ScienceAlert - Latest Stories

WA has best offshore wind site

Fri, 16 May 2008 05:39:15 +0100

Western Australia has Australia's best offshore windfarm site, according to research, though while Australia has spare land offshore wind probably won't be used.

Weird shrimp has amazing vision

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Researchers have discovered that the strange looking mantis shrimp has unique polarised vision that allows it to see a world invisible to all other animals.

Site checks originality of ideas

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:00:00 +0100

A new site has been created that allows entrepreneurs and inventors to check whether their revolutionary idea or invention is really a new one.

Universe really twice as bright

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:00:00 +0100

An international collaboration has found that the Universe is really twice as bright as previously thought, with dust clouding much of the starlight generated.

Opinion: A cool look at global warming scepticism

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Many of Professor Don Aitkin’s sceptical comments regarding global warming stem from a misunderstanding of both climate science and the IPCC’s role, argues Dr Geoff Davies.

Memory cells may be replaceable

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Scientists have discovered the resident stem cell in the part of the brain that stores memories, and have found out how to activate it to produce new neurons.

Feature: Sandra Kentish on water desalination

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Sandra Kentish talks about desalination and the difference in purity and taste between desalinated or reclaimed water and rainwater.

Opinion: Clean coal, dirty business?

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Is it possible that coal corporations know that carbon capture and storage is not viable, but continue to promote it to maintain share prices, questions Tony Troughton-Smith?

Receptor may control heroin addiction

Wed, 14 May 2008 18:00:00 +0100

Researchers have discovered that an adenosine receptor plays a major role in the regulation of herion addictions, providing hope for new treatments.

Fish conformity zealous but discerning

Wed, 14 May 2008 14:41:50 +0100

Desire to conform can be so strong in lone fish that they will follow another fish into danger, though in crowds they stay with more popular trends, research has found.

Opinion: Vested interests shaping government policy

Wed, 14 May 2008 13:33:16 +0100

Climate change - focusing on economics alone is to suggest that the market can sort it all out. But clearly it hasn't, can't and won't, argues Simon Roz.

Opinion: Clock running out on irreversible climate change - Part I

Wed, 14 May 2008 13:26:51 +0100

Producers toy with scarcity, allowing fuel prices to soar, while the Earth edges closer to catastrophe, writes James Hansen.

Feature: Trust drawn from the messenger, not the message

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:57:09 +0100

Australians’ optimism about the benefits of science and technology rests precipitously on how much they trust those delivering the information, writes Rebecca Thyer.

New research helps ostriches orgasm

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:29:40 +0100

Scientists have developed a safer method of manually collecting ostrich sperm using a dummy, rather than human, sexual partner for the powerful males.

Oral diabetes drug safe for pregnancy

Wed, 14 May 2008 10:00:00 +0100

The oral diabetes drug, used as an alternative to insulin injections, has been found to be both safe and effective for pregnant women.

Opinion: Rubbishing on about plastic bags

Tue, 13 May 2008 10:00:00 +0100

It is possible for householders to work out how to dispose of their rubbish without using so many plastic bags, argues Valerie Yule.

Feature: Product stewardship is getting traction

Tue, 13 May 2008 10:00:00 +0100

With the emerging imperative for organisations to examine all avenues to reduce their environmental impacts, product stewardship schemes are seeing greater uptake – although the ‘how to’ still remains the main challenge in Australia.

Program helps parents manage babies

Mon, 12 May 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Researchers have developed a program that can help parents share the workload of a newborn baby, in an effort to improve the health of new mums.

25 easy steps towards sustainability

Mon, 12 May 2008 10:00:00 +0100

The New Zealand Government has created and released a new document that provides the population with '25 easy steps towards sustainability'.

Opinion: Climate change policy needs to make farmers ready for a drier climate

Mon, 12 May 2008 10:00:00 +0100

The CEO from the Cooperative Research Centre for Future Farm Industries (FFI CRC), Kevin Goss, explains why measures need to be put in place to ensure farmers remain productive and sustainable in a drying climate.

Feature: Secrets in the pouch revealed

Mon, 12 May 2008 10:00:00 +0100

Understanding how the lung develops in newborn marsupials is part of award-winning research by a PhD student in Zoology.

Gene causes mental disorder

Mon, 12 May 2008 08:31:57 +0100

A gene has been found responsible for an uncommon condition causing epilepsy and mental reterdation and only experienced by females.

Maternal death rare in Australia

Mon, 12 May 2008 04:25:05 +0100

Women in Australia have one of the lowest death rates as a result of pregnancy or its management in the world, according to a report.

New green building materials

Sun, 11 May 2008 22:11:07 +0100

Light, strong building materials made of waste from coal power may cut emissions in the construction industry by 20 per cent, and has other environmental benefits.

Work often causes asthma

Sun, 11 May 2008 20:47:34 +0100

Up to 3000 new cases of asthma per year in Australia are triggered by exposure in workplaces to any of 300-400 agents, including coffee bean dust and solder flux.

Getting excited about science

Sun, 11 May 2008 19:37:44 +0100

Getting the next generation excited about science and its potential to improve the world will be an important challenge in the future, believes Dr Alan Finkel.

Feature: Science plays leading role in review of DNA laws

Sun, 11 May 2008 19:21:04 +0100

DNA alone will not turn the tide against crime, but its inclusion in a wave of new technologies such as biometrics and forensic profiling promises to pin criminals to crimes, both past and present, reports Carmelo Amalfi.

Why criminals cannot say 'no'

Sun, 11 May 2008 19:05:45 +0100

A new study has provided an in-depth explanation for the link between people having low self-control and becoming involved in criminal activity.

Fish diet to avoid fights

Sun, 11 May 2008 19:02:09 +0100

While humans may diet to look more attractive, fish diet to avoid being beaten up and rejected from their social group, new research has found.

Video game ads have little effect

Sun, 11 May 2008 17:49:07 +0100

Product placement in video games is a popular new way to advertise, but it has little effect on players according to a recent study.