Spare a thought for national parks staff who have to scrub and vacuum caves every winter. It can take up to two weeks and is exhausting work, but these specialised staff feel houseproud after cleaning out Tasmania's public caves. So, what's involved?

We Didn't Start the Fire (Bardcore | Medieval/Renaissance Style Cover).

Eleanor of Aquitaine, Charles the 6th Hath gone insane Reconquista Geoffrey Chaucer, Michelangelo Marco Polo, Magna Carta Christian Schism Siege of Acre, Byzantine iconoclasm Guillaume de Machaut Charlemagne, Alfred Anne Boleyn Without a head Few things Here to read But the Nibelungenlied Castile with Aragon Second pope in Avignon Novgorod, Chinggis Khan Beowulf, Decameron

"A fantastic success story": How brush turkeys are taking over Australian cities. Researchers have charted the historical crash, comeback and conquest of cities by the Australian brush turkey.

At 2.4 billion years old, this shiny black rock could tell scientists an enormous amount about the origins of complex life. A 2.4-billion-year old microfossil found in the Pilbara's Hamersley Ranges could be a missing link in the evolution from simple to complex life, according to researchers.

Swan-uppers will put on a show on the Thames for five days. Here's what to know about the 800-year-old royal tradition. In this ceremonial event, the Thames' swan population — all owned by the crown and two trade companies — is examined and counted in a five-day affair along the river.

Swan-upping refers to a method of conservation of the mute swan population living on the Thames, in which the crown conducts a census of the birds in one section of the river and makes assessments of their health. It is undertaken by the crown, the Vintners' Livery Company and Dyers' Livery Company — a trio that shares ownership of all swans in the nation. Young cygnets are ringed with identification tags if they belong to the Vintners and the Dyers, and all those left unmarked belong to the serving monarch.

Maia Kobabe, for The Nib, on the changing statements of the librarians who come to see em and talk about Gender Queer.

These pygmy blue-tongues are facing extinction. A controversial idea may save them and other species. A secret field in South Australia housing a group of lizards once thought extinct. Researchers hope their conservation efforts might provide a blueprint for other animals at risk of dying out due to climate change.

First-of-its-kind survey of the ocean floor discovers submarine canyons full of unique marine life. Ever wondered what the ocean floor around Australia's coast looks like? A first-of-its-kind survey has uncovered new information about underwater canyons.

A black hole 20,000 times bigger than the Sun could help us understand how galaxies evolved. Astronomers catalogued 1.4 million stars to find the black hole, 18,000 light-years from our Solar System, in the Milky Way.

"Phenomenal news": Rangers find six surprise joeys in pouches of endangered rock wallabies. The tiny new brush-tailed rock wallaby arrivals were discovered by elated rangers during an annual check as part of a breeding program at the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary on the New South Wales Mid North Coast.

Out of the blue: Stunningly rare shade of tree frog found on a bench in the Kimberley. A pigment mutation in the magnificent tree frog has resulted in a rare scientific discovery.

Revolutionary Charisma: Blake, Avon and The Fight Against Fascism (meta).

First ancient chromosomes reconstructed from 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth. An incredibly well-preserved woolly mammoth specimen that died 52,000 years ago in Siberia has now had its chromosome structure reassembled for the first time.

Africa Fashion celebrates queer storytelling and colonial rebellion. The National Gallery of Victoria's new exhibition tells the story of African fashion through queer storytelling, colonial rebellion and challenging stereotypes.

Inside the battle to stop the $450 billion crime industry targeting Australia's wildlife. Australian wildlife is showing up around the world where it shouldn't. Now animal forensics, artificial intelligence and advanced science are combining to combat the trafficking of these creatures.

Crows and Magpies Snatch Anti-Bird Spikes to Build Their Nests. Birds in Europe are prying up the metal barbs, meant to repel them from roosting on buildings, and using the devices as nesting material.

Government flags massive expansion of Antarctic marine park for untouched Heard and McDonald Islands. The marine park that includes the subantarctic Heard and McDonald Islands is set for a massive expansion, with the Australian Federal government planning to protect an extra 300,000 square kilometres of ocean.

A Blake's 7 fanvid by garrideb, set to the song "Snap" by Rosa Linn. The fanvid premiered at Escapade 2023. This is incredibly well made, very powerful and very moving. Youtube link is here. Archive of Our Own link is here.

A fun Blake's 7 fanvid in which nothing bad happens: Last Friday Night.

Have you seen a rakali? Researchers need help to understand the elusive Australian species. A PhD candidate urges citizen scientists to log sightings of the mysterious, semi-aquatic animals — also known as water rats — so researchers can gather more information about its population.

Helicopters, oyster boats, and barges called in to save rare raptors from extinction. Artificial nesting platforms are installed at key coastal sites across South Australia to help the eastern osprey breed after the population dropped to just 50 pairs of birds.

Scientists discover first algae that can fix nitrogen — thanks to a tiny cell structure.