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Huge update in search for Samantha Murphy's body

The man accused of murdering Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy has reportedly been removed from prison and taken under heavy police guard to bushland near Ballarat, as Victoria Police intensify their search for her remains. Patrick Orren Stephenson, 23, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 51-year-old, was previously escorted to the search site from jail last year. According to Sunrise, he remains under tight security as police continue their investigation. Murphy was last seen on February 4 last year, setting out for a routine 14-kilometre run through the Canadian State Forest. Despite extensive searches by police and community volunteers across the Canadian State Forest, Enfield State Park, and the Buninyong Bushland Reserve, her body has not been found. While police have not confirmed that Stephenson is cooperating with the search, nor suggested that he knows the location of Murphy's body, his presence at the scene signals ongoing investigative efforts. In June last year, a significant breakthrough emerged when Murphy’s personal belongings – including her credit cards, driver’s licence and an iPhone encased in a teal cover – were discovered submerged in mud at the bottom of a dam in Buninyong, close to her home. Investigators found the phone in near-perfect condition, raising hopes that its data might reveal clues about Murphy's final movements. Police subsequently focused their search on bushland south of Buninyong, roughly two kilometres from the dam. Victoria Police have declined to comment on the latest developments, citing the ongoing court proceedings. Stephenson’s trial is expected to take place later this year. During a February court hearing, Prosecutor Raymond Gibson KC indicated that police officers and a DNA expert are among eight proposed witnesses for the trial. The list also includes a road crash reconstruction specialist, a digital data expert and a phone data analyst. Stephenson, the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, had never personally met Murphy. However, the pair shared a local connection: Murphy volunteered at the uniform shop at St Francis Xavier Primary School, where Stephenson had been a student. It is understood that police had been monitoring Stephenson for two weeks prior to his arrest in March last year, at a Ballarat home where he and his girlfriend were house-sitting. The investigation continues. Images: File photos

Legal

Sad end to search for missing Queensland mother

The family of Tayla Spies, a 29-year-old mother-of-three who <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/major-breakthrough-over-mother-of-three-missing-for-two-months" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vanished over two months ago</a>, has confirmed the devastating news that human remains found near her abandoned vehicle belong to her. Her sister, Rebecca Spies, shared the heartbreaking update in an emotional post on Facebook on Sunday. “It is with very heavy hearts that we announce the devastating loss of our beautiful Tayla,” she wrote. “Although she may no longer be here with us, she will always be in our hearts and I will carry her with me wherever I go.” Rebecca expressed deep gratitude to the many people who supported the family throughout the agonising search for Tayla. “We truly will be forever grateful to our family and friends for surrounding us, supporting us, picking us up when we fell down and for never letting us walk one step of this alone," she said. "Tayla was and always will be so incredibly loved, more than she would ever know. Please bear with us as we grieve and navigate through this excruciating loss as a family.” Tayla’s disappearance on February 2 sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Roma. She had been on a weekend trip with her partner in Dalby, several hours from home, when she was last seen. After leaving the Windsor Hotel, she set off alone in her white 2017 Toyota HiLux, while her partner travelled separately. She was later seen refuelling at a service station in Condamine. However, in a puzzling turn of events, Tayla did not follow her usual route home to Roma. Instead, she unexpectedly turned onto the Carnarvon Highway towards the New South Wales border after reaching Surat – a decision that left her family baffled. “Nobody knows why she turned left in Surat to head south instead of north to Roma,” Rebecca had previously told the Brisbane Times. “A number of people had heard from Tayla over the weekend that she disappeared, and she had told everybody on Sunday, February 2, that she was coming home to Roma.” In the painful weeks that followed, there had been no activity on Tayla’s bank accounts or phone, and she heartbreakingly missed her 29th birthday. Police mounted an intensive search, scouring a sprawling 9,000 square kilometres across Western Downs, from Yuleba and Wullumbilla South to Teelba, Glenmorgan and Meandarra. Hope turned to heartbreak on April 3, when Tayla’s HiLux was discovered. Human remains were located nearby shortly after. In a tearful TikTok video, Rebecca revealed that she received the devastating call on Friday. “The police and my family do believe those remains are Tayla’s,” she said. “I was told, at 12.25, that they found remains and it’s most likely my sister.” As of now, police are yet to formally confirm the identity of the remains. Loved ones remember Tayla as a devoted mother and cherished sister whose life was tragically cut short. The family has asked for privacy as they grieve and begin the painful journey of healing. Images: Queensland Police

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"Future leader": Search resumes for missing police officer

