Researchers found that queen bees emit a chemical pheromone that alters the DNA of their daughters, keeping them as sterile and industrious workers. This process involves DNA methylation, which suppresses queenly characteristics in workers.
A new theory suggests that life on other planets would become extinct quickly due to unstable planetary environments. The Gaian Bottleneck model proposes that most fossils in the universe are from extinct microbial life, not complex species like dinosaurs or humans.
An evolutionary biologist analyzed 65 anti-evolution bills, finding they share traits with each other and evolution itself. Creationism has evolved stealthily, using tactics from human cloning and global warming debates to influence education policies.
Researchers have found regional temperature variations of up to three times greater than expected in the lower mantle where it meets the core. The discovery will help explain the structure of the Earth and its formation.
Researchers have identified a network of nine genes that play a key role in the onset of Alzheimer's Disease. The study found that some genes delay the disease by up to 17 years, while others accelerate its progress.
Researchers found anxiety before and after a child arrives is just as prevalent as depression, affecting around one in ten men and half the rate for women. Mental health expert Dr. Liana Leach highlighted the importance of early intervention to reduce symptoms and duration.
Researchers have found distinctive rocks formed when the Pacific plate changed direction and plunged under the Philippine Sea Plate 50 million years ago. The discovery sheds new light on the formation of copper and gold deposits, as well as the mechanism behind massive earthquakes and volcanoes.
More than half of public datasets provided with scientific papers are found to be incomplete, hindering reproducibility tests and follow-up studies. Simple errors made by researchers can compromise the process of making research data publicly available.
Astronomers have found nine ancient stars near the Milky Way's center, forming before the galaxy existed, with surprising purity and a possible hypernova origin.
Researchers have uncovered fossils of seven giant rat species in East Timor, with the largest weighing around 5 kilos. The discovery sheds light on human migration and its impact on ecosystems, as humans are believed to have driven the rats to extinction around 1,000 years ago.
Researchers at Australian National University have successfully created a star-shaped molecule called [5]radialene, which was previously deemed too unstable. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient ways of producing medicinal agents, with the chemical industry worth nearly $1 trillion.
PhD student Elise Hampton uses AI to analyze thousands of galaxy spectra, identifying the most turbulent and messy galaxies. Her goal is to understand how galaxies form, live, and die, and how different processes compete in these galactic systems.
Researchers at Australian National University and Genentech have identified a gene, Gasdermin-D, that triggers the inflammatory condition leading to sepsis. The discovery could lead to new treatments for this deadly disease, which kills an estimated one million people in the US each year.
Astronomers discovered large discs of dust around two young red dwarf stars near our solar system, hinting at potential new planetary systems forming. The discovery challenges current theories on planet formation and suggests a longer lifespan for such discs.
Researchers have identified a 2,000-kilometer-long chain of volcanoes running from the Whitsundays to near Melbourne. The volcanic chain was created over the past 33 million years as Australia moved northwards over a hotspot in the Earth's mantle.
Archaeologists have found the oldest known pottery from Papua New Guinea, dating back 3,000 years, in a remote region of the highlands. The discovery sheds light on how technology spread among cultures and provides insights into early civilizations.
Physicists have developed a radical new theory that confines electromagnetic energy without leaking away, with potential applications in explaining dark matter and combating energy losses. The theory contradicts fundamental principles of electrodynamics but could lead to breakthroughs in quantum computers and laser technology.
Scientists at Australian National University discovered three previously undiscovered fungi causing the disease, which affects Southern Queensland and South Australia's wheat crops. The finding provides growers with confidence in managing the disease, crucial for a $6 billion industry.
Scientists at Australian National University have developed a world-first radio-tracking drone to locate radio-tagged wildlife. The system has successfully detected tiny radio transmitters and has been tested by tracking bettongs at the Mulligan's Flat woodland sanctuary.
Biologists at Australian National University discovered a molecule called RaxX that triggers the rice plant's immune response, allowing for containment strategies against bacterial leaf blight. The research may also provide insights into human health, as the chemistry is similar to HIV entering human cells.
Researchers at Australian National University trained fairy wrens to recognize unfamiliar alarm calls and flee when threatened, demonstrating birds' ability to eavesdrop on other species. This breakthrough could aid in training captive animals to detect danger signals before release.
A team of biologists reviewed nearly 900,000 experiments and found non-blind trials averaged a 27% stronger result than blind trials. The study suggests less than one in four experiments used blind data recording.
Researchers have developed a cost-effective way to help ecosystems recover from human disturbances like shipping and fishing. The method uses ecological traits like resilience to optimize connections between populations, enabling conservation staff to make informed decisions about recovery plans.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change found analyses of carbon emissions may be misleading as they failed to include policy mechanisms. Contrary to previous findings, conserving native forests resulted in better climate outcomes than sustainable harvesting due to policy effects.
Researchers at ANU have developed a method to create laser-induced micro-explosions in silicon, resulting in the formation of two entirely new crystal arrangements and potentially four more. The new materials exhibit complex structures and altered electronic properties, including an altered band gap and superconductivity.
