Research & development

Old trees continue to grow and store more carbon

22 January, 2014

An international study has found that trees do not slow in their growth rate as they get older and larger. In some cases, large trees appear to be adding the carbon mass equivalent of an entire mid-sized tree each year and are thus better at absorbing carbon from the atmosphere than previously thought.


Australia expands its role in the hunt for gravitational waves

21 January, 2014

Physicists from around Australia today met at the Australian International Gravitational Research Centre (AIGCRC), in Gingin, WA, to launch a nationwide project that expands our participation in the hunt for elusive gravitational waves.


Sixth sense is not so special

14 January, 2014

Research conducted at the University of Melbourne has found that the presence of a sixth sense, also known as extrasensory perception (ESP), exists in some form but is nothing extraordinary.


Non-invasive, risk-free screen for Down syndrome

13 January, 2014

Researchers at Curtin University have assessed the use of a new non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) technique to identify Down syndrome in foetuses.


HPV testing at home

09 January, 2014

A Lund University study has found that HPV self-testing is as effective as tests done by doctors and, more importantly, more comfortable for women who find regular smear tests unpleasant.


Critical protein for cancer cell growth found

09 January, 2014 by Lauren Davis

Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have discovered a cellular protein that is important for keeping cancer cells alive and is thus a suitable target for treatment. Their results have been published in the journal Genes & Development.


Fantasy villains suffer from vitamin D deficiency

06 January, 2014

Researchers 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, 2013

Cambridge 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, 2013

An 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, 2013

Mexican 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, 2013

The 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, 2013

Finally, 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, 2013

All 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, 2013

The 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, 2013

Scientists 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.


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