're trying to protect - and in the short-term, predator-proof fences might be the best way to stop the endangered lizards disappearing from the area. 2026-09-11T03:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/predator-control-boosts-some-native-skinks-but-fails-endangered-species Environment / Climate / Energy New Zealand https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/whiplash-from-dramatic-shifts-between-drought-and-flood-increasing-risk-of-dengue-outbreaks Dramatic 'whiplash' shifts between drought and flood conditions can increase the risk of dengue outbreaks in areas already prone to the disease due to factors such as warm climates and poverty, according to data from Latin America, Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Australia. Rapid dry-to-wet and wet-to-dry transitions are frequently followed by dengue outbreaks, according to the authors, who found that wet-to-dry events specifically are most frequently followed by dengue outbreaks within a short space of time. 2026-09-11T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/whiplash-from-dramatic-shifts-between-drought-and-flood-increasing-risk-of-dengue-outbreaks Health / Medical Rural / Agricultural Australia International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/vege-might-yeast-might-be-the-key-to-strong-houses-on-mars Building on Mars was never going to be easy! The near-vacuum and radiation, combined with getting building materials there, will lead to many hurdles, but international researchers say they might have a solution: yeast and gelatin. They say that once hardened, this living building material is as strong as low-grade concrete and can be broken down, recycled, and brewed again for new construction. To test their theory, the team engineered yeast coated with highly adhesive proteins, including the ones that mussels use to stick to rocks. Combining this yeast with sand, they added gelatin to bind everything together and provide a place for cells to grow, giving the sand mass and structure. The researchers say they tested it on a simulated Mars, using a nozzle to essentially 3D-print a building. While the current builds only stand about a wine cork high, the team hopes to get bigger and better builds going for the potential future of life on Mars. 2026-09-11T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/vege-might-yeast-might-be-the-key-to-strong-houses-on-mars Tech / Engineering / Space International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/teen-social-media-laws-lack-evidence-to-show-they-work A review of global laws targeting social media use by teens, including Australia's social media ban, has found that there is limited evidence on whether they work, and a lack of research assessing their unintended consequences. The researchers say that, while there is observational evidence and expert opinion, timely evaluation of newly enacted legislation is needed. 2026-09-11T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/teen-social-media-laws-lack-evidence-to-show-they-work Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Tech / Engineering / Space Business / Politics Australia International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/microneedle-patches-could-help-the-skin-absorb-medications International researchers have developed biodegradable particles with microscopic needles that painlessly puncture the skin to help it absorb drugs delivered through patches or creams. Building on prior work with star-shaped particles made of ceramic or metal, investigators developed biodegradable versions to address environmental and safety concerns. When the investigators evaluated their technology for the delivery of 3 different drugs - tacrolimus, methotrexate, and copper tripeptide-1 - in pig skin, they found that it increased the ability of drugs to be absorbed into the skin up to 37-fold. 2026-09-10T11:51:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/microneedle-patches-could-help-the-skin-absorb-medications Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/fertility-tests-are-not-a-reproductive-crystal-ball Increasing numbers of Australian women are using a blood test to assess their fertility, but new research suggests it may not provide the answers many are looking for. The study found requests by GPs for anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) tests increased more than 13-fold between 2011 and 2021, despite growing evidence that the test cannot predict whether a woman will become pregnant naturally - not now or in the future. 2026-09-10T10:53:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/fertility-tests-are-not-a-reproductive-crystal-ball Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Australia NSW VIC SA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/hungry-scent-detection-dogs-more-likely-to-cry-wolf New research from Adelaide University and the University of Waikato, exploring how meal timing affects detection dogs' accuracy in sniffing out target scents, shows that breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. The finding could have implications for dogs working in environments where accurate scent detection is critical. 2026-09-10T09:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/hungry-scent-detection-dogs-more-likely-to-cry-wolf Other Science Australia New Zealand SA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/dementia-prevention-cant-rely-on-individual-choices-alone-new-study-finds Efforts to prevent dementia may be placing too much responsibility on people’s choices while overlooking the wider social and environmental conditions that shape brain health, according to new Curtin University research published in The Lancet Public Health. 