Scientists in the US who attached tracking devices to invasive pythons in order to observe their behaviour have found the gadget instead inside totally different snakes.

The researchers implanted radio transmitters inside baby Burmese pythons which had been captured from national parks in Florida and then re-released.

When they returned to the forest to find one of the Burmese pythons, they instead found a fully grown pitviper, known as a Florida cottonmouth.

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X-Rays found the transmitter in the cottonmouth's digestive system, indicating the baby python had ended up as an easy meal for the bigger snake.

The X-Ray also shows the python's spine within the cottonmouth.

The cottonmouth was kept by the scientists for a week until the transmitter was "expelled". The snake was then released back into the wild.

The researchers then tracked a second cottonmouth who appeared to have eaten a Burmese python with a transmitter inside it.

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They did not take this cottonmouth into captivity, but tracked it until it also "expelled" the transmitter.

The cottonmouths were lucky to get the pythons when they were young. Burmese pythons typically grow to 5m in length.

The Burmese python is considered one of the most invasive species in the United States.

Introduced as pets into the country from southeast Asia, the giant snakes are now thriving in Florida, making short work of smaller species.

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The pythons have decimated local populations of raccoons, opossums, white-tailed deer, foxes and rabbits.

They also pose a threat to coyotes, panthers and alligators.

Knowing cottonmouths can feast on baby Burmese pythons is welcome news to Florida wildlife officials.

Cottonmouths are substantially sized for venomous snakes, reaching up to 180cm in length.

About one in five people bitten by cottonmouths will die from the venom, which causes necrosis and extreme haemolysis, which essentially causes red blood cells to explode.

Both Florida cottonmouths and Burmese pythons are largely aquatic.

Cottonmouths are generalist predators but are well-known consumers of other snakes.

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A major New South Wales highway has re-opened after black ice closed it for hours amid a late winter snowfall.

The Great Western Highway was closed between Katoomba and Mount Victoria this morning, seeing traffic piled up for hours. Truck drivers even switched off their engines and got out to play in the snow, with no forecast on when the road would re-open.

The Transport Management Centre confirmed that the highway had reopened in both directions at about 10.20am.

READ MORE: Black ice closes major roads as snow falls on south-east

Bells Line of Road, another Blue Mountains thoroughfare, has now also reopened between Lithgow and Bell.

People are advised to give themselves extra travel time. Blue Mountains trains also remain delayed.

Temperatures plummeted 10C in just two hours across Sydney overnight, driven by a sudden southerly wind change bringing a very cold air mass.

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In Katoomba, west of Sydney, it reached -1.5C but felt like -7C, leading to a ground-blanketing snowfall.

More snow fell in parts of Victoria, days out from the beginning of spring on September 1.

Meanwhile, a severe weather warning is in place across New South Wales today.

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Surf and swell is expected to be hazardous along the coast from Byron Bay to the Illawarra.

Residents are advised to stay out of the water.

The cold front that has brought the snow and freezing temperatures has already moved offshore, meaning that the weather won't stick around.

But today, Sydney and much of NSW can prepare for a very cold, gusty day.

In Melbourne the weather is likely to be similar, with a chance of rain in the afternoon.

It started with an "unusual vibration" on the left side of a busy US commercial jet and ended with the plane's engine cover ripping right off during an emergency landing.

The Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to San Diego, carrying 176 passengers and six crew, was forced to turn back yesterday because its engine cowling had broken free.

Dramatic video posted to social media, purportedly of the plane, showed a large piece of cowling flapping wildly during the flight and then completely tearing off on landing.

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Other photos posted to Twitter showed the plane's damaged and exposed engine, when it was finally parked on the tarmac.

"Crazy, crazy. I was on this flight," wrote Jacqueline Stonas.

In a statement, Alaska Airlines said crew onboard Flight 558 had reported an "unusual vibration" on the aircraft shortly after take-off.

The jet returned to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and landed safely, but "part of the metal paneling that covers the engine, called the cowling, detached from the aircraft when it landed," the airline said.

https://twitter.com/JStonas/status/1561832492188835840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/mattcawby/status/1562093529681338370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The Boeing 737-900ER has been grounded while engineers investigate the incident.

The pilots and flight attendants handled the incident and landing with "tremendous professionalism and care," the airline said.

"We also greatly appreciated the patience of our guests during this event."

READ MORE: Pilots suspended after 'falling asleep and missing landing'

Billionaire Warren Buffett is auctioning off a high-tech signed portrait of himself to raise money for one of his favourite charities, and the bidding has already topped $43,000.

The portrait of Buffett created by Motiva Art features a grid of letters over the picture that light up to spell out several of the legendary investor’s famous quotes.

The eBay auction of this artwork probably won't rival the $27.4 million someone paid earlier this year for a private lunch with Buffett, but it's still likely to attract big bidders among the Berkshire Hathaway CEO's devoted followers.

