Archived News for Research Sector Professionals - October, 2013
Scientists in the US say that the financial wealth and educational background of a mother can affect the make-up of their child’s brain – making it more difficult to process sound.
Science site seeks to inspire young minds
A new website billed as a ‘digital textbook’ has been created to help change the way young students see science– encouraging them to study and get excited about a traditionally stuffy subject.
Arctic cliffs' size dives
The permafrost cliffs of Eastern Siberia are becoming much less permanent, with new evidence of thawing at an ever-increasing rate.
Bees' simple approach to landing decoded
Honeybees are capable of landing with absolute precision on virtually any surface, now scientists have worked out how they judge their descent – and it is so simple we might just steal their idea.
Curtin compelled to create online OCD helper
An Australian university has created an online tool to help young people suffering with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Hard look taken at objectifying gaze
Most people have experienced anything from a longing gaze to a creepy stare, but now science has shown some of the specifics behind the ways we check each other out.
Nano-device can drop drugs and see what happens
A new nanoparticle has been developed which can deliver cancer drugs to specific cells and then stick around to monitor their effect.
Precision lifted on a bed of light
Physicists from the Australian National University have developed a multi-pronged approach to measuring gravitational force, balancing a mirror on a tripod of lasers.
Crazy collisions planned to coax dark matter into light
A much-hypothesised material will soon be closer to researchers’ grasp, with engineers embarking on a build to make dark matter in the lab.
Discovery prompts re-thinking of mind-power
A new discovery has revealed the human brain has several times more processing power than ever imagined.
Robo-drivers show clean slate so far
Google has released data reportedly showing its driverless cars are safer than those with human operators.
Ten years of fly-overs makes stunning Mars map
A shuttle launched in 2003 has sent back data from over 12,500 trips around Mars, the European Space Agency has now compiled it into a high-resolution fly-over.
Fossil fuels' environmental knock-out in two rounds found
A new Australian study has shown there is more than one way that fossil-fuel extraction damages the land when it is mined.
Golden path found to trim carbon dioxide for fuel
If there is one substance mankind is producing in abundance and looks likely to continue doing so, it would be carbon dioxide – but a new development may see the ability to turn large amounts of CO2 into biofuel.
Push for bigger stamp on poor choices
A large number of respondents to a recent survey say governments should take a more active role in controlling food labels to improve public health, education and benefit the environment.
Research to hone vital interaction with robot help
A multi-million dollar project has been undertaken in the United States which will see a better level of back-and-forth between surgeons and their robotic instruments.
Special team formed to break silicon solar score
A new partnership will see solar engineers from the University of New South Wales pushing to break their own efficiency record.
Prize for turning kids' minds to bush life beneath blue skies
A project in Western Australia has won an award for ditching the classroom and taking kids back to their roots.
Survey indicates acting-out may be in the genes
A study has suggested there may be a genetic reason for children who appear to develop behavioural problems at child care centres and preschools.
Tomorrow's doctors and lawyers are today's top drug users
The first far-reaching study into academic doping in Australia has been conducted, finding University students are increasingly looking for a chemical advantage over their classmates.
Medical research gets $559 million, for now
The Federal Government has announced a commitment to funding medical research, coming in at over half a billion dollars.