Talking plants?
09 April, 2012Research from The University of Western Australia (UWA) has discovered that plants appear to react to sounds and may even make clicking noises to communicate with each other.
Researchers recreating the past to predict the future of climate change
06 April, 2012An international project to test the accuracy of climate modelling is now looking at how well current models can recreate past climates, in order to asset their ability to predict future climate change.
New institute to lead the way on climate change research
05 April, 2012A new research institute at the University of Western Sydney (UWS) will use world-class facilities to deliver research that will help Australia tackle the impacts of climate change.
Corals ‘could survive a more acidic ocean’
05 April, 2012Corals may be better placed to cope with the gradual acidification of the world’s oceans than previously thought, giving rise to hopes that coral reefs might escape climatic devastation.
Future of cotton research boosted by $35 million
14 March, 2012CSIRO and Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD) have announced a five-year, $35 million extension to their existing agreement to fund projects through the Cotton Breeding Australia joint venture.
Salt-resistant wheat developed by CSIRO
13 March, 2012A salt-tolerant variety of durum wheat that outperforms other varieties by 25% on salty soils has been developed by CSIRO scientists using traditional crop breeding techniques.
Sturdy Scandinavian conifers survived the ice age
08 March, 2012A Murdoch University researcher has helped rewrite history after radiocarbon dating and genetic analysis proved that Scandinavian conifers in the high arctic survived the last ice age for several thousands of years. Until now, it was presumed that the Scandinavian landscape was devoid of trees during the ice age.
Nuclear science on Antarctic climate change mission
09 February, 2012Two scientists from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) left for Antarctica earlier this week in search of byproducts of cosmic rays colliding with Earth. The scientists are on an environmental mission, working to discover whether a historical relationship exists between solar activity on the sun and climate change on Earth.
Microbes and fungi provide blueprint for ‘designer soils’
23 January, 2012Newly published research reveals that soils are self-organising systems in which soil structure and microbial activity interact in a dynamic way to maximise the storage of water and carbon.
Secret sex life to help save endangered seagrasses
20 January, 2012Sex plays a much bigger role in the reproduction of vitally important seagrasses than previously thought, according to findings by researchers from The University of Western Australia.
Plant drought alarm signal discovery could help establish natural drought resistance in food crops
20 January, 2012Researchers from The Australian National University have discovered a cellular communication process used by plants to respond to drought. They discovered evidence of a process called retrograde signalling - where chemical signals move between different cellular compartments in the plant Arabidopsis. The movement of these signals switches on a defence mechanism which could help plants cope with drought conditions.
Seismometers reveal Australia’s geological history
13 January, 2012Researchers from The Australian National University have used the latest earthquake-measuring technology to image the tectonic plate beneath south-east Australia and reveal for the first time the continent’s geological building blocks.
Mars rover finds signs of water
02 January, 2012In the eighth year of its Mars expedition, rover Opportunity has found evidence that water once existed on Mars.
Non-therapeutic use of antibiotics adding to antibiotic resistance loads
01 December, 2011The evidence that non-therapeutic use of antibiotics is contributing to antibiotic resistance in the broader community is growing and researchers are now arguing for stricter regulation of the practice in the interest of public health.
Take a virtual ‘journey to the centre of the Earth’ with beam-line science
23 November, 2011Scientists can now take a virtual look 400 km below the Earth’s surface to the upper mantle, the source of most magma or molten rock.
