A revolutionary new laser developed by the University of Adelaide can operate over a large range in the infrared light spectrum, allowing for sensitive detection of greenhouse gases. The laser's tunability and affordability make it a promising tool for scanning gases with high sensitivity.
A recent study published in Science Advances found a striking absence of pre-Columbian genetic lineages in modern Indigenous Americans, suggesting extinction with the arrival of Europeans. The research reconstructed ancient DNA from 92 pre-Columbian mummies and skeletons, revealing a separation that appeared as early as 9000 years ago.
A novel study has found that higher biodiversity reduces infectious disease severity in a Tibetan alpine meadow, supporting the dilution hypothesis. Artificial fertiliser weakens this effect, increasing disease load.
Researchers have found that bacteria play a crucial role in the dispersion and re-concentration of platinum group elements in surface environments. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, suggests that bacterial processes can reform nuggets of platinum at the surface, shedding new light on the formation of these valuable metals.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a faster and more accurate flood risk assessment method that relies on an algorithm to extract key causative events driving major floods. This new approach reduces the time taken for modeling while maintaining high accuracy, potentially saving properties and lives.
Using ground-penetrating radar, researchers mapped wombat warrens, finding that soil warrens consist of a single tunnel underground, while limestone warrens feature extensive tunnels and chambers. This discovery has important implications for estimating wombat numbers and understanding their social structure.
New fossil evidence reveals that Australia's fire-prone shrubland open vegetation originated at least 70 million years ago. This finding rejects the previous notion that rainforests covered Australia until 40 million years ago and instead suggests that native vegetation types evolved under the influence of fires on a drying continent.
A University of Adelaide study finds that warmer oceans and increased CO2 levels will dramatically impact sharks' hunting ability, leading to reduced growth rates and changes in food webs. This loss of top-down control could accelerate shark extinction rates.
Scientists at the University of Adelaide have identified a key protein, CCR2, involved in a 'super-inflammatory' immune response driving multiple sclerosis (MS) and autoimmune diseases. Blocking this receptor may help control MS progression.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide discovered a family of genes that suppress HCV infection in the liver by blocking viral entry into cells. This natural immune response may lead to new treatments targeting the virus.
A team of Australian scientists developed a precision laser device to measure temperature with high accuracy. The breakthrough enables any laboratory worldwide to accurately measure temperature, bringing a universally agreed temperature scale to the globe.
A recent global analysis predicts a decline in marine species diversity and abundance as ocean acidification and warming are expected to have devastating effects on fisheries and ecosystems worldwide. Microorganisms are the only group likely to thrive, while carnivorous fish face a collapse from top of food chain.
Researchers have identified a key role for the WWOX gene in suppressing cancer development. Lower levels of WWOX are associated with more aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers. The study suggests that targeting the enzyme activity of WWOX could influence cancer cell properties.
A University of Adelaide-led reanalysis of Study 329 found that paroxetine was no more effective at relieving depression symptoms than a placebo, linked to 11 suicidal or self-harming behaviours
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have discovered that grape waste can be converted into a competitive biofuel, producing up to 270 litres of ethanol per tonne of grape marc. The process involves fermentation and pre-treatment with acid and enzymes, which increases yields to 400 litres per tonne.
Researchers found that high-fat diets impair stomach receptors that signal fullness, leading to delayed feelings of satisfaction and increased food consumption. The study suggests that capsaicin in hot chillies may prevent overeating through its action on these nerves.
Researchers used natural CO2 underwater seeps to study ecosystems in high-CO2 levels and adjacent ecosystems with present-day levels of CO2. The study found that acidification affects fish behavior, but some species thrive in acidified waters, while others decline or shift habitats.
Researchers have discovered that plants bind GABA in a similar way to animals, resulting in electrical signals that regulate plant growth when exposed to stressful environments. This finding opens up new possibilities for breeding more stress resilient crops to fight food insecurity.
A team of researchers has discovered that abrupt warming events played a key role in the mass extinction of megafauna during the last ice age. The study found that rapid warming, not sudden cold snaps, was the cause of extinctions among species such as mammoths and giant sloths.
University of Adelaide researchers found a significant correlation between brain volume and blood flow rate in primates, indicating faster cognitive ability. The study suggests that brain metabolic rate increased with brain size, leading to higher intelligence.
A new technique developed at the University of Adelaide has provided a unique insight into hormone regulation of breast cancers, leading to potential new treatments. The research discovered how receptors interact with DNA to control growth, shedding light on progesterone's role in hormone-driven breast cancer.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a non-invasive breath analysis system using an optical frequency comb, which measures molecular content in gas samples with high accuracy and speed. The system has promising potential for broad-scale health screening and could be available commercially in 3-5 years.
A team led by Professor Jozef Gecz has identified a gene mutation responsible for female-only epilepsy and found a treatment using synthetic allopregnanolone, promising to delay seizure onset and reduce autism and intellectual disability effects.
A new method has been discovered to culture stem cells, allowing them to grow twice as fast and be more efficient in regulating the immune response. This breakthrough could lead to more effective treatments for transplant patients by reducing side effects of current immunosuppressant drugs.
Researchers found that St John's Wort produces the same adverse reactions as antidepressants, including anxiety, panic attacks, and dizziness. The study highlights the need for people to seek advice from qualified healthcare practitioners when using herbal medicines like St John's Wort.
