Industry News
Safer production of polio vaccines
British researchers have found a way to produce a stable fragment of poliovirus, which could enable safer production of vaccines. [ + ]
The growth factor that may slow Parkinson's disease
Australian researchers have found that a naturally occurring molecule in the brain may hold the key to stopping the progression of Parkinson's disease. [ + ]
Grant to improve sorghum breeding programs
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has announced a three-year, $6.1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expand and accelerate the development of advanced sorghum phenotyping and breeding technologies. [ + ]
How ants get their bearings
Their brains may be smaller than the head of a pin, but ants are excellent navigators that use celestial and terrestrial cues to memorise their paths. [ + ]
2017 Australian of the Year regenerates interest in biomedical science
Emeritus Professor Alan Mackay-Sim has been announced as 2017 Australian of the Year, bringing his work in stem cell research and regenerative medicine to the forefront of Australian science. [ + ]
The (low) impact of maternal BMI on childhood fatness
There is little evidence to support any long-term impact of maternal body mass index (BMI) in pregnancy on a child's risk of fatness in childhood and adolescence, according to a study led by the University of Bristol. [ + ]
There and back again — the metamaterial that can switch from hard to soft
Scientists from the University of Michigan have discovered how to compose a metamaterial that can be easily manipulated to increase the stiffness of its surface by orders of magnitude — the difference between rubber and steel. [ + ]
High-quality holograms achieved
Physicists from ANU have invented a tiny device that creates the highest quality holographic images ever achieved. [ + ]
The needle that makes brain surgery safer
Researchers have developed a brain biopsy needle with a tiny imaging probe inside, enabling surgeons to 'see' and avoid at-risk blood vessels as they insert the needle into patients' brains. [ + ]
Chemically active 3D printing awarded
US researchers have been recognised for their work demonstrating the chemical reactivity of nanocomposites in 3D-printed structures, receiving the STAM 2016 Altmetrics Award for their efforts. [ + ]
Two-step method to assess water safety
Researchers investigating nutrient run-off can now access an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard that utilises the separation capabilities of ion chromatography for the simultaneous determination of total nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations. [ + ]
Australia's antibacterial honey
Researchers have found that the nectar-derived chemical that gives New Zealand's manuka honey its apparently unique antibacterial properties is also present in Australian varieties. [ + ]
Meet Leonie, the sexually fluid shark
A zebra shark named Leonie has just made history, becoming the first shark ever recorded to change from sexual to asexual reproduction. [ + ]
Bee sting vaccine and other allergy remedies on the way
Utilising a special adjuvant, Australian researchers have developed a vaccine for European honeybee stings that has been deemed highly effective in laboratory tests. [ + ]
Conference to tackle drug-resistant infections
Registrations are now open for the Solutions for Drug-Resistant Infections conference (SDRI 2017), taking place at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 3–5 April 2017. [ + ]
