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A computer illustration of a cross-section of a lipid nanoparticle carrying the mRNA of a virus (orange strands)

Health

Why the next generation of mRNA vaccines is set to be even better

mRNA vaccines are quick and easy to make, while virus-like nanoparticles produce a stronger immune response. Now, the two approaches are being combined to give us the best of both worlds

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Humans

Ancient lead exposure may have influenced how our brains evolved

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**VIDEO AVAILABLE. CONTACT INFO@COVERMG.COM TO RECEIVE.** A family of four baby Numbats has been caught on camera exploring and playing in the bushlands of New South Wales, a discovery that???s being hailed as a major win for one of Australia???s rarest and most charming marsupials. The pint-sized siblings were among seven young Numbats recently sighted at Australian Wildlife Conservancy???s (AWC) Scotia Wildlife Sanctuary and Mallee Cliffs National Park, where the AWC works hand-in-hand with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The surprise sightings have sparked fresh hope for the future of the elusive species ??? once common across southern Australia but wiped out in NSW decades ago by feral cats and foxes. ???Babies are always a really special find, particularly for a species as difficult to spot in the wild as the Numbat,??? said Dr Rachel Ladd, AWC Wildlife Ecologist. ???Seeing seven young Numbats lets us know that the population is breeding in favourable environmental conditions and becoming more established.??? Five of the juveniles ??? including the adorable quadruplets ??? were found at Mallee Cliffs National Park on Barakandji Country, believed to be the great-great-grandchildren of Numbats reintroduced there in 2020 under a bold AWC and NPWS partnership to bring the species back from the brink. Meanwhile, two more youngsters were spotted darting around logs at Scotia Wildlife Sanctuary, also on Barakandji Country. Experts say these sightings show the population is bouncing back after a severe hit from the 2018???19 drought in the Lower Murray Darling region. ???It felt surreal seeing four siblings in the one location,??? said Michael Daddow, AWC Land Management Officer. ???They were just cruising around, falling asleep, and playing with each other. The bravest of the lot even ran up to me to check me out before scurrying back ??? it wasn???t scared at all.??? AWC videographer and photographer Brad Leue also managed to capture the precious moment and said he was taken aback by how tiny and endearing the baby Numbats were. ???I saw them exploring outside their family den which has an opening about the size of a coffee cup,??? he said. ???I was lucky enough to observe them for a couple of days and get an idea of their routine ??? sharing a den with mum overnight, venturing out around 8am, and playing within 50 metres of their home while mum hunts for termites.??? He added: ???There were also a lot of little burrows in the area that I believe mum had created so that the babies could run to if they were disturbed while out exploring.??? With fewer than 1,000 Numbats believed to remain in the wild, these playful quadruplets are being celebrated as a symbol of hope ??? a sign that one of Australia???s most threatened native mammals might finally be making a comeback. Featuring: A pair of Numbat siblings emerge from their den at Scotia Wildlife Sanctuary on Barakandji Country in south west NSW in the lower Murray Darling region Where: New South Wales, Australia When: 10 Oct 2025 Credit: Cover Images/Julie Kern/Australian Wildlife Conservancy **EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SUPPLIER.**

Life

See the adorable baby numbats offering hope to an endangered species

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Life

Dinosaur fossil rewrites the story of how sauropods got long necks

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Humans

Early hominin had human-like dexterity and gorilla strength

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Environment

CO2 levels in Earth's atmosphere jumped by a record amount in 2024

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Technology

The AI bubble is heading towards a burst but it won't be the end of AI

Analysis

Mind

Paralysed man can feel objects through another person's hand

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Space

Martian volcanoes may have transported ice to the planet's equator

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Humans

'Pregnancy test' for skeletons could help reveal ancient mothers

Progesterone, oestrogen and testosterone can be detected in skeletons over 1000 years old, offering a way to identify individuals who died while pregnant or soon after giving birth

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Mind

Mother's voice seems to boost language development in premature babies

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Technology

Chatbots work best when you speak to them with formal language

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Space

A black hole fell into a star – then ate its way out again

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Environment

Coral reefs are at a tipping point after surging global temperatures

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