2026-09-10T08:30:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/dementia-prevention-cant-rely-on-individual-choices-alone-new-study-finds Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Australia WA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/too-much-night-light-could-be-changing-the-shape-of-your-heart Too much exposure to light during the night may be influencing the shape of your heart, according to international researchers who say this could explain a known link between light pollution and heart disease. Looking into this link, the team asked 11,000 UK adults to wear a light sensor on their wrists for a week to see how dark their sleeping environment was. Three years later, the participants underwent a heart scan using MRI. The researchers say the scan results for the participants who were exposed to the most light at night were markedly different - there was evidence of changes in the structure of three of four heart chambers and their hearts didn't appear to be flexing as effectively during a heartbeat. The researchers say these are all signs of stress or injury, and could lead to a weaker heart or even heart failure. 2026-09-10T08:05:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/too-much-night-light-could-be-changing-the-shape-of-your-heart Health / Medical Tech / Engineering / Space International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/training-australias-next-line-of-cyber-defence As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated and digital technology plays a larger role in Australia’s defence, developing people with the skills to protect critical systems is becoming a national priority. 2026-09-10T06:30:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/training-australias-next-line-of-cyber-defence Tech / Engineering / Space Business / Politics Other Science Australia SA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/ice-age-origins-of-one-of-humanitys-oldest-drug-habits Researchers have uncovered evidence that betel nut - one of the world’s most widely used psychoactive substances - was consumed in Indonesia up to 25,000 years ago. By combining archaeological and biochemical analysis, the team identified distinctive tooth wear and traces of arecoline - the stimulant in betel nuts - in ancient human remains from Sulawesi. 2026-09-10T04:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/ice-age-origins-of-one-of-humanitys-oldest-drug-habits Environment / Climate / Energy Society / Lifestyle Other Science Australia NSW QLD https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/asian-elephants-can-resist-impulse-and-think-before-they-act Elephants can resist an impulse in order to solve a problem, an overseas study finds. Researchers taught 16 Asian elephants to reach their trunks around a small solid box to get food through an opening. When the box was swapped for a transparent one with small holes where the elephants could see and smell the food, they resisted the temptation to go straight for it, and still reached around to the opening - and when this box was rotated, they soon learned to find the right access. The authors say this ability may be important for elephants' social interactions or problem-solving, and understanding it might yield ways to stop them coming into conflict with humans. 2026-09-10T04:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/asian-elephants-can-resist-impulse-and-think-before-they-act Environment / Climate / Energy International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/troodon-dinosaurs-hip-and-leg-bones-could-help-improve-future-identifying-future-fossils Hip and leg bones from embryos through to adult Troodon dinosaurs reveal the way the bird-like creatures grew 75 million years ago, according to international researchers, who suggest some of the fossils could be used to help identify future fossils. The team analysed pelvic and hindlimb fossils of troodontid dinosaurs ranging from embryos through to adulthood, finding changes in texture, shape, and relative proportions occurred at consistent growth stages. They also found that foot problems may have been common in the species. From their analysis, the team suggest that a subset of fossils could be used as a new 'type specimen' of the species - the fossils used to identify future specimens - replacing the current 'type specimen', which is a single tooth. The authors note that this depends on a pending decision from the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature. 2026-09-10T04:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/troodon-dinosaurs-hip-and-leg-bones-could-help-improve-future-identifying-future-fossils Environment / Climate / Energy Other Science International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/thinspiration-content-on-tiktok-could-be-leading-women-to-think-worse-of-themselves Canadian researchers looking into the effect of 'thinspiration' content on TikTok say women who view it are more likely to self-objectify and have worse moods. The team had 323 women and feminine-identifying people report their general likelihood to self-objectify, then asked them to watch a randomised set of 20 TikTok videos that were either thinspiration, fitspiration, body positivity, general-purpose, or neutral. After each video, the participants reported their mood and their self-objectifying levels. When compared to watching positive videos, the team found the women self-objectified most after watching thinspo videos, followed by body positivity and fitspo content. Both thinspo and fitspo videos were linked to a more negative mood when compared with neutral videos. The team adds that viewing body-positive content was linked to more positive moods, but it also increased self-objectification. 