Astronomers have solved a mystery over blue hook stars, which form when a star's outer layers are destroyed by rapid rotation. The international team found that these stars consume hydrogen fuel more slowly due to their high spin rates.
A dramatic ice sheet collapse at the end of the last ice age led to widespread climate changes and a sea level peak well above its present height. The research, published in Nature, reveals that this event was caused by the suppression of ocean circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean.
An international team of scientists has solved a quantum mechanics mystery, finding that quantum tunneling is an instantaneous process. The new theory could lead to breakthroughs in areas like electron microscopy, nuclear fusion, and DNA mutations.
Scientists at ANU performed John Wheeler's delayed-choice thought experiment, proving that measurement is everything in quantum physics. The experiment found that reality only exists when observed, confirming the validity of quantum theory and its predictions about interference.
Astronomers captured the early stages of three type 1a supernovae using the Kepler space telescope, revealing initial shockwaves differed from expected patterns. The findings suggest an alternative hypothesis for supernova ignition, contradicting long-held theories about these explosive events.
Australian scientists are part of the Advanced LIGO project aiming to find gravitational waves, ripples in space-time caused by violent cosmic events. The technology requires high sensitivity and precision, pushing the limits of components like low-noise detectors and high-power lasers.
A team of scientists has captured live images of taste cells on a mouse tongue, showing that each taste bud contains cells for different tastes. This breakthrough complements recent studies on the brain areas associated with taste and may lead to new experiments to monitor brain activity while imaging the tongue.
A new analysis of meteorite composition helps scientists work out when the Earth formed its layers, confirming the first crust had formed around 4.5 billion years ago. The team measured hafnium and lutetium in zircon crystals from a rare meteorite, which originated early in the solar system.
The Tasmanian swift parrot is facing a severe population collapse, with its numbers projected to halve every four years. The research emphasizes the need for urgent protection measures to preserve the bird's forest habitat and prevent its potential extinction within 16 years.
Researchers at Australian National University have created a topological insulator that can bend light around corners with no loss of signal, opening possibilities for nanoscale light sources, efficient antennas, and quantum computing.
A team of geophysicists discovered the twin scars of two massive asteroid impacts in Central Australia, hidden deep within the earth's crust. The impact zones are estimated to be over 400 kilometers wide and are believed to have occurred millions of years ago.
Researchers have linked antibiotic resistance with poor governance and corruption around the world, citing alarming rates of 23,000 deaths annually in the US due to antibiotic-resistant infections. The study suggests that addressing corruption and control of antibiotics could help lower resistance levels and save lives.
A new study by ANU scientists found widespread p-hacking, a type of publication bias where researchers manipulate data to get desired results. This can lead to exaggerated conclusions and misleading information, especially when combining results from multiple studies.
Astronomers have observed a distant star exploding four times due to a massive galaxy cluster, providing a rare opportunity to test Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. The discovery also offers clues about the strength of gravity, dark matter, and dark energy in the universe.
A new study found that mothers who smoke during pregnancy are putting their daughters at a greater risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer later in life. Early menarche, triggered by smoking, increases the number of ovulation cycles, leading to increased exposure to hormones like oestrogen.
Researchers at Australian National University have made a breakthrough in boosting the sluggish activity of Rubisco, a crucial enzyme for plant growth. By introducing a modified version of RAF1, scientists successfully doubled Rubisco levels in leaves, leading to increased photosynthesis and plant growth.
An international team of astronomers has found a huge and ancient black hole powering the brightest object in the early universe. The massive black hole is 12 billion times the size of our Sun and lives at the center of a quasar, emitting millions of billions of times more energy than the Sun.
Researchers are using satellite data to target deadly parasites by identifying areas where disease flourishes. The project combines skills from various scientists to create maps accessible to countries with limited capacity for managing disease data.
Researchers found that a massive release of carbon dioxide from the ocean during the last ice age warmed the planet and ended the glacial period. The study, published in Nature, suggests that natural variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide are linked to carbon stored in oceans.
Researchers found standard stars have about two habitable environments where liquid water can exist, providing conditions for life. However, the existence of intelligent civilizations remains uncertain due to unknown bottlenecks or self-destruction.
Scientists analyzed ocean floor dust to determine the amount of heavy elements created by supernovae, finding much less plutonium and uranium than expected. This challenges current theories that these essential materials are created and distributed throughout space.
Researchers warn of planetary-scale risks from human activities, citing four processes that have exceeded safe conditions and two that pose serious threats to future human wellbeing. The team's findings indicate that the Earth is entering a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene, where the global economic system drives change.
A team of physicists at Australian National University has improved storage time by a factor of over 100, achieving a record six-hour storage time. This breakthrough is expected to revolutionize the transmission of quantum information and enable the creation of a secure worldwide data encryption network.
Scientists discovered ancient engravings from human ancestors on a 400,000 year old fossilised shell from Java. The discovery is the earliest known example of ancient humans deliberately creating pattern.
Scientists have identified a range of new chemicals with potent anti-malarial properties that could lead to new treatments for the disease. The compounds block a molecular salt pump at the surface of the parasite, causing it to swell and burst.