Australia set to spend a record $35 million to protect the koalas

Jan 30 2022

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stated that Australia will be spending a record $50 million Australian dollars (31 million EU) over the next four years as part of a plan to boost the long-term protection and recovery of the country’s koala population.

Scott stated that the creatures are amongst Australia’s most beloved and recognised icons, locally and across the world, and they are committed to protecting them for years to come. The record-breaking $50 million sum will be invested into restoring habitats, improving the understanding of populations, treatment, care and strengthening research into koala health outcomes.

Since 2019, the Australian government will have dedicated $74 million Australian dollars into Koalas, with the country losing 30% of its Australia due to bushfires going on since 2018.

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Ħal Safi open space regeneration will include brand new picnic area and dog park

Jan 30 2022

Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development Miriam Dalli has announced that Ħal Safi will soon enjoy the regeneration project for a new open space very soon.

The €200,000 investment will cover land exceeding 1,000sqm and will provide better access to persons with disability, a reservoir for rainwater catchment which will then be used to water plants and trees and multiple other facilities. The Minister was joined by Parks Malta Director-General Adrian Attard and representatives of the Safi local council.

Parks Malta have ensured that the regeneration will see to the development of a picnic area and dog park equipped with appropriate furniture for dog training as well as the removal of invasive species and planting of indigenous trees.

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Persons recovering from long-term COVID symptoms found to have suffered lung problems

Persons who suffered from long-term COVID symptoms found to have suffered from lung problems

Jan 30 2022

A recent study from Oxford University has analysed the lungs of individuals reportedly suffering from shortness of breath for various weeks after recovering from COVID-19, even though said individuals did not require hospital care whilst positive.

The lungs of previous patients were analysed via MRI scans after patients were asked to inhale xeron gas which highlights issues in the respiratory system. It was found that the lungs of individuals with mild COVID-19 symptoms still suffered from shortness of breath after recovering; the lungs of such patients had the same damage as those of individuals who recovered in hospital due to severe COVID-19 illness.

Another group with individuals who did not suffer from COVID-19 was also analysed, with the lungs of said group not showing any particular defects as the other groups. This study, which reportedly requires evaluation, builds upon another study which analyses the lung damage of individuals recovering from COVID-19 in hospital.

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A car that can drive on the moon is being developed by Toyota

Jan 29 2022

Yes, you read that correctly. Car manufacturer Toyota is working on developing a vehicle which can roam the surface of the moon.

In the age of space travel, as billionaires and philanthropists race to develop the latest space-faring technology, Toyota partnered up with Japan’s space agency Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to develop a car that is, literally, out of this world.

Named the Lunar Cruiser, it is a play on the name of Toyota’s popular Land Cruiser SUV. The company aims to launch it late in 2020s, based on the idea that daily life – like eating, sleeping and driving – can be done in space. JAXA plans on sending the vehicle to the moon on its own before it automatically travels to meet astronauts. Head of the project Takao Sato said that they see space as an area for our once-in-a-century transformation.

‘By going to space, we may be able to develop telecommunications and other technology that will prove valuable to human life.’ Toyota President Akio Toyoda said that the ‘automotive industry is now responding to such matters as environmental issues of global scale, the concept of ‘home planet’, from which all of us come, will become a very important concept.’

Saying that the car could help people live on Mars by 2040, he said that the project goes beyond the frameworks of countries or regions. He believes that the industry shares the same aspirations of international space explorations.

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