Queensland science in the news

Two in five scientists in our survey reported harassment and intimidation.

In our global study of more than 2,000 scientists across six areas of science, two-fifths (41%) of respondents had, as a result of their work, been harassed or intimidated at least once over a five-year period. Intimidation efforts included online abuse, physical threats, and threats to budgets or employment.

20 Feb 2025

Social sciences

Griffith University
Centre to forge new path in mental health

A new research centre that will invest up to $1 million in funding every year to improve the mental health of northern Australians and beyond has been launched at JCU. The three broad research themes of the Margaret Roderick Centre for Mental Health Research: severe mental illness diagnosis, treatment, and…

20 Feb 2025

Health & medicalTropical
Cardboard panels offer lightweight, sustainable solution for temporary housing

Temporary housing for people displaced by natural disasters could become cheaper, lighter and more sustainable with innovative new timber–cardboard construction panels developed by UQ researchers. The timber-cardboard web-core sandwich (TCWS) panels consist of thin timber facings separated by cardboard studs and air pockets.

19 Feb 2025

EngineeringEnvironment & nature
UQ to lead Australian clinical trial of next–gen ovarian cancer screening test

Clinical trials of a simple and accurate blood test to detect early–stage ovarian cancer – key to boosting survival rates – will begin at UQ this year. Researchers will confirm the performance of UQ’s test for ovarian cancer in the general population as a screening tool for the disease, dubbed…

19 Feb 2025

Health & medical
Heatwave mortality studies reveal climate change impacts and risk for cities

Mortality rates during heatwaves have been put in the spotlight with research from The University of Queensland showing a 20 per cent increase in heatwave–related deaths due to human–induced climate change. Another UQ study has also revealed people living in cities are at a higher risk of dying from heatwaves…

18 Feb 2025

Environment & natureHealth & medicalSocial sciences
UQ copper processing start–up to help unlock global resources

Inaccessible supplies of an element crucial to powering a clean–energy future are set to be unlocked with technology developed by UQ. The technology, commercialised through new start-up company Banksia Minerals Processing (BMP), is a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly way to extract copper from previously unviable low-quality resources.

17 Feb 2025

Advanced manufacturingEnergyEngineeringMining & resources
Study reveals rainforest tree tactics for different climates

A University of Queensland-led team has completed one of the most comprehensive surveys of Australia’s subtropical rainforests to document how climate dictates what species thrive in different locations. PhD candidate Julian Radford-Smith spent 2 years collecting data on more than 25,000 trees between Gladstone in Queensland and Ballina in New…

17 Feb 2025

Environment & nature
Biomedicine shows the way to future food crops

UQ researchers have for the first time introduced genetic material into plants via their roots, opening a potential pathway for rapid crop improvement. Professor Bernard Carroll from UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences said nanoparticle technology could help fine-tune plant genes to increase crop yield and improve food quality.

14 Feb 2025

Food & agriculture
Cigarette butts combat heavy metals

Environmentally hazardous cigarette butts may ironically hold the answer to cleansing Australia’s waterways of major metal contaminants, according to a new James Cook University-led study. Dr Elsa Antunes and her team found that char created from thermally decomposing cigarette butts in an oxygen-free chamber removed some about 53 per cent of…

13 Feb 2025

Environment & natureMining & resources
Hot crocs show impacts of a warming climate

Crocodiles in northern Australia are heating up as the climate warms, with higher body temperatures changing their behaviour. Research led by The University of Queensland’s School of the Environment analysed 15 years of information from sensors and trackers on 203 wild crocodiles on the Wenlock and Ducie rivers on Cape…

13 Feb 2025

Environment & nature
Cancer immunotherapy treatment dramatically reduces sunspots

UQ researchers have discovered immunotherapy, when used to treat people with advanced cancers, also helps reduce sunspots and skin cancers by at least 65 per cent.

13 Feb 2025

Health & medical
Expanded protection of scuba diving sites would generate billions

A new study shows that fully protecting the world’s most popular scuba diving sites could not only help marine life bounce back but also generate an extra US $2 billion for coastal economies. Reniel Cabral is a senior lecturer at JCU and the study’s lead author. He said some 33…

12 Feb 2025

Environment & natureSocial sciencesTropical
Less restrictive vaping laws linked to faster smoking decline

UQ researchers have found smoking rates have declined twice as fast in New Zealand as in Australia, suggesting less restrictive regulation on vaping could improve public health outcomes.

12 Feb 2025

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Organised crime threatening cultural heritage by trafficking irreplaceable artefacts

Cultural artefacts and historic sites around the world are being threatened by organised crime groups who traffic the items for lucrative profits, a team of researchers from UQ found. Criminal Law Professor Andreas Schloenhardt is the convenor of the UQ-led Transnational Organised Crime program, which this year focuses on the…

12 Feb 2025

Social sciences
New treatment hope for childhood cancers

UQ research using natural killer cells may lead to the first new treatment for a devastating childhood cancer in 40 years. Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes from UQ’s Frazer Institute led a team to develop new therapeutic strategies for hard-to-treat paediatric sarcomas that have high rates of metastasis, recurrence or treatment…

12 Feb 2025

Health & medical
Study reveals reasons for misdiagnosis of frontotemporal dementia

UQ researchers discovered that nearly 70 per cent of suspected frontotemporal dementia patients ultimately did not have the disease in a study aimed at identifying factors that contribute to misdiagnosis.

11 Feb 2025

Digital economyHealth & medical
Looking to the past to better predict coral bleaching

Coral bleaching remains a serious threat to reef ecosystems around the world. JCU researchers are looking into measures of past temperature variation to better predict the risk of bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. Research published recently in the Biological Conservation journal found analysing a range of historical coral reef…

11 Feb 2025

Environment & nature
Large hippocampus detected in Long COVID and ME/CFS patients

Striking brain similarities have been detected in patients who experience Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), in particular, a larger than normal hippocampus. The Griffith University research, published today in PLOS ONE, used only one of two ultra-high field MRI machines available in Australia to uncover how…

11 Feb 2025

Health & medical
The cutting–edge Games: why technology will be Brisbane's greatest legacy

Internationally renowned sports marketing expert Rick Burton will make the case for Brisbane to be the technology Games, when he discusses how sport, business and government could revolutionise fan engagement over the next decade.

11 Feb 2025

Digital economySocial sciences
Join #JCUPsychology researcher Carolyn Heward in this podcast, discussing the complexity of military culture's impact on military identity and its effect on mental health.

Join #JCUPsychology researcher Carolyn Heward in this podcast, discussing the complexity of military culture's impact on military identity and its effect on mental health.

10 Feb 2025

Defence, aviation & spaceSocial sciences
Can social media foster workplace inclusion for #neurodivergent employees? 🤔💡

Can social media foster workplace inclusion for #neurodivergent employees? 🤔💡 Dr Maria Khan's, latest study explores how digital tools amplify diverse voices & create real engagement

10 Feb 2025

Digital economySocial sciences
Human speech development linked to whale song structure

Language has long been considered a uniquely human trait, with features that mark it out as distinct from the communication of all other species. However, research published today in Science has uncovered the same statistical structure in humpback whale song that is a hallmark of human language.

7 Feb 2025

Digital economyEnvironment & natureSocial sciences
Intestinal worms could hold key to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

A four year-long research study has found that particles secreted by an intestinal worm may assist in treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an ailment suffered by millions of people globally. The paper found that extracellular vesicles from the worm Ascaris suum demonstrated a significant reduction in inflammation in mice that…

7 Feb 2025

Health & medical
Half the coral trout caught on the Great Barrier Reef come from marine reserves

A new study of the Great Barrier Reef has revealed that the network of no-take marine reserves supplies nearly half of the region’s coral trout fishery catch. The research, led by Professor Michael Bode and published in Science Advances, revealed that despite covering only 30 per cent of the reef’s…

6 Feb 2025

Environment & natureFood & agricultureTropical
We love luxury goods, as long as you don’t tell us they're sustainable

Marketers promoting circular luxury products should discard words like ‘recycled’, ‘sustainable’ and even ‘eco-friendly’, say QUT researchers who found consumers prefer a combination of ‘sustainable’ and ‘progress-focused’ action words when considering sustainable luxury buys.

6 Feb 2025

Digital economyEnvironment & natureSocial sciences
First IVF kangaroo embryo a major leap for marsupial conservation

A UQ–led team has successfully produced the first kangaroo embryos through in vitro fertilisation (IVF), a crucial jump towards saving other marsupial species from extinction.

6 Feb 2025

Environment & nature
Rare, almost mythical Australian tree kangaroos can finally be studied, thanks to new tech

Bennett’s tree kangaroos, one of Australia’s most mysterious marsupials, have long eluded researchers. Our new study, published in Australian Mammalogy today, has achieved a breakthrough: using thermal drones to detect these rare animals with unprecedented efficiency.

5 Feb 2025

Defence, aviation & spaceDigital economyEnvironment & natureTropical

James Cook University
New technique to detect dark matter using atomic clocks and lasers

A team of international researchers has developed an innovative approach to uncover the secrets of dark matter in the cosmos. University of Queensland PhD student Ashlee Caddell co-led a study in collaboration with Germany's metrology institute Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), that searched for dark matter using atomic clocks and cavity-stabilized lasers.

5 Feb 2025

Defence, aviation & spaceDigital economyEngineering
Fans ineffective in heat waves for older adults indoors on searing summer days,

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association assessed the impact of electric fans on the body core temperature and heart rate of participants aged 65-85 years. Lead researcher Dr Fergus O’Connor from Griffith University’s School of Health Sciences and Social Work said older adults had…

4 Feb 2025

Health & medical
The cost of preventing extinction of Australia’s priority species

A new study has estimated it would cost $15.6 billion per year for 30 years to prevent extinction for 99 of Australia’s priority species. The research, led by Griffith University’s Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security with WWF-Australia and the University of Queensland, highlights the urgent need for increased…

4 Feb 2025

Environment & nature
QUT scientists develop groundbreaking biosensor for rare earth element detection

QUT synthetic biologists have developed a prototype for an innovative biosensor that can detect rare earth elements and be modified for a range of other applications. Lanthanides (Lns) are elements used in electronics, electric motors, and batteries. Professor Kirill Alexandrov and colleagues engineered proteins to create molecular nanomachines that generate…

4 Feb 2025

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyEngineeringMining & resources
UQ researcher secures funding for cancer treatment research

A University of Queensland (UQ) researcher Dr Debottam Sinha has received $450,000 from the Passe & Williams Foundation to improve health outcomes for patients with a rare form of cancer. The 3-year study aims to develop a new treatment strategy for adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC), a cancer in the salivary…

4 Feb 2025

Health & medical
We've received $1.1 million in funding for our promising irrigation technology! 💧

Australia’s cotton and dairy industries are set to reap the benefits of new technology that can enhance climate resilience through improved water use efficiency. UniSQ – through a project led by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation – has received $1.1 million in funding from the Australian Government’s Climate-Smart Agriculture…

3 Feb 2025

Environment & natureFood & agriculture
NHMRC grant to investigate diet strategies to alleviate cancer treatment side effects

Dr Megan Crichton has received a $500,000 NHMRC e-Asia Joint Research Program grant to lead the project, “Identifying therapeutically targetable nutritional biochemistry and dietary intake profiles to address nutrition impact symptoms during chemotherapy: An international multisite prospective cohort study”.

3 Feb 2025

Health & medical
Supersonic jets are making a comeback – but despite the hype, don’t expect to book yet

Late last week, American company Boom Supersonic flew faster than the speed of sound with its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft. It’s now the first piloted non-military aircraft to break the sound barrier since the Concorde was retired from service in 2003.

3 Feb 2025

Defence, aviation & spaceTransport

University of Queensland
#Pacific paradise images were first created in the 18th century by #explorers and adventurers.

#Pacific paradise images were first created in the 18th century by #explorers and adventurers. It's now possible to read their actual Explorer journals written at the time… online at the ‘Expeditions to the Pacific’ website.

2 Feb 2025

Social sciences
Research into use of mRNA technology to repair damaged livers is underway, with TRI-based A/Prof Kate Irvine

Research into use of mRNA technology to repair damaged livers is underway, with TRI-based A/Prof Kate Irvine from @MaterResearch using $50,000 in support from @GESAorg. It enables her team to test a protein shown to reduce liver damage and improve healing.

31 Jan 2025

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical
Astronomers have spied an asteroid that may be heading for Earth. Here’s what we know so far

On 27 December last year, astronomers using the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile discovered a small asteroid moving away from Earth. Follow up observations have revealed that the asteroid, 2024 YR4, is on a path that might lead to a collision with our planet on 22 December 2032.

31 Jan 2025

Defence, aviation & space

University of Southern Queensland
Low doses of oral ketamine can treat PTSD: UniSC study

A new UniSC study has found small amounts of liquid ketamine administered in a clinical setting can significantly reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The study by researchers from the new National PTSD Research Centre at the University of the Sunshine Coast, is the first open-label clinical trial to explore…

30 Jan 2025

Health & medical
UQ team finds relative of deadly Hendra virus in the US

Researchers at UQ have identified the first henipavirus in North America. Dr Rhys Parry from the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences said Camp Hill virus was confirmed in shrews in the US state of Alabama. “Henipaviruses have caused serious disease and death in people and animals in other regions,�…

29 Jan 2025

Health & medical
Reef ‘catastrophic’ heat wave

Scientists say the latest study of the effects of a heatwave on a part of the Great Barrier Reef shows ‘catastrophic’ damage – with global warming no longer a projection but an immediate reality and urgent action necessary.

28 Jan 2025

Environment & natureTropical
Your lifestyle choices are already showing up on your brain and could be prematurely ageing it

UniSC researchers found a relationship between people’s lifestyle choices like sleeping, diet and exercise and signs of ageing on their brain. These lifestyle choices are also associated with future dementia risk. Adhering to a Mediterranean diet, engaging in regular physical activity and keeping socially connected can all lower dementia risk.