2026-09-10T04:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/thinspiration-content-on-tiktok-could-be-leading-women-to-think-worse-of-themselves Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Tech / Engineering / Space International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/what-happens-once-you-switch-from-a-low-to-a-high-carb-diet After losing weight on a very-low-carb diet, switching to a diet high in refined carbs, such as white bread and white rice, could be linked to inflammation, according to a small study by international researchers who looked at the responses in humans and mice. The team assessed immune responses in 44 people after they lost 15% of their weight on a very-low-carb diet, and then switched some to a high-carb, high-starch diet (with white bread, white rice and pasta), a high-carb diet which featured added sugars, or kept them on the same very-low-carb diet. After ten weeks on the diets, blood tests revealed shifts in circulating immune cells in the blood, as well as an increase in other biological pathways which indicated inflammation in the high-starch, but not the high-sugar diet. 2026-09-10T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/what-happens-once-you-switch-from-a-low-to-a-high-carb-diet Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/first-ever-aussie-study-of-forever-chemicals-in-rain-finds-safe-concentrations-for-drinking-water Australia's rainwater currently contains safe concentrations of PFAS - or 'forever chemicals' - according to an analysis of Melbourne samples. The Australian researchers tested rainwater samples taken between 2024 and 2025, according to the NHMRC Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. However, these chemicals are present to some degree in rainwater, the researchers say, which may help explain how PFAS reach waterways far from clear sources of contamination. 2026-09-10T00:05:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/first-ever-aussie-study-of-forever-chemicals-in-rain-finds-safe-concentrations-for-drinking-water Health / Medical Environment / Climate / Energy Rural / Agricultural Australia VIC https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/from-social-activity-to-coping-mechanism-when-gambling-becomes-harmful Gambling can shift from a social activity to a coping mechanism during some of life's most difficult moments, according to new research from the Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC) at the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS). The study found gambling often became deeply embedded in everyday life through family, friends, sport and social environments before becoming a source of escape during periods of grief, loneliness, relationship breakdown and other major life challenges. 2026-09-10T00:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/from-social-activity-to-coping-mechanism-when-gambling-becomes-harmful Society / Lifestyle Business / Politics Australia https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/rising-sea-levels-could-cost-australians-at-least855-billion-by-2100 Rising sea levels and storm surges could cost $855 billion in economic losses across Australia by the end of the century, according to new Australian-first research. 2026-09-10T00:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/rising-sea-levels-could-cost-australians-at-least855-billion-by-2100 Environment / Climate / Energy Australia VIC https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/stress-at-work-linked-to-erectile-dysfunction-even-in-younger-men Having a hard time at work could be preventing some ‘hard’ times in the bedroom, according to a study of over 800 full-time working men aged 22-40. International researchers investigated five factors that could affect workplace psychological stress: working hours, decision-making autonomy, supervisor support, colleague relationships, and promotion pressure. Erectile function and hormones such as cortisol (a stress hormone) and testosterone were also measured. In the high-stress group, the prevalence of erectile dysfunction was 54%, which the team says is 10 times higher than that of their low-stress peers, and the relationship was dose-dependent, with more workplace stress being linked to more erectile dysfunction. 2026-09-09T17:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/stress-at-work-linked-to-erectile-dysfunction-even-in-younger-men Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Business / Politics International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/reading-app-boosts-kids-literacy A new Flinders University study of primary school children shows a science‑based digital phonics reading app can accelerate early reading while helping teachers quickly identify students needing extra support. 