Authorities are set to resume the desperate search for a Queensland police officer who went missing while surfing in New South Wales. Detective Inspector Jay Notaro was last seen surfing before his surfboard and keys were discovered at Broken Head in NSW’s Northern Rivers region at approximately 12:40pm on Tuesday. Queensland Cross-Border Commissioner Ian Leavers described Mr Notaro as a highly regarded officer with a promising future in the force. “Jay is one of the most competent and capable coppers I know, who has a great future in the police,” Leavers told The Courier Mail. “He is not only a friend, he is one of the future leaders of the organisation. I’m praying, he’s just a champion.” The extensive search operation on Tuesday involved Tweed/Byron Police, Police Rescue, Marine Area Command, Queensland PolAir and Surf Life Saving NSW. A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed that search efforts would continue on Wednesday morning, focusing on areas between Lennox Head and Cape Byron, with particular attention to Broken Head. Authorities and colleagues remain hopeful as the search continues for the experienced officer, with many praying for his safe return. Images: 9News

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Tragic end in search for missing six-year-old

A desperate search for a missing six-year-old girl in southern New South Wales ended in tragedy on Sunday after authorities discovered a body in bushland. Airlie Montgomery was reported missing in North Nowra at around 2:15 pm, prompting an urgent police appeal for public assistance. Given her young age and medical conditions, authorities expressed grave concerns for her welfare. The little girl was last seen wearing a hot pink jumpsuit and no shoes, and police launched an extensive search operation to locate her. However, later that afternoon, a body was found in nearby bushland. While formal identification is yet to be completed, police believe the body belongs to the missing child. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death is now underway. NSW Police confirmed that a report will be prepared for the coroner as part of the ongoing inquiry. More details are expected to emerge as the investigation continues. Images: NSW Police

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Search for missing fisherman called off

Police have suspended their search for fisherman Paul Barning who fell overboard his boat during a fishing competition in New South Wales. The 58-year-old was competing in the Game Fishing Association state tournament off the Port Stephens coast on Sunday, when he fell overboard while trying to reel in large mako shark. Barning was helping his crew when became entangled in fishing wire and was dragged into the water as the shark darted back into the ocean. After a major three-day search, NSW Police have called off the search on Tuesday morning, with his family saying they “have no words” to describe how they are feeling. “Despite the efforts of searchers, the man has not yet been located and the search was suspended at 5pm today and will not resume (on Wednesday),” NSW Police said. The fisherman's wife, Leonie told 7News that the family have mixed emotions after the search was suspended, but are extremely grateful to everyone involved. “We just want to send out a huge thank you to everyone involved in the search and rescue, we were informed every step of the way,” she said. “And a huge thank you to the whole fishing community. We have been overwhelmed with kindness from everyone. “Our family meant everything to Paul, he would never hesitate to do the same for anyone else.” It is understood the fisherman was not wearing a life jacket when he went overboard. Barning, a father-of-three, was an experienced game fisherman and the secretary and past president of the Port Hacking Game Fishing Club. A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-barning-family" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe </a>has since been launched by NSW Game and Fishing Association president Steve Lamond, to assist Barning's family during this difficult time, with over $148,000 raised. “We are raising funds to assist the family through this tragic time so they can focus on processing their grief," the fundraiser read. “Anything you could give to assist will be greatly appreciated.” Image: NSW Marine Rescue/ Facebook

Travel Trouble

More details shared in search for missing young mother

As the desperate search for Tayla Spies, a young mum who has been <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/desperate-search-for-missing-young-mother" target="_blank" rel="noopener">missing in western Queensland</a> for almost two weeks continues, police have released CCTV footage in hopes of helping locate her. The 29-year-old mum was last seen leaving a hotel in Dalby about 8am on Sunday February 2. “We have grave concerns about the health and safety of Tayla,” Detective Chief Inspector Garry Watts told the ABC. “She had a birthday just recently, she didn’t make any contact with family, which is really out of character.” Tayla turned 29 just six days after she went missing. CCTV footage showed her carrying a large bag into her her white Toyota HiLux, before she travelled towards Surat, a small town in the state's south west. Her vehicle, with the plate number 559 GJ7 and a distinctive black bumper bar and blacked-out wheels, was seen at the intersection of Burrowes Street and Cordelia Street in Surat at 11.10am. Tayla was last seen wearing a fluorescent pink long sleeve shirt and light-coloured shorts, according to police. However, in a social media update, her sister Rebecca said she might now be wearing different clothes. “She did end up changing into a white shirt with purple writing on it and a Mimco shoulder bag in the afternoon on Sunday,” she wrote. Her family have also appealed to the public for any information on the missing mum. “Please, if anyone has seen Tayla or her car, report it asap! We just want to know she’s okay and safe!” Police are urging anyone who was travelling between Dalby, Surat and surrounding areas, between the hours of 10.30am and 12.30pm on Sunday February 2, to check their dashcam footage. Image: Queensland Police Service/ Yahoo

