Articles
New Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) urges collegiality amid challenging time for university sector
The incoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at The Australian National University (ANU), Professor Joan Leach, says ANU and the…
Melodies of musical ‘starquakes’ shed new light on how our galaxy formed
They say music is the universal language of humankind, but some stars in our galaxy exhibit their own…
Australia’s environment shows signs of improvement, but our ecosystems remain under threat
Australia’s environment improved slightly in 2024, marking the fourth consecutive year of above-average conditions, but major challenges remain…
Scientists discover 15 million-year-old Australian fish fossil
A new species of fish that lived in Australian freshwater lakes and rivers about 15 million years ago…
Scientists closer to engineering more resilient food crops
The discovery of a powerful “weapon” used by many disease-causing fungi to infect and destroy major food crop…
Smart is sexy: Evolution of intelligence partly driven by love
The Beatles said it best: Love is all you need. And according to new research from The Australian…
If not now, when? Australia must urgently ramp up climate action following record-breaking year
With Earth’s climate heading into uncharted territory, Australia and other high-emission nations must take drastic action to stop…
Australians want less migration but support for international students remains steady
Australians hold inaccurate and often contradictory perceptions of migrants, including falsely believing that there are more migrants in…
Australia among top five countries for high trust in scientists
Most people worldwide trust scientists and think they should actively shape government policy, according to a major new…
Climate extremes in 2024 ‘wreaking havoc’ on the global water cycle
2024 was another year of record-breaking temperatures, driving the global water cycle to new climate extremes and contributing…
Urgent action needed to protect the Parma wallaby
The creation of more fox-free safe havens and greater collaboration between government and landowners is needed to ensure…
Record number of ANU students ready to leave lasting mark in Indo-Pacific
Seventeen sensational students from The Australian National University (ANU) will jet off to the Indo-Pacific to live, study…
Best of ANU community celebrated with Chancellor and VC awards
The Australian National University (ANU) has celebrated the achievements of an outstanding cohort of professional and academic staff…
Young Aussies satisfied with direction of country amid voter power shift
Despite cost-of-living pressures and sky-rocketing house prices disproportionately impacting Australia’s youth, two-in-three young Aussies, 67.1 per cent, say…
Indigenous cultural burning has protected Australia’s landscape for millennia
Ancient cultural burning practices carried out by Indigenous Australians limited fuel availability and prevented high intensity fires in…
‘We must do more’: non-Indigenous businesses struggling to boost Indigenous staff numbers
Indigenous-owned businesses in Australia employ Indigenous staff at a rate 12 times higher than non-Indigenous-owned businesses, a new…
Extinct volcanoes a ‘rich’ source of rare earth elements
A mysterious type of iron-rich magma entombed inside extinct volcanoes is likely abundant with rare earth elements and…
Asbestos study highlights risk of ACT residents developing cancer
New data published in the latest edition of the ACT Asbestos Health Study, led by The Australian National…
Social media negatively impacting teens’ life satisfaction
Social media is negatively impacting the life satisfaction of Australian high school students, according to the latest findings…
Australia needs a National Migration Institute: ANU expert
Australia must establish an independently run Migration Institute to counteract widespread misinformation about migration which is threatening our…
‘Masters of shape-shifting’: how darkling beetles conquered the world
Large-scale genomic analysis of darkling beetles, a hyper-diverse insect group of more than 30,000 species worldwide, rolls back…
Long COVID cost Australian economy about $9.6 billion in 2022
Australian workers living with long COVID cost the economy, on average, about $9.6 billion in 2022, according to…
Trojan horse method gives malaria parasites a taste of their own medicine
More than a quarter of Australians over the age of 50 take cholesterol-lowering drugs to prevent heart disease…
Eye-opening discovery offers fresh hope for disease that can cause blindness
An international team of scientists including researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have identified a rare, mutated…
Better dams offer major benefits to farmers and livestock
Managing the water quality of farm dams is critical to the health of livestock as well as boosting crop…
Far-right National Rally party unlikely to form government in France
Despite Marine Le Pen’s far-right party leading the polls in the first round of the French snap parliamentary…
Surf’s up: Australia’s breaks inject almost $3 billion into the economy each year
It’s no secret Aussies love to surf. It’s one of our favourite pastimes, but it turns out riding…
Excavation reveals ‘major’ ancient migration to Timor Island
The discovery of thousands of stone artefacts and animal bones in a deep cave on Timor Island has…
Bigger is better: male proboscis monkeys’ enhanced noses evolved to attract mates
When it comes to the animal kingdom, bigger is better. Well, at least for proboscis monkeys, famously known…
Scientists unlock key to breeding ‘carbon gobbling’ plants with a major appetite
The discovery of how a critical enzyme “hidden in nature’s blueprint” works by scientists from The Australian National…
What is Earth’s inner core and why do scientists want to study it?