2026-09-09T16:20:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/reading-app-boosts-kids-literacy Society / Lifestyle Tech / Engineering / Space Australia SA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/briefing-alert-rethinking-health-misinformation-a-conversation-with-professor-heidi-larson **RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE** The latest global risks reports from the UN and the World Economic Forum list mis- and disinformation in the top five of all global risks, greater than economic downturn and cyber insecurity. But how well are we meeting this misinformation challenge, especially in health, and is it time to rethink our approach? This special event from the AusSMC and the Australian Institute for Infectious Disease will explore the latest trends in health misinformation with international expert Professor Heidi Larson. 2026-09-09T14:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/briefing-alert-rethinking-health-misinformation-a-conversation-with-professor-heidi-larson Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Tech / Engineering / Space Australia International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/stronger-home-foundations-needed-to-withstand-climate-change-and-cracking-soils New research from Adelaide University shows that Australian homes are more vulnerable to damage from expansive soils than previously realised, with shrinkage cracks expected to worsen in coming years due to climate change. 2026-09-09T10:35:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/stronger-home-foundations-needed-to-withstand-climate-change-and-cracking-soils Environment / Climate / Energy Australia SA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/expert-reaction-paracetamol-during-pregnancy-linked-to-reproductive-development-changes-in-daughters Danish researchers have found a link between mothers taking paracetamol during pregnancy and smaller ovaries, fewer ovarian follicles - where immature eggs are stored - smaller uteruses, and lower levels of reproductive hormones in their daughters at three months old. The researcher included 685 women and 302 daughters, who were examined when they were three months old. The team then compared the daughters of mothers who took paracetamol with daughters of mothers who did not. Additionally, the team found similar results in a separate group of 1,210 girls whose mothers had taken paracetamol during pregnancy, who were followed up through adolescence. It's important to note that this study cannot prove cause and effect, and the researchers themselves stress that their findings should not alarm or discourage women from using paracetamol during pregnancy. 2026-09-09T09:05:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/expert-reaction-paracetamol-during-pregnancy-linked-to-reproductive-development-changes-in-daughters Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/prehistoric-builders-hauled-25-tonne-stones-18km-to-build-britains-tallest-stone-row New research has revealed ancient builders deliberately transported enormous 25-tonne stones across at least 18 kilometres (11 miles) to build Britain’s tallest surviving prehistoric stone row - the iconic Devil’s Arrows. 2026-09-09T09:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/prehistoric-builders-hauled-25-tonne-stones-18km-to-build-britains-tallest-stone-row Other Science Australia International WA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/a-horses-personality-is-likely-shaped-by-how-we-treat-them The way we raise and keep horses may have a major impact on how the animals' personalities develop, according to international researchers. The team surveyed nearly 2,800 horse owners, asking them about their horse's personality, and their history and living situation including whether they were housed with other horses, ridden often, or had frequently changed ownership through their lives. Looking at the horses' sociability with both people and other horses, their attentiveness and anxiety levels, the researchers say these were all strongly linked to their environment. Horses got along with people better if they had stable, present ownership, and better with horses if they weren't kept alone. Owners also reported that horses ridden more frequently were more attentive and less anxious, the researchers say. 2026-09-09T09:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/a-horses-personality-is-likely-shaped-by-how-we-treat-them Society / Lifestyle Rural / Agricultural Sport Other Science International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/personality-linked-to-attitudes-towards-online-behaviour How you deal with cybersecurity may be linked to your personality, according to international researchers. In a survey of 600 adults in the UK and Arab Gulf countries, researchers were able to identify clusters of people with shared personality traits and attitudes to online safety. They found people who were more thoughtful and organised tended to adopt safer online behaviours, while emotionally reactive people were more likely to engage in risky behaviours, such as excessive social media use. Considering users' personalities could allow the design of more effective and culturally sensitive cybersecurity strategies, the authors conclude. 2026-09-09T09:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/personality-linked-to-attitudes-towards-online-behaviour Society / Lifestyle Tech / Engineering / Space International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/shrimp-exposed-to-high-levels-of-caffeine-pollution-act-like-theyve-been-infected-with-parasites Caffeinated shrimp act like they've been infected with parasites, according to international researchers, who found that after 20 hours of high caffeine exposure, shrimp became more active and less afraid of lights. The team exposed a species of shrimp called Gammarus pulex to both low and high concentrations of caffeine, up to a level seen in highly polluted rivers. They compared the changes in behaviour seen in these shrimp with the changes in behaviour seen in shrimp infected with a parasite that is known to alter behaviour, making shrimp less cautious of predators, and found the effect of high concentrations of caffeine was similar to parasite infection. 