Same stars, worlds apart: NSW Central Coast and Khomas Mountains, Namibia

Free on the 19th May? Live near the NSW Central Coast? Get down to Six Strings Brewery, Erina, to join in the global @pintofscienceau.bsky.social science festival. I’ll be trying to straighten out a state of origin battle raging along eastern Australia. You won’t want to miss it!

Talks to reduce funding for overfishing remain stalled at WTO meeting Governments across the world have pledged to re-ignite stalled “Fish Two” negotiations and finalize the second part of a long-sought agreement to curb harmful fishing subsidies by mid-2028. The…

A @wto.org deal to end unsustainable fishing subsidies is at a standstill as three countries block consensus. While 116 nations have ratified phase one, disputes over fairness and scientific capacity continue to divide wealthy and developing fishing nations.

Elizabeth Fitt reports for #Mongabay.

And this artist thought it best to include two species (left and right) in the same art piece. Any guesses? As a hint: both are babies 😂

Caught up with a couple of my favourite artists last week. Can you guess what this one is of? With the artist's signature included, it was quite expensive!

The diamond pythons in the ceiling at work have been quite active this week. I guess they must be sorting out their upcoming winter abodes with the cooler weather. Sooks! And, here's one I prepared earlier...in the garden outside my office window several months ago.

Happy Independence Day, #Namibia!

(A) country in who’s territory it forms, (b) female then male then female etc, (c) alphabetically, but I guess it would be someone in the BoM that actually calls it…

Breakfast time in the bush! Khomas Mountains, central #Namibia

Wet-season storms can be dramatic in dry, tropical landscapes. Khomas Mountains, central #Namibia

In dry landscapes, you need to safeguard every bit of growth in order to survive. So, plants need some serious defense mechanisms. Not an ideal place to fall over in or to have your arm swiped when filming out the car window (apparently 😉)! Khomas Mountains, central #Namibia

Central #Namibia is a strikingly beautiful but extremely dry landscape

Fixed - a bit more hat balance between #Namibia and #Botswana st work 😎

It does, but not too close to the Pillaga

No idea, but you can’t pass a sign like that and not grab a photo - it was fairly high up the tree, too, so no effort was spared to make the point!

And a nearby winery 😀

I've never been in to the observatory, nor the pottery place, but have driven past the planet models often. The abandoned Aboriginal mission (Burra Bee Dee) nearby is very interesting as well. And some of the past signage!

Good!

Yep. It either starts or ends in a park in Dubbo, next to the tourist information center. Come to think of it, its probably linked to the nearby Warrumbungles radio telescope and a space tourism theme.

There's something similar along the Newell Highway north of Dubbo NSW, too. Models to scale, as are the distances in between apparently.

Yeah, nah - I’ll pass thanks 🤣

He did (coincidentally) cut it out in a bit of a hippo shape, I guess 🤣

Good job - 🦛!

Gold Star for sending in the first guesses, but try again. But one of those isn’t a long way off!

It looks like the Uni of Newcastle is boosting its awareness of #Botswana! Or, it could just be its new branding colours, but embracing #Botswana gets my vote 🤣

Always nice to see a bit more biodiversity on campus! I haven’t seen an alive diamond python in the wild since I was in scouts!! #WildOz

Another war in the Horn of Africa would be disastrous for one of the world’s most repressive nations

Why two of Africa’s most bitter rivals – Ethiopia and Eritrea – are on the brink of war again.

Visitors to #Botswana always want to see lions, leopards, or other large iconic wildlife. But, the cutest, most serendipitous, and (for me) a new species sighting from last year was an acacia rat, Thallomys paedulcus. Spotted by an eagle-eyed student peering out from a tree hollow at Xakanaxa.

My young grandson drew me one of his favourite animals on the weekend. Can you guess which one? Hint: it’s #African !

Melkam Genna (Happy Christmas) to my friends and colleagues from #Ethiopia and #Djibouti! I hope you have a great day with friends and family!