More than 5,000 kilometres beneath the surface is Earth’s inner core, a solid metallic ball slightly smaller than…
Power to the people: Aussies expect more from their local leaders
About two-thirds of Australians believe local governments should have more power than they currently do, according to a…
Australia on track for unprecedented, decades-long megadroughts
Australia could soon see megadroughts that last for more than 20 years, according to new modelling from The…
Gene discovery offers new hope for Aussies living with chronic skin disease
Scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) have discovered a gene mutation is responsible for causing psoriasis –…
‘Climate rollercoaster’: strong weather fluctuations rocked Australia in 2023
2023 was a “year of opposites” for Australia’s environment, but despite conditions fluctuating between wet and dry, overall…
‘It’s like winning Eurovision’: an ANU graduate’s journey from kangaroo whisperer to global dance sensation
What do drag queens, Brazilian funk dancers and biologists have in common? No, this isn’t the beginning of…
ANU scientists debunk role of ‘junk cells’ in fight against malaria
Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have discovered a previously unknown ability of a group of immune…
‘Cancer-cooling’ protein puts bowel cancer on ice
A protein in the immune system can be manipulated to help overcome bowel cancer, according to new research…
Remote Aussies don’t have equal access to household electricity protections
Remote and Indigenous communities’ power connections are more vulnerable compared to their regional and metropolitan counterparts, according to…
ANU chemists make Australian-first discovery of three new recreational drugs
Three new recreational drugs that have never been reported in Australia before have been identified by chemists at Australia’s…
Record heat in 2023 worsened global droughts, floods and wildfires
Record heat across the world profoundly impacted the global water cycle in 2023, contributing to severe storms, floods,…
New understanding of dark energy could reshape our knowledge of the universe
The most detailed measurement of dark energy to date could reshape our understanding of how quickly the universe…
Wood heaters responsible for dozens of avoidable deaths in the ACT each year
Smoke from wood heaters causes between 11 and 63 deaths per year in the ACT, according to a…
DNA discovery opens door to tailored medicine for Indigenous Australians
The most comprehensive analysis of Indigenous Australians’ genomes collected to date has revealed an “abundance” of DNA variations…
Fungus-fighting protein could help defeat autoimmune disease and cancer
A protein in the immune system programmed to protect the body from fungal infections is also responsible for…
Animals facing eviction from homes as hotter temperatures could spark global displacement
Marine animals across the world and land animals living in tropical climates are being pushed to their physiological…
Financial strain on Aussies’ hip pockets sees social cohesion plummet to record low
Financial and cost-of-living pressures are among the top issues impacting Australians’ sense of belonging, pride and social cohesion…
Global warming changing Earth’s water cycle
Human-caused climate change is changing the way water moves around Earth, according to a new study involving researchers…
Simple test could help predict risk of Alzheimer’s disease 20 years in advance
A simple, cheap and non-invasive blood test could help predict a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease up…
Female science heroes missing from high school curriculums
Australian high school students enrolled in STEM subjects don’t read or learn about nearly as many prominent female…
Longer El Niño and La Niña events could become more common
We could see more multi-year El Niño and La Niña events in Australia, according to an international team…
Urgent rethink needed to better manage mental health impacts of bushfires
With an El Niño summer promising hotter and drier conditions for much of Australia, we must rethink how…
Canberra pill testing clinic changing drug behaviours
More than half of the drugs tested at CanTEST, Australia’s first and only pill testing service, were not…
Pepper, the world’s smartest retail robot, is changing how we think about AI
If you’ve been fortunate enough to jet off to Japan recently, you may have checked in to a…
Registry to inform use of psychedelic based therapy for depression and PTSD
A first-of-its-kind patient registry in Australia will help inform the effectiveness and safety of prescribing psychedelic substances, as…
Why you won’t find kangaroos and koalas outside of Australia
Ask anyone what first springs to mind when they think of Australia and they’ll most likely say a…
Scientists discover ‘lost world’ of early ancestors in billion-year-old rocks
The discovery of a “lost world” of ancient organisms that lived in Earth’s waterways at least 1.6 billion…
Three nuclear science discoveries from ANU you should know about
For many mortals, thoughts about the origins of the universe and how we, and all planets, came to…
Nifty nanoparticles ‘peel back the curtain’ into the world of super small things
Physicists at The Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Adelaide are using nanoparticles to develop new…
Aussie prehistoric predator’s last meal revealed
We now know more about the diet of a prehistoric creature that grew up to two and a…
Immune system protein could help defeat flesh-eating bacteria
A clever protein inside the immune system could be used as a “weapon” against a common bacteria that…
What is pill testing and how does it work?
