Taking your genes to vote
31 August, 2012It is becoming increasingly evident that genetics plays a much larger role in political behaviour than was previously thought.
Botany student proves ‘New England Banksia’ a distinct species
17 August, 2012Research by Margaret Stimpson, a postgraduate student of botany at the University of New England, has given the New England region its very own species of banksia: Banksia neoanglica.
Accidental breakthrough on the puzzle of atmospheric acids
17 August, 2012In a classic example of an accidental scientific breakthrough, a University of Sydney research team may have solved the mystery of why there is more non-industrial acid in air than anyone can explain.
UNCOVER: unlocking Australia’s hidden mineral wealth
13 August, 2012The Australian Academy of Science has welcomed the launch of UNCOVER: Searching the deep earth, a visionary new project to unlock Australia’s enormous potential mineral wealth.
Rice study could save farmers billions
09 August, 2012Breeding rice plants that retain more phosphorus in the straw, which is returned to the soil after harvest, could reduce the use of phosphorus fertiliser and save farmers billions of dollars, according to Southern Cross University researcher Dr Terry Rose.
Masters of disguise: the crypsis behaviour
02 August, 2012 by Amy Smart and Jacob MoriartyCrypsis, the act of disguising oneself as one’s background or another unimportant object, is used in the insect world largely for survival - usually in order to avoid being eaten. PhD student James O’Hanlon of Macquarie University is researching how crypsis and mimicry are used as a signalling strategy, one by which an individual attracts the attention of other animals.
ROV aids critical Antarctic krill research
18 July, 2012A specially modified Falcon remote-operated vehicle has been supplied by ATSA Defence Services to the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC) for research into sea ice algae. The vehicle will be jointly operated by researchers from ACE CRC and the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD).
Climate change causing leaves of some Australian plants to narrow
09 July, 2012University of Adelaide researchers have discovered that recent climate change is causing the leaves of some Australian plants to narrow in size.
Fish learn to cope in high CO2 world
03 July, 2012Some coral reef fish may be better prepared to cope with rising CO2 in the world’s oceans - thanks to their parents. Researchers at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoECRS) have reported encouraging new findings that some fish may be less vulnerable to high CO2 and an acidifying ocean than previously feared.
Using the cane toad’s poison against itself
14 June, 2012An effective new weapon in the fight against the spread of cane toads has been developed by the University of Sydney, in collaboration with the University of Queensland.
Mystery of Tasmanian devil tumour deepens
07 June, 2012The degree of genetic difference to a tumour rapidly decimating the ranks of Tasmanian devils is not a factor in their likelihood of contracting the disease, according to research led by the University of Sydney.
DNA discovery key to drought-resistant crops
05 June, 2012Scientists have pinpointed the ‘stay green’ DNA in barley in new research that may help farmers to grow better crops in areas of drought, heat and salinity.
Howzat work? The science of swing debunked
01 June, 2012 by Lauren Davis“The atmosphere feels very heavy, so you will have to wonder if the new ball will swing.” These are the words of former English cricket captain Michael Atherton, stating the commonly-held belief that high humidity equals high swing. But as researchers from the UK and NZ recently discovered, this is not the case - in fact it’s rather the opposite.
Moon research to shed light on Earth’s development
29 May, 2012Researchers from Curtin University have received a three-year Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project grant to further investigate the early history of the moon. The work builds on previous uranium-lead dating of moon rocks from NASA’s Apollo 14 and 17 missions, adding samples from Apollo 12, 15 and 16.
Tropical fruit’s role as skin cancer weapon
22 May, 2012An exciting breakthrough on the potential anti-skin-cancer properties of the tropical fruit mangosteen has earned its researcher, Flinders University PhD candidate Jing Jing Wang, a seat in the finals of a prestigious medical prize.