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Desperate search for missing young mother

A young mother has disappeared in rural Queensland, prompting her worried friends and family to issue a public plea for information. Tayla Spies, 28, was travelling between Surat and Roma, in the state’s southwest, when she went missing on Sunday. She was last seen about 11:30am about 30km north of Surat in a white Toyota Hilux dual cab ute. Tayla was wearing a white shirt emblazoned with purple writing and also had a white Mimco shoulder bag when she was last seen. She is known to frequent areas such as Roma, Surat, Dalby, Toowoomba, Condamine, Meandarra, and Cecil Plains. Worried family and friends have pleaded for help from the public to locate her. “If anyone of my friends have seen my sister or heard from her in the past week, please get in touch with the Roma Police or myself,’ her sister Rebecca wrote on social media. “Or even if you see a Toyota Hilux that matches this description around the area." “Every little bit of information will help us.” Image credits: Instagram

Travel Trouble

Karl Stefanovic's missing daughter sparks major police search

Karl Stefanovic's four-year-old daughter has been found after she went missing for one stressful hour from his Sunshine Beach home. On Wednesday afternoon, Stefanovic was spotted chatting with police officers outside his Noosa residence, after young Harper was nowhere to be seen. She was missing for over an hour with all family members frantically looking in the surrounding beach and bushland, with local Surf Life Savers also assisting in the search. According to the Daily Mail, Stefanovic even got on his Vespa scooter and darted around town searching for Harper and asking locals if they had seen her. “Harper went missing for a short time and we feared the absolute worst because no one could find her,” Stefanovic told The <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/police-helicopter-called-in-after-karl-stefanovics-daughter-vanishes/news-story/c57007a819e9fadc15bb8e121b46ea41" target="_self" data-tgev="event119" data-tgev-container="bodylink" data-tgev-order="c57007a819e9fadc15bb8e121b46ea41" data-tgev-label="entertainment" data-tgev-metric="ev">Daily Telegraph</a>. “I called the police because she couldn’t be found inside or around the house and our priority is her safety.” However Harper was found inside Stefanovic’s house, “curled up asleep underneath a chair where no one could possibly have hidden,” he said. Stefanovic thanked Noosa Heads police and the local community for their swift efforts in locating Harper. “We are so grateful for the support we received from Noosa Heads police department and the community around us. They all handled our distress and the outcome incredibly professionally.” While the situation “resolved itself quickly”, Stefanovic told the publication it had been his “worst nightmare”. As for the four year-old, whose only worry was if she would be in trouble with Santa just seven sleeps from Christmas Day, Stefanovic said, “(We’ve) have promised Harper Santa won’t find out. But somehow I think he knows.” Image credits: Instagram

Family & Pets

Police ramp-up desperate search for missing 8 year old

NSW Police have ramped up their search for missing eight-year-old Molly Noonan-Medley, who was reported missing seven weeks ago. The child was last seen in Woonona, south of Sydney, about 11am on October 31st. Police believe Molly is with an adult who is known to her. Officers attached to Wollongong Police District were notified on November 1st of Molly's disappearance and immediately commenced an investigation to locate the child, after attempts to contact the adult were unsuccessful. In a statement on Monday, NSW Police said they were re-appealing to the public for any information to help find the child, almost seven weeks after Molly was first reported missing. Molly is described as caucasian appearance, 120cm, thin build, blue eyes and blond/brown hair. The woman believed to be in company with Molly is known to frequent the Woonona, Wollongong and Huskisson areas, a NSW Police spokesperson said. Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to contact Wollongong Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Image credits: NSW Police

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Sad end in search for missing rugby hero

Police have made a devastating discovery just metres away from where England rugby hero Tom Voyce vanished in rising flood waters. Concerns were raised for the 43-year-old ex-wing on Sunday after he failed to return home after being out with friends on Saturday. Authorities believe he was trying to drive across a flooded river, as his Toyota Hilux was found downstream. A major search operation was launched involving Northumbria Police, drones, the police helicopter, coastguard officers and the North of Tyne and Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Teams, with family and friends of the much-loved former rugby player also joining the search. Northumbria Police said they faced “very challenging conditions, not least due to the river flow and the level being significantly heightened after the exceptionally heavy rain experienced over the weekend”. On Thursday, police said they had found a body during their search. The force said formal identification was yet to take place but Voyce’s next of kin have been notified and were being supported by specialist officers. Chief Superintendent Helena Barron, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is an extremely sad development and our thoughts very much continue to be with Tom’s loved ones. “I would like to thank all of our officers, partners and volunteers for their assistance throughout the searches which have been conducted in very challenging circumstances. “We would continue to ask that people respect the family’s privacy at this time.” During his stellar rugby career, Voyce won nine caps for England and spent six years at Wasps, from 2003 to 2009, helping them win European and domestic titles after moving there from Bath and then leaving to join Gloucester in 2009. He made 220 Premiership appearances before retiring in May 2013. Image credits: Back Page Images/Shutterstock Editorial

