Monash University

A new ultrasound-based biosensor (not pictured) developed by scientists in Australia could be used to track how tumors respond to treatment, and more

Medical

World-first ultrasound biosensor promises real-time tumor tracking

Ultrasound has become an indispensable tool for showing us internal tissues of the human body, but a new ultrasonic biosensor could see it offer a far more detailed and dynamic picture as the body responds to drugs or disease.

In its current prototype form, the new system (pictured here) is up to 93 percent as accurate as a traditional inflatable arm cuff

Medical

Wearable tech measures blood pressure as patients move freely

For people living with conditions such as hypertension, knowing their blood pressure at all times certainly would be helpful. That's where a non-invasive new wearable system is designed to come in.

The idea of seals clapping may not seem all that surprising, but it has never been observed underwater in the wild before

Biology

Grey seals in the wild have been caught clapping underwater

Scientists have unearthed an interesting example of animal behavior, catching wild grey seals clapping underwater for the first time ever, seemingly an attempt to catch the eye of potential suitors that happen to be in the area.

New research suggests that bacteria could be a contributing factor in developing celiac disease

Health & Wellbeing

Celiac disease may be partly triggered by bacterial infection

The autoimmune disorder celiac disease is thought to result largely from genetic predisposition, but environmental factors also play a part. Now, researchers have found evidence that exposure to certain bacteria may be one of these external factors.

Not a weird mushroom, but a solar steam generator that desalinates water using sunlight

Science

Hydrophilic disc uses solar power to separate salt from water

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.

This photo from the Curiosity rover shows the kind of place that could be teeming with life, if a new study is to be believed

Space

Martian microbes may be snacking on space dust

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.

Researchers have investigated the gut microbes of sheep to find ways to reduce agricultural methane emissions

Environment

Manipulating gut microbes in livestock could cut their methane emissions

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.

Detail of an infrared image of the newborn planet, PDS 70 b and its circumplanetary disk

Space

Dusty, gassy origins of giant planets observed at last

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.

Ultra metal-poor stars such as HD 140283 (pictured) are among the oldest known stars still surviving, and now astronomers have identified the smallest star of this age, which could be from the second generation born after the Big Bang

Space

13.5 billion year old star was born just after the Big Bang - and it’s in our neighborhood

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.

A scanning electron microscope image of metal-organic frameworks (MOF)

Materials

New desalination membrane produces both drinking water and lithium

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.

Australian researchers have enlisted a long-overlooked antibiotic in the fight against drug-resistant "superbugs"

Medical

Overlooked antibiotic re-enlisted in fight against drug-resistant superbugs

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.”

The capsule makes real-time "gas reports" from within the gut

Medical

Electronic gut-checking capsule tested on humans

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.