2026-09-09T09:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/shrimp-exposed-to-high-levels-of-caffeine-pollution-act-like-theyve-been-infected-with-parasites Environment / Climate / Energy Other Science International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/stepping-up-the-pace-can-help-ward-off-an-early-death If you're struggling to find the time to get your step count up every day, just a half-hour walk could provide similar health benefits if you're fast enough, according to Australian research. The team studied movement data from over 60,000 middle-aged people wearing smart watches to see how both their step count and their pace influenced their health over time. Like many studies before, the researchers say those who took more than 7,500 steps a day had a lower risk of dying over about eight years of follow-up. However, they say those who took fewer than 5,000 steps, but walked at a pace of at least 80 steps a minute for at least 30 minutes, also saw a lower risk of death. They say this shows there may be more than one way to fit the benefits of walking into our daily lives. 2026-09-09T08:30:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/stepping-up-the-pace-can-help-ward-off-an-early-death Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Sport Australia NSW VIC https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/common-stomach-bug-linked-to-bowel-cancer Exposure to stomach bacteria called Helicobacter pylori - a common bug which can lead to stomach ulcers - may also be linked with more than one in five cases of bowel cancer worldwide, according to international researchers who add more long-term studies are needed to see if eradicating the bacteria would lower risk. The team conducted an analysis of a range of studies of varying quality, and found exposure to H. pylori was associated with a 1.6-fold greater risk of bowel cancer when compared to no exposure. The team says their findings highlight a need for more well-designed, randomised clinical trials and other investigations to better understand the impact of H. pylori on bowel cancer. 2026-09-09T08:30:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/common-stomach-bug-linked-to-bowel-cancer Health / Medical International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/resting-your-laptop-on-your-lap-for-long-periods-could-risk-skin-disfiguration Resting your laptop on your bare lap for long periods risks skin disfiguration, warn doctors after treating a child with skin discolouration and a ‘fishnet’ rash known as erythema ab igne. The rash, caused by repeated exposure to low-grade heat like that of a laptop, hot water bottle, or heated pad, was historically more common in adults, but is increasingly being seen in children as devices become commonplace, the team says. The report describes a case of a pre-teen boy with a bruise-like rash he’d had for a week. Doctors initially suspected liver injury, but blood test and abdominal scans were normal. A fortnight later, his rash was more tender and his skin started peeling, and doctors discovered he was homeschooled and routinely used a laptop for up to eight hours a day. After he was advised to stop resting his laptop on his lap, the condition improved and the rash disappeared. 2026-09-09T08:30:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/resting-your-laptop-on-your-lap-for-long-periods-could-risk-skin-disfiguration Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Tech / Engineering / Space International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/parachute-science-is-failing-the-worlds-tropical-insects Monash University scientists have developed a new global framework to tackle a major blind spot in biodiversity conservation: insects underpin ecosystems and food production but remain largely invisible to conservation efforts across the tropics. 2026-09-09T08:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/parachute-science-is-failing-the-worlds-tropical-insects Environment / Climate / Energy Other Science Australia International VIC QLD https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/climate-change-related-seaweed-forest-decline-is-outpacing-restoration-efforts Climate change means global seaweed forests are declining in size faster than restoration efforts can replant them, say Australian and international researchers. Seaweed forests soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and there have been efforts to plant more in the battle against rising carbon levels. The team estimates 25 million hectares of wild kelp forests will be lost due to climate change by 2050, 6,000 times the area that has been restored since 1958. They point out that “conserving and restoring seaweed forests is worthwhile, but we need to be realistic about what it can achieve in terms of meaningful climate change mitigation through carbon dioxide removal." They conclude that "restoring seaweed forests cannot deliver meaningful climate change mitigation at the scales and speeds required to offset our growing emissions". 2026-09-09T04:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/climate-change-related-seaweed-forest-decline-is-outpacing-restoration-efforts Environment / Climate / Energy Australia International WA