Juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish exhibit flexible diets, consuming a range of algae types and even biofilm to avoid starvation. This adaptability complicates age prediction and outbreak forecasting for the species, which poses a significant threat to coral reefs.
Researchers have developed a new analytical approach called single-cell higher-order testing (scHOT) that enables the study of broad changes in gene behavior within human tissue. The method has been successfully tested on mice and identified novel pairs of genes that co-vary in expression, providing insights into neurodevelopmental dis...
A consortium led by University of Sydney develops world's first real-time monitoring platform for rice fields globally using Google Earth. The project will provide accurate maps outlining rice yields and land use, crucial for achieving global food and water security.
Researchers have developed a highly efficient solar-flow battery that can store and redeliver renewable electricity from the sun. The device achieved a record efficiency of 20 percent conversion, outperforming previous records by 40%. This breakthrough could potentially yield a new way to harness, store and use the sun's energy for sol...
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant economic impact, with global consumption losses exceeding $3.8 trillion and 147 million full-time equivalent job losses. The travel sector was most directly affected, with cascading multiplier effects across the entire world economy.
A major global systematic review has identified several jobs that may increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis, including agriculture, construction, and service work. The study found that workers in these industries are more likely to develop knee OA due to increased physical stress and repetitive activities.
Researchers from the University of Sydney developed an electrochemical oxidation process to clean up complex wastewater containing toxic chemicals. The process transforms organic contaminants into harmless gases or minerals without requiring additional chemicals or severe operation conditions.
A team of researchers sequenced a measles genome from 1912 and found it likely arose in human populations around the 6th century BCE. This finding suggests that large cities may have played a role in the emergence of the virus. Understanding the origins of COVID-19 could help protect against and fight the pandemic.
Researchers found that providing less popular farmers with new information and technologies leads to wider community adoption of sustainable farming practices. The study suggests that relying on prominent farmers may not be effective in spreading sustainable practices.
Researchers adapt robotics techniques to efficiently assess quantum device performance, stabilizing the emerging technology. This innovative approach outperforms simplistic characterisation in complex simulated environments.
A new study suggests that disease outbreaks, civil unrest, and war can lead to large-scale movements of people. The researchers used theoretical modeling to show how small changes in individual decision-making can trigger significant population resettlement.
Researchers developed new engineering models that consider different sand grain shapes, leading to more accurate assessments of sand movement and impacts on coastal areas vulnerable to sea-level rise. The models, published in Scientific Reports, correct overestimation of transport rates by 35 percent for carbonate sands.
A new study reveals that great white sharks spend most of their time foraging just above the seabed, contrary to the common stereotype of a shark's dorsal fin above the surface. The diet of juvenile white sharks consists mainly of fish species that live on or near the seafloor.
A study found an association between lower humidity and increased COVID-19 cases in Sydney. Lower humidity makes airborne viruses more transmissible due to smaller aerosol size, increasing exposure for others. Further research is needed to determine this relationship's extent and impact on case notification rates.
Researchers at the University of Sydney have successfully synthesized evasins, a type of anti-inflammatory protein found in tick saliva, which can suppress chemokine-driven inflammation in human diseases. The proteins show great promise in treating lung inflammation in respiratory illnesses like COVID-19.
Scientists have developed a new type of laser that can deliver high amounts of energy in very short bursts, making it ideal for corneal surgery. The research uses quartic solitons to produce short, powerful light pulses without heating and damaging the surface.
A quantum physicist at the University of Sydney has invented a new type of error-correcting code for quantum computers that will free up more hardware to do useful calculations. This approach allows companies like Google and IBM to design better quantum microchips, enabling the development of large-scale quantum technology.
Australian scientists have developed a new generation of experimental solar energy cells that pass strict International Electrotechnical Commission testing standards for heat and humidity. The research, published in Science, uses perovskite crystals to convert sunlight into electricity, outperforming silicon-based cells.
Scientists in Australia and Germany have developed a hybrid structure combining traditional chip design with photonic architecture to overcome engineering barriers. This allows for efficient manipulation of light at the nanoscale, achieving data processing at 100 times smaller than the wavelength of light carrying the information.
Researchers have discovered a class of pulsating stars with remarkably regular high-frequency pulsation modes, opening up new ways to determine the masses and internal structures of these intermediate-sized stars. This breakthrough uses precise data from NASA's TESS mission to cut through noise and reveal clear patterns.
Researchers have discovered a gene responsible for virgin births in Cape honey bees, allowing workers to lay female eggs without sex. This discovery has significant implications for understanding evolutionary transitions and potentially controlling asexual reproduction.
Scientists use sound and light to store and transfer information on microchips, extending the lifetime of phonons from nanoseconds to 40 nanoseconds. This breakthrough opens possibilities for optical signal processing, fine filtering, high-precision sensing, and telecommunications.
A study published in Ethology has captured koalas drinking behaviour in the wild for the first time, showing they access water by licking smooth tree trunks. The research highlights the importance of retaining trees for the conservation of the species.
Researchers have developed a multipurpose nanoscale bio-probe that allows precise monitoring of iron disorders in cells, tissue, and body fluids. The test is more sensitive and specific than current blood testing methods, enabling early disease diagnosis and potential prevention of serious diseases.
A study of 166 Australian estuaries found they're warming at twice the rate of oceans and the atmosphere, threatening global aquaculture and wild fisheries worth $152 billion annually. This accelerated impact on estuaries could adversely affect economic activity and ecological biodiversity worldwide.