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Sad end in search for young boy swept out to sea

A body has been recovered in the search for a young boy swept out to sea in front of his family while on a fishing trip at The Entrance, NSW over the weekend. Laith Alaid, 11, was crossing a channel about 5pm on Sunday when he was caught in the outgoing tide. His father managed to save his other three sons aged, three, seven and nine, but he could not reach Laith in time. Bystanders looked after the three children while Laith's father tried to reach him. “(The father) came here by himself and with his four beautiful boys ... and he tried to save them all, he saved three and by the time he turned around (Laith) was gone ... in a split second,” family member Zeid Alhirz said. The family were visiting the Central Coast from Sydney and had been fishing when it is understood they took a shortcut across the channel between an estuary and the ocean. Relatives said they had visited and fished at the popular tourist spot for years and had crossed the channel at least three times before tragedy struck. An extensive multi-agency search was conducted and on Wednesday police were called back to The Entrance after a body was found in the water. “While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the missing boy,” NSW Police said. Inspector David Piddington said “lots of people try to move across that channel” but he advised against it. A report will be prepared for the coroner. Images: 7News

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Desperate search after Aussie man swept out to sea while saving swimmer

A desperate search is underway for an Australian man who got swept out to sea while saving a tourist from drowning on a Bali beach. Craig Laidley, 56, was walking along Balian Beach about 4.15pm on Wednesday when he heard 29-year-old Micro Stalla calling out for help. The Perth man rushed into the water to save the German tourist, but unfortunately Laidley never made it back to shore after being swept out to sea by an "extreme" wave. Laidley, who reportedly lives in Bali, was last seen “drifting back out to the ocean”. He was reported missing to police about three hours later, and they immediately launched a search, with with Denpasar Search and Rescue Office head Nyoman Sidakarya confirming the search is still ongoing. “[On Wednesday] night our team tried to search for victims using land searches and today the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office dispatched 10 people with land and sea SRU divisions,” Sidakarya said. “Information from the team at the location is that the wave conditions are extreme," he added. Rescue teams used rubber boats to search for Laidley within a 10km radius of where he was last seen and also scoured the coastline on foot. Police have also conducted interviews with witnesses as part of their ongoing search. One witness said that there were no warning signs around the beach, despite the dangers. “Incidents like this happen often here,” he told the ABC. “About four months ago, a foreigner went missing. He was found dead 4 hours later. In the last five years, there have been five incidents like this.” Laidley's family have appealed to the public to help find him. “Hello, our family is seeking assistance from the public in Bali,” Craig’s nephew posted on Facebook. “Craig was last seen helping a male that was reportedly drowning in the ocean between Tebing Balian rocks near Balian Beach. “He was then seen drifting back out to the ocean after saving this man’s life.” The search is set to continue on Friday morning. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said it is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian reported missing in Indonesia. Editors Update: Craig Laidley’s body has been found on the beach on Friday morning by searchers. His two brothers, Bruce and Glenn, arrived in Bali overnight to join the search. His family are still coming to terms with the loss, but have told 7News that they are proud of his heroic rescue and glad that his brothers were there to bring him home. Images: Denpasar Search and Rescue Agency/ Facebook

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Hugh Jackman pleads for help in search for missing Broadway star