27 Jan 2025

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Dr Katrina Wruck named 2025 Young Australian of the Year

Dr Katrina Wruck, QUT research fellow in industrial chemistry and lecturer in the School of Chemistry and Physics who advocates for the power of green chemistry has been named the 2025 Young Australian of the Year. A proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman, Dr Wruck is devoted to developing new materials…

25 Jan 2025

Advanced manufacturingEngineeringEnvironment & natureMining & resources
Float like a jellyfish: New coral mobility mechanisms uncovered

Using high-resolution time-lapse imaging, the team identified that a mushroom coral Cycloseris cyclolites was able to move via a mechanism known as pulsed inflation, a process where the coral inflates and deflates its tissue in rhythmic bursts to propel itself forward, like the movement seen in jellyfish.

23 Jan 2025

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
Our researchers are developing a new ‘nanovaccine’ to enhance the protective power of the #tuberculosis BCG vaccine

Our researchers are developing a new ‘nanovaccine’ to enhance the protective power of the #tuberculosis BCG vaccine and offer new hope for TB prevention 💉 The booster can be stored at room temp, ideal for areas with unreliable refrigeration like #PNG.

23 Jan 2025

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medicalTropical
Moment in the sun: why greenspace planning is key to better health

UQ researchers are shining a light on the link between greenspace exposure and better health in the hope of influencing future urban greening policies. Chinonso Odebeatu, a PhD candidate from UQ’s School of Public Health, led a recent study that found positive associations between exposure to greenspace and sufficient vitamin…

23 Jan 2025

Environment & natureHealth & medicalSocial sciences
JCU has been ranked in the top 175 of the world's universities for Life Sciences

JCU has been ranked in the top 175 of the world's universities for Life Sciences (agriculture and forestry, biological sciences, veterinary science, and sport science) in the latest Times Higher Education rankings by subject.

22 Jan 2025
Pearls of wisdom for emergent oyster species

James Cook University researchers are working on selective breeding of the Akoya oyster as they prepare to unlock the enormous potential of this emergent food source. Traditionally farmed for their high-value pearls for jewellery, Akoya oysters are also emerging as a fast-growing and disease tolerant premium food species.

22 Jan 2025

Food & agricultureTropical
✈️ Stralis and 🎓CQUniversity have joined forces to help power up an innovative hydrogen-electric aircraft

✈️ Stralis and 🎓CQUniversity have joined forces to help power up an innovative hydrogen-electric aircraft to help decarbonise aviation and secure a cleaner future. The project has been funded by the Qld Govt and delivered by @CSIRO

21 Jan 2025

Defence, aviation & spaceEnergyEngineeringTransport
Nickel mining a serious concern for climate action

Land clearing for nickel mines is causing a more severe threat to the climate than initially thought, a study led by a University of Queensland researcher has found. Dr Evelyn Mervine found the land footprint of nickel mining could be 4 to 500 times greater than previously reported.

21 Jan 2025

EnergyEnvironment & natureMining & resources
UV phone sanitisers dial up savings for hospitals

Installing ultraviolet-C mobile phone sanitisers could save hospitals $500-$700 per bed annually compared to handwashing after phone use. The study, led by Bond University, calculated the savings over a decade based on a hypothetical 200-bed hospital in a developed country.

20 Jan 2025

Health & medicalSocial sciences

Bond University
New varieties of valuable medicinal plant bred at UQ

Years of scouring the bush and breeding work at UQ have resulted in new varieties of a native Australian plant valuable to the global pharmaceutical industry. Duboisia leaves contain high amounts of the alkaloid scopolamine which is an ingredient in medications to treat motion sickness, stomach disorders, and the side…

20 Jan 2025

Environment & natureHealth & medical
Hanging up the car keys hard for people with young onset dementia

UQ research has highlighted the need for specialised support services to help people with young onset dementia cope with giving up driving. Dr Theresa Scott from UQ’s School of Psychology reviewed the experiences of 248 participants across 10 studies from countries including Australia, United Kingdom, United States, Sweden and Italy.

17 Jan 2025

Health & medicalSocial sciencesTransport
Human ancestor thrived longer and in harsher conditions than previous estimates

Homo erectus thrived in hyper-arid landscapes one million years ago. The early human ancestor of our species successfully navigated harsher and more arid terrains for longer in Eastern Africa than previously thought, according to a new study published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment.

17 Jan 2025

Digital economySocial sciencesTropical
Underwater exploration boosted with image enhancer

The search for long-lost shipwrecks, downed aircraft and even rare species of coral and fish could become easier thanks to a ground-breaking image enhancement technology developed by James Cook University researchers. The new technology, known as UDnet (Uncertainty Distribution Network), uses artificial intelligence to automatically enhance poor quality underwater images.

17 Jan 2025

Digital economyEnvironment & nature
Elite soccer players have remarkable higher levels of cognitive abilities compared to the general population.

Elite soccer players have remarkable higher levels of cognitive abilities compared to the general population, including advanced planning, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. They also display distinctive personality traits.

16 Jan 2025

Social sciences
Endometriosis poses substantial burden on Australia's health system

UQ researchers have conducted the first longitudinal study on the impact of endometriosis on Australia's healthcare system, finding the disease is a significant cause of hospitalisation. Dr Dereje Gete led a team that analysed the association between endometriosis and hospitalisation rates, using the linked health data of more than 13,500…

16 Jan 2025

Digital economyHealth & medicalSocial sciences
#QBI attracts some of the best and the brightest researchers from all around the world! 💜 🌎

#QBI attracts some of the best and the brightest researchers from all around the world! 💜 🌎 The institute is home to more than 250 research staff and 30 faculty from over 40 different countries.

15 Jan 2025

Health & medical

Queensland Brain Institute
Long–acting contraceptives seem to be as safe as the pill when it comes to cancer risk: new study

Many women worry hormonal contraceptives have dangerous side–effects including increased cancer risk. But this perception is often out of proportion with the actual risks. Our new study, conducted by the University of Queensland and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, looked…

15 Jan 2025

Health & medical
Odds on for a shift in the gender appeal of sports betting

Sports betting has historically been considered an overwhelmingly male pursuit – but those odds could be about to change, a UQ study has found. PhD candidate Rohann Irving from UQ’s School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences analysed the history behind why nearly 9 out of 10 regular sports bettors…

14 Jan 2025

Social sciences
Tobacco marketing bans take the puff out of smoking

Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) bans are effective in reducing smoking prevalence which has seen a drop of 20 per cent, according to new research out today. The purpose of the Griffith University study, published today in Tobacco Control, was to discover if TAPS bans influenced smoking rates and…

14 Jan 2025

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Hundreds of new genes linked to depression in unprecedented global study

Australian researchers involved in the world’s largest and most diverse genetic study into depression have revealed nearly 300 previously unknown genetic links to the condition, which will allow scientists to predict depression risk. The discoveries could also pave the way for new, more effective drug treatments, including repurposing existing medications.

14 Jan 2025

Digital economyHealth & medical
UQ and Vaxxas win prize to advance patch–based mRNA COVID–19 vaccine

The University of Queensland’s BASE facility – within the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) – and Brisbane-based biotechnology company Vaxxas have been announced as stage winners of a prestigious global prize to accelerate a patch-based mRNA vaccine for COVID-19.

14 Jan 2025

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical
Cost of falls in aged care uncovered

Fall-related injuries in Australia’s residential aged care could be costing the health system $325 million annually, a University of Queensland study has revealed. Dr Charles Okafor from UQ’s Centre for Health Services Research said the study found fall injuries accounted for 20 per cent of annual expenditure on an aged…

13 Jan 2025

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Much of Australia enjoys the same Mediterranean climate as LA. When it comes to bushfires, that doesn’t bode well

The world has watched in horror as fires continue to raze parts of Los Angeles, California. For those of us living in Australia, one of the world’s most fire-prone continents, the LA experience feels all too familiar. A “perfect storm” of several factors resulted in the catastrophic fires now burning…

13 Jan 2025

Environment & natureSocial sciences

CQ University of Australia
Have you heard about the Australian Reference Genome Atlas?

Have you heard about the Australian Reference Genome Atlas? It's a digital atlas researchers can use to easily discover and work with genomic data. 🌱🐨🧬 Researchers can use this resource to better-understand the environment 🌳

13 Jan 2025

Digital economyEnvironment & nature

Bioplatforms Australia Qld
UniSC's Forest Research Institute! 🌲 Professor Mark Brown takes the helm of the @IEA #Bioenergy program.

The University of the Sunshine Coast’s Professor Mark Brown is leading the global development of the bioenergy industry as the newly appointed Chair of the International Energy Agency Bioenergy program. Professor Brown will oversee research, development and deployment opportunities for the 23 member nations with bioenergy programs.

10 Jan 2025

EnergyEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureTropical
Aggressive pest fish moving closer to Gulf of Carpentaria

A new study led by Griffith University has tracked two invasive fish species – the Mozambique and spotted tilapia – and found them established in the Mitchell River catchment in Northern Queensland, which flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria.

10 Jan 2025

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
Teaching robots emotional intelligence

Researchers have been analysing how humanoid robots relate to people and say teaching the machines how to understand emotion may be essential in getting the best from them. Professor Bouchra Senadji is Head of Engineering at James Cook University and co-author of a study investigating the role of empathy in…

10 Jan 2025

Digital economySocial sciences
🦟In PNG, where malaria cases topped 1.5M in 2022, AITHM researchers are testing spatial emanators

🦟In PNG, where malaria cases topped 1.5M in 2022, AITHM researchers are testing spatial emanators — small devices that release insect repellent to form a protective barrier in homes. Early results show up to a 60% reduction in mosquito bites.

9 Jan 2025

BiotechnologyEnvironment & natureHealth & medicalTropical
The UniSC Centre for Bioinnovation has secured a $921,000 NHMRC Ideas Grant

The UniSC Centre for Bioinnovation has secured a competitive $921,000 NHMRC Ideas Grant to advance research into infections associated with the incurable lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

9 Jan 2025

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
Freshwater species extinction risk

A global study of freshwater species has found nearly a quarter are threatened with extinction, with scientists calling for the findings to be used to help reduce the loss of freshwater biodiversity. James Cook University’s Dr Michael Grant was a co-author of the study published in the journal Nature this…

9 Jan 2025

Environment & nature
UQ manufactures 3D printed scaffolding to rebuild jaw bones

Clinicians have successfully used custom–made 3D printed bone scaffolds, printed on–site at UQ, to rebuild part of a man's jawbone. Professor Saso Ivanovski, who led the clinical trial, said the case demonstrated the safe and effective use of the technology which uses biocompatible material – eliminating the need for secondary…

9 Jan 2025

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyDigital economyHealth & medical
Introducing i-Mangrove – an online tool for Indonesian mangrove restoration 🌿

Introducing i-Mangrove – an online tool for Indonesian mangrove restoration 🌿 i-Mangrove – developed by researchers from TropWATER and @CIFOR_ICRAF_ID – brings together data on mangrove coverage and losses with identified areas of restoration potential.

8 Jan 2025

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
Queensland Brain Institute has identified a molecule, OSP-1, that may protect brain cells from damage caused by oxidative stress and excessive autophagy.

Researchers from the Hilliard lab at UQ's Queensland Brain Institute have identified a molecule, OSP-1, that may protect brain cells from damage caused by oxidative stress and excessive autophagy — two processes linked to brain diseases like stroke.🧠

8 Jan 2025

Health & medical

Queensland Brain Institute
A compound designed and synthesised by #UQ researchers can stop an invasive plant known as rubber vine from growing for six weeks.

A compound designed and synthesised by #UQ researchers can stop an invasive plant known as rubber vine from growing for six weeks. The work explores how researchers could remodel existing herbicides as herbistatic agents.

8 Jan 2025

BiotechnologyEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureTropical
Research reveals bill to recover Australia's threatened species

The full cost of recovering all of Australia’s threatened animals and plants has been calculated for the first time. Research led by University of Queensland and CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, has estimated the annual cost to fully restore populations of 1,657 threatened terrestrial and freshwater species to be $583…

7 Jan 2025

Environment & nature
Drug–resistant hookworms put pets and people at risk

Canine hookworms are becoming increasingly resistant to drugs across Australia, according to new research. Scientists at The University of Queensland and The University of Sydney have identified widespread resistance to benzimidazole-based dewormers which are commonly used to treat gastrointestinal parasites in dogs.

7 Jan 2025

Health & medical
Unlocking Spirulina secrets to supercharge vaccines

JCU researchers have found particles in popular ‘superfood’ Spirulina that could lead to lead to huge advancements in vaccine production and effectiveness. The research paper, led by Dr Farouq Sharifpour, DVM, PhD from JCU’s Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine (AITHM), investigates Spirulina extracellular vesicles (SPEV) and their potential…

3 Jan 2025

Food & agricultureHealth & medical
Monarch butterflies are in decline in NZ and Australia – they need your help to track where they gather

Monarch butterflies appear to be declining not just in North America but also in Australasia. Could this be a consequence of global change, including climate change, the intensification of agriculture, and urbanisation? We need more citizen scientists to monitor what is really going on. Insect populations, even species that seemed…

3 Jan 2025

Environment & natureSocial sciences
How having a baby makes it more likely Australian couples rely on the man's income

Australian women are better educated than men but still face poorer job prospects and lower incomes. We see this in Australia’s stubbornly persistent gender pay gap – estimated at nearly 22%. Our research shows how having children plays a significant part establishing and maintaining these inequalities.

2 Jan 2025

Social sciences
A #UQ-led, world-first artificial insemination project could revolutionise crocodile farming.

The world-first artificial insemination program is being conducted at the farm outside Rockhampton in central Queensland. Mr Johnston, an associate professor in wildlife reproduction, says it's hoped the work will lead to more sustainable crocodile farming worldwide.

23 Dec 2024

Environment & natureTropical
Study doubles and decimates prior estimated lifespans for whale species

New research co-authored by a Griffith University researcher into the lifespans of baleen whales has yielded boom-or-bust results for two well-known species, with one species’ age estimates almost doubling from what was previously thought and the other drastically reduced due to human-driven impacts.