A team of biomedical engineers developed novel fibre-reinforced hydrogel scaffolds with improved stress resistance and water volume similar to real tendons and ligaments. The synthetic scaffolds aim to fast-track tendon and ligament regeneration, reducing implant failure and improving tissue integration.
Researchers found that diet can alter the way sugar tastes in fruit flies, using the same molecular pathways as learning and memory. They discovered that certain diets promote long life also enhance taste perception, and that eating high amounts of sugar suppresses sweet taste perception.
Research shows that juvenile crown of thorns starfish can delay their diet shift to coral for at least 6.5 years, allowing them to build up populations on reefs in the absence of coral. This delayed transition complicates efforts to manage the starfish population and may trigger a feedback mechanism in their transition to coral predators.
A new study provides early evidence that COVID-19 lockdowns affect people's mental and physical health, with adults in more affected locations experiencing lower life satisfaction. Researchers found that exercising less than 2.5 hours per day was associated with positive life satisfaction in these areas.
A team of researchers has found that agave-powered bioethanol is superior to corn and sugarcane in terms of water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and ethanol output. The efficient process could also help produce ethanol for hand sanitizer, addressing the high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A new online platform, CovED, aims to improve COVID-19 diagnosis by providing healthcare workers with rapid training and image-based diagnostic tools. Developed by DetectED-X, the platform can be accessed for free and is supported by leading corporations and healthcare experts.
Australian scientists have identified a motor protein called CHD4 that helps cells access DNA information when needed. The discovery provides insights into how defects in this process contribute to diseases such as schizophrenia and cancer.
Researchers, led by Professor Edward Holmes, have identified a similar coronavirus in pangolins that may hold the key to understanding SARS-CoV-2's emergence. The study suggests that pangolins could be intermediate hosts for the novel virus and highlights the importance of banning 'wet markets' to prevent zoonotic transmission.
Researchers at University of Sydney have found a new way cancer cells can escape and become more aggressive, resisting chemotherapy. This discovery opens up new possibilities for developing targeted treatments against this previously unknown pathway.
Researchers found that intermittent fasting affects liver enzymes and fatty acid metabolism in mice, revealing a surprising role played by the HNF4-alpha protein. This knowledge can help develop new interventions for cancer, cardiovascular, and diabetes diseases.
Researchers have developed a novel error-correction scheme that takes advantage of bosonic symmetry to encode information efficiently. This approach could reduce the number of physical qubits required, enabling the scaling up of experimental quantum computers.
Astronomers have discovered a one-sided pulsator in the Milky Way, with citizen scientists providing crucial clues. The star's unusual single-sided pulsation is caused by its location in a binary star system with a red dwarf companion.
A study by University of Sydney and University of São Paulo found that 20% of malaria risk in deforestation hotspots is driven by international trade of goods like coffee, timber, and palm oil. The research calls for consumers to be more mindful of their consumption and procurement, supporting sustainable land ownership in developing c...
Researchers from University of Sydney have developed a method to store electricity efficiently using durian and jackfruit waste. The fruits' biomass is converted into super-capacitors that can quickly charge electronic devices, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
The number of people prescribed opioids for chronic non-cancer pain increased from approximately 20% to 40% between 1991 and 2015. However, there is a crucial evidence gap in global prescription data outside the US, with few studies reporting on opioid prescribing practices in other countries.
Researchers at the University of Sydney have found a way to manipulate laser light using inexpensive crystals, known as perovskites. The discovery could help drive down costs in various industries by offering an alternative to expensive Faraday rotators.
A new study led by the University of Sydney has found that common medication can reduce the risk of heart attack during early bereavement. The research used a low daily dose of beta blockers and aspirin to mitigate cardiac risks without affecting grief, with reduced levels of anxiety persisting even after stopping treatment.
A new study found a significant association between fine particulate matter PM2.5 and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, with increased risks even at low concentrations. The nationwide Japanese study, the largest of its kind, highlights the urgent need to improve air quality and reduce cardiovascular impacts.
Researchers at the University of Sydney have successfully developed pain-killing neurons using human stem cells, providing lasting relief in mice without side effects. The next step is to conduct safety tests in rodents and pigs before moving to human trials within five years.
Researchers found hydrogen accumulates at microstructures in steels, weakening them and leading to catastrophic failures. The discovery of niobium carbide clusters that trap hydrogen offers a solution to design embrittlement-resistant steel.
A new study has shown that a protein therapy called rhPDGF-AB can improve the quality of scar tissue after a heart attack, leading to the formation of new blood vessels and reduced rates of dangerous heart arrhythmia. The treatment has increased survival rates in animal models and holds promise for improving patient outcomes.
Research at the University of Sydney found that cows give unique voice cues to express emotions and maintain herd contact. This knowledge can help farmers improve animal welfare by recognizing individual animals' needs.
Researchers found three distinct phases of reef growth since end of Pleistocene era, including periods of slower, deeper growth due to increased sediment and nutrient flux. The study provides a new model of reef growth that suggests the more protected parts of the reef might have been suitable for early coral development.
A new study found that most Australian GPs have used a placebo in practice at least once, with active placebos being more commonly used than inert ones. The study suggests that GPs use placebos because they believe it can provide genuine benefit and shape patients' expectations.
A large-scale study has found a significant prevalence of 'chew and spit' eating behaviour among adolescent teenagers, with 12.2% of respondents reporting the behaviour. The study also links chew-and-spit to increased psychological distress, lower health-related quality of life, and associated disordered eating habits.