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'Shocking' find after 200-year-old bluebottle jellyfish theory investigated
'Shocking' find after 200-year-old bluebottle jellyfish theory investigated

Yahoo

time18 hours ago

  • Science
  • Yahoo

'Shocking' find after 200-year-old bluebottle jellyfish theory investigated

For 200 years, there has been speculation that swimmers could be tormented by more than one species of bluebottle jellyfish. It turns out there are at least four, including one in Australia that has a 'prominent nose'. Until recently, studying these notorious jellyfish has been a challenge because they're hard to keep in captivity, and when they wash up on the beach they disintegrate quickly. Griffith University marine ecologist Professor Kylie Pitt explained the game-changer has been advances in DNA sequencing. 'With our paper, we used the most powerful method, whole genome sequencing, so it's entire DNA has been sampled,' she said. 'By combining the DNA with morphology, we've got the strongest evidence possible for separating out the species.' Pitt was part of an international research effort by Yale University, University of New South Wales and Griffith University that sequenced the genomes of 151 jellyfish from around the world and published their findings in the journal Current Biology. She describes feeling 'shocked' by the result of the study. A key finding was that the notorious Portuguese man o' war is only found in the Atlantic and is a completely separate species from Australian bluebottles. 'For a long time, people have said they're much bigger over there and the venom is much more potent,' Pitt said. 'Now we know that the potency of their venom might differ.' Related: 😳 Swimmer's painful encounter with deadly creature on Queensland island The existence of three newly described species, Physalia physalis, Physalia utriculus and Physalia megalista, had been proposed in the 18th and 19th Centuries, but the idea was later dismissed. The researchers also identified a fourth species Physalia minuta that had never been described before. 'The one that really stands out is Physalia megalista because it has a really pronounced nose,' Pitt said. It's also believed there are several distinct subpopulations shaped by regional winds and ocean currents. This new knowledge about bluebottles will have a real-world impact for swimmers, as there could be differences with the venom of Australian species too. It will also help support an investigation into jellyfish behaviour that's funded by the Australian Research Council. 🌏 Secret hidden beneath Australia's 'most important' parcel of land 👙 Tourists oblivious to disturbing scene 500m off sunny Aussie beach 📸 Confronting picture showcases state of Aussie wildlife on world stage Pitt explained a PhD student is working to understand how winds and currents move the bluebottles towards beaches, as well as how they move in the water. 'Bluebottles can actually erect their float or lay it down, depending upon what the wind conditions are. And they can also expand and or extend and contract their tentacles, which might act a little bit like a sea anchor, so there might be a bit more of a drag,' she said. 'Now we know there are at least three species in Australia she may need to look at their behavioural differences.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.

QS World University Rankings 2026: ‘Wake-up call' as Australian universities slip in world rankings; University of Melbourne; University of Sydney
QS World University Rankings 2026: ‘Wake-up call' as Australian universities slip in world rankings; University of Melbourne; University of Sydney

The Age

timea day ago

  • Business
  • The Age

QS World University Rankings 2026: ‘Wake-up call' as Australian universities slip in world rankings; University of Melbourne; University of Sydney

'The inconvenient truth is that reputation is an issue which continues to adversely impact Australian universities' performance in global rankings. The relative decline in standing for both the academic and employer reputation measures has been in the making for several years,' he said. Despite dropping one rank, the UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs, said that to be recognised as a top 20 global university for the third consecutive year was an 'exceptional achievement'. UNSW Vice-Chancellor Professor Attila Brungs said that to be recognised as a top 20 global university for the third consecutive year was an 'exceptional achievement'. Credit: Janie Barrett Brungs said the success of the university 'isn't determined by rankings positions' but by 'how we use our standing and capabilities to create a positive and lasting impact for our society'. University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott, said the university was pleased it was one of six Australian universities in the top 50. 'We've performed strongly across several areas, including ranking first in Australia and 12th globally for international student diversity. Rankings fluctuate year to year, and this year is no exception, with minor changes across the board in both major rankings.' Loading QS chief executive Jessica Turner said international education was worth an estimated $51 billion in Australia in 2023-24, and although Australia remained a destination of choice for international students, academics and global research partners, Australia faced growing competition from other Asia-Pacific countries. 'Emerging markets such as Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, and the UAE are making impressive strides and steadily closing the gap with more established study destinations,' Turner said. New Zealand, mainland China, India, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam also rose in rankings. Turner said the rankings showed national policy and other systemic changes could directly shape performance rankings, and countries should 'navigate carefully as global competition intensifies'. Australia rated well with international students: 23 universities improved in the international students' indicator. But that could be short-lived because non-refundable visa fees are expected to rise to $2000 on July 1. Debate over international student caps in the lead-up to the federal election could also be damaging. 'In what has been a turbulent year for Australian higher education, universities are calling for sustainable research funding models and greater policy certainty around international education,' Turner said. ' International students have been drawn into a wider national debate in Australia around migration and housing, where they are sometimes perceived as contributing to systemic pressures. It is essential to recognise their broader value to Australian campuses and communities.' Massachusetts Institute of Technology topped the ranking for the 14th consecutive year, followed by Imperial College London, Stanford University and the University of Oxford. Loading In Victoria, Monash University jumped to 36th place from 37th last year, but RMIT slumped to 125th from 123. Deakin University also fell in rank to 207 from 197. Adelaide University, the newly-formed Group of Eight institution resulting from the merger of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia, debuted at 82nd globally, and is due to open in January 2026. Australian National University higher education expert Professor Andrew Norton, who is inherently sceptical about rankings, said universities hadn't fully recovered from the pandemic and students remained reluctant to return to campus. 'Universities are trying to fix this, but there are factors outside of their control – cost of living, student engagement and availability of part-time work,' he said. Norton said the increase in student visa costs would 'leave a bad taste in the mouth of anyone who has to pay it'. But he said Australia might get fewer people on student visas coming to access Australia's labor market and more students actually focused on education. Australian universities had a downward trend in employer reputation scores, with 28 of 36 institutions showing a drop, when employment outcomes have become the No.1 driver of student choice. Australia's faculty student ratio was also 26th lowest in the world with an average score of 16.7, and behind key competitors such as Canada (20.9), the UK (26.7) and the United States (37.1) University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Emma Johnston said she was proud the institution was recognised for being a leader in academic reputation, employer reputation and sustainability. University of Melbourne vice chancellor Emma Johnston. Credit: Eddie Jim 'We're proud to stand alongside the strong performance of many institutions across the Asia-Pacific, highlighting the vitality of the higher education sector in our region.' Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson said the results were 'impressive' and that Australia continued to punch above its weight, ranking fifth overall as the best higher education system in the world. This was against the backdrop of global uncertainty and mixed messaging from Australia's largest research partner, the US, said Thompson. QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a global higher education analyst, has ranked the world's universities annually for the past 20 years. The rankings are based on 19.8 million research papers, 200 million citations, 1.5 million academic responses, data from 8467 institutions worldwide and insights from 127,041 academics and 82,096 employers. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day's most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.

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