21 Dec 2024

Environment & nature
One year on: Mud from Cyclone Jasper’s floods still smothers reefs and mangroves

It’s been one year since Tropical Cyclone Jasper tore through Far North Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef – and James Cook University scientists say the sediment-laden floods that followed have caused extreme damage that will take years to recover.

20 Dec 2024

Environment & natureTropical
It’s been a big year at TRI - and challenging to sum up in two minutes,

It’s been a big year at TRI - and challenging to sum up in two minutes, but please enjoy this snapshot of our successes in 2024. Thank you, @UQ_News, @QUT, @MaterResearch, @qldhealth and all who collaborated/shared knowledge/supported us.

19 Dec 2024

Health & medical
Giving animal strength to medical robotics

UQ researchers have developed a 3D printing method to produce shape–shifting liquid metal robotics with musculoskeletal qualities inspired by animal physiology. Dr Ruirui Qiao and her research team have used the technique to make medical rehabilitation components and devices with superior strength and flexibility.

19 Dec 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyDigital economyHealth & medical
Machine learning improves groundwater recharge estimates in WA

A new study led by Griffith University has unveiled a machine learning-based framework to accurately estimate groundwater recharge in the Perth Basin, with a particular focus on the Gnangara groundwater system. Located in southern Western Australia, the Gnangara aquifer system is one of the region’s most critical water resources but…

19 Dec 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceDigital economyEnvironment & natureFood & agriculture
Hidden threats: DNA testing detects toxic algae in Queensland coastal waters

Extensive genetic testing in Queensland’s environmentally rich Hervey Bay coastal area has revealed the presence of toxic algae not detected in Australian waters before. James Cook University PhD candidate Joseph Perkins led the study. He said harmful algal blooms (HABs) present severe risks to marine ecosystems, wildlife, human health and…

19 Dec 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureHealth & medical
Why medium–sized animals are better built for speed

A team of researchers – including Dr Taylor Dick from UQ’s School of School of Biomedical Sciences – has taken a giant step towards solving the mystery, using cutting-edge musculoskeletal simulations to better understand how size and weight affects speed and energy output.

19 Dec 2024

Digital economyEngineeringEnvironment & natureHealth & medical
Study finds fluoride in water does not affect brain development

A University of Queensland study has found no link between exposure to water fluoridation as a young child and negative cognitive development. Professor Loc Do said the IQ scores of 357 people who had participated in the 2012–2014 National Child Oral Health Study were assessed by registered psychologists to see…

19 Dec 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Research led by #UQ reveals 10 metres is crucial for coral spawning.

Research led by #UQ reveals 10 metres is crucial for coral spawning, after that the chance of success declines rapidly. Prof Mumby says climate change impacts are reducing coral density and if specimens end up too far apart, they won't reproduce.

18 Dec 2024

Environment & natureTropical
NHMRC funding supports 28 UQ research projects

University of Queensland researchers have secured 28 grants totalling more than $29 million to address critical health challenges. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) awarded 3 Development Grants, 24 Ideas Grants and one Postgraduate Scholarship. Professor Amin Abbosh received 2 grants to develop technologies to help prevent and…

18 Dec 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
UQ research aims to improve fetal alcohol spectrum disorder diagnosis

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder can be difficult to diagnose, but University of Queensland researchers have established the most scientific approach to detecting the disorder. A research from UQ’s Child Health Research Centre reviewed more than 300 studies to understand the link between prenatal alcohol exposure and possible signs of fetal…

18 Dec 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Your lifestyle choices are already showing up on your brain and could be prematurely ageing it

New research from the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Thompson Institute has found a relationship between lifestyle choices that affect dementia risk, and early signs of ageing on the brain.

17 Dec 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Prestigious National Health and Medical Research Council grants worth $3.74 million awarded to four QIMR Berghofer scientists .

Four QIMR Berghofer researchers have been awarded highly-contested national funding grants, which will help drive vital research into endometrial cancer, chikungunya virus, glaucoma genetics and Epstein-Barr Virus

17 Dec 2024

Digital economyHealth & medical
Cars in Australian cities are emitting less – but in the regions exhaust emissions are growing

Within five years, transport is expected to be Australia’s top source of greenhouse gas emissions. While renewables and storage are bringing down emissions from the electricity sector, emissions from transport are still growing.

17 Dec 2024

EnergyTransport

University of Queensland
Corals depend on near neighbours to reproduce

A new study reveals corals must be within only a few metres of each other to successfully reproduce, leaving them vulnerable in a warming world. The international research, led by The University of Queensland’s Professor Peter Mumby, measured the success of a natural spawning event in March this year.

17 Dec 2024

Environment & natureTropical
Cars in Australian cities are emitting less – but in the regions exhaust emissions are growing. Dr @AnthonyKimpton discusses via @ConversationEDU. 🚗💨

Within five years, transport is expected to be Australia’s top source of greenhouse gas emissions. We drilled down into the transport sector in our research, we found clear differences on emissions between our major cities and some regional areas.

17 Dec 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTransport
UQ ultrasound treatment for Alzheimer's licensed to new start–up

A promising ultrasound therapy to potentially restore brain function in people with Alzheimer's disease has been licenced to a new start–up spun out of UQ. The therapeutic ultrasound technology developed by Professor Jürgen Götz from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute will be progressed toward clinical use by Ceretas.

17 Dec 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
Surgeons hesitant to adopt medical innovations for bone defects

Two million bone transplants are performed worldwide yearly, including half a million in the United States alone. Yet, a QUT-led study has found surgeons are slow to adopt newly developed biomaterials or tissue-engineered solutions.

17 Dec 2024

BiotechnologyEngineeringHealth & medicalSocial sciences
Research to find ‘missing link’ in home tech for people with disabilities

An innovative University of the Sunshine Coast study aims to find the “missing link” in home-based smart technologies to enable people with spinal cord and brain injuries to live more independently.

16 Dec 2024

Digital economySocial sciences
Nature may provide the key to beating drug resistant melanoma

Antimicrobial peptides derived from a crab and a spider may provide the pathway to overcoming drug resistance in advanced melanoma. QUT researchers based at Brisbane’s Translational Research Institute (TRI) have modified the peptides from the Brazilian tarantula and the Japanese horseshoe crab and found they can kill samples of melanoma…

16 Dec 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical
Griffith celebrates 15 New Colombo Plan scholars

In an extraordinary achievement, 15 Griffith University students have been offered New Colombo Plan scholarships for 2025 – the highest number the University has seen in a single year to date. This record-breaking milestone underscores Griffith’s commitment to fostering global connections and empowering students to become leaders in the Indo-Pacific…

16 Dec 2024
Counting Uganda’s lions: we found that wildlife rangers do a better job than machines

Lions are a symbol of Africa’s last wild places. It’s a species central to many of the continent’s cultures and religions. But lion populations have reportedly declined over the past 50 years, especially in parts of west and east Africa. Concern over this decline has prompted large financial commitments to…

13 Dec 2024

Environment & natureTropical

Griffith University
Breakthrough brings body-heat powered wearable devices closer to reality

A QUT-led research team has developed an ultra-thin, flexible film that could power next-generation wearable devices using body heat, eliminating the need for batteries. This technology could also be used to cool electronic chips, helping smartphones and computers run more efficiently.

13 Dec 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyEnergyEngineering
Which trees will survive climate change?

James Cook University scientists will be part of a study to discover which trees will do best as carbon levels in the atmosphere increase and which won’t - so land managers know where to concentrate their efforts. JCU’s Professor Lucas Cernusak will lead the study, funded by a more than…

13 Dec 2024

Environment & nature
Can artificial intelligence aid in identifying women with increased breast cancer risk?

Can artificial intelligence aid in identifying women with increased breast cancer risk? It's a question at the centre of research involving TRI-based @rikdrprof from @QUT, now published in Trends in Cancer.

13 Dec 2024

Digital economyHealth & medical
Mission success... We've taken a giant leap in hypersonic flight research! 🚀

A University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) led experiment on board a sounding rocket, which climbed to an altitude of 309km, was successfully launched in Sweden. The Germany Australia Flight Experiment (GAsFEx-1) was one of 21 experiments carried by the MAPHEUS-15 sounding rocket and was launched by the German Aerospace Center…

12 Dec 2024

Advanced manufacturingDefence, aviation & spaceEngineering
TRI-based scientists have solved a century-old mystery of why people with severe spinal cord and brain injuries develop debilitating bone growths.

TRI-based scientists Dr Kylie Alexander and Prof Jean-Pierre Levesque from @MaterResearch have solved a century-old mystery of why people with severe spinal cord and brain injuries develop debilitating bone growths around joints such as hips and shoulders.

12 Dec 2024

Health & medical
How helicopter parenting protects baby reef fish

Researchers have discovered a rare example of 'great fish parenting' with a common coral reef species found to actively protect their young by eating parasites. Dr Alexandra Grutter said the team identified that a species of damselfish cared for their offspring and improved their chances of survival by eating the…

12 Dec 2024

Environment & nature
Griffith makes global top 50 in QS sustainability rankings

Griffith University achieved an outstanding result in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025, placing seventh in Australia and 49th out of 1743 universities around the world.

11 Dec 2024

Environment & nature
Local governments are using AI without clear rules or policies, and the public has no idea

In 2017, the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands deployed an artificial intelligence (AI) system to determine how likely welfare recipients were to commit fraud. After analysing the data, the system developed biases: it flagged as “high risk” people who identified as female, young, with kids, and of low proficiency…

11 Dec 2024

Digital economySocial sciences

Queensland University of Technology
Surging global tourism emissions are driven by just 20 countries

Surging global tourism emissions are driven almost entirely by 20 countries, and efforts to rein in the trend aren’t working. That is the main finding of our new research, published in Nature Communications today. It represents the most rigorous and comprehensive analysis of tourism emissions yet conducted.

11 Dec 2024

Environment & natureSocial sciencesTransport

Griffith University
Tourism leads the pack in growing carbon emissions

A UQ–led study shows greenhouse gas emissions from tourism have been growing more than 2 times faster than those from the rest of the global economy. Associate Professor Ya-Yen Sun from UQ’s Business School said rapid expansion in travel demand has meant carbon from tourism activities accounts for 9 per…

11 Dec 2024

Environment & natureSocial sciencesTransport
Major milestone for UQ spin–out's promising MND drug

A potential new treatment for motor neurone disease developed by a company spun–out of UQ has produced successful results in a human clinical trial. NuNerve, formed to commercialise research from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), has announced its lead drug candidate NUN-004 had proven to be safe and effective in…

10 Dec 2024

Health & medical
An assessment shows most of the world’s remaining rainforests can't ensure the long term survival of 16,000 threatened species.

New research, co-authored by The University of Queensland’s Professor James Watson, has revealed less than a quarter of the remaining tropical rainforests around the globe can safeguard thousands of threatened species from extinction.

10 Dec 2024

Environment & natureTropical
New research reveals a key evolutionary benefit of sleeping for a season

What can plants or animals do when faced with harsh conditions? Two options: move elsewhere or adapt to their environment. Some organisms have a third option. They can escape through time, by entering a dormant state until conditions improve. As it turns out, dormancy may not only benefit the species…

9 Dec 2024

Environment & nature

Griffith University
Hope, despite massive decline in sharks and rays

A new global study blames overfishing for a more than 50% decline in sharks and rays since 1970, but also shows a clear path to preventing their numbers dwindling further. JCo-author CU Professor Colin Simpfendorfer said it reveals overfishing has caused populations of sharks, rays, and chimaeras to decline by…

6 Dec 2024

Environment & natureFood & agricultureTropical
QUT awarded $9.87 million in ARC Discovery grants

QUT is celebrating the award of $9.87 million ARC Discovery grants to fund 16 projects. The multidisciplinary research teams will delve into a wide range of disciplines from psychology, and education to robotics and chemistry to generate new knowledge beneficial to solving problems in climate change mitigation, reducing teacher workloads…

6 Dec 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyDigital economyEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureHealth & medicalQuantumSocial sciences
Extensive antimicrobial usage sparks warning over increased resistance

University of Queensland research has found antimicrobial usage is significantly higher in affluent communities in Australia. Samples have been collected from 50 wastewater treatment plants in locations across Australia servicing about 11.3 million people.

6 Dec 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureHealth & medicalSocial sciences
QIMR Berghofer cell therapy saving lives of immunocompromised patients

A powerful immunotherapy that targets out-of-control viral infections has saved the lives of dozens of critically-ill immunocompromised Australians who received the treatment on compassionate grounds. The therapy developed by Professor Rajiv Khanna and his team, is being supplied under the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) Special Access Scheme.

5 Dec 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical
The genetic risk of depression is a stronger predictor of heart problems in women than men: new research

Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally in both men and women. It accounts for one in three deaths for Australian women, yet women with heart disease remain under-studied, under-diagnosed and under-treated. Meanwhile, depression affects about twice as many women as men. Our recent study indicates women are…

5 Dec 2024

University of Queensland
Biorobotics reveal the secret lives of bugs and bees

Technology that combines infrared lighting, robotics and a retroreflective marker is allowing scientists to follow and film insects as they fly in their natural environment. Director of UQ’s Biorobotics lab, Dr Thang Vo-Doan, helped develop the Fast Lock-On (FLO) tracking system while at the University of Freiburg in Germany.

5 Dec 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyEngineeringEnvironment & natureFood & agriculture
Global study identifies hidden genetic cause of rare intellectual disability

A global research collaboration, led by UniSC, has revealed a hidden cause of a rare intellectual disorder associated with severe language delay, epileptic seizures, motor impairment and brain abnormalities.

5 Dec 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyHealth & medical
Major survey brings new light to carnivore conservation

New study details the first nationwide assessment of large carnivores in nearly two decades. Lion numbers in the country are at a critical low while hyenas are faring well across four major protected areas in Uganda, according to new survey findings co-led by Griffith University, Southern University of Science and…

4 Dec 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceDigital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
🔬🪱James Cook University researchers will target proteins secreted by hookworm larvae as part of an international effort to develop a game-changing vaccine against the parasite.

