Multiple countries are implementing or considering bans on social media for children and teens to address risks like cyberbullying and mental health issues. Australia led with a ban for under-16s, followed by announcements from the UK, Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey.
Short-sellers are targeting Japan's yen, risking a repeat of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Japan's weak fundamentals, high debt, and declining competitiveness make its currency vulnerable, despite large forex reserves. A potential inflation-devaluation spiral could profit speculators.
The family of Katie Beattie, found dead in her flat in July 2024, are campaigning for answers after police initially ruled her death not suspicious. They have now successfully applied for a review of the investigation, citing her fears of 'predators' and alleged inconsistencies in the initial inquiry.
An angler inadvertently caught and safely released a rare great white shark off Nantucket, sharing a video to educate others on proper catch-and-release techniques for vulnerable species.
Multiple countries are enacting or considering social media bans for minors to combat cyberbullying, addiction, and mental health issues. Australia led with a ban for under-16s, followed by proposals in Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, and the UK.
Researchers have identified a specific immune receptor in common bean plants that detects caterpillar saliva, triggering a distress signal to attract predatory wasps. Plants lacking this receptor showed significantly reduced defenses against caterpillars and failed to summon wasps.
Operation Firewall, a multi-agency crackdown across Southern California, led to 341 arrests of suspected child predators and the rescue of 40 minors. The operation targeted internet-facilitated child exploitation.
A NSW inquiry found systemic weaknesses in the childcare sector, including for-profit services and lax regulation, allowed predators to abuse children. The report recommends reducing for-profit providers and increasing not-for-profit and public services.
A NSW inquiry found systemic weaknesses in the childcare sector, including for-profit services and lax regulation, allowed predators to abuse children. The report recommends reducing for-profit providers and increasing not-for-profit and government-run services.
Chinese researchers say they have developed a crocodile-inspired ceramic body armour that can deflect projectiles and potentially offer a low-cost alternative for lightweight ballistic protection. The team – led by associate research fellow Zhaoxiu Jiang at Ningbo University – based their design on the asymmetric, overlapping scales of crocodile skin, which provide a protective barrier against predators and other crocs. Their research findings were published on March 25 in the peer-reviewed...
Researchers have discovered fossilized remains of two giant octopus species from the late Cretaceous period (100 million years ago) in northern Japan. Using innovative digital fossil-mining techniques with AI, they found jaws inside concretions that indicate the creatures reached up to 60 feet in length — larger than a school bus and rivaling other apex predators of the era. These ancient octopuses likely fed on hard-shelled prey like shrimp and lobster, and showed signs of right-side jaw dominance suggesting early brain development.
Scientists have identified ancient octopus fossils belonging to genus Nanaimoteuthis, particularly Nanaimoteuthis haggarti, which may have grown up to 19 meters (62 feet) long—longer than a bus and possibly the largest invertebrate ever recorded. Analysis of 27 fossilized beaks reveals these creatures were apex predators in Cretaceous oceans, using intelligence and crushing bite force to dominate marine ecosystems alongside mosasaurs and plesiosaurs.
Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16 in December 2025, imposing up to $49.5 million AUD penalties on non-compliant platforms. At least 12 other nations including France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, and the UK have since proposed similar bans targeting children aged 14-16, citing cyberbullying, addiction, mental health issues, and exposure to predators as key concerns. Critics argue the bans are ineffective and raise privacy concerns about invasive age verification.
Researchers from Hokkaido University in Japan have analyzed exceptionally preserved fossil jaws from 100 million-year-old octopuses, estimating body lengths of 1.5-4.5 metres and total lengths including arms of 7-19 metres. The findings challenge the long-held belief that ancient ocean predators were exclusively vertebrates, suggesting giant cephalopods were powerful predators capable of consuming hard-shelled prey.
For a long time, images and videos of child abuse were hidden away in the darkest corners of the internet, intentionally hard to find.
