University of Queensland

Although adult stegosaurs reached lengths of up to 9 m (30 ft) they still started out as small as a cat, if a recently-found footprint is anything to go by. And what's more, they may have walked differently as babies.

A study published in Nature Communications indicates a possible genetic association between stomach ulcers and depression. The research found a genetic link between a susceptibility for peptic ulcer disease and psychiatric disorders such as major depression.

Unlike us, many animals can see ultraviolet light. If you're using a video screen to study their visual perception, therefore, that screen really ought to work in the UV spectrum – and a new one does just that.

Researchers have shed new light on the murky origins of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, which could eventually lead to new treatments. The team uncovered a mechanism for how toxic tangles of tau proteins leak into healthy brain cells.

New findings from a team of Australian scientists suggest increased exposure to testosterone during pregnancy, triggered by a vitamin D deficiency, may be one of the causal factors explaining why autism spectrum disorder is more common in boys.

Fat is best known for being an energy storage system, but it may also play a previously-unknown role in defense against infection. Scientists from the Universities of Queensland and Barcelona have found that cells can use fats to fight off bacteria.

Spider venom isn’t normally something you want in your body, but there might be exceptions. Australian researchers have identified two peptides from tarantula venom that show promise in blocking organ pain, working particularly well in mice with IBS.

Australian researchers have solved the mystery behind the sting of one of the most venomous plants on the planet. The newly discovered neurotoxin explains how Australian stinging trees cause pain that can last for extraordinarily long periods.

Scientists have developed a new method to detect trace amounts of plastic in edible tissues, and tried it out on a range of seafood such as oysters, prawns, squid, crabs and sardines to find plastic particles in all samples tested.

A strange set of fossilized footprints has been discovered in South Korea which look like crocodile tracks – but the stride is that of a bipedal animal. Scientists concluded that ancient ancestors of crocodiles were walking around on two legs.

Australian researchers are reporting a breakthrough in the battle against the novel coronavirus, discovering evidence of the virus in raw wastewater samples collected in the northern state of Queensland.

Opioid pain relievers not only produce potential side effects such as nausea and constipation, but they can also be highly addictive. Australian scientists have therefore created what could be a better medication, that is made using tarantula venom.