New research from the University of Adelaide suggests that a major mud volcano disaster in Indonesia was triggered by a drilling accident rather than an earthquake. The study used physical data collected before and after the disaster to disprove existing earthquake-triggering models.
Researchers apply insect vision principles to develop an 'active vision' system, which locks onto the background and lets the target move against it. This bio-inspired algorithm performs robustly, running up to 20 times faster than state-of-the-art engineering algorithms.
Cerebral palsy cases can be attributed to genetic mutations in up to 45% of cases, according to a study by the Australian Cerebral Palsy Research Group. The research suggests that genetic sequencing techniques will increase the identification of genetically caused cerebral palsy cases.
The Global Statistics on Addictive Behaviours report found that Australia has lower rates of tobacco use and alcohol abuse compared to the UK. Illicit drug use is significant in Australia, with higher rates of cannabis, ecstasy, and amphetamine-type drug use.
University of Adelaide researchers identified a common building block called PATR in virulence factors of many major harmful bacteria. The discovery could lead to the development of broad-spectrum bacterial virulence inhibitors, revolutionizing antibiotic treatments.
Research from the University of Adelaide analyzed sporting records from 1886 to 2012 and found that doping era times, distances, and results did not improve as expected. The study suggests that doping may be more widespread than thought and has a detrimental effect on performance in some areas.
A new University of Adelaide study discovered an association between contact with seminal fluid and the development of endometriosis. The research found that seminal fluid enhances the survival and growth of endometriosis lesions, potentially increasing the risk of progression in women.
University of Adelaide researchers found two critical windows when exposure to junk food is most harmful, late pregnancy and adolescence. Eating a healthy diet during these periods may reverse junk-food preference in males but not females.
A study by the University of Adelaide reveals that black bream in the Coorong estuary employ a 'bet-hedging' strategy to survive, migrating between locations based on water and food availability. This adaptation helps the species resist climate change and human impacts.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have discovered that resistant barley varieties accumulate beta-glucan in their cell walls, which may influence nutrient flow and natural defense strategies against cereal cyst nematode. This finding could lead to new targets for resistance strategies in barley and other cereal crops.
A University of Adelaide research team has discovered that cadmium causes toxicity by disrupting the transport of essential metals like manganese and zinc into and out of cells. The study also sheds light on how disease-causing bacteria scavenge metals during infection, paving the way for new strategies to prevent cadmium poisoning.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide warn against giving melatonin to children to treat sleep problems, citing lack of rigorous safety studies and potential interactions with other medications. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates circadian rhythms in adults but its use for children's sleep is unregulated in the US.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have discovered that at least 14% of cerebral palsy cases are caused by genetic mutations. This groundbreaking finding has significant implications for the diagnosis, management, and treatment of the condition.
Researchers have found a way to reverse damage caused by obesity in females that leads to fertility problems and alters fetal growth. By using compounds known to alleviate stress in cells, they were able to stop the damage from being passed on to offspring.
Researchers discovered that blind predatory water beetles express opsin genes, which are usually found in species with eyes. This finding supports non-adaptive evolutionary theory and suggests that these beetles may have evolved through neutral mutations.
Researchers identified 32% of parasites found in rats also infecting humans, highlighting the importance of habitat overlap and species relationships. The study developed a new modeling approach to forecast parasitic infections and disease emergence globally.
Scientists successfully extracted DNA from Australia's extinct giant kangaroos, confirming their close relationship with modern macropods. The study also sheds light on the distinct lineage of short-faced kangaroos and highlights the importance of conservation for endangered species like the banded hare-wallaby.
A collaborative research project has identified a specific gene in soybean that improves its tolerance to soil salinity. The researchers found that this gene can be used to breed soybeans that can thrive in areas with high salt levels, which is essential for improving global food security.
Leading conservation scientists argue that nuclear energy should be part of the energy mix to mitigate climate change. The researchers evaluated different energy scenarios and found that nuclear power performs well compared to renewables, considering factors like safety, cost, scalability, land transformation, and emissions.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide found that patients who managed their lifestyle factors were five times more likely to have long-term survival without any further heart arrhythmia. The intensive risk factor management program improved arrhythmia-free survival rates from 18% to 87% after five years.
Researchers have developed a new measure to accurately group children into those with or without sleep-related breathing problems. The study found that movements during sleep are a key indicator of potential sleep problems, leading to improved diagnosis and treatment options.
A study of over 2,700 Australians found that many people with tooth loss do not need dentures as long as they have a sufficient number and type of remaining teeth. The researchers suggest allocating resources to prevent further tooth loss, diagnostic services, and follow-up care instead.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have discovered that cancer cells with chromosomal instability are vulnerable to mild metabolic disruption, making them a potential target for new therapy. The study's findings suggest that targeting these unstable cells could lead to more effective treatments with fewer side effects.
Researchers developed a new approach to breast cancer follow-up that considers individual risk factors. For postmenopausal women with moderate prognosis early breast cancer, less frequent surveillance may be more cost-effective, especially for those older than 70 years.
Researchers have found that selenium and selenoproteins are at elevated levels in large, healthy ovarian follicles, playing a critical role as an antioxidant during follicle development. This discovery could lead to better understanding of how to optimize selenium levels to improve women's chances of conceiving.