READ MORE: Warren Buffett tells shareholders about spending $51 billion

The auction that began earlier this week is set to wrap up on Buffett's 92nd birthday on Aug. 30.

The proceeds from the art auction will go to Girls Inc. of Omaha, which provides educational, cultural and recreational programs for young women in Buffett's hometown. The nonprofit has benefitted from a number of other things the investor has auctioned off over the years.

Buffett once sold off an old wallet of his that contained a stock tip, raising $300,000 for the organisation. And in 2015, someone paid more than $176,000 for Buffett's 2006 Cadillac with his signature on the dashboard.

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The biggest Buffett payout for Girls Inc. came in 2018 when Buffett won a 10-year bet that an S&P 500 stock index fund would outperform a collection of hedge funds. That netted more than $2.9 million that Girls Inc. used to support a new residential program for young women leaving foster care.

The June lunch auction that raised $27.5 million for the California-based Glide Foundation that helps the homeless in San Francisco attracted such an astronomical winning bid because Buffett said this year's auction would be the final one.

Before the pandemic, he had auctioned off private lunches every year for 20 years and regularly raised millions for Glide.

A Belgian-British teenage pilot is on track to become the youngest person to fly around the world solo in a small plane as he landed in southern Belgium ahead of the penultimate leg of his global odyssey.

Mack Rutherford, who turned 17 during the journey, touched down at Buzet Airstrip near the city of Charleroi, where he originally learned to fly.

He's due to land in Bulgaria on later today. His aim: to displace Travis Ludlow of Britain, who was 18 when he set the record in 2021.

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Rutherford is flying a Shark, one of the fastest ultralight aircraft in the world with a cruising speed reaching 300km/hr, which has been specially fitted out for the long journey. It's normally a two-seater, but an extra fuel tank has been installed next to the young pilot.

It's the same kind of aircraft used by his 19-year-old sister, Zara Rutherford, when she set the world record on January 20 for the youngest woman to fly solo around the world.

Mack's lonely journey, which began on March 23, took him through 52 countries over five continents. To conform with Guinness World Records requirements, the route crossed the equator twice.

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"It was supposed to take between two to three months and it's been five months now," he told The Associated Press. Administrative formalities in Crete and Dubai "because of paperwork issues, visas, permits, things like that," caused the delay.

The flight took him through Africa and the Gulf region — where he faced periods of extreme heat — then on to India, China, South Korea and Japan. From there, he headed to Alaska and down the US West Coast to Mexico. The teen then headed north again along the US East Coast to Canada, across the Atlantic via Iceland, to the UK and Belgium.

If all goes well, and weather permitting, he'll fly east across Europe via Slovakia and land at an airport in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, later today or tomorrow.

READ MORE: Snow falls as icy blast grips NSW, Victoria

Proud father Sam Rutherford said his two children have set a shining example.

"They have got around the world safely, effectively, professionally. And they've shown to other youngsters that you don't have to be 18 even, and certainly not 30, to make a difference and do something and follow your dreams," he told AP.

Another significant section of the devastated Beirut Port silos in Lebanon has collapsed in a cloud of dust.

No injuries were reported — the area had been long evacuated — but yesterday's collapse was another painful reminder of the horrific August 2020 explosion.

The collapse left the silos' southern part standing next to a pile of charred ruins. The northern block had already been slowly tipping over since the initial explosion two years ago but rapidly deteriorated after it caught fire more than a month ago due to fermenting grains.

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The 50-year-old, 48-metre-tall silos had withstood the force of the explosion on August 2020, effectively shielding the western part of Beirut from the blast that killed more than 200 people, injured more than 6000 and badly damaged entire neighbourhoods.

Emmanuel Durand, a French civil engineer who volunteered for the government-commissioned team of experts, told The Associated Press that the speed of the tilt rapidly accelerated overnight on Monday, just hours before the collapse.

"There was a very sharp acceleration, which was expected," Durand said.

"When this happens, you know it's going to go."

The country's caretaker environment minister, Nasser Yassin, told Lebanese TV that the government will now look into how to ensure the southern block remains standing. He urged residents near the port to wear masks, and said experts would conduct air quality tests.

In April, the Lebanese government decided to demolish the silos, but suspended the decision following protests from families of the blast's victims and survivors. They contend that the silos may contain evidence useful for the judicial probe, and that it should stand as a memorial for the 2020 tragedy.

In July, a fire broke out in the northern block of the silos due to the fermenting grains. Firefighters and Lebanese Army soldiers were unable to put it out and it smouldered for more than a month.

Officials had warned that the silo could collapse, but feared risking the lives of firefighters and soldiers who struggled to get too close to put out the blaze or drop containers of water from helicopters.

Survivors of the blast and residents near the port have told the AP that watching the fire from their homes and offices was like reliving the trauma from the port blast, which started with a fire in a warehouse near the silos that contained hundreds of tons of explosive ammonium nitrate, improperly stored there for years.

The environment and health ministries in late July issued instructions to residents living near the port to stay indoors in well-ventilated spaces.