🔬🪱James Cook University researchers will target proteins secreted by hookworm larvae as part of an international effort to develop a game-changing vaccine against the notorious parasite.

4 Dec 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
New @IUCN - Global Status of Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras, stressing the urgent need to address overfishing and bycatch in all countries.

The @IUCN has released a new report, Global Status of Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras, stressing the urgent need to address overfishing and bycatch in all countries, and includes cutting-edge research from #UQ's Dr Christine Dudgeon.

4 Dec 2024

Environment & nature
The new research, led by @UQ_News Assoc. Prof Kirsty Short, used the chip to find elevated levels of cytokines in the blood of long COVID patients,

The new research, led by @UQ_News Assoc. Prof Kirsty Short, used the adapted their groundbreaking immunostorm chip technology to find elevated levels of cytokines in the blood of long COVID patients, which could explain why many experience ongoing cardiovascular issues.

3 Dec 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Bond leads Australia, dominates Queensland in rankings

The Good Universities Guide 2025 has awarded Bond University more top three rankings than any other Australian university.

3 Dec 2024

Bond University
#UQ's Professors Sandie and Bernie Degnan have been uncovering the ancient secrets of life, focusing on a seemingly simple organism – the sponge.

Professors Sandie and Bernie Degnan from The University of Queensland have been uncovering the ancient secrets of life, focusing in the last two decades on a seemingly simple organism – the sponge.

2 Dec 2024

Environment & nature
Predicting mother-calf humpback journeys vital in changing climate: study

A new study has designed a prediction method to simulate the yearly southward migration of humpback whales, which could provide management authorities with greater awareness of altered migration routes in a changing climate. Led by Griffith University, the study focused on the southern migration of humpback whale mums and calves…

2 Dec 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & nature
Innovative robot navigation inspired by brain function boosts efficiency and accuracy

A QUT research team has taken inspiration from the brains of insects and animals for more energy-efficient robotic navigation. Led by postdoctoral research fellow Somayeh Hussaini of the QUT Centre for Robotics, the research, which was published in the prestigious IEEE Transactions on Robotics journal and supported by chip manufacturer…

2 Dec 2024

Digital economyEngineering
ARC supports UQ research capability

University of Queensland researchers have secured more than $35 million through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Projects 2025 scheme to expand research in national priority areas. The funding will support 56 UQ projects to advance basic and applied research across areas including health and biomedicine, biological science, agriculture, engineering…

29 Nov 2024

BiotechnologyEngineeringFood & agricultureHealth & medicalSocial sciences
Life–changing cream to treat skin cancer moves closer to reality

A topical cream to help prevent and treat skin cancers in organ transplant patients is a step closer to development. The world-first treatment, currently being developed by University of Queensland researchers, has received $344,000 in funding from the National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation to help advance the cream…

29 Nov 2024

Health & medical
Coral adaptation unlikely to keep up with global warming

Coral adaptation to global warming will likely be overwhelmed without rapid reductions in global greenhouse gasses, according to an international team of scientists. Professor Peter Mumby from The University of Queensland’s School of the Environment worked with Dr Liam Lachs from Newcastle University’s Coralassist Lab in the United Kingdom to…

29 Nov 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
Massive congrats to the AIBN research teams who secured funding in the latest round of the @arc_gov_au Discovery Project Scheme!

Massive congrats to the AIBN research teams who secured funding in the latest round of the @arc_gov_au Discovery Project Scheme! A nanocoating that can halt viral outbreaks and new materials for solar cell and light emitting technology are among the cutting-edge AIBN projects to win funding in the latest Australian…

28 Nov 2024

Advanced manufacturingEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureHealth & medical

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
#COVID-19 lockdowns may have unexpectedly affected Brisbane’s seasonal Ross River Virus outbreak,

#COVID-19 lockdowns may have unexpectedly affected Brisbane’s seasonal Ross River Virus outbreak, according to a #UQ study. The research, led by Dr Tatiana Proboste, indicated RRV infections peaked at the end of April , potentially due to changes in human behaviour and an increase in time spent in green spaces…

28 Nov 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Researchers will map the migratory connectivity of green turtles in the 🌊Great Barrier Reef

Researchers will map the migratory connectivity of green turtles in the 🌊Great Barrier Reef 🪸 to boost conservation efforts for the endangered species. 🐢 The study, led by The University of Queensland (UQ) PhD candidate Jaime Restrepo, will pinpoint critical feeding areas for green turtles and identify connectivity between key…

28 Nov 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
Simple secret to a longer life

If everyone was as active as the top 25 per cent of the population, individuals over the age of 40 could add five years to their life, according to a new study led by Griffith University researchers. Physical activity has long been known to be good for health, however estimates…

27 Nov 2024

Digital economyHealth & medicalSocial sciences
QIMR Berghofer depression discovery brings fresh hope for 'melancholia' QIMR Berghofer geneticist elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences

QIMR Berghofer researchers have discovered how to diagnose a severe form of depression known as ‘melancholia’ by analysing the facial expressions and brain activity of people as they watched highly emotional movies. The findings offer new hope for people who have struggled to get effective treatment for their depression and…

27 Nov 2024

Health & medical
As mosquitoes become more resistant to insecticides in the Pacific, JCU scientists are heading to Fiji to help stop mosquito-borne diseases becoming a critical threat to public health.

As mosquitoes become more resistant to insecticides in the Pacific, James Cook University scientists are heading to Fiji to help stop mosquito-borne diseases becoming a critical threat to public health. Tessa Knox is a Senior Research Fellow at JCU’s Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine and member of the…

27 Nov 2024

Environment & natureHealth & medicalTropical
QIMR Berghofer depression discovery brings fresh hope for 'melancholia' QIMR

QIMR Berghofer researchers have discovered how to diagnose a severe form of depression known as ‘melancholia’ by analysing the facial expressions and brain activity of people as they watched highly emotional movies. The findings offer new hope for people who have struggled to get effective treatment for their depression, and…

26 Nov 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyHealth & medical
Researchers have uncovered an alternative route that viruses like influenza, alphaviruses, and certain SARS-CoV-2 variants use to invade host cells. 🦠 👩‍🔬

Researchers have uncovered an alternative route that viruses like influenza, alphaviruses, and certain SARS-CoV-2 variants use to invade host cells. 🦠 👩‍🔬 This joint study between @UQ_News and @helsinkiuni reveals how viruses bypass cellular defences, presenting new opportunities for developing targeted antiviral therapies.

26 Nov 2024

Health & medical

Queensland Brain Institute
Congratulations to Professor Peta Stapleton who has received a national award in recognition of her research into tapping, or Emotional Freedom Techniques.

Congratulations to Professor Peta Stapleton who has received a national award in recognition of her research into tapping, or Emotional Freedom Techniques. Prof Stapleton is now a world authority on the subject, has written books including The Science Behind Tapping,

25 Nov 2024

Health & medical

Bond University
UQ scholars elected to Australian Academy of Humanities

Three University of Queensland academics have received the nation's highest honour in humanities. Professor Chris Clarkson, Dr Geoffrey Gray and Associated Professor Patrick Jory have been elected Fellows of the Australian Academy of Humanities. The trio are recognised by their peers for their contributions to cultural and societal understanding.

25 Nov 2024

Social sciences
UQ researchers partner with German counterparts

University of Queensland researchers have secured funding through the 2024 Australia–Germany Joint Research Cooperation scheme to advance globally–significant projects.

25 Nov 2024
From Varroa mites to brain receptors, key UniSC research projects receive ARC funding

The University of the Sunshine Coast will investigate new ways to kill Varroa mites without harming honeybees, develop pheromone traps for parasitic worms and gain novel insights into vital brain receptors, after being awarded almost $2.2 million in funding from the Australian Research Council.

24 Nov 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyDigital economyEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureHealth & medical
UQ recognised in Highly Cited Researcher awards

The University of Queensland received the equal highest number of Highly Cited Researcher (HCR) awards in Australia. UQ received 39 awards in the 2024 Clarivate HCR list and is the 26th most awarded institution globally, in equal place with the University of Melbourne. Professor Philip Hugenholtz and Dr Donovan Parks…

22 Nov 2024
70% of Australians with depressive disorders not getting adequate treatment

Researchers have found 70% of Australians diagnosed with major depressive disorder are not receiving even the minimal treatment necessary. A University of Queensland-led team analysed data for 204 countries and territories, to assess global access to adequate mental health care.

22 Nov 2024

Digital economyHealth & medical
Fewer than 7 per cent of global hotspots for whale-ship collisions have protection measures,

Fewer than 7 per cent of global hotspots for whale-ship collisions have protection measures, leaving marine giants at risk. Researchers, including #UQ's Dr Katya Ovsyanikova, call for urgent action to safeguard these critical areas. 🌊🐋

22 Nov 2024

Environment & nature
$2.8M project to reduce cotton industry’s greenhouse gas emissions

A project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cotton production systems to enable Australia to be the preferred international supplier of low emissions fibre has received $1,985,000 from the Australian Government’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Program Partnerships and Innovation Grants Round and $800,000 from the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC).

22 Nov 2024

Environment & natureFood & agriculture
QLD’s world-leading biomedical sector will be on show at the International Conference on Microneedles 2025

QLD’s world-leading biomedical sector will be on show at the International Conference on Microneedles 2025 to take place at the ASM Global managed Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. A first-time event for Australia, Microneedles 2025 will provide a global platform for Brisbane’s world-leading biotechnology companies and research institutions.

21 Nov 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical
A new whitepaper released by the Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) outlines key recommendations into growing a precision fermentation industry in Australia.

A new whitepaper released by the Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) outlines key recommendations into growing a precision fermentation industry in Australia. AIBN's @Es_Marcellin, who contributed to the paper, says precision fermentation is a transformative opportunity to strengthen food systems, foster economic growth, enhance environmental sustainability, and boost food security.

20 Nov 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyFood & agriculture

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
A new JCU study using artificial intelligence to analyse the structure of cone snail venom has had mixed results

A new JCU study using artificial intelligence to analyse the structure of cone snail venom has had mixed results – but points to a bright future for AI in the field of biological research. The scientists tested how accurately the AI tool AlphaFold could predict the structure of a specific…

20 Nov 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
New research from #UQ's Professor Rod Fensham has shed light on why Brisbane experiences significantly fewer destructive bushfires than other major Australian cities.

New research from #UQ's Professor Rod Fensham has shed light on why Brisbane experiences significantly fewer destructive bushfires than other major Australian cities. The study compares the bushfire environments of Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, and Hobart, exploring factors such as vegetation, weather patterns, and fuel loads.

20 Nov 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & nature
UniSC awarded $1.7M for rainforest laser network

The University of the Sunshine Coast has secured more than $1.7 million to deploy a network of state-of-the-art lasers to scan, measure and 3D map Australia’s rainforests. The TruForest project will equip researchers with otherwise unobtainable laser-scanning equipment, providing unprecedented access to data from 3.6 million hectares of Australian rainforest.

20 Nov 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
Gender inequality baked into treatment of women, dementia and aged care

Dementia disproportionately affects women whether living with dementia or supporting someone living with dementia in aged care, a fact largely ignored in the final report of the Aged Care Royal Commission, an analysis by QUT health law researchers has found.

20 Nov 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Stonefish venom discovery

New research into the venom of stonefish, arguably the world’s most venomous fish, has discovered novel molecules that may lead to improvements in treatment of stings and help develop drug treatments. Lead author Dr Silvia Luiza examined the venoms of estuarine and reef stonefish, both of which are common along…

20 Nov 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
Collaboration key to ultimate genotypes in plants and livestock

UQ researchers are setting the agenda for breeding high yield, heat tolerant and disease–resistant crops and low emission cattle with excellent feed conversion efficiency as they search for the ultimate genotype. UQ Professor Ben Hayes said the ultimate genotype can improve the performance of the best individuals in a species…

20 Nov 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyFood & agriculture
Queensland the home of Quantum

Growing Australia's quantum ecosystem will be the focus when hundreds of delegates from government, industry and research converge in Brisbane next year. The Quantum Australia Conference from 25-27 March is the inaugural public initiative of the Quantum Australia Growth Centre, which was awarded $18.7 million by the Federal Government to…

19 Nov 2024

Advanced manufacturingDigital economyEngineeringQuantum
Mitigating heat stress in heifers to prevent stock losses

A three–year pilot project led by UQ has shown installing shade structures in largely treeless paddocks could increase calf survival rates. Led by Senior UQ Research Fellow Dr Kieren McCosker, the project evaluated the animal impact of feedlot-grade shelters installed close to water points in Mitchell grass-downs country in the…

19 Nov 2024

Food & agriculture
Dr Katrina Wruck named 2025 Young Australian of the Year for Queensland

Dr Katrina Wruck, QUT research fellow in industrial chemistry and lecturer in the School of Chemistry and Physics with a passion for making the world a greener place has been named the 2025 Young Australian of the Year for Queensland.

19 Nov 2024

EngineeringEnvironment & natureMining & resources
Public humiliation is still a common teaching tool in medical education. Here’s how it leaves patients worse off.

Imagine being questioned about complex technical knowledge in front of your peers, supervisors, and members of the public – knowing that a wrong answer could lead to public ridicule. This is the reality for many medical students, with up to 90% of medical students experiencing public humiliation during their training.

19 Nov 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences

James Cook University
UQ swimming program a win for young people with cerebral palsy

A competitive swimming program developed by UQ researchers for young people with severe cerebral palsy has reversed motor decline associated with the condition. UQ Professor Sean Tweedy leads the ParaSTART program, a longitudinal research program aimed at evaluating whether performance-focused sports training improves clinical outcomes for people with severe disabilities.