From detecting a deadly synthetic opioid circulating in the community to the Australian-first discovery of a mysterious new…
A greater dose of magnesium each day keeps dementia at bay
More magnesium in our daily diet leads to better brain health as we age, according to scientists from…
Earth’s fifth layer is a solid metallic ball in its innermost region
Data captured from seismic waves caused by earthquakes has shed new light on the deepest parts of Earth’s…
Experts sound alarm on ‘exploitative’ baby formula industry
Baby milk formula companies are exploiting parents’ emotions and manipulating scientific information and policymakers to generate sales at…
ANU solar pioneer wins Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering
An internationally renowned expert in solar energy from The Australian National University (ANU) who helped transform the efficiency…
How plants are inspiring new ways to extract value from wastewater
Scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) are drawing inspiration from plants to develop new techniques to separate…
ANU researchers closer to finding new lung cancer treatments
Scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre have discovered that a protein,…
Researchers develop tool to maximise Australia’s solar and wind potential
A new tool developed by researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) shows the best locations around Australia…
ANU and Korean biotech firm set sights on finding cure for blindness
Korean biotech company MDimune Inc. and scientists from the Clear Vision Research Lab at The Australian National University (ANU) will…
ANU students to forge own path in Indo-Pacific in year of firsts
Deepening knowledge in Japanese customs and applying an educational and mental health lens to better understand Korean culture…
World’s oldest meal offers food for thought
The contents of the last meal consumed by the earliest animals known to inhabit Earth more than 550 million years ago…
Extra 1,500 pumped hydro sites could bolster Australia’s clean energy grids
Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have released a detailed study outlining 1,500 additional locations across the country that could potentially be used to…
When to see Tuesday’s blood moon in all its glory
Attention space lovers: cancel your plans on Tuesday evening because you’re in for a treat. A blood moon will grace our skies,…
How flies are helping develop brain cancer treatments
Chimpanzees and other members of the primate family are the animals that come to mind when we think…
Scientists use deep planetary scan to confirm Martian core
Seismologists from The Australian National University (ANU) have developed a new method to scan the deep interior of…
ANU HC Coombs Fellows return to campus following disruptions
Shining a spotlight on the representation of Aboriginal histories, Tasmanian artist, writer and curator Dr Julie Gough, a Trawlwoolway woman, draws on her Aboriginal ancestry and…
Discovery of exciton pairs could enable next-gen technology
Electrical engineers from The Australian National University (ANU) have demonstrated how to create exciton pairs in a new…
Young ANU scientists make their mark with Tall Poppy honours
Four outstanding early career researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) who are forging new ground in fields…
ANU to support Aussie start-up in growing plants on the moon
The Australian National University (ANU) will lend its unique expertise in plant biology to an ambitious mission led…
Scientists step closer to unlocking new leukaemia treatments
Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre have discovered how a type…
Improving health outcomes for First Nations Australians
The creation of a DNA database that more accurately reflects the rich genetic diversity of First Nations Australians will help…
Mars model provides method for landing humans on Red Planet
A mathematical model developed by space medicine experts from The Australian National University (ANU) could be used to…
Clock is ticking to save East Antarctica from climate change
The worst effects of global warming on the world’s largest ice sheet could be avoided if nations around…
‘Dream’ discovery to sow crops better equipped to weather the climate change storm
Scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) and James Cook University (JCU) have identified an “exquisite” natural mechanism…
Bacteria busting proteins offer potential for smarter drugs
A specific group of bacteria-killing proteins inside the immune system could hold the key to developing smarter and…
ANU epidemiologist strikes gold with coveted AMA medal
A prominent public health physician and epidemiologist from The Australian National University (ANU) who has shaped public discourse…
ANU to evaluate Australia’s first drug testing facility
Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) will evaluate Australia’s first drug testing facility, which launched in Canberra today. …
ANU physicist making waves in space joins top global society
A theoretical physicist from The Australian National University (ANU) whose pioneering work has fundamentally altered our understanding of…
Open Air Factor: a natural form of infection control?
