New Science Journalism Project

Stomach contents unlock secret to tuna lifestyle

Alison Binney — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:50:34 +0000

The smell in Dr Valerie Allain’s laboratory can get quite strong at times, especially when she and her two assistants are defrosting another batch of tuna stomachs.

Two thousand frozen stomachs are stacked up in her freezer at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Noumea, all waiting their turn to be analysed. .....

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The CAT scan search for the perfect lamb chop

Alison Binney — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:48:44 +0000

Australians love their lamb, but health-conscious meat-eaters are looking to leaner lamb chops for the dining table.

Now farmers have a new tool to help them choose sheep most likely to produce the lamb people want – and it all started with a machine that has transformed medical testing, the CAT scanner.

CAT scanning lamb carcasses

PhD student Fiona Anderson, from Western Australia’s Murdoch University, used the CAT scanner to check 2000 lamb carcases, to .....

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Nano solution to sick building syndrome

Alison Binney — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:37:30 +0000

‘Sick building syndrome’ causes persistent illness in office workers and costs the Australian economy an estimated $12 billion a year, but nanotechnology may have an answer.

Sick buildings are created when fumes given off from a range of products: paints, photocopiers, office furnishings and plastics. Known as volatile organic compounds, these fumes are a major pollutant for indoor environments. .....

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Leaky rusty water pipes pose million-dollar problem for water authorities

Alison Binney — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:32:53 +0000

Australia’s water mains are getting older, and bursting or leaking water pipes are costing business and local residents millions of dollars, but many of these dollars could be saved thanks to some clever computer modeling by a PhD researcher.

The costs come through extended loss of service supply, water contamination, massive losses of water, and high costs of repair.

Through pioneering research, Queensland University of Technology engineering PhD candidate Fengfeng Li has .....

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Rocky road for faster trains

Alison Binney — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:09:56 +0000

Anyone who has travelled on trains in Europe or Japan rocketing along in silence and comfort wonders why Australian train continue to trundle at 1940s speeds.

It’s not the train or even the lines, but the rocky foundations (or ballast) on which the rails are laid, and results in strict speed limits for trains.

Khaja Syed with High Speed Rail Track Simulation Apparatus designed and built at University of Wollongong, Australia

The problem is these fist-sized rocks move when trains pass over them. .....

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Australia lagging way behind other OECD countries in innovation

Alison Binney — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:59:00 +0000

Australia’s innovation performance compared to other OECD countries is “appalling”, according to Professor Robin Batterham, Kernot Professor at the University of Melbourne and former Australian Chief Scientist.

Professor Robin Batterham. Image: University of Melbourne

Professor Batterham, a keynote speaker at the Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) Association conference in Adelaide yesterday said Australia had only one third the average number of patents of other OECD countries. .....

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Beyond genetics: How epigenetics shapes our fate

Lux Fatimathas — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:57:38 +0000

From the early days of Mendel and his peas, through 200 years of discovery leading to the Human Genome Project, genetics has changed the landscape of science, medicine and society. It led to the common belief that the genetic code was the sole means of imparting the instructions that shape life and pass on traits through the generations.

Epigenetics has, however, revealed how the seemingly ‘hard-wired’ genetic instructions of the genome can be tweaked by chemical modifications that leave the DNA sequence itself unchanged. Moreover, diet, drugs and lifestyle have all been shown to affect these epigenetic modifications. .....

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Fund Australia’s needs, not just students’ choices: Chief Scientist

Alison Binney — Sun, 13 May 2012 21:09:54 +0000

Professor Ian Chubb to address what Australia needs, along with discussion on what students and industry want

On Thursday, Australia’s Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb will provide a glimpse into the health of Australian science.

He is the key speaker in a plenary session on ‘Enhancing returns: what Australia wants, what students want and what industry want’ at the annual conference of the Cooperative Research Centre of Australia (CRCA) in Adelaide.

Australia's Chief Scientist Ian Chubb to give glimpse into the health of Australian science

Professor Chubb’s insight into what Australian science needs will be well informed. One week after the CRCA conference, he will .....

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Mobile phones transforming HIV testing in Africa

Sanday Chongo Kabange — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:27:18 +0000

Mobile phones are transforming the way HIV test results are being transmitted to AIDS patients in Africa, a study has shown.

AIDS is one of the biggest diseases affecting the continent due to limited access to antiretroviral treatment and heath care.

AIDS related deaths account for close to 60% of all total deaths annually and mobile phone penetration has doubled over the last 10 years. .....

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Radical changes needed to quench the world’s thirst

Alison Binney — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:00:17 +0000

Korea pushes research and development for global water market

In the next 40 years urban populations will grow by at least 1 million every week.

“This is why water professionals need to change the way they think about sourcing water, and using it over and over again,” according to International Water Association’s (IWA) executive director, Paul Reiter.

Paul Reiter, CEO for the International Water Association: (Chung Hee-cho/The Korea Herald)

Mr Reiter announced at a press conference in Seoul today that future technologies and approaches to providing sustainable water solutions will be centre stage at the upcoming IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition in Korea in September.

He says the most important message .....

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