https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. The jury is still out as to why hundreds of killer whales (orcas) flock to a location above the continental shelf near Bremer Bay on WA's south coast. https://phys.org/news/2016-11-bremer-canyon-orcas.html Plants & Animals Mon, 28 Nov 2016 08:27:04 EST news399544016 Many people visit the WA Museum to see displays without being aware of its vast research collection that can help us to understand and conserve endangered species. https://phys.org/news/2016-07-bandicoot-species-museum-treasures.html Plants & Animals Tue, 05 Jul 2016 09:14:26 EDT news386928615 Improved bush burning methods by Indigenous Rangers in the East Kimberley have been hailed for the resurgence of Gouldian finches (Erythrura gouldiae) in the region. https://phys.org/news/2016-06-bush-gouldian-finches.html Ecology Mon, 20 Jun 2016 08:00:12 EDT news385628395 Industrial saltworks in the Pilbara and an unusual saltwater lake in the Gascoyne have been identified as unlikely but important pit stops and feeding grounds for migrating shorebirds. https://phys.org/news/2016-05-saltworks-rest-migrating-shorebirds.html Ecology Fri, 20 May 2016 09:00:02 EDT news382952484 Bunbury beachgoers may be unsettled to learn that the refreshing, blue stretch of water off the port city was preceded by a huge lava flow almost as large as WA itself and several kilometres thick in places. https://phys.org/news/2016-05-supercontinent-rift-bizarre-bunbury.html Earth Sciences Mon, 02 May 2016 10:00:01 EDT news381400918 A photo of Roebuck Bay just south of Broome, snapped by a curious astronaut on the International Space Station, has called into question the origin of some of the region's highly-unusual parallel tidal creeks. https://phys.org/news/2016-03-orbital-snaps-reveal-roebuck-bay.html Space Exploration Tue, 01 Mar 2016 09:20:04 EST news376045119 UWA researchers have compiled a database they hope will eliminate much of the time and expense spent developing new crop varieties to feed the world's people. https://phys.org/news/2016-02-genetic-tool-world.html Biotechnology Mon, 29 Feb 2016 08:20:01 EST news375951876 More than 150,000 soil samples collected over the last 30 years will be brought together this year to form the nucleus of a state soils archive to benefit student learning and agricultural research efforts. https://phys.org/news/2016-02-state-soils-library-catalogues-samples.html Environment Fri, 05 Feb 2016 08:31:43 EST news373883490 The Kimberley's Fitzroy River seems to be the world's capital for the iconic freshwater sawfish (Pristis pristis) whose distinctive "saws" adorn many a study wall and trophy cabinet. https://phys.org/news/2015-12-haul-endangered-sawfish.html Ecology Mon, 14 Dec 2015 07:42:33 EST news369301351 Advocates for mosaic burning practices in the Kimberley's longstanding debate into fire regimes have received a boost, with recent research finding the striking Gouldian finches (Erythrura gouldiae) thrive on the low-intensity burns. https://phys.org/news/2015-11-intensity-favour-gouldian-finches.html Ecology Tue, 17 Nov 2015 09:10:52 EST news366973843 Broome householders, businesses and agencies are closer to being able to preserve fragile, unique ecological communities in the region while conserving the town's natural heritage as it develops. https://phys.org/news/2015-11-broome-rare-ecology.html Ecology Wed, 11 Nov 2015 07:57:58 EST news366451037 WA nature lovers daunted by the cost of electric exclusion fencing and other methods of protecting threatened species from predators may be interested to know of another, perhaps cheaper, method of combating pests practised by desert Aborigines. https://phys.org/news/2015-10-cat-hunters-wildlife.html Ecology Wed, 14 Oct 2015 08:40:15 EDT news364030806 Early research shows arid Kimberley woodlands may serve as a refuge for endemic fauna depleted by toxic cane toads (Rhinella marina) in other habitats. https://phys.org/news/2015-09-arid-forests-refuge-cane-toads.html Plants & Animals Mon, 28 Sep 2015 06:57:28 EDT news362642242 Radio carbon data from prehistoric occupation sites are providing insights into Australia's fluctuating human population levels tens of thousands of years ago. https://phys.org/news/2015-09-ancient-campfires-early-population.html Archaeology Mon, 14 Sep 2015 08:18:31 EDT news361437498 Geologists have used a technique developed at Curtin University to determine magmatic fluids came up from the earth's mantle repeatedly over the past 1600 million years, depositing minerals along a fault line in the Gascoyne region. https://phys.org/news/2015-08-ancient-magma-movements-responsible-gascoyne.html Earth Sciences Thu, 20 Aug 2015 08:20:01 EDT