19 Nov 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
New oral drug to calm abdominal pain

UQ researchers have developed a new class of oral painkillers to suppress chronic abdominal pain based on the peptide hormone oxytocin that drives childbirth contractions. Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience led a team that has changed the chemical structure of oxytocin to make it gut-stable…

18 Nov 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
Facebook ads targeting people at risk of harm under scrutiny

A UQ–led study has revealed how alcohol and gambling companies target people with Facebook advertising for addictive products. The UQ-led study found people trying to reduce their alcohol use or gambling or recovering from harm were exposed to significant amounts of advertisements for these products on social media.

18 Nov 2024

Digital economyHealth & medicalSocial sciences
Machine learning aids rapid advancement of a high-resolution 3D printing technology

QUT biomedical engineers have developed a new automated method to drastically advance melt electrowriting, a new, high-resolution 3D printing technology used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The new method enables melt electrowriting (MEW) experimentation in hours, not days.

18 Nov 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyDigital economyEngineeringHealth & medical
QIMR Berghofer research leads to new treatment for potentially deadly Graft-versus-Host Disease QIMR Berghofer geneticist elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences

A discovery by QIMR Berghofer researchers has led to the development and fast-tracked US-FDA approval of a new treatment for chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD), the major cause of serious complications and death in blood cancer patients who receive vital stem cell transplants. Researcher Dr Kelli MacDonald said "I’m incredibly proud…

18 Nov 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
Carbon credits scheme failing threatened species

New research shows that most areas under a federal government scheme designed to reduce carbon emissions or store carbon don’t protect the habitat of threatened species.

17 Nov 2024

Environment & nature
Traffic safety start–up gains global traction

A Brisbane–based software start–up formed by Uniquest and using AI to improve road safety has been acquired by Canadian company Transoft Solutions. Advanced Mobility Analytics Group (AMAG) was formed by UQ’s commercialisation arm UniQuest in 2020 to develop intellectual property from UQ, the University of British Columbia and Queensland University…

15 Nov 2024

Digital economyTransport
ARC Linkage program boosts diverse projects

QUT researchers are celebrating the awarding of four ARC Linkage grants totalling $1,610,220 and one ARC Linkage and Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities grant of $261,250. The recipient research projects are: Mobile 3D Artefact Digitisation Lab, Weavable thermoelectric textile for body heat management, Advancing digital innovation in the Australian live performance…

15 Nov 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyDigital economyEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureHealth & medical
Our researchers are innovating new eDNA techniques to find highly invasive yellow crazy ants.

Our researchers are innovating new eDNA techniques to find highly invasive yellow crazy ants, strengthening Australia’s biosecurity 🧬 eDNA allows us to detect yellow crazy ants in downstream rivers, making locating infestations faster and easier

15 Nov 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
Small vessels underestimated as strike risk to migrating whales

A new study led by Griffith University researchers has found that current risk assessments of vessel strikes on large whales, such as migrating humpback whales, may be underestimating the threat of smaller vessels, particularly from recreational vessels, not represented in Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) data. 93% of recreational vessels in…

15 Nov 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTransport
UQ receives $3.8 million from ARC

UQ researchers have received more than $3.8 million from the Australian Research Council to enhance Australia's research capabilities and facilities in strategic areas. Researchers will collaborate with industry to advance manufacturing, engineering and agriculture technologies and establish a facility for microbiology research.

14 Nov 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyEngineeringEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureHealth & medical
Researchers UQ's @QldBrainInst have shown how inhibitory synapses adjust after learning.

Researchers from the @AnggonoLab at UQ's @QldBrainInst have shown how inhibitory synapses adjust after learning, offering new insights into brain plasticity. 🧠 👩‍🔬 “By zooming in on the inhibitory synapses, we have shown that, like excitatory synapses, they also get bigger.

14 Nov 2024

Health & medical

Queensland Brain Institute
Major New Indigenous Histories and Futures Centre launched at JCU

A major new ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures (CIEHF) that aims to set new standards for research and management of Land and Sea Country across Australia has been launched in Cairns. The Centre includes world-leading researchers with deep expertise in Indigenous knowledges, Indigenous science…

14 Nov 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceDigital economyEnvironment & natureSocial sciencesTropical
Needle-free influenza vaccine on the horizon

Hope is on the horizon for needle-phobic patients as Griffith University researchers have created a new influenza vaccine composition designed to be administered via the nose. Griffith University Principal Research Leader, Professor Bernd Rehm said his team reprogrammed bacterial cells to create a robust vaccine designed for intranasal delivery.

13 Nov 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical
Sustainable solution alert ♻️ Australia’s oil and gas industry

Sustainable solution alert ♻️ Australia’s oil and gas industry produces hundreds of metric tonnes of thermoplastic waste each year... a major environmental burden often destined for landfill. Enter: PhD student Chundu Tamang. @ANSTO 👏

13 Nov 2024

Advanced manufacturingEngineeringEnvironment & nature
Dr Mark Adams from @QUT has an Inspirational Research Grant for pioneering lung cancer microbiome research.

Dr Mark Adams from @QUT has a @TOGAANZ Inspirational Research Grant for pioneering lung cancer microbiome research. He'll use sequencing + lung samples to create a microbial profile and assess whether the lung microbiome contributes to treatment outcomes.

13 Nov 2024

Health & medical
You’ll find it in potatoes 🥔, bread 🍞, rice 🍚, and maybThanks to an @arc_gov_au Linkage Grant, AIBN researchers are examining how starch could be a key ingredient in a new generation of bioplastics

You’ll find it in potatoes 🥔, bread 🍞, rice 🍚, and maybe even a freshly ironed shirt 👕 Now thanks to an @arc_gov_au Linkage Grant, AIBN researchers are examining how starch could be a key ingredient in a new generation of bioplastics / 🧵

13 Nov 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyEnvironment & nature

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Our research reveals women suppress their femininity to fit into military culture

Imagine spending years hiding who you are to fit into a group, only to become invisible once you leave. This is the reality for many women who serve in the military. Our research has found ex-servicewomen face a double burden: first, via suppressing their femininity to fit into military culture…

13 Nov 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceSocial sciences

James Cook University
Grants to accelerate collaborative projects for potential MND treatments

A collaboration between UQ and the Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative (QEDDI) led by A/Professor Adam Walker, has received a $550,000 @FightMND grant to create and test new molecules for motor neurone disease (MND) treatment and Dr Rebecca San Gil has also secured a $1 million FightMND Discovery Grant to…

13 Nov 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical

Queensland Brain Institute
Age related health decline a predictor of future dementia risk

An international study led by a UQ researcher has found frailty increases a person's risk of dementia, but early intervention may be the key to prevention. Dr David Ward from the Centre for Health Services Research tracked the data of nearly 30,000 participants of 4 longitudinal studies in the United…

12 Nov 2024

Digital economyHealth & medicalSocial sciences
Up, up and away... Our Changing the Game team has been busy collecting data on the wheat crop prior to harvest...

Up, up and away... Our Changing the Game team has been busy collecting data on the wheat crop prior to harvest to inform decisions around next season's planting! 🌾 @theGRDC l @TosariCropRC l @sqnnswhub l @UniSQ_SoAES

12 Nov 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceDigital economyFood & agriculture
Study unlocks mechanisms of liquid-repellent surfaces

Griffith University scientists have made significant strides in understanding and controlling liquid interactions on tiny, advanced surfaces, a breakthrough that could impact a wide range of industries, from self-cleaning materials to medical devices. In a study published in the journal Advanced Materials Interfaces, researchers at Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre…

11 Nov 2024

Advanced manufacturingEnergyEngineeringQuantum
‘Death hotspot’: we found 145 koalas killed along a single Queensland highway last year

The beloved koala is now endangered in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. The tree-dwelling marsupial is threatened by land clearing, loss of its favourite eucalypts, chlamydia, being preyed on by feral animals and – last but not least – collisions with vehicles.

11 Nov 2024

Environment & natureTransportTropical

Griffith University
#UQ researchers are bringing advanced technology to equine breeding in Australia through an advanced form of in vitro fertilisation. 🐎

#UQ researchers are bringing advanced technology to equine breeding in Australia through an advanced form of in vitro fertilisation. 🐎 The team, led by UQ’s Dr Andres Gambini, is using an approach called Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), with exceptional success rates.

8 Nov 2024

BiotechnologyFood & agriculture
Study leads way to early detection and treatment of aggressive prostate cancer

QUT scientists have uncovered functionality of a genetic variant in the prostate specific antigen (PSA) gene to improve the current diagnostic test to help distinguish aggressive from non-aggressive prostate cancers and the level of treatment the patient needs.

8 Nov 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyHealth & medical
Improved water quality monitoring for waterways flowing into Great Barrier Reef

QUT data scientists, as part of an international study, have developed an enhanced statistical method to monitor the quality of water in streams and rivers flowing into the Great Barrier Reef. First author Dr Edgar Santos-Fernandez, from QUT’s School of Mathematical Sciences, said that while the current water-quality sensors provided…

8 Nov 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
Coral reef fish running out of time to recover at Great Barrier Reef Islands

A study has found concerning new evidence of long-term declines in coral reef fish around highly visited inshore islands of the Great Barrier Reef. A study has found concerning new evidence of long-term declines in coral reef fish around highly visited inshore islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Scientists surveyed…

8 Nov 2024

Environment & natureTropical
Global air quality expert receives Planetary Health Award in Monaco

QUT Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska’s international work on air quality has been recognised in Monte Carlo where she was presented with the 2024 Planetary Health Award from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The Planetary Health Awards honour key international figures and organisations, with only three recipients each year.

8 Nov 2024

EngineeringEnvironment & natureHealth & medical
UQ partnership to bolster biotech innovation in Queensland

UQ's capabilities in drug discovery and development are set to be strengthened by a new partnership between UniQuest and global biotech company Molecule to Medicine. The collaboration will align UniQuest’s Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative (QEDDI) with MTM to foster the formation of new biotech companies in Brisbane and translate…

8 Nov 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
QUT shines at Queensland Women in STEM awards

QUT excellence in STEM shone brilliantly as the 2024 Queensland Women in STEM Prize winners were announced at a ceremony earlier this week. Presented by Queensland Museum in collaboration with the Queensland Government through the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation and the Office for Women, the prize looks…

8 Nov 2024

Advanced manufacturingDefence, aviation & spaceDigital economyEngineeringSocial sciences
Garbage dumps may produce next pandemic

Scientists say the expansion of garbage dumps in low-income countries concentrates people, waste and animals in the same areas and dumps could be dangerous reservoirs for diseases such as Covid 19. JCU Professor Bruce Gummow is the co-author of a new study with Mahidol University in Thailand, of the interaction…

7 Nov 2024

Environment & natureHealth & medicalSocial sciences
Psychologists are positive about psychedelic-assisted therapy

Psychologists view psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) as a transformative tool with the potential to facilitate deep psychological insights and emotional breakthroughs for patients with chronic mental health conditions, a Griffith University study has found. Researchers interviewed 20 psychologists from across Australia.

7 Nov 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Only 25% of older Queenslanders are aware of the risks heatwaves put on their health

Though it’s unclear exactly what the upcoming summer will bring, climate change means Australian summers are getting hotter. Even this year in August we saw temperatures around 40°C in parts of the country. Heatwaves aren’t just uncomfortable – they can be deadly. Health emergencies related to extreme heat place significant…

6 Nov 2024

Environment & natureHealth & medicalTropical

Griffith University
#DidYouKnow Despite their tiny size, fruit flies have brains with surprising similarities to ours!

#DidYouKnow Despite their tiny size, fruit flies have brains with surprising similarities to ours! With around 120,000 neurons, they still manage complex behaviours, making them ideal for brain research. QBI researchers use them to explore states like wakefulness and sleep.

6 Nov 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical

Queensland Brain Institute
UniSC nuclear scientist wins award for car industry research

UniSC researcher Dr Rezwanul Haque has received a national Young Scientist Award for his research using nuclear technology to find cracks and signs of stress in riveted joints in sheet metal in car bodies. Dr Haque said a decade of collaborative research identified deficiencies that led to modifications in international…

6 Nov 2024

Advanced manufacturingEngineeringTransport
Inflammatory markers found in the blood of people with long COVID could explain ongoing cardiovascular issues.

Inflammatory markers found in the blood of people with long COVID could explain ongoing cardiovascular issues in people who have had the virus. Prof @RonacherK and A/Prof Lucy Burr collaborated on the @UQ_News led study.

5 Nov 2024

Health & medical

Mater Research
Endangered species bounces back with 'logs for cods' project

The Mary River (Moonaboola) in south-eastern Queensland is a sanctuary for several threatened and endangered freshwater species, such as the Australian lungfish and the Mary River turtle. In a new research collaboration Griffith University researcher Dr Luke Carpenter-Bundhoo is trialling the use of ‘cod logs’ (artificial habitats made from natural…

1 Nov 2024

Environment & nature
Rock stars boost soils

JCU researchers will be part of a team working to combat Australia’s chronic soil infertility problem with a technique involving sowing paddocks with crushed rock. With the help of $4.8 million funding from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, field trials will be carried out on seven farms over four…

1 Nov 2024

Environment & natureFood & agricultureTropical
Prestigious honour for leading QIMR Berghofer “tiny hearts” scientist Leading \

Professor James Hudson from QIMR Berghofer has received the AAHMS Jian Zhou Medal for his transformative research advancing understanding of heart disease and developing new treatments. The Medal was founded by Emeritus Professor Ian Frazer AC, in honour of his cervical cancer vaccine co-inventor, Professor Jian Zhou.

31 Oct 2024

Health & medical
215 million hectares of forest – an area bigger than Mexico – could grow back by itself, if we can just leave it alone

About 215 million hectares of land – an area bigger than Mexico – could be reforested naturally and without costly manual planting, our new research shows. This would allow us to offset around 23.4 gigatonnes of global carbon emissions over the next three decades.

31 Oct 2024

Environment & natureTropical

Queensland University of Technology
Online ‘atlas of ecosystems’ a world first

Insights from Australia’s unique and diverse ecosystems will be used to boost global conservation efforts thanks to a game-changing online Global Ecosystems Atlas developed under the guidance of James Cook University researchers and a global partnership of scientists, non-government organisations and stakeholders.

