David Cantrill News Today

A treasure trove of fossils discovered in Australias outback sheds light on an era of abundant life in a region that is currently desolate. The extremely well... 11.01.2022, Sputnik International

Fish fossil discovery from McGraths Flat. Photo Salty Dingo (2020) A team of Australian and international scientists have discovered thousands of well

8 January 2022, Sydney. A team of Australian and international scientists led by Australian Museum (AM) and University of New South Wales (UNSW

The arid heart of Australia may not easily support life now, but once, many aeons ago, it was lush and teeming. What is now arid desert and dry shrub- and grasslands was once thick with dense forests, alive with life.

Advertisement As the group of tired botanists and horticulturalists drove along the dirt road in Victoria’s high country, they were almost ready to give up. These scientists from Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens had been driving along the track near Swift’s Creek all morning, scanning native vegetation on the roadside. Their quarry was the (rather accurately named) elusive cress, or Irenepharsus magicus, a rare herb-like plant that grows up to a metre tall and has elongated sprays of sm...