Fantasy villains suffer from vitamin D deficiency
06 January, 2014Researchers have noted that the villains of fantasy literature have a tendency to dwell in darkness and eat a poor diet. From this, they theorise that the creatures are left lacking in vitamin D.
Immunisation checks: there's an app for that
12 December, 2013Cambridge Consultants and Diagnostics For All are working together to demonstrate a mobile phone application that can read a simple test for whether a child has been immunised.
Over 30 new species of Antarctic marine life discovered
11 December, 2013An international research team has discovered more than 30 new - and so far unclassified - species of Antarctic marine life. After a lengthy categorisation period, their findings have been published in the journal Continental Shelf Research.
Generating electricity from the flow of cars
10 December, 2013Mexican entrepreneurs have developed a system capable of using vehicular flow to generate electric energy. This development has the potentiality to produce sufficient electricity to power up a household through a device that 'catches' the force of the moving cars.
Gravitational waves provide new way of studying the universe
29 November, 2013The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that it will create an observatory in space to detect ripples in the fabric of space-time, known as gravitational waves, which are created by celestial objects with very strong gravity, such as the merging of black holes. Researchers say this will expand the way in which they can observe the universe.
Why beer bubbles over or the physics of beer bottle foam-over
25 November, 2013Finally, some important physics - researchers have worked out why if you tap the bottom of a newly opened beer bottle it froths up and foams everywhere.
Ants can change their priorities while househunting
08 November, 2013All animals have to make decisions every day - often as a group to help their survival. Researchers from Arizona State University, hoping to understand how the collective decision-making process arises out of individually ignorant ants, have conducted an experiment which found that the creatures can change their decision-making strategies based on experience.
Preparing for the world's largest radio telescope
07 November, 2013The international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) office has awarded contracts to prepare for the world's largest radio telescope, marking the start of the return on Australia and WA's investment in the SKA.
South Australia's first autoimmune blood bank
07 November, 2013Scientists from Flinders University and SA Pathology are setting up South Australia's first autoimmune blood bank, providing a central depository for research into different autoimmune diseases.
Delboeuf illusion causes dentists to drill bigger holes
04 November, 2013The Delboeuf illusion is an optical illusion whereby a large context makes a small, enclosed area appear smaller than it really is. Researchers have found that this illusion is having an impact in the field of dentistry, with some dentists making larger holes in teeth than they really need to.
New nanoparticle delivers and monitors cancer drugs
01 November, 2013Chemical engineers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have synthesised an iron oxide nanoparticle (IONP) that delivers cancer drugs to cells while simultaneously monitoring the drug release in real time.
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.
Golden gumleaves reveal hidden mineral deposits
25 October, 2013CSIRO scientists have discovered that eucalyptus trees in Western Australia's Kalgoorlie are drawing up gold particles from the earth via their root system and depositing it in their leaves and branches. Their findings have been published in the journal Nature Communications.
Heisenberg's error-disturbance relation proved correct
22 October, 2013One of the basic concepts in quantum mechanics is that it is impossible to observe physical objects without affecting them in a significant way; there can be no measurement without disturbance. In 1927, theoretical physicist Werner Heisenberg claimed that this fact could be expressed as an uncertainty relation, describing a reciprocal relation between the accuracy in position and the disturbance in momentum.
University of Melbourne enters Parkinson's treatment deal
11 October, 2013The University of Melbourne has entered into a drug development deal with Procypra Therapeutics, a US start-up company established by Collaborative Medicinal Development under the umbrella of venture capital firm Cthulhu Ventures.