Hugh Jackman is using his influence and wide reach to assist in the search for his former Broadway co-star, Zelig Williams, who has been missing since early October. Williams, a 28-year-old performer known for his roles in MJ The Musical and Hamilton, was last seen on October 3 at his home in Columbia, South Carolina. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a white T-shirt, black shorts and brown slides. The non-profit organisation <a href="https://blackandmissinginc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black and Missing</a> has released a missing person poster, stating that authorities believe Williams was last spotted driving in the Congaree National Park area, where his vehicle was later found abandoned. Jackman, who performed with Williams during the 2019 concert tour The Man. The Music. The Show, has taken to social media to amplify the call for information. On his 56th birthday, the Australian actor shared a photo of Williams and his mother with a link to a news report from Good Morning America, urging his 34.5 million Instagram followers to report any information to local authorities. "If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of ZELIG WILLIAMS please reach out to your local authorities," Jackman wrote in his post. He has continued to spread the message, using Instagram stories to ask followers to contact the Richland County Sheriff's Office with any potential leads. "Zelig, we love you and are praying for your safe return. Please pass this message on!!!" Jackman added. Williams' disappearance has left his family in anguish. His aunt, Christine McLaughlin Barber, initially believed he might have been involved in a car accident after receiving an SOS signal from his phone around 9:50am on October 3, shortly after he left home. However, authorities have since ruled out this possibility. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott revealed to local news outlet WISTV that an extensive search operation has been underway, utilising helicopters, boats and drones to cover vast areas. "We've searched on foot, in the air, at various locations," Lott said. "We are also using other investigative techniques involving cell phones and other means, which I cannot disclose at this time." Lott also said that Williams is in need of prescription medication, adding urgency to the search. Williams' cousin, Mieoki Corbin-Jacobs, expressed the family's heartbreak, telling WISTV: "It's devastation. It's devastation for someone who is so close to his family to just disappear like that... there's no way to describe it." The Broadway community, along with Jackman, continues to rally in hopes of locating Williams and bringing him home safely. Images: Instagram

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Update on search for Samantha Murphy

A fresh search for the body of Samantha Murphy, 51, has been initiated months after her disappearance and the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/how-samantha-murphy-s-digital-data-could-be-a-crucial-clue" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discovery of her mobile phone</a> near a dam. Murphy was last seen on February 4 when she left for a 14km run through the Canadian State Forest, a route she frequently travelled. In a statement, a Victoria Police spokesperson said, "Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad as well as a range of specialist resources from across Victoria Police, New South Wales Police, and the Australian Federal Police are involved in the search." The renewed search, which began on Tuesday and continues today, focuses on bushland near Grenville, a new area in the Ballarat region. Despite numerous efforts, Murphy's body has yet to be found. The police have urged the public to stay away from the area to avoid interfering with the investigation. Murphy’s mobile phone was recovered in June by detectives near a dam in Buninyong, about 10 minutes from her home in Ballarat. The phone was found undamaged in its teal-coloured case and was still functional. Earlier searches were conducted in the Buninyong area and the Canadian State Forest, but they yielded no results. The disappearance of the Victorian mother has gripped the local community, with many participating in earlier searches. Her family has been kept informed of the ongoing investigation. <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/everything-we-know-about-samantha-murphy-s-accused-killer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Patrick Orren Stephenson</a>, 22, remains in custody as the primary suspect in Murphy’s disappearance. Stephenson, the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, was last in court on August 8 and is not expected to appear again until November 14. Prosecutors requested a 12-week adjournment during the August hearing to review a brief of evidence, which includes extensive CCTV footage. The investigation continues as police and specialists work tirelessly to locate Murphy’s remains and bring closure to her family. Images: Supplied

News

"Absolute breakthrough": New hope in search for Motor Neurone Disease cure

Melbourne researchers are one step closer to finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease, with the help technology and stem cell research. Scientists at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health have developed a world-first technology that will speed up the drug testing process to help find an effective treatment and maybe even a cure for the disease. New machines at the institute can now help determine whether drugs on the market could be used to treat MND in just weeks, a process which previously took decades. "This is an absolute breakthrough, it's at the cutting edge of technology," Florey MND researcher Professor Brad Turner said. Animal cells were previously used to test the efficacy of MND drugs, but now thanks to more than 100 MND patients who donated their skin cells to the institute, researchers have a library of stem cells to work with. The human stem cells can provide scientists with the full scope of the disease, something that they were previously unable to do with just animal cells. "This is really a game-changer in that we can use their own cells, and we can test drugs directly on their own cells," Florey MND researcher and neurologist Dr Thanuja Dharmadasa said. Large scale screening will commence thanks to a $5 million grant from the Australian Medical Research Future Fund. The research is expected to help people like Phil Camden who has been living with the disease for 10 years. "That's the key to all of us living with MND... we want to do what we can while we can," Camden said. "We know we're not doing it to find a cure for us. We're doing it for those in the future, my grandkids and their children." Scientists believe that medication or a cocktail of drugs tailored specifically to a patient is the way forward when it comes to treating the disease. "Therefore your drug treatments are tailed back to the clinical makeup in the dish and we call that personalised medical treatment," Turner said. Image: Nine News

