New species of dolphin discovered
01 November, 2013A team of international scientists, including Flinders University animal studies expert Dr Guido J Parra, has found evidence to suggest the recognition of at least four distinct species in the humpback dolphin family - one of which is completely new to science.
Insect weathermen reduce mating activity before storms
03 October, 2013 by Lauren DavisResearchers from the University of São Paulo have found that insects modify their mating behaviour in response to the changes in air pressure which precede a storm. By reducing mating during wind and rain, it is suggested that the insects are also reducing their risk of injury or death.
Signalling process for normal fertility located
30 September, 2013Researchers at Otago and Heidelberg Universities have discovered how the brain circuitry vital to normal fertility in humans and other mammals operates. Their findings have been published in the international journal Nature Communications.
Why does jet-lag recovery lag?
02 September, 2013Researchers at the University of Oxford, University of Notre Dame and F Hoffmann-La Roche have identified a mechanism that limits the ability of the body clock to adjust to changes in patterns of light and dark. This in turn reveals why the body is so slow to recover from jet lag.
Previously overlooked cytokine is a potential anticancer agent
16 August, 2013Melbourne researchers have found that the cytokine interleukin-11 (IL-11) plays a bigger role than thought in the growth and development of gastrointestinal cancers.
Sperm pass down Dad’s obesity
18 July, 2013University of Adelaide research, published in The FASEB Journal, has shown that the sperm of obese fathers could increase the risk of both their children and their grandchildren inheriting obesity.
Eyes in their stars: starfish and eye evolution
09 July, 2013A study has shown for the first time that starfish use primitive eyes at the tip of their arms to visually navigate their environment.
Taste genes linked to male fertility
02 July, 2013Taste and fertility may seem like two completely unrelated areas, but according to scientists at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, two proteins involved in oral taste detection also play an important role in sperm development.
Cane toad ingestion deadly for dwarf crocs
02 July, 2013 by Lauren DavisIt is well known that the toxins of the cane toad are often deadly when ingested by predators. Researchers from Charles Darwin University (CDU) have found that one such predator is the dwarf freshwater crocodile, whose population in northern Australia is diminishing as a result.
Vampire bat venom evades the immune system
21 June, 2013Scientists led by The University of Queensland’s (UQ’s) Associate Professor Bryan Fry have found that vampire bat venom contains molecules capable of evading the victim’s immune system.
Fluorescent eel lights up the path to assay development
17 June, 2013 by Lauren DavisResearchers from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute, led by Drs Atsushi Miyawaki and Akiko Kumagai, have discovered a fluorescent protein in the Japanese Unagi freshwater eel. Not only is this the first fluorescent protein found in vertebrates, but it could also be used to help save human lives.
People with high IQs process sensory information differently
27 May, 2013People with high IQ scores aren’t just more intelligent - they also process sensory information differently.
Buchi Encapsulator B-395 Pro
17 May, 2013The Encapsulator Pro from Buchi is designed for the immobilisation of cells, microbes, enzymes, drugs, flavours and fragrances, vitamins or oils into a wide range of polymers, such as alginate, carrageen, cellulose sulphate, chitosan, gelatine or pectin, as well as waxes.
Cocaine vaccine passes key testing hurdle
15 May, 2013Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have successfully tested their novel anti-cocaine vaccine in primates, bringing them closer to launching human clinical trials.
Great balls of iron: researchers uncover clue to bird navigation
29 April, 2013Every year, millions of birds make heroic migratory journeys across oceans and continents guided by the Earth’s magnetic field. How they detect those magnetic fields has puzzled scientists for decades.
