SciGlow is a newsletter of science stories from the major research labs. Headlines link to in-depth articles and editorials. SciGlow keeps scientists and others up-to-date on current research.
A new blood test will enable health workers to identify tuberculosis in adults in remote locations in less than an hour. The University of Queensland’s Emeritus Professor Ian Riley worked with other researchers in Tanzania, India, Mexico and the Philippines on the new test procedure. “Tuberculosis (TB) has been difficult to control because its symptoms … Read more
Birds come in an astounding array of shapes and colours. But it’s their physical prowess—like a bald eagle’s incredible ability to soar—that captivates human imagination. An enduring mystery is why bird species with similar flight styles or body sizes don’t have consistent wing shapes. All hummingbirds, and some species of falcons, hawks, kingfishers and passerines … Read more
A world-first research centre will help broaden history as we know it by focusing on Australia’s incredible but often overlooked Indigenous past. Being launched today at The Australian National University (ANU), the new centre also aims to broaden the discipline of history as we know it, expanding its time scale into “deep history”. The Research … Read more
An online mapping and knowledge platform prototype could soon offer free and easily accessible information on the migratory patterns of endangered species in the ocean. The Migratory Connectivity in the Ocean (MiCO) system has been launched by The University of Queensland’s Dr Daniel Dunn. The international collaboration included Duke University, the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Centre, … Read more
Contrary to popular belief, seasonal rains are not the most important factor for starting the growth cycle of plants across Africa. New research shows that the amount of daylight plants receive is the biggest contributing factor to starting the iconic ‘green-up’ phenomenon in Africa – where the continent’s plants and trees grow their leaves. A … Read more
Mountains cover 25% of the Earth’s surface, and the streams draining these mountains account for more than a third of the global runoff. But the role that mountain streams play in global carbon fluxes has not yet been evaluated; until now scientists have focused mainly on streams and rivers in low-altitude tropical and boreal regions. … Read more
The interest in plastic electronics and photonics has experienced a significant increase in the last decades due to the exceptional optical, semiconducting and mechanical properties of these materials. Plastic electronics, based on conjugated polymers, combine the benefits of cost-effective processability, compatible with large-area deposition for designing laser geometries of virtually any shape, not possible with … Read more
Could drones be used someday to deliver life-saving medications or interventions in the case of a child’s emergency, a drug overdose or in response to a mass casualty scene? According to new research presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics 2019 National Conference & Exhibition, it’s an idea worth exploring. Researchers found that drones – … Read more
Ruthless sportspeople often suspend their sense of right and wrong when they step onto the field of play – viewing sport as a different world where they jettison responsibility to act in a moral way, according to a new study. When athletes focus on the outcome of a game or race solely to earn a … Read more
A quick, cost-effective, cloud-based platform, which could solve one of fish farming’s biggest challenges, has received a US $100,000 grant for concept development and testing. The University of Queensland’s Dr Andrew Barnes is helping bring together years of fish pathogen data, combining it with new pathogen DNA sequences from infected fish, aiming to build a … Read more