Caring

Body found in search for wife of former rugby star

A body has been found in the search for Jenny Hastings, the wife of the former Scotland rugby star Scott Hastings. Jenny, 60, went missing at Wardie Bay, a wild swimming spot near Edinburgh, on Tuesday. A massive search involving police, ambulance and coastguard crews was launched in the Firth of Forth, according to The Sun. Despite their efforts, the search was stood down on Tuesday night. On Saturday afternoon, police said a woman's body was found in the Hound Point area of South Queensferry, near Edinburgh. Formal identification has yet to take place, but police said that: “The family of missing woman Jenny Hastings has been informed.” They also said "there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal". Police were treating her disappearance as a “high-risk missing persons case,” as Jenny struggles with her mental health. Her family previously issued a statement amid fears she was dead. “It appears that she wished to end her suffering in what was a regular and healing place for her," they said. “She loved the water but unfortunately her mind was not in a place of safety. “The Hastings family are absolutely heartbroken. We miss our Jenny. “She leaves a gaping hole in all our hearts and hope that she is returned to us safely so that we can celebrate her remarkable life.” Scottish Rugby also shared a statement on social media yesterday, sending their love and support to the Hastings family. “Scottish Rugby sends its love and support to Scott Hastings, Scotland cap 848, after his wife Jenny was reported missing whilst swimming earlier this week. “Our thoughts are with their children, and the wider Hastings family, at this heartbreaking time.” Jenny had been open about her struggles with mental health. In March 2017, she disappeared from the couple's Edinburgh home for 36 hours and walked to the Pentland Hills while she was suffering from depression. The couple both became ambassadors for charity Support in Mind Scotland and devoted work to helping others with their own mental health by staying active. They helped launch the 100 Streets challenge, encouraging people to get out and exercise with friends. Images: news.com.au

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"No trace": Desperate search continues for Dr Michael Mosley

The search for Dr Michael Mosley has ramped up after he disappeared while on holiday in the Greek islands. The British health expert, known for popularising intermittent fasting for weight loss, was on holiday with his family on the island of Symi when he seemingly vanished without a trace on Wednesday. Mosley, 67, set off on a hike along St Nicholas Beach on the island in the early afternoon but failed to return and was reported missing by his wife Dr Clare Bailey. The search for the doctor has now expanded, as Channel 7 reporter Mylee Hogan explained on Sunrise on Friday. “This morning the search has now expanded — they have called in crews from other islands to help,” Hogan said. “Those crews have come in on helicopter, they have drones, and dogs as well, to try to locate him." Authorities believe he may have been affected by the heat during his walk, as Hogan said, “They are working on the theory he may have been impacted by the heat and fallen.” “The area they’re searching where he was walking is only a 3km distance, but it is quite rugged, so they are trying to focus on that area (the walking track).” According to a report in the <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2024/06/06/tv-dr-michael-mosley-goes-missing-symi-greece-search-launched-20984105/?ico=top-stories_home_top" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">UK’s Metro</a> news outlet, a resident claimed it was “impossible” to get lost on the island. Symi Mayor Eleftherios Papakalodoukas reinforced the sentiment, telling BBC News, “It is a very small, controlled area, full of people. So if something happened to him there, we would have found him by now.” Senior police spokesperson Constantina Dimoglidou previously told the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13499989/Mail-columnist-Michael-Mosley-missing-Greece-Symi.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">Daily Mail</a> that ongoing searches had so far been unsuccessful. “We have now asked the fire brigade to assist in the operation in case he may have slipped, tripped, fallen, or even bitten by a snake, remaining injured somewhere,” he said. “There is just no trace of him. None whatsoever and that means that for us at least, every potential scenario is being investigated.” Image credits: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock Editorial

