University of South Australia

Scientists are claiming to have solved a longstanding mystery around why lightning takes on a zigzag shape as it flashes across the sky, pinning it on high-energy molecules responsible for redistributing electrical fields.

A new study from the University of South Australia has bolstered the potential of silica particles to counter obesity, by showing how they block enzyme activity to hamper the body’s uptake of fats and sugars.

Patients who remain in bed for long periods of time may develop pressure sores, which can in turn become potentially life-threatening chronic skin ulcers. A new sensor could help keep that from happening, using scattered light.

Autism and ADHD are becoming better understood, but clinicians can still find the two conditions difficult to tell apart. Now, South Australian researchers say they've produced evidence that the two conditions could be diagnosed using an eye test.

University of South Australia scientists have found a link between vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of dementia and stroke. The study found that a decent proportion of cases of dementia may be prevented by boosting levels of the hormone.

A new study has assessed the value of concrete made with crumb rubber from discarded tires by using it as a residential slab and monitoring its performance over several years, where it outshone conventional concrete in a number of ways.

The hoverfly has an extraordinary ability to see and track moving objects in very low light, and Australian researchers have replicated its signal-to-noise-boosting vision systems to process sound data, detecting and tracking drones up to 4 km away.

When a car crashes into a roadside object at an intersection, chances are pretty high that object will be a traffic light pole. If it's a new energy-absorbing pole, however, the likelihood of injury or even death may be significantly reduced.

Jaundice affects about 60 percent of newborn babies, and can sometimes lead to hearing loss or brain damage. It's therefore important to detect and treat the condition as soon as possible, which is just what a new camera-based system is made to do.

Although silver is highly effective at killing bacteria, it can also be toxic to humans in large amounts. That's where a new wound dressing is intended to come in, as it only releases its silver payload when infections are present.

A first-of-its-kind study has explored the connections between repeated concussions and an insidious degenerative brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and shown how a new drug may be able to prevent it from taking hold.

While it's important to keep crops irrigated, you certainly don't want to overwater them – particularly where water is scarce. With that in mind, scientists have now developed a method of gauging the moisture levels in soil, using an ordinary camera.