ESO telescope finds its MUSE
An innovative instrument called MUSE (Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer) has been successfully installed on the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. Read more »
Nanoparticles, peptides and paper to detect cancer
Engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a cheap and simple diagnostic, much like a pregnancy test, which detects cancer in urine samples. Read more »
'Microbial Pompeii' found on 1000-year-old teeth
Plaque on the teeth of 1000-year-old skeletons has preserved bacteria and microscopic particles of food, effectively creating a mineral tomb for microbiomes that has been unearthed by an international team of researchers. Read more »
Microbattery to monitor migrating salmon
Scientists at the US Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have created a microbattery to power an injectable transmitter, which will monitor the movements of salmon through rivers. Read more »
What paused evolution?
The first life on Earth developed in the ancient oceans around 3.6 billion years ago but remained as little more than a layer of slime for a billion years. An international team of researchers has now revealed the ancient conditions that caused these events to occur. Read more »
A complex biochemical system in a droplet
In an effort to investigate the reactions taking place in a biological cell, scientists tried to replicate them in an artificial cell. Such experiments have so far worked with very simple reactions, but the team managed to establish a complex biochemical reaction in tiny droplets only a few micrometres in size. Read more »
Atomic structures and rotating anode sources
A new facility at the University of Melbourne's School of Physics has become home to a rotating anode source. The machine was installed by a team led by Professor Christopher Chantler, who noted that outside synchrotrons (of which there is only one in Australia), rotating anodes are one of the most powerful laboratory sources of X-rays. Read more »
Not proof of life on Mars or even Elvis sending messages via doughnuts
The source of the magically appearing rock on Mars has been revealed. Read more »
An interactive map of human genetic history
Researchers have produced a global map detailing the genetic histories of 95 different populations across the world, spanning the last 4000 years. Read more »
What killed Knut, Berlin Zoo's polar bear?
After one of the most intensive investigations in veterinary history for a single animal, what caused the death of Berlin Zoological Garden's polar bear, Knut, has been revealed. Read more »
IChemE's top 10 chemically engineered inventions
The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) has released the results of its survey on the most important chemically engineered inventions and solutions of the modern era. The top 10 list, comprising the inventions considered to have made the biggest impact on society, was voted for by IChemE's MediaEnvoys. Read more »
Data visualisation software rises from the ranks
Researchers from Harvard University have created a piece of open-source software which enables users to analyse and rearrange ranking systems based on the attributes they find the most important. Read more »
Discrete or continuous flow analysis - which is better?
With both discrete and continuous segmented flow analysers being widely available, choosing the better technique is one of the common decisions facing laboratory managers. Read more »
Immunotherapy is paying off at last
Detect, destroy, remember is the mantra of the immune system as it campaigns against infectious invaders and the body's own abnormal cells. And now immunotherapy is finally offering viable treatment options for some cancers. Read more »
Why do some people not care about science?
Surveys on public attitudes to science regularly tell us that there are swathes of the public that simply seem to not care about science, despite our best effort to engage them. But perhaps the issue is not with the public - the issue is with the question. Read more »
Removing distortion from atomic-scale images
Microscopy researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a technique that eliminates the distortion encountered when capturing images at the atomic scale. Their method will be reported in the March issue of Ultramicroscopy. Read more »
2014 Australian Academy of Science award winners announced
The Australian Academy of Science has announced this year's winners of its prestigious annual awards for scientific excellence. As Academy President Professor Suzanne Cory explained, "These awards celebrate both career-long contributions by some of Australia's most distinguished researchers and remarkable discoveries made by younger investigators." Read more »
The $1000 genome
Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research has been chosen as one of the first facilities in the world to acquire machines that can sequence a whole human genome at a base cost below US$1000. Read more »
Sending messages via molecules
Researchers from the University of Warwick in the UK and York University in Canada have created a molecular communications system which can be used for the transmission of messages and data in challenging environments. Read more »
Fantasy villains suffer from vitamin D deficiency
Researchers have noted that the villains of fantasy literature have a tendency to dwell in darkness and eat a poor diet. From this, they theorise that the creatures are left lacking in vitamin D. Read more »
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