Monash University

The search is very much on for new water desalination technologies that can get the job done more efficiently. Scientists in Melbourne have put forward one rather promising solution, developing a new kind of system that heats up and purifies water using only the power of the Sun.​

Modern Mars is a desolate husk of a planet, as far as life is concerned. But it’s not completely uninhabitable, since microbes could be hiding in the cracks of rocks and dirt. And now a new study has found a possible food source for these organisms – space dust.

Livestock like sheep and cows are responsible for huge amounts of methane emissions. Now, an international team of researchers has analyzed the gut microbes of different sheep and found clues that may help us curb the problem.

An international team of physicists has finally found proof of circumplanetary disks, adding substantial weight to current theoretical models of planet formation. These disks of gas surrounded by dust have eluded detection, until now.

Astronomers have identified one of the oldest stars ever found, which appears to be just one generation removed from the beginning of the universe itself. Being relatively close to Earth, the find could mean our galactic neighborhood is much older than previously thought.

Seawater is a complex cocktail of useful minerals, but it’s hard to separate the ones we need. Now a team of scientists from Australia and the US has developed a new water desalination technique that can not only make seawater fresh enough to drink, but recover lithium ions for use in batteries.

To prevent a future plagued with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Australian scientists have looked to the past, digging up a long forgotten antibiotic candidate and finding that it’s effective against some of the most dangerous “superbugs.”

​A couple of years ago, scientists developed a swallowable electronic capsule that measures concentrations of intestinal gases, and transmits that data to a smartphone. It's now been tested on humans for the first time.​

With the help of drones, Australian archaeologists are creating a virtual replica of the Plain of Jars, an ancient site littered with mysterious stone jars in Laos, so that inquisitive minds can strap on headsets and explore the site from afar.​

Nearly three billion years ago the surface of our planet contained less than 0.001 percent of today's oxygen. While this has been known for a while, we've never been quite sure what the Earth's upper atmosphere looked like at the time. Fossilized cosmic dust has helped scientist sort it all out.​

Researchers may soon be employing a substance in tick saliva to help people battle damaging, and potentially deadly, autoimmune diseases.

​A viper's venom would usually be something to steer clear of if you're at all concerned with your health, but new research suggests it may in fact boost the well being of those with an incurable disease.