A leading infectious diseases expert from The Australian National University (ANU) suggests a forgotten but formidable protective agent that’s been documented in…
$45m injection to electrify innovation in Aussie solar tech
The Australian National University (ANU) will play a critical role in researching and developing cheaper, more efficient and more…
Nanoparticles control light like road signs direct traffic
Physicists at The Australian National University (ANU) have developed tiny translucent slides capable of producing two very different images depending on the direction in which light travels…
Ancient DNA unearths cultural ‘explosion’ in the Pacific
DNA analysis of ancient human remains has shed new light on an “explosion” of intermixing cultures and genetics in an island region…
Galactic gains and mighty grains earn ANU stars top accolade
A leading astrophysicist uncovering the deep inner secrets of the Milky Way and a renowned plant scientist tackling one of the greatest challenges…
Women could hold keys to election win
Women could hold the keys to the Lodge and election victory this Saturday, with new analysis from The Australian National…
Scientists closer to outsmarting malaria parasites
Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have discovered why malaria parasites are vulnerable to some drug therapies but resistant…
Venus and Jupiter to get hearts racing with celestial ‘kiss’
Early risers are in for a celestial treat this weekend when four planets in our solar system align…
Lupus-causing gene paves way for new and tailored treatments
Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have identified a gene called TLR7 that, when over-activated, is responsible…
Magma makes marsquakes rock Red Planet
Volcanic activity beneath the surface of Mars could be responsible for triggering repetitive marsquakes, which are similar to…
Australia’s environment rebounds after record heat and fire, but challenges remain
Lower temperatures and good rainfall, in part due to La Niña, have helped Australia’s environment strongly recover following…
Changes to bird behaviour linked to climate change
A new study from researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) rolls back the curtain on half a century of…
Aussies more hesitant to receive their COVID booster
Less than half of all double-vaccinated Australians aged 18 and over have had their COVID-19 booster shot, new analysis from…
Flippers and flutes: how music helps us talk to dolphins
The universal language of music could serve as a gateway to communicate with dolphins and possibly open doors…
Calls to empower patients and reduce diagnostic error
If Jen didn’t fight to convince her doctors something was seriously wrong with her, there could have been…
Weapon in immune system arsenal could unlock MS treatment
Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have identified why certain cells in the body, known as Th17…
ANU pays tribute to science pioneer and educator Mike Gore
The Australian National University (ANU) and the wider science community is mourning the loss of passionate science educator…
Aussies say they’re more COVID compliant than their peers
The majority of Australians say they are extremely diligent when it comes to complying with COVID-19 restrictions, but think others aren’t, according to a study from…
Sexist ‘sexplanation’ for men’s brilliance debunked
Deeply entrenched scientific beliefs that for more than a century have explained why more men than women are high achievers because of biology are not backed up by evidence, according to new research from The Australian National…
Australia set to blast off on its first moon mission
Australia’s space industry is abuzz with excitement after the Federal Government inked a deal with NASA to put…
‘Exercise in a pill’ could offer solution for at-risk people
Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have identified unique molecular signals in the body that could hold…
Prehistoric mums cared for kids better than we thought
A new study from The Australian National University (ANU) has revealed the death rate of babies in ancient societies is…
‘Serious threat’ of fugitive emissions with hydrogen plan
Australia’s plans to produce hydrogen using fossil fuels carries significant risks and could create an industry that leads to an increase…
Roo reform necessary to improve animal welfare
Australia needs to overhaul how overabundant kangaroos are managed, rather than letting them starve or be culled as pests, according to…
Farming reboot lays seeds for prosperity in poor regions
Agriculture experts from The Australian National University (ANU) have teamed up with government bodies and NGOs in sub-Saharan Africa…
Optimal blood pressure helps our brains age slower
People with elevated blood pressure that falls within the normal recommended range are at risk of accelerated brain…
Antarctic ice reveals 700 years of environmental impact
A new study from an international team of scientists including researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) has…
Astrophysicists solve empty sky gamma-ray mystery
Star-forming galaxies are responsible for creating gamma-rays that until now had not been associated with a known origin, researchers from The…
Ultra-efficient tech to forge sustainable energy future
Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have developed a system to transport data using atomically-thin semiconductors in…
Body cams alone not enough to prevent police violence
Experts are calling for broader police reforms after new analysis from The Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Waterloo in Canada raised serious questions…
Detailed look at earliest moments of supernova explosion
In a world-first, astronomers at The Australian National University (ANU), working with NASA and an international team of…
Innovative gel offers new hope to defeat Parkinson’s disease
Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU), in collaboration with The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health,…
Buying time for Australians creeping closer to Alzheimer’s
Australians living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) could know five years in advance whether they are at high risk of…
Better behaving bots
Today’s robots are so advanced that they are learning to dance like humans. But can they think like us?…
Australia could become voice for global vaccine equality
An expert from The Australian National University (ANU) is urging Australia to support international calls at the World…
Ancient star death unlocks 13-billion-year space mystery
In a world-first, astronomers from The Australian National University (ANU) have discovered evidence of a massive explosion that led to…