News
all News articles
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Herbivores at highest risk of extinction
We assumed it was predators, but analysis suggests otherwise.
A comprehensive analysis covering thousands of species of land and water animals has revealed that herbivores, not pr...
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New Guinea home to richest island flora
Co-ordinated effort finally reveals true number of species.
New Guinea boasts the greatest plant diversity of any island in the world, according to a new study published in the ...
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Chemists say solids don’t get brighter than this
Maintaining fluorescence means smiles all around.
These are 3D printed gyroids made from SMILES (small-molecule ionic isolation lattices), a new class of materials tha...
Cosmos Q&A: Why we must value parasites
Researchers propose a global conservation plan.
Parasites don’t get great PR or a lot of consideration when we're talking conservation. An international team hopes t...
Hair v razor. Why hair wins
It’s soft but persistent, so just keeps chipping away.
Any non-bearded male will tell you that (a) shaving is monotonous and (b) razors don’t last. No matter how much they ...
Features
all Features articles
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Conversation
Dogs trained to sniff out coronavirus
International effort showing positive results.
By Susan Hazel and Anne-Lise Chaber, University of Adelaide What does a pandemic smell like? If dogs could talk, t...
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Conversation
Cars rule as pandemic changes travel trends
Data shows walking is doing better than public transport.
By Neil G Sipe, University of Queensland As with other parts of the global economy, COVID-19 has led to rapid chan...
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Focus
More on the language of immunity
Peter Doherty explains some other perplexing terms.
This continues the process from last week (the I essay) of introducing terms that will be encountered as we engage wi...
Space
all Space articles
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Mushballs, ammonia and storms on Jupiter
Juno data reveals more about planet’s weather.
Violent thunderstorms in Jupiter’s atmosphere may form “mushballs” – ammonia-rich hail –that play a key role in the p...
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SpaceWatch: spiral arms and space junk
News of space exploration, astrophysics and astronomy.
Mars is space flavour of the month, with three spacecraft on their way and suggestions of a possible icy past, but th...
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When Mars was like Canada
Analysis suggests early landscape was icy, not warm.
Ancient river channels on Mars may have formed beneath thick ice sheets, scientists say. It’s an important find, b...
Technology
all Technology articles
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Research
Hair v razor. Why hair wins
It’s soft but persistent, so just keeps chipping away.
Any non-bearded male will tell you that (a) shaving is monotonous and (b) razors don’t last. No matter how much they ...
-
Chemists say solids don’t get brighter than this
Maintaining fluorescence means smiles all around.
These are 3D printed gyroids made from SMILES (small-molecule ionic isolation lattices), a new class of materials tha...
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Nature
all Nature articles
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New Guinea home to richest island flora
Co-ordinated effort finally reveals true number of species.
New Guinea boasts the greatest plant diversity of any island in the world, according to a new study published in the ...
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Genomic secrets of a rare reptile
Researchers find tuatara’s place on the tree of life.
Scientists have sequenced the genome of the tuatara – a rare reptile found only in New Zealand whose ancestors roamed...
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Angelfish are clever breeders
Hybridisation isn’t limited to closely related species.
Natural hybridisation isn’t uncommon among marine life. Two different species often mate and produce hybrid offspring...
Earth
all Earth articles
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Herbivores at highest risk of extinction
We assumed it was predators, but analysis suggests otherwise.
A comprehensive analysis covering thousands of species of land and water animals has revealed that herbivores, not pr...
-
Habitat destruction could fuel disease risk
Animals that remain often can infect humans, study finds.
Scientists have been sounding progressively louder alarms about the repercussions of human expansion across the plane...
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Why biocrust is useful in the desert
Study highlights the value of tiny plants and organisms.
Miniscule plants and microscopic organisms growing on desert soils reduce water erosion by an average of 68% worldwid...
History
all History articles
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Crocodiles bound for America
New research suggests they went via Africa.
How crocodiles first reached the Americas has long been a matter of debate. Now Italian researchers are suggesting th...
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Evidence for early arrival of humans in America
Two teams analyse artefacts from Mexican cave.
Humans may have reached the Americas 30,000 years ago – some 15,000 years earlier than previously thought – according...
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An ancient story of change and adaptation
Study fills gaps in history of Aboriginal Australians.
Archaeologists are continuing to unravel the complex history of Australia’s Aboriginal people, the world’s oldest civ...
People
all People articles
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Ancient artisans made a projectile point
Independent invention across continents revealed.
Neolithic toolmakers in southern Arabia created intricate stone weapons designed both to be useful and to showcase th...
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Conversation
Cars rule as pandemic changes travel trends
Data shows walking is doing better than public transport.
By Neil G Sipe, University of Queensland As with other parts of the global economy, COVID-19 has led to rapid chan...
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Health
all Health articles
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Study assesses Victoria’s COVID-19 response
Reproduction ratio down and thousands of infections 'averted’.
COVID-19 control measures in the Australian state of Victoria reduced the reproduction ratio of the virus from 1.75 t...
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Focus
More on the language of immunity
Peter Doherty explains some other perplexing terms.
This continues the process from last week (the I essay) of introducing terms that will be encountered as we engage wi...
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History
Casimir Funk introduced us to vitamins
Polish biochemist explored what was essential for life.
Over the past century, a vast amount of research has looked at nutritional supplements, without reaching a consensus ...
Core Sciences
all Core Sciences articles
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Focus
Cosmos Q&A: Why we must value parasites
Researchers propose a global conservation plan.
Parasites don’t get great PR or a lot of consideration when we're talking conservation. An international team hopes t...
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Is this how human sperm really move?
New research challenges centuries-old assumption.
We know what human sperm do, but it seems we may be wrong about one aspect of how they do it. Research by fertilit...
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History
Rachel Makinson and the science of wool
Distinguished career began on a temporary basis.
Rachel Makinson joined the radiophysics laboratory at Australia’s then Council of Scientific and Industrial Research ...