News

How do airplanes fly? An aerospace engineer explains the physics of flight

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/craig-merrett-1509278">Craig Merrett</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/clarkson-university-4276">Clarkson University</a> Airplane flight is one of the most significant technological achievements of the 20th century. The <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/wright-brothers">invention of the airplane</a> allows people to travel from one side of the planet to the other in less than a day, compared with weeks of travel by boat and train. Understanding precisely why airplanes fly is an ongoing challenge for <a href="https://www.clarkson.edu/people/craig-merrett">aerospace engineers, like me</a>, who study and design airplanes, rockets, satellites, helicopters and space capsules. Our job is to make sure that flying through the air or in space is safe and reliable, by using tools and ideas from science and mathematics, like computer simulations and experiments. Because of that work, flying in an airplane is <a href="https://usafacts.org/articles/is-flying-safer-than-driving/">the safest way to travel</a> – safer than cars, buses, trains or boats. But although aerospace engineers design aircraft that are stunningly sophisticated, you might be surprised to learn there are still some details about the physics of flight that we don’t fully understand. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/577439/original/file-20240222-28-v3tjb4.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/577439/original/file-20240222-28-v3tjb4.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/577439/original/file-20240222-28-v3tjb4.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=381&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577439/original/file-20240222-28-v3tjb4.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=381&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577439/original/file-20240222-28-v3tjb4.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=381&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577439/original/file-20240222-28-v3tjb4.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=479&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577439/original/file-20240222-28-v3tjb4.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=479&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577439/original/file-20240222-28-v3tjb4.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=479&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A diagram of an airplane that shows the four forces of flight." /></a><figcaption>The forces of weight, thrust, drag and lift act on a plane to keep it aloft and moving. <a class="source" href="https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/airplane-cruise-balanced-forces/">NASA</a></figcaption></figure> <h2>May the force(s) be with you</h2> There are <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/stem-content/four-forces-of-flight/#:%7E">four forces</a> that aerospace engineers consider when designing an airplane: weight, thrust, drag and lift. Engineers use these forces to help design the shape of the airplane, the size of the wings, and figure out how many passengers the airplane can carry. For example, when an airplane takes off, the thrust must be greater than the drag, and the lift must be greater than the weight. If you watch an airplane take off, you’ll see the wings change shape using flaps from the back of the wings. The flaps help make more lift, but they also make more drag, so a powerful engine is necessary to create more thrust. When the airplane is high enough and is cruising to your destination, lift needs to balance the weight, and the thrust needs to balance the drag. So the pilot pulls the flaps in and can set the engine to produce less power. That said, let’s define what force means. According to <a href="https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/4079abf0-7a4b-4f49-80ad-c69cd06a80f9/newtons-second-law-of-motion/">Newton’s Second Law</a>, a force is a mass multiplied by an acceleration, or F = ma. A force that everyone encounters every day is <a href="https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/what-is-gravity/en/#:%7E">the force of gravity</a>, which keeps us on the ground. When you get weighed at the doctor’s office, they’re actually measuring the amount of force that your body applies to the scale. When your weight is given in pounds, that is a measure of force. While an airplane is flying, gravity is pulling the airplane down. That force is the weight of the airplane. But its engines push the airplane forward because they create <a href="https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/what-is-thrust/">a force called thrust</a>. The engines pull in air, which has mass, and quickly push that air out of the back of the engine – so there’s a mass multiplied by an acceleration. According to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-wh3fJRdjo">Newton’s Third Law</a>, for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. When the air rushes out the back of the engines, there is a reaction force that pushes the airplane forward – that’s called thrust. As the airplane flies through the air, the shape of the airplane pushes air out of the way. Again, by Newton’s Third Law, this air pushes back, <a href="https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/what-is-drag/#:%7E">which leads to drag</a>. You can experience something similar to drag when swimming. Paddle through a pool, and your arms and feet provide thrust. Stop paddling, and you will keep moving forward because you have mass, but you will slow down. The reason that you slow down is that the water is pushing back on you – that’s drag. <h2>Understanding lift</h2> <a href="https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/what-is-lift/">Lift</a> is more complicated than the other forces of weight, thrust and drag. It’s created by the wings of an airplane, and the shape of the wing is critical; that shape is <a href="https://howthingsfly.si.edu/media/airfoil#:%7E">known as an airfoil</a>. Basically it means the top and bottom of the wing are curved, although the shapes of the curves can be different from each other. As air flows around the airfoil, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO75jDwGCdQ">it creates pressure</a> – a force spread out over a large area. Lower pressure is created on the top of the airfoil compared to the pressure on the bottom. Or to look at it another way, air travels faster over the top of the airfoil than beneath. Understanding why the pressure and speeds are different on the top and the bottom is <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/multimedia-gallery/lift-and-copjpg">critical to understand lift</a>. By improving our understanding of lift, engineers can design more fuel-efficient airplanes and give passengers more comfortable flights. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579698/original/file-20240304-24-6df49v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579698/original/file-20240304-24-6df49v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579698/original/file-20240304-24-6df49v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=385&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579698/original/file-20240304-24-6df49v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=385&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579698/original/file-20240304-24-6df49v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=385&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579698/original/file-20240304-24-6df49v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=484&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579698/original/file-20240304-24-6df49v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=484&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579698/original/file-20240304-24-6df49v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=484&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A diagram that shows how the airfoil of a plane works." /></a><figcaption>Note the airfoil, which is a specific wing shape that helps keep a plane in the air. <a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/illustration/how-airplanes-fly-royalty-free-illustration/1401215523?phrase=airfoil+diagram&adppopup=true">Dimitrios Karamitros/iStock via Getty Images Plus</a></figcaption></figure> <h2>The conundrum</h2> The reason why air moves at different speeds around an airfoil remains mysterious, and <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/no-one-can-explain-why-planes-stay-in-the-air/">scientists are still investigating</a> this question. Aerospace engineers have measured these pressures on a wing in both wind tunnel experiments and during flight. We can create models of different wings to predict if they will fly well. We can also change lift by changing a wing’s shape to create airplanes that fly for long distances or fly very fast. Even though we still don’t fully know why lift happens, aerospace engineers work with mathematical equations that recreate the different speeds on the top and bottom of the airfoil. Those equations describe a process <a href="https://howthingsfly.si.edu/media/circulation-theory-lift">known as circulation</a>. Circulation provides aerospace engineers with a way to model what happens around a wing even if we do not completely understand why it happens. In other words, through the use of math and science, we are able to build airplanes that are safe and efficient, even if we don’t completely understand the process behind why it works. Ultimately, if aerospace engineers can figure out why the air flows at different speeds depending on which side of the wing it’s on, we can design airplanes that use less fuel and pollute less.  <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/craig-merrett-1509278">Craig Merrett</a>, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/clarkson-university-4276">Clarkson University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-airplanes-fly-an-aerospace-engineer-explains-the-physics-of-flight-222847">original article</a>. </div>