31 Oct 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & nature
Long COVID inflammation damages the heart

UQ–led research has found inflammatory markers in the blood of long COVID patients which could explain why many experience ongoing cardiovascular issues. Associate Professor Kirsty Short said the team set out to investigate the cause of persistent chest pain and heart palpitations commonly reported by many long COVID sufferers.

31 Oct 2024

Health & medical
Project seeks genetic markers of heart disease in Indigenous Australians: Heart Foundation grant

Associate Professor Shivashankar Nagaraj from QUT’s School of Biomedical Sciences will lead the project, “Uncovering the genetic basis of cardiovascular disease in Indigenous Australians” funded by a $301,000 Heart Foundation First Nations CVD Grant. The project would define the genetic basis of CVD in remote Indigenous Australian populations using whole…

29 Oct 2024

Digital economyHealth & medicalTropical
Nursing homes don’t have to be dull, uninviting spaces.

Nursing homes don’t have to be dull, uninviting spaces. There’s a new wave of designers from #QUTDesignLab transforming #agedcare with better buildings. Making aged care more ‘playable’ or ‘fun’ is the mission of researcher Professor Evonne Miller who heads up the QUT Design Lab.

29 Oct 2024

Social sciences
Using weather radar to track Australia's migrating birds

For the first time, scientists have used data from weather radar not to track storms, but to count birds as they travel across Australian skies. The study, led by University of Queensland PhD candidate Xu Shi, used 16 years of radar weather data from the Bureau of Meteorology to monitor…

28 Oct 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & nature
Researchers target sorghum breeding to boost grain crops

A research team led by UQ is on track to solve a major problem for Australian farmers using targeted breeding to improve yields for sorghum crops. The work is part of a five-year $12 million research investment collaboration with industry and government to reduce sorghum lodging.

28 Oct 2024

Food & agriculture
Two UQ researchers honoured as AAHMS Fellows for 2024

An Aboriginal epidemiologist and a leading gynaecologic oncologist have been elected as Fellows of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. Professor James Ward, Director of The University of Queensland’s Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and Professor Andreas Obermair from UQ’s Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR) are recognised for…

25 Oct 2024

Health & medical
For Deaf people, train travel can be a gamble. QUT computer scientist Jessica Korte is developing an AI-powered signing avatar to automatically translate audio announcements into Auslan.

For Deaf people, train travel can be a gamble. QUT computer scientist Jessica Korte is developing an AI-powered signing avatar to automatically translate audio announcements into Auslan. Our work on the avatar also builds towards the next step: developing AI systems which can “understand” Auslan. #QUT #QUTResearch #Auslan #Deaf #traintravel

25 Oct 2024

Digital economyTransport
QIMR Berghofer geneticist elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences QIMR Berghofer geneticist elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences

QIMR Berghofer researcher Professor Stuart MacGregor has been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences in honour of his outstanding contribution to science, including his work mapping hundreds of genes for diseases ranging from skin cancer to eye disease. His recent work has led to…

24 Oct 2024

Digital economyHealth & medical
Statistician awarded for developing new algorithms used across the world

Dr Leah South from the QUT School of Mathematical Sciences has received the Paul Bourke Award for Early Career Research from the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia for her leading contribution to computational statistics research. Her more than 15 publications, many published in some of the most prestigious journals, have focused on…

24 Oct 2024

Digital economy
We studied 70,000 people and found new links to ADHD and Parkinson’s

The human brain is a marvel of complexity. It contains specialised and interconnected structures controlling our thoughts, personality and behaviour. The size and shape of our brains also play a crucial role in cognitive functions and mental health.

24 Oct 2024

Health & medical

QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
AI helps track down elusive birds

JCU Researchers are using AI to help them locate rare birds, using the technology to ‘listen’ through hundreds of hours of recordings and boosting conservation efforts for the endangered species, the black-throated finch. “These birds are estimated to have lost 88 % of their former distribution in the past four…

24 Oct 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & nature
World’s largest study of brain volume reveals genetic links to ADHD, Parkinson’s Disease World’s largest study of brain volume reveals genetic links to ADHD, Parkinson’s Disease

Ground-breaking research led by QIMR Berghofer scientists has discovered hundreds of genetic variants involved in brain size which are also found in people with brain conditions including Parkinson’s disease and ADHD. A/Prof Miguel Rentería says “There is strong evidence that ADHD and Parkinson’s has a biological basis, and this research…

21 Oct 2024

Health & medical
Selenium, a mineral found in foods like grains, meat, and nuts (especially Brazil nuts), can boost learning and memory in ageing brains! 🧠✨

Selenium – a mineral found in many foods like grains, meat, and nuts (especially Brazil nuts) – could reverse the cognitive impact of stroke and boost learning and memory in ageing brains, according to Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) researchers. 🧠✨ Research shows that selenium improves neuron generation and cognition in…

21 Oct 2024

Food & agricultureHealth & medical

Queensland Brain Institute
World-first clinical trial for treating spinal cord injury

A Phase I human clinical trial is set to commence to test the efficacy and safety of the transplantation of olfactory cell nerve bridges to treat chronic spinal cord injury. Professor James St John, said olfactory ensheathing cells are the specialised cells within the olfactory (sense of smell) nerve within…

21 Oct 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
QUT innovator celebrated with Australia’s top award for research-industry collaboration

Professor Sara Couperthwaite has received the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) David and Valerie Solomon Award for her research transforming mining waste into high purity alumina for safer lithium-ion batteries with industry partner Lava Blue.

18 Oct 2024

Advanced manufacturingEnergyEngineeringMining & resources
Scientists dissect dugong poo for DNA clues

James Cook University TropWATER scientists are unlocking vital clues about the diets of globally endangered dugongs by studying the DNA found in an unusual source – dugong poo. Seagrass is the main food source for dugongs, but as these meadows come under increasing threat, this research could be key to…

18 Oct 2024

Environment & natureTropical
Plugging into pain: ant toxin causes electrical sting

UQ researchers have uncovered the workings of ant venom by measuring electric currents through individual channels in cells to understand how it causes pain. Dr Angelo Keramidas from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience led a team which discovered a toxin within the venom caused hyperstimulation of sodium channels within the…

17 Oct 2024

Environment & natureHealth & medicalTropical
Plugging into pain: ant toxin causes electrical sting

UQ researchers have uncovered the workings of ant venom by measuring electric currents through individual channels in cells to understand how it causes pain. Dr Angelo Keramidas from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience led a team which discovered a toxin within the venom caused hyperstimulation of sodium channels within the…

17 Oct 2024

Environment & natureHealth & medicalTropical
Anti-racist educational intervention for health workers: NHMRC Indigenous Health grant

QUT’s Carumba Institute and Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CHQHHS) have been awarded an NHMRC Medical Research Futures Fund Indigenous Health grant of $994,963.50 to develop an anti-racist educational intervention in children’s health and hospital services.

17 Oct 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Talk about a cracking idea... Could the humble egg unlock the secret to improved cancer treatments?

🥚 Chicken eggshells may be the key to better understanding how metastatic prostate cancer behaves and responds to treatments. UniSQ researchers have developed a new 3D structure for growing cancer cells, using eggshells as the main ‘ingredient’.

17 Oct 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
Firms with green innovation patents rewarded in the credit market

A QUT study of the US credit default swap (CDS) market’s response to green innovation in the form of green patents found that firms with more green patents had lower borrowing costs and higher credit ratings. The study analysed the effects of green patents on CDSs on 4,532 US-based firms…

16 Oct 2024

Environment & natureSocial sciences
Researchers take another step towards curing blindness - testing a therapy for blindness in pigs

A research team at Bond University is testing a therapy for blindness in pigs, aiming to find a cure for age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa in humans. Dr Jason Limnios leads the Stem Cell Research Group at the Clem Jones Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CJCRM) at Bond and has…

16 Oct 2024

BiotechnologyFood & agricultureHealth & medical

Bond University
Rangers lead monitoring effort for Uganda's lion population

Study highlights vital role of wildlife rangers in lion conservation. In a new study published in Nature Communications Biology, wildlife rangers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority have demonstrated their ability to generate precise and reliable data on lion populations in Uganda’s Nile Delta, a critical stronghold for African lions.

15 Oct 2024

Environment & natureTropical
UQscience researchers have developed a non-invasive tool that can detect the presence of Koalas.

A/Prof Celine Frere & a team of @UQscience researchers have developed a non-invasive tool that can detect the presence of Koalas. The air filtering sample collection systems are fitted with sterilised cheesecloth that can capture airborne environmental DNA eDNA) – DNA shed by organisms into the environment – to detect…

15 Oct 2024

BiotechnologyFood & agriculture
CQU researchers have earned prestigious @arc_gov_au support for #FirstNations-led project Dandhigu Yimbana: Listening on Country for Social and Emotional Wellbeing,

CQU researchers have earned prestigious @arc_gov_au support for #FirstNations-led project Dandhigu Yimbana: Listening on Country for Social and Emotional Wellbeing, led by Jawun Research Centre that will explore how arts-based research can help close the gap for Indigenous health and wellbeing.

15 Oct 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
UQ to lead race in anti–doping detection with quantum sensor technology

UQ will pioneer quantum sensory methods that could improve the detection of performance–enhancing drugs in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) will collaborate on the project which has received almost $430,000 as part of the Queensland Government’s Quantum 2032 Challenge.

15 Oct 2024

Health & medicalQuantum
Survey reveals Australian’s lukewarm response to urgent action on global heating

An annual climate action survey has highlighted concern for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), a desire for renewables over nuclear power, however, Australians impacted by the cost-of-living crisis seem less enthusiastic on taking climate change actions, despite being strongly supportive of the need to address this global challenge.

14 Oct 2024

EnergyEnvironment & natureSocial sciencesTropical
People who cannot have mRNA vaccines will soon be protected from COVID-19 thanks to a new protein-based vaccine

People who cannot have mRNA vaccines will soon be protected from COVID-19 thanks to a new protein-based vaccine being trialled at Mater Research. Prof Paul Griffin said COVID-19 is still present in the community and encourages people to volunteer.

14 Oct 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical

Mater Research
CQUniversity researchers have been named as some of the world's most widely-cited scientists.

CQUniversity researchers have been named as some of the world's most widely-cited scientists with 35 academics in this year’s Elsevier World's Top 2% Scientists list. Compiled using bibliometric data from the Scopus database, the list features over 190,000 researchers from a pool of more than eight million active scientists worldwide.

11 Oct 2024
‘A champion of chemistry’: QUT chemist wins national award

Professor Leonie Barner has been awarded the prestigious Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) Chemical Service Award recognising her substantial contributions to the field of chemistry and enduring commitment to advancing the profession especially with regards to sustainability.

11 Oct 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyEnvironment & natureTropical
Boosting quality of life for people with advanced breast cancer

Two hundred people are being recruited for a major study investigating how diet and exercise can help those living with metastatic breast cancer. Led by Professor Marina Reeves from The University of Queensland’s Faculty of Medicine, researchers from UQ and Cancer Council Queensland will compare current treatment supports with a…

11 Oct 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
New rural and remote road safety program for Queensland schools

With nearly 60% of Australia’s road fatalities occurring on regional and remote roads, and those aged between 16 and 25 most vulnerable, a new road safety program for schools has been devised with the aid of a QUT academic. The BRAKE Rural and Remote - an Educational Guide to Road…

10 Oct 2024

Social sciencesTransport
Coffee during pregnancy safe for baby's brain development

A University of Queensland-led study has failed to find any strong links between drinking coffee during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental difficulties in children, but researchers are advising expectant mothers to continue following medical guidelines of caffeine consumption.

10 Oct 2024

Food & agricultureHealth & medicalSocial sciences
It's that time again... The prestigious @timeshighered World University Rankings are out for 2025 and we've solidified our reputation as a leading institution!

It's that time again... The prestigious @timeshighered World University Rankings are out for 2025 and we've solidified our reputation as a leading institution in the 351-400 band.! @UniSQVC

9 Oct 2024
Aussie avocado technology to hit Latin America

A tissue–culture propagation technology developed at UQ to grow hundreds of plants from a single cutting is set to bolster avocado production across Latin America. UQ’s Dr Chris O’Brien said the technology would speed up the production of 4 key avocado rootstocks in the region.

9 Oct 2024

BiotechnologyFood & agriculture
Deadly human-wildlife conflict lies at centre of Zimbabwe lake and an embattled economy

Dangers of living by predator-infested lake highlighted in new publication. A Griffith University researcher has shed light on the tragic and often overlooked human-wildlife conflicts surrounding a vast, picturesque lake that supports the livelihoods of villagers in a remote Zimbabwe region.

9 Oct 2024

Environment & natureFood & agricultureSocial sciencesTropical
Advancing our understanding of suicide and suicide prevention 💛 Thanks to @Qld_MHC, we've received funding for two projects.

Two University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) projects that will advance our understanding of suicide and suicide prevention have been awarded Queensland Mental Health Commission funding. Associate Professor Annette Brömdal and their research team received $100,000 to investigate the impact of access to gender-affirming healthcare on suicide prevention.

9 Oct 2024
1.5 million Australians suffer from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and 1 in 7 adults over 50 will be affected.

1.5 million Australians suffer from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and 1 in 7 adults over 50 will be affected. Learn how Bond researchers are using stem cell therapy in a quest to reverse vision loss

9 Oct 2024

Health & medical

Bond University
CQUniversity is a world top 600 institutions (out of over 2,000 eligible universities) 👏🎓

CQUniversity is a world top 600 institutions (out of over 2,000 eligible universities) 👏🎓 The University is proud to have maintained its overall @timeshighered World University Ranking of 501-600 in the 2025 rankings release, out today.

9 Oct 2024
Rental housing crisis deterring moves to regions

James Cook University researchers say Cairns is a prime example of a regional city where the rental housing crisis is making people who have moved to the city rethink their choice - and they say city planners must act if regional areas want such people to stay.

