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How it feels to be out of this world: chat with an astronaut this week

For the Australian Institute of Physics

Astronaut Paolo Nespoli remembers best the spectacular view of Earth and the amazing feeling of weightlessness from his two visits to the International Space Station (ISS).

“I really felt different. I felt I was very light and I was flying around,” he says. “It took about four or five weeks before I could shed my terrestrial nature. I felt like every day I was discovering something new.”

Mr Nespoli is in Adelaide for a couple of days, and tomorrow night (Wednesday 17 April) will give a free public lecture “Six months out of this world” about his experiences. [Read more…] about How it feels to be out of this world: chat with an astronaut this week

Do whales need personal space; how to build an artificial nose and more at the Western Australian Fresh Science state final

Today, 12 of Western Australia’s brightest young scientists are in Perth participating in the Fresh Science state final.

The 60 state finalists have been chosen competitively for their discovery and for the quality of their research.

Today, they will be trained in how to talk science to journalists, business and the public at a one day media and communication workshop.

And tonight, they’ll join 40 or so guests for a networking reception, and meet one final challenge – can they excite and inspire over a glass of wine?

The 12 Western Australian state finalists are:

  • Chris Abbiss, Edith Cowan University
  • Janelle Braithwaite, University of Western Australia
  • Belinda Brown, Edith Cowan University
  • Kitty-Rose Foley, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
  • Veer Gupta, Edith Cowan University
  • Michael (Dr K) Klunzinger, Murdoch University
  • Gino Putrino, University of Western Australia
  • Jess Robertson, CSIRO Earth Science and Resource Engineering
  • Liza Roger, University of Western Australia/ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
  • Natalie Strobel, Edith Cowan University
  • Ruth Thornton, University of Western Australia
  • Mandy Trueman, University of Western Australia

The Western Australia final is supported by Inspiring Australia; The University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University and Murdoch University.

Preventable liver disease costs more than diabetes

Sydney team hopes to reduce the burden with research-led intervention

27 March 2013

Liver diseases have an impact on the Australian economy 40 per cent greater than chronic kidney disease and Type 2 diabetes combined, according to a report released today.

The report estimates the annual burden of liver diseases in Australia at more than $50 billion. And yet almost all liver disease is preventable.

The Centenary Institute’s liver research unit is one of the biggest in Australia. It is also one of first in the world to try to come to grips with liver damage at its most fundamental molecular level.

[Read more…] about Preventable liver disease costs more than diabetes

Simple cough could save lives from TB

A community-wide screening program being trialled in Vietnam aims to create a new model for global TB control

In the 1950s and 1960s Australians were accustomed to having regular chest x-rays in a caravan, parked in their suburb, to screen for TB. During this time TB almost (but not quite) disappeared from Australia and the program was phased out.

Now Australian researchers from the Centenary Institute, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and the Centre of Research Excellence on TB Control will assess the potential for a similar program of regular community-wide screening to have the same impact on TB in Vietnam, a country in which TB is still very common and costs many lives. However, instead of x-rays the team will use a new molecular test that is performed on sputum coughed up from patient’s lungs to detect TB. They hope their work will serve as a model for countries with a high burden of TB in our region and elsewhere.

[Read more…] about Simple cough could save lives from TB

Launch of materials research centre to assist Australian manufacturing

Launch: 10.30 am Tuesday 26 March at Integrated Packaging, 83-85 Banbury Road, Reservoir Vic

Australia’s $9 billion polymers industry will be boosted by a national cooperative research initiative launched today.

The launch will feature a novel degradable plastic film that Greening Australia and the Birchip Cropping Group have shown can dramatically improve the re-establishment of native woodlands. [Read more…] about Launch of materials research centre to assist Australian manufacturing

Revegetation of native trees using degradable plastic film

Announced at the launch of a materials research centre to assist Australian manufacturing, with AusIndustry Head of Division, Ms Chris Butler

A novel degradable plastic could dramatically improve the efficiency of native tree revegetation from seed in marginal low rainfall areas, which typically give low germination and establishment.

The process is being developed by Greening Australia and Australian manufacturer Integrated Packaging through the CRC for Polymers. [Read more…] about Revegetation of native trees using degradable plastic film

Polymer CRC launch images

Below are a range of images highlighting the use of polymers. To access the high-res version of the image, click on the image that you’d like to enlarge then right-click and save as.

A polymer solar cell
A polymer solar cell

Mr Jared Barnes, former PhD student working on the polymer solar cells project at the University of Wollongong (Credit: Mark Newsham Photography)
Mr Jared Barnes, former PhD student working on the polymer solar cells project at the University of Wollongong (Credit: Mark Newsham Photography)
[Read more…] about Polymer CRC launch images

Nature Publishing Index 2012 Asia-Pacific: who’s top in Asia-Pacific science?

Thursday 21 March

On Thursday 21 March 2013 (AEDT) Nature Publishing Group released the Nature Publishing Index 2012 Asia-Pacific as a supplement to Nature. The Index measures the output of research articles from nations and institutes in terms of publications in the 18 Nature-branded primary research journals in 2012. [Read more…] about Nature Publishing Index 2012 Asia-Pacific: who’s top in Asia-Pacific science?

Nature Publishing Index 2012 Asia-Pacific: who's top in Asia-Pacific science?

Thursday 21 March

On Thursday 21 March 2013 (AEDT) Nature Publishing Group released the Nature Publishing Index 2012 Asia-Pacific as a supplement to Nature. The Index measures the output of research articles from nations and institutes in terms of publications in the 18 Nature-branded primary research journals in 2012. [Read more…] about Nature Publishing Index 2012 Asia-Pacific: who's top in Asia-Pacific science?

A changing of the guard as China rises

PRESS RELEASE FROM NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

Thursday 21 March 2013

Japan continues to lead the Asia-Pacific in research output. But it could be overtaken by China in the coming years. The top institution in the region in 2012 was The University of Tokyo, but it will almost certainly lose its crown to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 2013. Indeed on a rolling 12-month window to mid-March, the CAS has a substantial lead.

These are the lead conclusions of the 2012 Nature Publishing Index (NPI) 2012 Asia-Pacific, published today in Nature. [Read more…] about A changing of the guard as China rises