A new, tiny species of extinct Australian marsupial lion has been named Microleo attenboroughi, weighing only about 600 grams. It shared its ancient rainforest community with two larger species of marsupial lions, suggesting it may have specialised on a different size range of prey.
A world-first clinical trial found that people who inject drugs can receive safe and effective hepatitis C treatment while on opioid substitution therapy. The results show excellent treatment adherence rates of over 95% and low reinfection rates, contradicting long-held assumptions about drug users' ability to adhere to medication.
A study by University of New South Wales and Italian researchers found a significant delay in diagnosing bipolar disorder, with an average delay of almost six years. This delay can lead to missed opportunities for early intervention and reduced severity of episodes.
A new species of extinct flesh-eating marsupial, Whollydooleya tomnpatrichorum, has been identified from a fossil discovery in New Riversleigh, Queensland. The hypercarnivore is thought to have weighed around 20-25 kilograms and lived during the Late Miocene period, around 5 million years ago.
A new technology called BiCAP maps protein complexes in breast cancer cells, providing detailed understanding of the disease at a molecular level. This allows for better understanding of how cancer cells respond to drugs and may eventually lead to new targets for therapy.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have developed a new eye test that can detect glaucoma four years earlier than current techniques. The patented method involves patients looking at small dots of light of specially chosen size and light intensity, identifying blind spots in the eye and early loss of peripheral vision.
Researchers have discovered that a variety of normally harmless bacteria can cause bleaching disease in seaweeds when stressed. Three new pathogens from the Alteromonas, Aquimarina and Agarivorans genera were identified as the culprits.
A new study of the 37,000-year-old Deep Skull fossil has overturned long-held views about the early history of South-East Asia. The research finds that the remains likely belonged to an older woman and closely resemble Indigenous people of Borneo today, rather than Indigenous Australians.
A global analysis of 38 studies found that over a third of elderly patients receive invasive and potentially harmful medical treatments at the end of their life. The study highlights the need for better training for hospital doctors and more community education to reduce non-beneficial treatments.
Researchers found that 33 different fish families demonstrate some terrestrial activity, with behaviors evolving independently in various species. Blennies, intertidal fish, were studied in seven Pacific and Indian Ocean locations, showing an amphibious lifestyle has evolved repeatedly.
Researchers identified genes allowing some algae to tolerate high ocean temperatures, which could help predict coral bleaching risk. The study found that warmer reef algae can activate heat-tolerant genes to counter damaging effects of reactive oxygen species.
A recent Australian study found that no method is reliable for assessing suicide risk in mental health patients. The meta-analysis suggests that traditional approaches may be ineffective and that a more patient-focused approach is needed.
A team of Australian researchers has discovered the fossilized remains of a bizarre group of carnivorous marsupials that lived 15 million years ago. The newly found species, Malleodectes mirabilis, had an insatiable appetite for snails and was characterized by its powerful hammer-like premolar.
Researchers at UNSW have developed a new solar cell configuration that delivers a world-record 34.5% efficiency in sunlight-to-electricity conversion, nudging closer to the theoretical limits of such devices. The device uses a four-junction mini-module with a hybrid receiver to extract maximum energy from unfocussed sunlight.
Researchers found that storms are shrinking in space and intensifying over smaller areas, resulting in more intense peak rainfalls. This intensification is expected to lead to a significant rise in flash flooding across major urban centers worldwide.
A team at the University of New South Wales has achieved the world's highest efficiency rating for a full-sized thin-film solar cell using CZTS technology. The innovation uses abundant materials and is non-toxic, making it suitable for widespread use in buildings.
Researchers at UNSW Australia have demonstrated that individual atoms placed precisely in silicon can act as a quantum simulator, mimicking the weird interactions of electrons in materials. The study allows for the simulation of complex quantum systems and has the potential to design new exotic materials and test fundamental aspects of...
Researchers found increased mutations at gene promoter sites are caused by a compromised nucleotide excision repair system. This highlights the need for further research into gene promoter mutations and their role in cancer development.
Researchers have developed a stem cell repair system similar to salamander limb regeneration, capable of regenerating human tissue damaged by injury, disease or ageing. The technique involves reprogramming adult fat cells into induced multipotent stem cells (iMS) that can repair multiple tissue types.
Researchers found that plants' water-use strategies significantly impact temperature increase, with needleleaf forests and agricultural land experiencing the largest changes. The study's results are more than half the change forecast by the IPCC under a business-as-usual model.
Research published in Evolutionary Biology has found that dingoes are resistant to changes in their skull shape resulting from cross-breeding with domestic dogs. The study used CT scans and 3D shape analyses to determine that hybrid skulls are indistinguishable from those of pure dingoes.
New research reveals that global warming will increase rainfall in dry regions, but the additional water may not be available due to increased evaporation. This could lead to more frequent and intense flash flooding events in areas without adequate infrastructure.
Researchers at UNSW Australia discovered a way to produce tenfold more methane gas from naturally occurring microbes, extending coal seam gas wells' lifespan and improving food waste use. The innovation uses synthetic dye forming needle-like crystals to boost methane-producing microbes' growth.
The report reveals that high-income western countries and regions are driving the increase in opioid use, while poorer nations face significant barriers to access including affordability, lack of awareness, and onerous regulations
UNSW researchers have identified a link between the physical structure of brains and spontaneous patterns of brain function at rest. The study uses harmonic waves to explain how brain shape influences resting brain activity, which could lead to new diagnosis techniques for disorders of consciousness.