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Search for trapped Sydney woman ends in tragedy

The search for a woman in her 30s caught in the middle of an explosion in Western Sydney has ended in tragedy. Jasmin Mhey was the only person unaccounted for after a townhouse in Western Sydney was destroyed in an explosion on Saturday afternoon, caused by a suspected gas leak. Now, more than 30 hours after the blast, search and rescue teams on Monday confirmed they had located the body of a woman, who has yet to be formally identified. The frantic search for Ms Mhey began on Saturday after the explosion, but was hampered by wet weather. On Monday morning, police confirmed in a statement that the body of a woman had been found. “Following an extensive search operation over the weekend, the body of a woman was found about 3.20am on Monday at the scene," the statement said. “The woman is yet to be formally identified. A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.” Neighbours on Sunday told of how the missing woman’s mother reacted when she found out her daughter was caught up in the blast. “She broke out crying a couple of times,” neighbour Evelyn said. “But then she kept saying, ‘my daughter’s strong, my daughter’s strong, my daughter’s strong’.” Emergency services are yet to establish what caused the blast, which will be subject to a NSW Police investigation, although police were initially called to the area to reports of a gas explosion. Image credits: 7News

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Former detective shares new theory on Samantha Murphy's murder

After several weeks of no leads, police were happy to share their breakthrough on the case of Samantha Murphy's murder after they located her mobile phone. During a "<a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/major-update-in-search-for-samantha-murphy-s-body" target="_blank" rel="noopener">targeted search</a>", officers found Ms Murphy's iPhone on the bank of a dam, in what is one of the most significant developments in the case as police continue to search for Ms Murphy’s missing body. However, retired detective Charlie Bezzina has urged police and members of the public that just because the phone has been located, it could still be some time until Ms Murphy's body is found. Bezzina suggested that the phone had been planted in the dam and then concealed Ms Murphy’s body elsewhere in a bid to mislead police. Mr Bezzina, a veteran cop with decades of experience, said he found it perplexing that police could locate the submerged phone without prior intelligence. He speculated that authorities might have had some degree of tracking information while the phone was still active, hinting that the police may know more than they’re disclosing. Mr Bezzina went on to suspect that someone may have been in possession of Ms Murphy's phone for some time before discarding it. “With phones it’s amazing. There’s a lot the carrier, or carriers, don’t tell us about the capabilities of a phone,” Mr Bezzina said via Herald Sun. “When you’ve got a phone that’s off, people ask the question, ‘is it still transmitting’, and ‘if the battery goes flat does it still transmit?’ Some do and some don’t.” Mr Bezzina said it’s not uncommon for offenders to keep items for a while before discarding them, particularly mobile phones. “We don’t know when that phone was dumped in there, it is not unusual for offenders to keep items for a while, especially mobile phones … for all we know that might have been discarded just weeks ago,” he said. “Often offenders go back and do things, keep the phone somewhere or with them, and then dump it later on." “And that’s where they’ll get any evidence, if it’s been pinging … people can think ‘I’ll drive 10 or 15 kilometres away and I’ll dump the phone there to really put them off the scent, if the phone is in some way traceable’ … so not unusual at all for it to be dumped in a separate location (to the body).” Ms Murphy was last seen on February 4th, and although 22-year-old Patrick Orren Stephenson has been charged with her murder, her body has yet to be found. Image credits: Nine News

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