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.
World's most bio-secure lab opens for business
18 November, 2011The world’s most advanced bio-secure laboratory, the ACBRF, was officially opened at CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong.
Cycad is not a ‘dinosaur plant’
21 October, 2011The widely held belief that cycads are ‘dinosaur plants’ and were around during dinosaur times has been categorically debunked in a breakthrough study of international significance.
Researchers sequence complete genome of cynomolgus monkey
27 September, 2011A team of researchers from Roche reported in Genome Research that they have generated the first draft genome sequence of the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis).
First gravity wave detector step closer to development
14 September, 2011Physicists have made a breakthrough in the development of the world’s first gravity wave detector.
Technology tethers free radicals
16 August, 2011A new platform technology may be used in areas as diverse as disease detection through to biofuel production.
Scientists find new Australian desert frog
27 July, 2011A new miniature frog species or ‘toadlet’ has been discovered.
Macquarie Uni student helps discover new planetary nebula
27 July, 2011Macquarie University PhD student Dimitri Douchin has helped discover a new planetary nebula in our Milky Way.
