Articles
Cleaning procedures to protect Parkinson's researchers
Scientists have revealed the cleaning procedures that best protect Parkinson's disease (PD) researchers from alpha-synuclein, a protein that makes up Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites in PD patients and self-assembles into fibrils in vitro. [ + ]
Kill switches for synthetic bacteria
US researchers have developed 'kill switches' that can cause synthetic bacteria to die, making it safer for them to be used outside of a laboratory environment. [ + ]
Plant enzyme to make better medicines
Researchers have identified and produced a key enzyme, found an in African plant, which can transform linear peptides into robust, chemically stable circular ones for use in pharmaceutical drug design. [ + ]
Vapour-based method for making crystals
An international team of scientists has developed a method of producing crystals called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) — said to be the world's most porous materials — using vapour rather than liquid. [ + ]
Carbon dating a kidney stone
An ANSTO scientist has been involved in an experiment said to be the first of its kind — carbon dating a kidney stone. [ + ]
The periodic table of protein complexes
UK researchers have published The Periodic Table of Protein Complexes — a valuable tool for research into evolution and protein engineering.
[ + ]How to defeat a hijacking parasite
Researchers have discovered how the parasite Toxoplasma hijacks host cells and stockpiles food so it can lie dormant for decades — possibly changing its host's behaviour in the process. [ + ]
An advance in Alzheimer's research
Researchers have identified a network of genes whose interactions influence the age at which carriers of the pathogenic E280A gene mutation will develop Alzheimer's disease. [ + ]
Inside the innovation agenda
Just what is being covered by the National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA), and how have Australia's scientists reacted? [ + ]
Chemical design without metals
Rice University scientists have synthesised dozens of small-molecule catalysts — tools that promise to speed the making of novel chemicals, including drugs — without the use of transition metals. [ + ]
Could we kill two diseases with one campaign?
British researchers have proposed that the WHO's planned mass treatment campaign to eradicate the tropical disease yaws from the planet by 2020 should be integrated with a WHO-led project to eliminate another common disease of the world's poor — trachoma — with the same deadline. [ + ]
Identifying Alzheimer's genes
In a study led by The Australian National University, scientists have identified a network of nine genes that play a key role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
[ + ]Your fingerprint can reveal whether you're male or female
Researchers from the University at Albany are taking crime scene investigation to a new level with the discovery that our fingerprints can be used to identify whether the print belongs to a male or a female. [ + ]
The appendix is not as useless as you thought
The appendix might not be as redundant as we originally thought, with new research showing a network of immune cells that help the organ play a pivotal role in maintaining the health of the digestive system. [ + ]
Australian Academy of Science's 2016 honorific awards
The Australian Academy of Science has announced the winners of its 2016 honorific awards — an annual program to recognise scientific excellence in researchers in the early stage of their careers right through to those who have made lifelong achievements. [ + ]