January
Articles
29 January 2021
Lorikeets might get their wings back, thanks to University
Two hundred thousand dollars from WIRES will help fund various projects, from determining where wombats cross dangerous roads, to exploring the causes of disease in lorikeets and possums.
22 January 2021
"Of no cultural significance": The science of understanding Country
Aboriginal people’s connections to Country are complex and intertwined with all the other aspects of their lives. Working with local custodians, archaeologists can provide a tool for the protection of Country and culture.
22 January 2021
Conjuring water from thin air — A beetle's guide to innovation
Water scarcity is a serious global issue, but what if water could be conjured out of thin air? Learn how the Namib Desert Beetles extract water from fog on their shells and the innovative research on these materials.
22 January 2021
Buried deep – the medical benefits of an ancient herbal plant
We are on the crest of a turning medical cannabis wave, but the same reform is lacking for substances such as coca, a plant well-regarded for its medical benefits in South America.
22 January 2021
Fisher space pen
The Fisher pen company developed the technology of an anti-gravity pen for the Apollo program with the cost as small as $2.39.
22 January 2021
Safeguarding chickpeas from significant changes in climate
There's cultivars of chickpea that are more tolerant to high temperatures, meaning they maintain a similar yield at higher temperatures compared to ambient, but we’re not entirely sure why or how.
21 January 2021
Chemical researchers develop "green" ammonia
Ammonia has sustained humanity since the early 20th century, but its production leaves a huge carbon footprint. Now researchers have found a way to make it 100 per cent renewable.
19 January 2021
New method to assist fast-tracking of vaccines for pre-clinical tests
With COVID-19 dominating medical science and human concern, our chemists have developed a method to quickly and safely synthesise protein vaccines for respiratory diseases for pre-clinical tests.
19 January 2021
Why you should desex your cat before puberty
New research finds Australia is doing well in the desexing arena. But the age of desexing needs to be brought forward from six months to four months to close a "pregnancy gap" and prevent unwanted litters of kittens.
15 January 2021
Plastics recycling goes global with KBR-MURA commercial partnership
Removing plastic from oceans and landfill is a major environmental and social problem. Technology jointly developed by Professor Thomas Maschmeyer is making solutions to this problem possible. Today it goes global with a major commercial partnership.