9 Oct 2024

Social sciences
UniSC seeks to help wildlife in danger of disappearing forever

From majestic manta rays to elusive dugongs and sharks that walk, UniSC researchers based at its Fraser Coast campus are providing new insights to help protect at-risk marine life. Associate Professor Kathy Townsend says this includes PhD candidates from across the world who have moved to the region to join…

9 Oct 2024

Environment & nature
We're a cut above the rest... Because we're carving a path to the future with robotic food processing innovation! 🥩

The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) is on the cutting edge of revolutionising the food processing industry, with researchers advancing the development of automated cutting. UniSQ Centre for Agricultural Engineering Research Fellow Dr Basem Adel Aly is leading this research, which involves analysing the data from a controllable robotic arm…

8 Oct 2024

Digital economyEngineeringFood & agriculture
700 million plastic bottles: we worked out how much microplastic is in Queensland’s Moreton Bay

When it rains heavily, plastic waste is washed off our streets into rivers, flowing out to the ocean. Most plastic is trapped in estuaries and coastal ecosystems, with a small fraction ending up offshore in the high seas. In the coastal ocean, waves and tides break down plastic waste into…

8 Oct 2024

Environment & nature

University of Queensland
Ocean protection accounts for 10% of fish in the world’s coral reefs – but we could save so much more

Ocean fish populations have fallen dramatically in the past half-century, and climate change is expected to make the problem worse. Governments have designated “marine protected areas”, where human activity is constrained to protect ocean life. Our new study of nearly 2,600 tropical coral reefs around the world is the first…

8 Oct 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTropical

James Cook University
Spider venom heart drug moves to clinical trials

A UQ–led project to develop the first–ever drug to treat heart attack and protect donor hearts will move to human clinical trials, after receiving $17.8 million in funding from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). Professor Glenn King from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) said the 4 year trial…

7 Oct 2024

Health & medical
UQ chairs gathering of global flu experts

More than 1,400 experts have visited Brisbane for the world's only scientific meeting dedicated to influenza, chaired by UQ's Associate Professor Kirsty Short. OPTIONS XII for the Control of Influenza, run by the International Society for Influenza and Respiratory Virus Diseases, was held over 4 days showcasing new data and…

4 Oct 2024

Health & medical
New research shows how growing Queensland regions can learn from biodiversity and carbon offsetting efforts to better meet water quality targets.

New research shows how growing Queensland regions can learn from biodiversity and carbon offsetting efforts to better meet water quality targets. The study, led by Joseph McMahon from the Reef Catchments Science Partnership, explores how the integrity of water quality offsets – critical to protecting the health of the Great…

4 Oct 2024

Environment & natureSocial sciencesTropical
Project to manage heat in homes puts power in hands of users

The second phase of a trial to implement a heat-detection system inside the homes of senior Australians will this time put the power directly in the hands of participants. The team at Griffith University’s Ethos Project (Extreme Heat and Older Persons) are once again calling on Queenslanders over the age…

4 Oct 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureHealth & medicalSocial sciences
GBR water quality targets can be achieved with gully remediation

A new study conducted at Bonnie Doon Creek on the lower Burdekin River in Queensland has demonstrated a significant reduction in sediment yield through large-scale remediation of alluvial gullies. The remediation efforts resulted in a remarkable reduction of 96%-99% in fine sediment yield within one year.

4 Oct 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & nature
UQ to lead quantum evolution with $29m for 10 new projects

The University of Queensland will be at the forefront of developing quantum technologies on a global stage, after securing more than $29 million through the Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Strategy. The 10 UQ projects include using quantum technologies to help with decarbonisation, computing, athlete performance, diagnosing concussion and athlete…

4 Oct 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyDigital economyEnergyEngineeringHealth & medicalQuantumSocial sciences
CQU researchers are innovating to secure and streamline big events, with a #Quantum2032 grant to merge quantum mechanics and AI to make major event communications hack-proof.

CQU researchers will merge quantum mechanics and AI to make major event communications hack-proof. The project, AI-Quantum Nexus: Revolutionising Group Communication for Large Sports Events, has received $999,933 from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, as part of the Quantum 2032 Challenge.

3 Oct 2024

Digital economyEngineeringQuantumSocial sciences
Relationship between sleep and pain is not what we think

A University of Queensland study investigating the links between sleep and pain could fundamentally change the way doctors and clinicians treat people with chronic pain. “Up until recently it’s been thought pain causes poor sleep, but our research suggests it’s the other way around - that poor sleep worsens and…

2 Oct 2024

Health & medical
UQ researchers named ATSE Fellows

Two University of Queensland researchers have been named as 2024 Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE). Professor Lianzhou Wang FTSE FAA and Professor Xiwang Zhang FTSE are among 32 leaders recognised for applying engineering and sciences to tackle challenges facing society.

2 Oct 2024

Advanced manufacturingDigital economyEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & nature
Saliva could hold the key to diagnosing liver fibrosis

Salivary biomarkers could be the way forward in diagnosing liver fibrosis thanks to a partnership between Griffith University and Gallipoli Medical Research (GMR). Liver fibrosis is a condition characterised by the excessive accumulation of scar tissue which replaces normal liver tissue and disrupts the organ’s structure and function.

2 Oct 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
Forecasting Australia's disaster migration future

A multi–disciplinary UQ project aims to quantify how many Australians will be forced to relocate because of climate change disaster scenarios in the next 25 years. “Every year since 2009, close to 23,000 Australians aged over 15 have been displaced because of housing damage caused by floods, bushfires and cyclones,�…

2 Oct 2024

Environment & natureSocial sciencesTropical
Study will help Indigenous people chart their own course

James Cook University researchers will examine how Torres Strait Islanders have historically dealt with outsiders and their influence, in a bid to better enable Indigenous people to negotiate with governments in the present day.

2 Oct 2024

Social sciencesTropical
Trial of disease-modifying treatment for early stages of Alzheimer’s disease

A potential new treatment that could improve cognition and memory in patients with mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease is being investigated by the University of Sunshine Coast. UniSC Clinical Trials says the drug has disease-modifying potential while the four current registered drugs for Alzheimer’s disease only provide…

1 Oct 2024

Health & medical
Lab–grown spines unlock safer treatment for women with epilepsy

UQ researchers have made a significant step towards enabling women with epilepsy safer access to a common and highly effective anti–seizure medication. Dr Pietrogrande and Professor Wolvetang from UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) led a team of organoid experts who have identified a drug that could nullify…

1 Oct 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical
Clinical trial of asthma injection that aims to reduce airway inflammation

UniSC Clinical Trials is investigating an injectable antibody therapy designed to reduce inflammation that causes asthma. The trial is hoped to provide targeted treatment results for asthma, while also aiming to minimise the number of injections required.

1 Oct 2024

Health & medical
Mater Research has launched a new state-wide centre of excellence to improve the healthcare of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Mater Research has opened a new statewide centre of excellence to improve the health and care of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Queensland Government has invested $6 million over three years to support the establishment of the Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Mental Health…

30 Sep 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences

Mater Research
Fellows crafting brighter futures for design students

Two Queensland teachers have been selected to fly to New York City to bring sustainable and modern design curriculums for state schools to fruition. The Queensland-Cooper Hewitt Fellowship provides funding each year for a registered Queensland teacher to travel to the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City…

30 Sep 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureSocial sciences
ARC helps strengthen Indigenous health outcomes

A University of Queensland researcher has received $149,000 through the Australian Research Council Discovery Indigenous scheme to improve health outcomes for Indigenous women and babies.

30 Sep 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Fellows fly for seabirds and wildlife conservation research

With diverse projects ranging from embryo production for animal conservation to mapping Great Barrier Reef seabirds, four Fellows will fly to the USA or Panama to embark on their respective research projects. The Queensland Smithsonian Fellowship funds Queensland professionals to work within a Smithsonian Institution, either in the United States…

30 Sep 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyEnvironment & natureSocial sciencesTropical
New international project to improve large bone regeneration

QUT Distinguished Professor Dietmar W Hutmacher is set to receive funding for a $762,318 project as part of the Queensland-Bavaria Collaborative Research Program, Development Grants. The project, known as "Convergence of composite material manufacturing and patient-specific implant design (CocoManuFact)", aims to establish an advanced design and manufacturing workflow for 3D…

30 Sep 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyDigital economyHealth & medical
TRI-based Professor Ranjeny Thomas from @UQ_News #FrazerInstUQ heads up a clinical trial to test a potential new therapy for type 1 diabetes.

TRI-based Professor Ranjeny Thomas from @UQ_News #FrazerInstUQ heads up a clinical trial to test a potential new therapy for type 1 diabetes. The trial is looking for 36 Queensland adults diagnosed in the past five years. The therapy is designed to stop the immune system attack that characterises the condition.

30 Sep 2024

Health & medical
Griffith brings home top award for quantum physics paper

A team from Griffith University Centre for Quantum Dynamics received the prestigious 2023 Paul Ehrenfest Best Paper Award for the most significant paper in the foundations of quantum physics published in the preceding five years. The winning paper, published in Nature Physics, addressed a knowledge gap of the most fundamental kind…

30 Sep 2024

Quantum
New strategy for elite swimmers to avoid shoulder injury

Shoulder injuries are prevalent for competitive swimmers, but there is a limited understanding of cause and risks. Taking a novel approach, Griffith researchers worked with coaches, elite swimmers and experts to identify the most important shoulder injury risk factors in competitive swimming.

30 Sep 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Study finds sensory enjoyment of nature is universal

People in four different countries enjoy the same forest sights, sounds and smells. A new study has highlighted the shared enjoyment of experiencing time in nature by surveying visitors to national parks and forests in four different countries, finding that visitors’ all five senses were activated in positive ways by…

30 Sep 2024

Social sciences
A quantum leap into advanced technologies...

A quantum leap into advanced technologies... We're set to develop Australia’s first industry-accessible cryogenic electronics measurement facility, thanks to $3.4m in funding from @qldscience! #unisqproud 💛

30 Sep 2024

EngineeringQuantum
More than $500,000 funded for landmark Queensland-Bavaria research projects

Four research projects utilising tech for improved healthcare and environmental sustainability have been funded under the historic Queensland-Bavaria Collaborative Research Program. The Program is a joint initiative between the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) and the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts signed in May…

30 Sep 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyDigital economyEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureHealth & medicalTransport
Congratulations to Dr Lily Bentley and Dr Andres Gambini, who have both been awarded Qld Smithsonian Fellowship grants.

Congratulations to Dr Lily Bentley and Dr Andres Gambini, who have both been awarded Qld Smithsonian Fellowship grants, allowing them to work within a Smithsonian Institution! The Queensland Smithsonian Fellowship funds Queensland professionals to work within a Smithsonian Institution, either in the United States of America or Panama

30 Sep 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureHealth & medicalTropical
$53 million has been awarded to fund innovative projects and scholarships for the adoption of quantum and advanced technologies

$53 million has been award across five grants programs to develop quantum and advanced technologies, with applications including Quantum computing, novel materials and biomedicine. These ground-breaking investments build on over 30 years of quantum expertise in Queensland.

30 Sep 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyDefence, aviation & spaceDigital economyEngineeringEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureHealth & medicalQuantumSocial sciencesTransport
Microplastics found in bladder cancers and urine samples

A new study from Bond University reveals microplastics found in human kidney, urine and bladder cancer samples pose health risks, challenging previous claims of their safety. The new study challenges a 2019 World Health Organization report that microplastics in drinking water are harmless after confirming their presence in kidney, urine…

27 Sep 2024

Environment & natureFood & agricultureHealth & medical

Bond University
ARC Discovery Indigenous grant to focus on South Sea Islander empowerment

Dr Francis Bobongie-Harris has been awarded a $1,533,920 ARC Discovery Indigenous grant to lead the multi-centre project Community-led approaches to teaching Australian South Sea Islander history. Dr Bobongie-Harris said Australian South Sea Islanders are Australian-born descendants of people who were kidnapped or “blackbirded” from the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New…

27 Sep 2024

Social sciences
UQ model predicts tick cases in Queensland pets

For the first time UQ scientists have been able to make a prediction about the severity of upcoming tick seasons to help vet surgeries and pet owners prepare. A team led by Professor Stephen Barker has been studying the link between the weather and the number of tick paralysis cases…

26 Sep 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureHealth & medical
Google Australia and Griffith unite to monitor whale sounds and marine habitats

Conservation-technology partnership to increase understanding of migration activity, patterns and behaviours. A unique new partnership that combines marine research with Google AI technology will enhance researchers’ understanding of humpback whale behaviours, migration patterns and marine habitats.

24 Sep 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
Indigenous–led research centre opens at UQ

The first Indigenous–led Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence, based at UQ, will work toward better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The $43.3 million Indigenous Futures Centre (IFC) will conduct research projects across 3 main themes – education and economy, health and wellbeing and law and…

23 Sep 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciencesTropical
QUT design leaders and innovators win Good Design Awards

Two QUT initiatives, one bridging the divide between academia and industry and another placing QUT at the global forefront of design education, have been recognised in the 2024 Australian Good Design Awards.

23 Sep 2024
‘Breakthrough discovery’: Indigenous Rangers in outback WA find up to 50 night parrots

In arid inland Australia lives one of Australia’s rarest birds: the night parrot. Missing for more than a century, a live population was rediscovered in 2013. But the species remains elusive. Until recently, our research team – consisting of Indigenous rangers and scientists – has made a breakthrough discovery. We’ve…

23 Sep 2024

Environment & natureTropical

University of Queensland
Unblocking a bottleneck to the past

Scientists have developed an AI-based technique that vastly speeds up the analysis of fossils. Espen Knutsen is a Senior Lecturer with James Cook University and Senior Scientist/Curator of Palaeontology at the Queensland Museum, Tropics. Along with JCU Deep Learning expert Senior Lecturer Dmitry Konovalov he has been working on how…

20 Sep 2024

Digital economyEngineering
Bio-based materials basis of historic science agreement

More sustainable automotive materials, chemical production and agriculture, all using bio-based materials, are the focus of the first round of grants provided under an historic collaborative science agreement between Queensland and Germany. Three university research projects are being funded to the tune of $750,000.

