Flower power to purge poison and produce platinum
22 November, 2012A consortium of researchers is to embark on a £3 million research program which will use a common class of flower to restore poisoned soils while at the same time producing perfectly sized and shaped nanosized platinum and arsenic nanoparticles for use in catalytic convertors, cancer treatments and a range of other applications.
Waters selects MTM Research Center at Örebro University for Center of Innovation Honors
21 November, 2012At a ceremony at the School of Science and Technology at Örebro University, Sweden, Waters has announced the selection of the MTM Research Center for its Centers of Innovation Program for research in the field of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) now regulated under provisions of the Stockholm Convention.
Nanomedicine breakthrough improves chemotherapy for childhood cancer
20 November, 2012In a world first, researchers from The University of New South Wales’ (UNSW) Australian Centre for NanoMedicine (ACN) have developed a nanoparticle that improves the effectiveness of chemotherapy for neuroblastoma by a factor of five.
Possible link between immune system and Alzheimer’s
16 November, 2012An international research team, including scientists from the University of Toronto’s (U of T) Faculty of Medicine, has discovered a link between a mutation in an immune system gene and Alzheimer’s disease.
Stealing nature’s photosynthetic secrets
12 November, 2012The prospect of creating clean, renewable hydrogen fuel is closer than ever after a breakthrough in our understanding of photosynthesis.
New Australian telescope set to find 700,000 galaxies
12 November, 2012Australia’s newest radio telescope is predicted to find an unprecedented 700,000 new galaxies, say scientists planning for CSIRO’s next-generation Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP).
Zooming down the tree of life, digitally
12 November, 2012Exploring the evolutionary tree of life is now as easy as navigating an online map, thanks to a new interactive website which does away with giant pieces of paper and confusion.
New drug target found for cystic fibrosis lung disease
09 November, 2012Vancouver researchers have discovered the cellular pathway that causes lung-damaging inflammation in cystic fibrosis (CF), and that reducing the pathway’s activity also decreases inflammation. The finding offers a potential new drug target for treating CF lung disease.
Measuring metabolism can predict the progress of Alzheimer’s
08 November, 2012When it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, scientists usually look to the brain as their first centre of attention. Now researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) say that early clues regarding the progression of the disease can be found in the brain’s metabolism.
Gene find turns soldier beetle defence into biotech opportunity
08 November, 2012New antibiotic and anticancer chemicals may one day be synthesised using biotechnology, following CSIRO’s discovery of the three genes that combine to provide soldier beetles with their potent predator defence system.
Sea snails could have medicinal purposes
05 November, 2012A workshop for the development of natural medicines from the Muricidae family of sea snail will be conducted at Southern Cross University (SCU) this week.
EMD Millipore and Sistemic collaborate to identify control markers for stem cell production
02 November, 2012EMD Millipore and Sistemic are jointly developing a monitoring methodology utilising Sistemic’s microRNA marker detection capability to enable consistent growth of stem cells in EMD Millipore’s Mobius CellReady platform.
Want an honest man? Give him a testosterone boost!
02 November, 2012 by Lauren DavisResearchers at the University of Bonn have investigated a link between testosterone and self-serving lying. Surprisingly, the study revealed that a subject’s level of testosterone seems to be linked to his level of honesty.
Green chemistry helps promote sustainable manufacturing
31 October, 2012Greener manufacturing in the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries has received a boost following the establishment of the $24.9 million Victorian Centre for Sustainable Chemical Manufacturing (VCSCM).
Space rocks reveal secrets of the solar system
31 October, 2012 by Lauren DavisThe history of our solar system is being uncovered using Australia’s only nuclear reactor. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has partnered with Germany’s prestigious Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (MPIC) in order to analyse chondrules - multibillion-year-old particles from outer space.