News: Environmental Science
Trapping atoms to protect Australia’s groundwater
![Researcher Dr Rohan Glover, with the Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA) facility at The University of Adelaide](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-09/news-atta-56-43.jpg?h=2f83cd36&itok=EChAPLCi)
A unique new facility at the University of Adelaide will help protect Australia’s precious groundwater from overuse and contamination.
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New PhD opportunities in environmental remote sensing
![Remote Sensing](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-04/remote-sensing.jpg?h=93d6d660&itok=gEQrSE6Q)
New environmental remote sensing PhD opportunities are available working with researchers from our School of Biological Sciences and the CSIRO.
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Deep breath: this sea snake gathers oxygen through its forehead
![Deep breath: this sea snake gathers oxygen through its forehead](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-09/new-sea-snake-sanders.jpg?h=e3dd40f0&itok=48UvghcY)
Only fish have gills, right? Wrong. Scientists have found a snake that can breathe through the top of its own head.
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Tackling the causes of the Amazon forest fires
![Wildfire](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-09/news-wildfire.jpg?h=fbf4b26c&itok=B8jNRnrW)
If we are so concerned for the rainforest why don’t we do more globally to help protect it?
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Spaghetti and mud pies scoop 3-Minute Thesis final
![Sciences 3 minute thesis finals 2019 winners](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-08/news-3mt-sciences-finals-2019-43.jpg?h=2f83cd36&itok=ZH84d4Eu)
The depth and diversity of research student projects in the Faculty of Sciences was once again on display at this week's final of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition.
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Why is the colour blue so rare in nature?
![Blue Morpho butterfly](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-08/news-blue-morpho-butterfly.jpg?h=e5aec6c8&itok=hXeTAGp4)
Blue is a very prominent colour on earth. But when it comes to nature, blue is very rare. Less than 1 in 10 plants have blue flowers and far fewer animals are blue.
Not all weeds are bad - Some may actually be good for Australian grasslands
![Mokota Conservation Park, a remnant grassland in the mid-north region of South Australia (approximately 160 km north of Adelaide). Photo by Greg Guerin.](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-08/news-guerin-mokota-conservation-park.jpg?h=82b3e5f6&itok=HFG5DUMK)
Recent case studies have revealed an overall positive relationships between the diversity of native species and presence of weedy species, notably in Mediterranean Biome grasslands.
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$35.6 million boost for sciences' research infrastructure
![Plant Accelerator, Waite campus](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-07/plantaccel-wide-4725.jpg?h=2084ef8f&itok=wLRx5Bme)
Research for a range of industrial sectors including scientific, advanced manufacturing, defence, resources, biomedical and agriculture has received a major boost.
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Disease-free locals 'koalafy' as population protectors
![Koala, Cleland](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-05/koala-10914.jpg?h=6981f79a&itok=iys5II52)
Chlamydia-free koalas from Kangaroo Island may be needed to help save declining populations in other parts of Australia.
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No yee-haw: What endangered creature are your cowboy boots made from?
![Of cowboys, fish, and pangolins: Example images of leather products advertised on the US eBay website. The boots in (a) are made from pangolin skin and were advertised as pre‐owned “classic anteater boots” of the brand “Lucchese,” valued at US$1,500 as a starting price and available for international shipping. The boots in (b) are also Lucchese boots, but made from arapaima skin. These boots were advertised as “New with defects,” valued at US$415.65 as a starting price and also available for international](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-06/cowboy-boots-exotic-trade-main.jpg?h=67eabc4d&itok=sdpIZFKd)
Researchers investigating the world’s exotic wildlife trade have made a startling discovery...
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