A recent study published in Nature reveals that regional temperature extremes may exceed a 2°C rise by as much as 6°C in certain areas. This means that even if global average temperatures reach 2°C, local temperatures could be significantly higher, with potential impacts on sea-level rise and methane releases.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales found that high CO2 concentrations can cause fish to become disoriented and lose their sense of direction. The study predicts that by 2100, up to half of the world's surface oceans will experience episodes of hypercapnia, with devastating effects on marine ecosystems.
A study published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research found that rats who cycled between healthy and junk food diets over 16 weeks showed similar gut microbiota changes to those fed junk food continuously. The researchers suggest targeting certain gut bacteria may help treat metabolic disorders.
Researchers have discovered a genetic mutation in West Australian starlings that has led to a significant increase in population within five years. The study found the mutation was beneficial to the birds and provided a potential mechanism for understanding how mitochondrial DNA mutations affect individuals and populations.
A 14,000-year-old thigh bone found in China suggests a mysterious pre-modern human species may have survived until the end of the last Ice Age. The bone has features similar to ancient human genera, including Homo habilis and early Homo erectus.
Astronomers at the University of New South Wales have discovered three potentially habitable planets around a nearby red dwarf star called Wolf 1061. The middle planet, Wolf 1061c, is located within the Goldilocks zone and may be able to support liquid water and life.
Researchers at UNSW Australia have identified a new molecular mechanism that contributes to synapse loss in Alzheimer's disease, which occurs early on and precedes nerve cell death. This discovery could lead to earlier diagnosis and new treatments.
A team at Australia's University of New South Wales has proven that a quantum version of computer code can be written and manipulated using two quantum bits in a silicon microchip. The advance removes lingering doubts about the reliability of such operations, enabling powerful quantum computers to become a reality.
Physicists at UNSW Australia and the University of Melbourne have designed a scalable 3D silicon chip architecture based on single atom quantum bits, enabling the development of operational quantum computers. The design provides an endpoint in the international race to build such systems.
A new study by the University of New South Wales found that passport officers using face recognition software are 20% more accurate when paired with staff naturally skilled at face recognition. The researchers tested untrained students, non-expert passport officers, and specialist facial examiners, finding that those with natural talen...
Researchers have discovered three immune system biomarkers - PD-1, Tim-3 and Lag-3 - that can predict when the HIV virus will rebound after treatment interruption. These biomarkers are associated with 'exhausted' T-cells prior to patients commencing ART.
Researchers at University of New South Wales have developed a simple online climate model that allows anyone to explore Earth's atmosphere and environment. The model enables users to compare how the world would change with different climate scenarios, making complex concepts clearer for students and the general public.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have successfully built a silicon quantum computer, overcoming a crucial hurdle. The achievement enables the creation of a logic gate using two qubits, paving the way for a full-scale processor chip.
Researchers used new water-tracing technology to determine how groundwater moves in the Sydney Basin, identifying four distinctive layers of rock that control groundwater movement. The study provides a baseline for assessing future impacts from mining operations, climate change, and groundwater abstraction.
Research found that changes in ocean circulation due to Antarctica's temperature had a profound impact on the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere. When temperatures dropped, nutrient-rich waters rose closer to the Antarctic continent, allowing phytoplankton to thrive and absorb more CO2.
New research shows clear signs of global warming appeared in the tropics as early as the 1960s, but in parts of Australia and Africa as far back as the 1940s. The study's findings closely match observational datasets used by the IPCC, indicating a growing trend in increasing temperatures.
New study predicts metal combinations for glass-forming ability, enabling mass production of strong and flexible alloys. The development paves the way for applications in electronics, space exploration, and energy storage.
A new UNSW report shows that frozen embryo IVF cycles are just as successful as fresh embryo cycles, with a 23-27.5% birth rate. The report also found a significant increase in the use of frozen embryos and improvements in techniques such as vitrification and blastocyst culturing.
A new UNSW Australia study suggests that reintroducing Tasmanian devils to the mainland could restore ecosystem health by controlling red foxes and feral cats. The devil's presence would also benefit small and medium-sized animals, such as bandicoots and ringtail possums.
Researchers found that baby rats whose mothers were fed a high-fat diet had smaller bitter taste receptors in their hearts and larger hearts than normal, suggesting an impact on cardiovascular health.
A new study suggests that ultra-brief pulse stimulation is almost as effective as standard ECT in treating severe depression, but with significantly fewer cognitive side effects. The treatment has the potential to benefit up to 10,000 Australians who have not responded to first-line treatments.
A global study found that large animals consume a broader range of seed sizes than previously thought, posing a risk to smaller plant species. The research, led by UNSW Australia scientists, analyzed over 13,000 animal-seed interactions and showed that even small seeds are vulnerable if large animals disappear.
Researchers discovered over 100 DNA segments, known as enhancers, that play a vital role in normal development by controlling gene activity in the human brain. The study provides new insights into the genetic basis of autism and related neurological disorders.
A new bat species, Mystacina miocenalis, lived 16 million years ago and walked on four limbs, weighing 40 grams, three times heavier than its living cousin. The discovery helps understand the capacity of bats to establish populations on islands.
A 3000-year-long record of climatic variations has been discovered in a remote Scottish cave, providing insights into historical events like the Roman Empire's fall and the Viking Age. The research tracked changes in the North Atlantic Oscillation, revealing prolonged positive phases that influenced rainfall patterns.