Durand last month told the AP that the fire from the grains had sped up the speed of the tilt of the shredded silo and caused irreversible damage to its weak concrete foundation.

The structure has rapidly deteriorated ever since. In late July, part of the northern block collapsed for the first time. Days later on the second anniversary of the Beirut Port blast, roughly a fourth of the structure collapsed. On Sunday, the fire expanded to large sections of the silo.

A Queensland doctor is recovering after he was allegedly bashed in front of his family, turning pizza night into a trip to the emergency room.

Father-of-three Dr Daniel Jak was allegedly knocked out in front of his children outside a takeaway store in the Brisbane suburb of Ferny Grove about 6pm on Saturday.

Jak's children and their pregnant mother were waiting in the car when a driver allegedly bumped the front of the family's car as he reversed, accusing them of parking him in.

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Police alleged things turned violent after Jak walked out of the shop with his hands full of pizza and drinks.

The 59-year-old Ferny Grove man allegedly hit the father-of-three and continued the assault after his victim fell to the ground.

"He repeatedly hit me 10 to 15 times, broke my nose, (I was) very fortunate (I) didn't break my skull," Jak told 9News.

The paediatrician's three-year-old daughter watched the whole thing.

"She says 'are we getting a new daddy?' because all she saw was I was knocked to the floor and I'm unconscious and she thought I was dead," Jak said.

Dash cam video caught the start of the alleged assault, along with the vehicle's number plates.

The 59-year-old has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and is due to appear in court next month.

Police have made an emergency declaration in suburb of Booval in Ipswich, Queensland.

The declaration was made due to an "ongoing operation" just after 5pm.

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Officers said an exclusion zone includes Brisbane Road, Alexander Street, Clifton Street and Bergin Street.

"Members of the public are advised to avoid the area," police said.

"Those within the exclusion zone are asked to remain indoors until further notice."

More to come…

A Sydney man was walking home from the gym when he stumbled across a serious motorbike accident and one of those injured turned out to be his best mate.

Cranebrook father-of-three Michael Bainbridge was riding a children's motorbike down Greygum road around 8pm last night when he collided with a car.

Meanwhile, Robert Bridges was on his way home from the gym when he saw the crash and rushed over to help. 

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It wasn't until he pulled the burning bike out of the way that he realised the rider was his mate.

"The instinct of just trying to help my mate survive type thing clicked into place," Bridges said. 

"Yeah, it was just a bit upsetting because he's not the type of person that's a hoon who'd ride motorbikes around Cranebrook you know what I mean."

Bainbridge was airlifted to Royal North Shore hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

He has undergone surgery for a number of broken bones, swelling to the brain and burns to 25 per cent of his legs.

His family argues, that despite him not wearing a helmet, he isn't a hoon. 

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Bainbridge's father said he purchased the bike to give to his children just two days ago and was out on a test run when the crash happened.

Bridges made an impassioned plea to wear safety gear to prevent serious injuries like those his friend has suffered.

"Please wear a helmet, wear that protective gear because the result is uncanny," Bridges said.

Australian music legend John Farnham has been diagnosed with cancer, his family has revealed in a shock statement.

The You're The Voice singer is undergoing surgery in a Victorian hospital to remove a cancerous growth.

The "shock" diagnosis has prompted a wave of well wishes from around the world.

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"I haven't spoke with him since his diagnosis but it was a big surprise for us as well for him," friend, Lindsay Field told 9News.

"He was here for lunch three weeks ago and it was lovely, there was no suspicion at that time of this.

"Anyone you love and care for, you have a concern for their well-being."

Molly Meldrum was among those wishing him the best in his operation and recovery.

"He has been a friend of mine for a very long time, and we have been through lots in that time," he told 9News.

"He is the voice, there is doubt about that and he will always be the voice.

Kiss founding member Paul Stanley also posted to social media in a show of support.

"John… You ARE the voice!!! We are all sending you our prayers, energy and light for a full recovery," Stanley tweeted.

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Earlier today, entertainment reporter Peter Ford told 3AW details about his specific illness remained unclear.

"We don't know too much about the type of cancer that he does have. We know there is a tumour involved, but we don't know where on his body that would be," he said.

Surgeons are confident they will be able to remove all the dangerous tissue.

"Cancer diagnosis is something that so many people face every single day, and countless others have walked this path before me," Farnham said in a statement.

"The one thing I know for sure is that we have the very best specialist healthcare professionals in Victoria, and we can all be grateful for that. I know I am."

The family has requested privacy during this time.

Farnham has been a mainstay of Australian entertainment since he was billed as teen idol "Johnny Farnham" in the late 1960s.

The 73-year-old's 1986 album Whispering Jack, featuring the single You're The Voice, remains the second-highest selling album in Australia, behind only Meat Loaf's Bat Out Of Hell (1977).

He has received 19 ARIA awards, and was named an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1996, and Australian of the Year in 1987.