The secret to twisting light
Scientists from the Australian National University (ANU) have uncovered the secret to twisting light at will - the latest step in the development of photonics. Their research has been published in the journal Nature Communications. Read more »
The debate on criminalising research fraud
The BMJ has featured an article in which two experts go head to head discussing the potential criminalisation of research fraud. Read more »
Inexpensive assay detects fake malaria drugs
Chemists from Oregon State University (OSU) have created a simple, inexpensive assay which can tell whether or not one of the primary drugs being used to treat malaria is genuine. Read more »
Fusion research facility reaches for the stars
The Australian Plasma Fusion Research Facility (APFRF) has been officially launched at the Australian National University (ANU). The laboratory has been significantly upgraded thanks to a Commonwealth investment of $7.9 million from the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme (NCRIS) and associated programs. Read more »
The shrinking human genome
Researchers from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) have updated the number of human genes - those that can generate proteins - to 19,000. This is 1700 fewer genes than described in the most recent annotation. Read more »
The physical effects of magic mushrooms
Researchers have examined the brain effects of the psychedelic chemical in magic mushrooms, called 'psilocybin', revealing the physical changes the chemical makes to the brain. Read more »
First images of a microorganism's drug manufacturing line
Researchers at the University of Michigan (UM) have obtained the first three-dimensional snapshots of the 'assembly line' within microorganisms that naturally produces antibiotics and other drugs. Read more »
A spectroscopic technique for understanding photochemical reactions
Using photochemical reactions to our advantage requires a deep understanding of the interplay between the electrons and atomic nuclei within a molecular system after that system has been excited by light. Read more »
How application and workflow affect pipette selection
By choosing the right pipetting system and eliminating risk and variability from pipetting procedures, users can achieve enhanced accuracy, reduced costs and better overall productivity. Read more »
Hunting for breast cancer risk with next-gen sequencing
The Hunter Medical Research Institute's (HMRI) Pathology Service laboratory has developed DNA sequencing technology that is accelerating screening for the genetic risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Read more »
Eucalyptus genome successfully sequenced
The genetic blueprint of the Eucalyptus grandis (flooded gum) has been sequenced for the first time. The five-year effort to analyse the 640 million base-pair genome was conducted by 80 researchers from 30 institutions across 18 countries. Read more »
Controlling controlled and sterile environments
Automated environmental monitoring and biological monitoring systems provide effective and reliable methods for monitoring of viable and non-viable particles in Grade A/B cleanrooms along with other critical environmental conditions such as pressure, relative humidity and temperature. Read more »
World's most sensitive thermometer created
Researchers from the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing have produced what is claimed to be the world's most sensitive thermometer. The new and unorthodox method uses light to measure temperature. Read more »
How do Australians engage with science?
A national survey on Australians' engagement with science has found that the majority have extremely positive attitudes about science and technology, though they're not always clear about the details. Read more »
Australia rises to the challenge of creating synthetic yeast
Australia has joined the Yeast 2.0 project, an international effort to create the world's first ever synthetic complex organism: a particular strain of yeast. Read more »
Heavy mouse enables hard-hitting research
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have created the world's first animal enriched with heavy but non-radioactive isotopes. The 'heavy' mouse has enabled the scientists to capture in unprecedented detail the molecular structure of natural tissue by reading the magnetism inherent in the isotopes. Read more »
Single-cell analysis inspired by microchips
US and Korean researchers have developed a device, similar to a random-access memory (RAM) chip, which moves cells rather than electrons. The device could be scaled up to sort and store hundreds of thousands of individual living cells in a matter of minutes. Read more »
A powerful body scanner for an advanced imaging facility
The University of Queensland's Centre for Advanced Imaging has acquired an $11 million 7 T MRI scanner, said to be the most powerful body scanner in the Southern Hemisphere. Read more »
Australia's scientists react to the Budget
The 2014-15 Budget will affect several areas of science, provoking comments from experts involved in the industry. Read more »
Building bone marrow-on-a-chip
Researchers from the Wyss Institute have created a new organ-on-a-chip - a microfluidic device that mimics the physiology of a living organism. The device reproduces the structure, functions and cellular make-up of bone marrow. Read more »
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