news359276517 Gold has been found in geologically unusual circumstances about 250km east of Carnarvon on the margin of the Japan-sized former continent which forms part of the Gascoyne. https://phys.org/news/2015-07-gascoyne-continent-unusual-gold-deposit.html Earth Sciences Wed, 29 Jul 2015 09:10:01 EDT news357378639 Archaeologists studying data from excavations around Fortescue Metals Group's Cloudbreak and Christmas Creek mines say some Pilbara rock shelters were far more important to early humans than previously thought. https://phys.org/news/2015-07-uncovers-favourite-hangouts.html Archaeology Thu, 23 Jul 2015 08:15:39 EDT news356858095 Sheep can be taught to graze their paddocks more evenly via the use of mineral supplement licks which also entice them to eat the wheat nearby. https://phys.org/news/2015-05-mineral-supplements-spices-sheep-options.html Ecology Mon, 25 May 2015 08:50:05 EDT news351761721 The widespread use of cars and easy access to diesel fuel have been credited with prompting certain traditional desert Aborigines to stop making bread in favour of utilising new hunting grounds full of game. https://phys.org/news/2015-05-modern-options.html Ecology Fri, 01 May 2015 08:48:03 EDT news349688874 The scarlet robin (Petroica boodang) may be classified into separate eastern and western Australian species following thousands of years of evolution separated by natural geographical barriers including the Nullarbor Plain. https://phys.org/news/2015-03-gene-bird-species.html Plants & Animals Mon, 16 Mar 2015 08:03:46 EDT news345711813 Two populations of translocated boodies (Bettongia lesueur) which were set up to re-establish locally extinct species at Lorna Glen in the Murchison have created a thriving population made up of fertile hybrid offspring. https://phys.org/news/2015-03-isolated-boodies-repopulate-mainland.html Plants & Animals Mon, 09 Mar 2015 08:52:19 EDT news345109918 A UWA geologist has proposed a hypothesis which threatens to overturn conventional notions of the way Banded Ironstone Formations (BIF) first evolved. https://phys.org/news/2015-03-banded-ironstone-formation-theory-current.html Earth Sciences Tue, 03 Mar 2015 09:30:02 EST news344595164 Recent archaeological digs at Barrow Island and the Montebello Islands off the Pilbara coast have revealed a number of artefacts which have helped build a unique record of coastal habitation by early humans. https://phys.org/news/2015-02-pilbara-debunk-timeline-ancient-tool.html Archaeology Mon, 16 Feb 2015 08:50:04 EST news343298283 Using baited longlines in conjunction with baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVs) has improved the way in which deep water fish stocks are monitored for conservation purposes. https://phys.org/news/2015-02-baited-video-cameras-deep-sea.html Ecology Mon, 09 Feb 2015 08:50:01 EST news342690829 A UWA geologist says the high-grade iron ore reserve at Wiluna West in the Mid West is similar to those being mined at Mt Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Mt WhaleBack in the Pilbara. https://phys.org/news/2015-02-pilbara-mid-west-iron-ore.html Earth Sciences Wed, 04 Feb 2015 08:50:04 EST news342261407 New computer modelling shows farmers need to adopt remedial measures to prevent crop yields in western and eastern Australian agricultural districts declining over the next 75 years. https://phys.org/news/2015-02-climate-ways-crop-yields.html Biotechnology Mon, 02 Feb 2015 09:24:25 EST news342091337 Research off the north-west coast shows undersea pipelines tend to bury themselves in the seabed quicker than expected after they are deployed, resulting in potential cost savings for the petroleum industry. https://phys.org/news/2015-01-undersea-pipes-shoulder-anchoring-duties.html Engineering Mon, 26 Jan 2015 08:50:04 EST news341483578 Scientists have classified a small, geographically-restricted ecosystem in the South West as critically endangered, according to a newly-adopted international benchmarking system. https://phys.org/news/2014-12-south-west-australian-critical.html Ecology Mon, 22 Dec 2014 07:39:02 EST news338456328 A Curtin University engineering team has used a mathematical formula to help develop a system which could minimise down time and save on maintenance costs for desalination plants. https://phys.org/news/2014-12-desal-mathematics.html Engineering Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:30:01 EST news336820505 A CSIRO geologist has been studying the way small, iron-rich stones formed in the deeply buried river systems that once drained much of what is now southern WA. https://phys.org/news/2014-11-massive-river-today-goldfields.html Earth Sciences Mon, 24 Nov 2014 09:20:02 EST news336041096