20 Sep 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureTransport
JCU scientists have moved one big step closer to developing a new #tuberculosis (TB) vaccine.

JCU scientists have moved one big step closer to developing a new #tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, after three short-listed vaccines have been selected to move to the next phase of a global vaccine tournament. The research team produced a new TB vaccine contender – one of six candidates world-wide that took…

20 Sep 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical
As strong as a feather: New insights into optimal muscle design

Are the biggest and most bulging calf muscles necessarily the most powerful? The scientists behind new research into muscle architecture say it’s not the size of a muscle that delivers the most force, but rather its layout – in particular, a feathered layout called “pennate”.

19 Sep 2024

Health & medical
Love island: Bird’s refusal to leave resort life leads to genetic change

A little yellow-and-white bird that prefers to date its mates in an idyllic island lifestyle rather than fly to the mainland to mingle is an example of avian species evolution in action, according to new Australian research. The University of the Sunshine Coast paper, published in Nature Scientific Reports, investigated…

19 Sep 2024

Environment & natureTropical
QUT joins early warning system project for Intensive Care Units

The Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) is teaming with QUT and Playtime Solutions to launch a cutting-edge project to give Intensive Care Units (ICU) early warning of higher than expected mortality rates.

19 Sep 2024

Digital economyHealth & medical
JCU review goes ‘beyond the uniform’

JCU researchers have revealed the impact of military culture on servicemen and women, urging policy makers and military leaders to embrace a multifaceted approach to mental health. In a recent comprehensive review of 65 studies from around the world, lead researcher and JCU Clinical Psychologist Carolyn Heward said the team…

19 Sep 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceHealth & medicalSocial sciences
Co-design project to address community abuse and violence

Discovery Indigenous recipient aims to reduce youth sexual violence and abuse rates in regional population. A Griffith University researcher is among the 11 awardees announced in the latest Australian Research Council Discovery Indigenous scheme, which is worth a combined funding total of $11 million.

19 Sep 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Science backs traditional knowledge of Kakadu plum health benefits

UQ research has confirmed antioxidant properties in an Australian bushfood used by Indigenous people for generations. Dr Oladipupo Adiamo from UQ’s Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences is investigating the safety and efficacy of powdered Kakadu plum as a food ingredient.

18 Sep 2024

Food & agricultureHealth & medical
New screening tool to help stroke survivors

UQ researchers have developed a fast cognitive screening tool that can detect often–missed rehabilitation needs for people who have experienced a stroke. Clinician-researcher Professor Gail Robinson from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute said the Brief Executive Language Screening (BELS) test can be used by health professionals to assess a patient’s cognitive…

17 Sep 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyHealth & medical
MRFF backs UQ epilepsy research

UQ researchers have received $4.1 million from the Medical Research Future Fund to advance their research into epilepsy treatments made from spider venom proteins. Led by Professor Ernst Wolvetang, the project aims to prove the safety and efficacy of venom-based drugs by testing them on lab-grown brain and heart organoids…

17 Sep 2024

Health & medical
@CREStillbirth has developed a free online program to address a gap in perinatal bereavement support options.

@CREStillbirth has developed a free online program to address a gap in perinatal bereavement support options. Living With Loss is a self-guided and flexible program that aims to increase access to readily available, evidence-based, and effective support

17 Sep 2024

Digital economyHealth & medicalSocial sciences

Mater Research
Memory is fundamental to our identity, and it shapes who we are.

Memory is fundamental to our identity, and it shapes who we are. Dr Matt Kenna is fascinated by this incredible aspect of neuroscience. Matt studies synaptic plasticity to explore memory formation and retrieval, and their influence on behaviour.

17 Sep 2024

Health & medical

Queensland Brain Institute
Benefits and challenges of adopting blockchain accounting

A QUT study of blockchain hesitancy in accounting found participants agreed on its efficiency and transparency but were deterred by blockchain’s complexity and cost of integration into existing accounting systems. The study looks at the organisational-level adoption of blockchain accounting and empirically identifies factors affecting the uptake of blockchain technology…

16 Sep 2024

Digital economySocial sciences
Screening tool to help diagnose malnutrition in aged care homes

Malnutrition continues to be a widespread issue in Australian aged care homes, but Griffith University researchers are striving to address the problem through the use of an early diagnostic tool. Dr Marie-Claire O’Shea from the School of Health Sciences and Social Work worked with colleagues at Monash University to develop…

16 Sep 2024

Health & medical
Five crucial lessons to tackle teen vaping

Griffith University experts have released a highly effective free toolkit to tackle teen vaping and say respect for student’s intelligence was the best tool. The toolkit, crafted by the Blurred Minds team, included the top five ways to end teen vaping at school, and drew from more than 250 vaping…

16 Sep 2024

Digital economyHealth & medicalSocial sciences
Pioneering #UQ-led work in the field of quantum physics could be a critical tool in the ongoing quantum revolution, offering new insights and possibilities for future quantum technologies. Read more:

Pioneering #UQ-led work in the field of quantum physics could be a critical tool in the ongoing quantum revolution, offering new insights and possibilities for future quantum technologies. The research has been published in Physical Review Letters 133, 100403 (2024)

16 Sep 2024

Quantum
New network will aid Asia’s green energy transition

A new green energy network aims to connect Asian economies with China – the most complex and important provider of green energy technologies in the world. Griffith Asia Institute will establish a new green energy network which aims to connect Asian economies with China – the most complex and important…

13 Sep 2024

EnergySocial sciences
The Hidden Threat to Tropical Forests

A new study on how air pollution impacts tropical forests is causing concern among scientists, highlighting how deteriorating air quality over the course of the 20th century has impacted the global carbon cycle. Alexander Cheesman is a Senior Research Fellow at James Cook University and the University of Exeter in…

13 Sep 2024

Environment & natureTropical
QUT-developed GM Cavendish QCAV-4: it tastes great

QUT researchers have finally answered their most asked question about QCAV-4, the genetically modified (GM) variety of Cavendish banana they developed to help save the world’s Cavendish banana production: how does it taste?

13 Sep 2024

BiotechnologyFood & agriculture
Planet and people will prosper if resources are better shared

Griffith co-authors play key role in global study to identify sustainable and equitable boundaries for shared resources. New research published today in The Lancet Planetary Health shows that the planet will only remain able to provide even a basic standard of living for everyone in the future if economic systems…

12 Sep 2024

Environment & natureSocial sciences
@jcu: We're mapping the way forward for large-scale coastal restoration 🗺️ 🌊🌱

@jcu: We're mapping the way forward for large-scale coastal restoration 🗺️ 🌊🌱. Involving input from more than 170 contributors, including scientists, First Nations people, government agencies and funders, ‘A Roadmap for Coordinated Landscape-scale Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Restoration’ is the most forward-looking restoration review in Australia to date.

12 Sep 2024

Environment & natureSocial sciencesTropical
Tiny hearts breakthrough a giant leap in fight against heart disease Tiny hearts breakthrough a giant leap in fight against heart disease

An Australian research team led by QIMR Berghofer has succeeded in introducing a vascular system into tiny living and beating model human heart muscles, an achievement which it’s hoped will accelerate progress towards the ultimate goal of repairing damage from heart disease.

12 Sep 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
UniSC to trial new needle-free vaccine for avian influenza

A new clinical trial across Southeast Queensland will assess a needle-free avian influenza patch as a potential vaccine for pandemic response. The study, coordinated by UniSC Clinical Trials, will assess the safety and tolerability of the influenza vaccine administered through a high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) covered in thousands of microprojections.

12 Sep 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyEnvironment & natureHealth & medical
Prescription changes lead to drop in oxycodone use

UQ research has found use of the opioid oxycodone in Australia almost halved after changes to packaging and prescribing practices in 2019. Dr Rory Verhagen from UQ’s Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences analysed data from 6,999 samples from more than 50 wastewater treatment plants across Australia

12 Sep 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medicalSocial sciences
Shoes with good vibes to help people with Parkinson’s walk

QUT PhD researcher Shanshika Maddumage has won the QUT 2024 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, announced today, with her research on the smart shoes she is developing to help people with Parkinson’s disease improve their walking.

12 Sep 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyHealth & medicalSocial sciences
$6.8 million grant for world-first Spinal Injury Project trial

A world-first trial to help improve the lives of Australians living with a debilitating spinal cord injury is a step closer with a $6.8 million Medical Research Future Fund grant. Griffith University researchers, led by Professor James St John from the Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, has raised a total…

12 Sep 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
Researchers drill down on mine waste monitoring using drones and sensors

University of Queensland researchers are developing new ways to monitor mine waste using drones and ground sensors to improve safety and land rehabilitation across mine sites. Lead investigator Dr Thierry Bore from the School of Civil Engineering said safe management and rehabilitation of mine waste was one of the biggest…

11 Sep 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceDigital economyEngineeringEnvironment & natureMining & resources
Suicide rate higher for people with autism

UQ–led research has found people on the autism spectrum are almost 3 times more likely to die by suicide compared to non–autistic people. Dr Damian Santomauro from UQ’s School of Public Health and the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research led a team which conducted a systematic review of nearly…

11 Sep 2024

Health & medical
Crystals hold a secret history of volcanoes – and clues about future eruptions

Imagine you had a crystal ball that revealed when a volcano would next erupt. For the hundreds of millions of people around the world who live near active volcanoes, it would be an extremely useful device. As it turns out, certain crystals really can help us forecast volcanic eruptions.

11 Sep 2024

Environment & natureMining & resources

University of Queensland
RT @AusSMC: 🐶@Griffith_Uni have been looking into how much vegan diets improve the health of dogs?

RT @AusSMC: 🐶@Griffith_Uni have been looking into how much vegan diets improve the health of dogs? The researchers surveyed owners of 2,536 dogs, including 336 fed a vegan diet for at least one year, and analysed their health outcomes.

11 Sep 2024

Food & agricultureSocial sciences
Should robots be allowed to lie? #QUT researcher Dr Stine Johansen says a new study finds some people believe it’s fine...

Should robots be allowed to lie? #QUT researcher Dr Stine Johansen says a new study finds some people believe it’s fine for robots to lie if it serves a greater good. Their research uses examples of robots lying to people to find out if some lies are acceptable – and…

10 Sep 2024

Digital economyEngineeringSocial sciences
iLAuNCH takes Australian space tech globally

The iLAuNCH Trailblazer – led by the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) – has partnered with Deloitte Australia, connecting Australian research and development with international organisations to develop and commercialise Australian space technologies collaboratively.

10 Sep 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceEngineering
Grim statistics on koala survival odds

Records of koala admissions to veterinary hospitals in South East Queensland shows euthanasia was the most common outcome, according to University of Queensland research. PhD candidate Renae Charalambous and colleagues at UQ’s Faculty of Science analysed the records of more than 50,000 koala sightings and hospital admissions between 1997 and…

10 Sep 2024

Environment & nature
Becoming Jupiter... One of our researchers is unearthing the secrets of Jovian planets’ cores and atmospheres! 🪐@NASA l @arc_gov_au

A University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) researcher has been awarded an ARC Future Fellowship grant to investigate the formation of some of the biggest planets orbiting other stars – otherwise known as “Jovian planets”. Senior Research Fellow (Astrophysics) Dr Chelsea Huang will receive $871,587 towards her research, probing the formation…

9 Sep 2024

Defence, aviation & space
Influencers sway smoking and vaping attitudes in young people

Young people exposed to social media posts by celebrities and influencers who endorse nicotine products are more susceptible to smoking or vaping, UQ research has found. Dr Carmen Lim led the study which assessed the survey responses of more than 5,600 young people who didn’t smoke or vape, and who…

9 Sep 2024

Digital economySocial sciences
QUT project helps regional teens be ‘esports-able’

QUT will develop and host an inclusive esports program for regional Queensland high school students, with the support of a $1.19 million grant from the Australian Government. The EsportsAble project will see a series of esports events held in six regional locations across Queensland during 2025, culminating in a state…

9 Sep 2024

Digital economySocial sciences
Griffith home to new ‘Test and Validation’ quantum lab

Griffith University’s partnership with PsiQuantum will see a new ‘Test and Validation’ lab opened at Griffith’s Nathan campus. PsiQuantum will move into the renovated lab in early 2025 following the announcement made today by its co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Pete Shadbolt who was on campus to address students and…

9 Sep 2024

Advanced manufacturingDigital economyEngineeringQuantum
Pay-by-weight airfares are an ethical minefield. We asked travellers what they actually think

Imagine checking in for a flight with your two teenage children. Charging passengers based on their weight is highly controversial for many reasons. But that hasn’t stopped some airlines experimenting with such policies. Our recently published research examined air passengers’ views on alternative airfare policies.

9 Sep 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceSocial sciencesTransport

James Cook University
Would you be happy to use your face to pay for your groceries?

Would you be happy to use your face to pay for your groceries? While facial recognition technology isn’t new, facial recognition payment technology (FRPT) is – and it’s growing very quickly. #QUT research examines attitudes towards facial recognition payment technology (#FRPT).

6 Sep 2024

Digital economySocial sciences
TRI-based Professor Di Yu @YUmmunology leads a @UQ #FrazerInstUQ team building an immune cell atlas with 1000 blood samples to aid diagnosing/treating children with cancer, diabetes, lupus.

TRI-based Professor Di Yu @YUmmunology leads a @UQ_News #FrazerInstUQ team building an immune cell atlas with 1000 blood samples to aid diagnosing/treating children with cancer, diabetes, lupus. It will empower tailored treatments: maximum benefit, minimum side effects.

6 Sep 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyHealth & medical
Our cities are losing the small, colourful songbirds that give us the most joy

The birds that fill our mornings with songs and our parks and gardens with colour are disappearing from our cities, our new study has found. We examined 82 bird species across 42 landscape types in Brisbane. Our findings were clear: urbanisation, particularly the increase in built infrastructure and the loss…

6 Sep 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & nature

University of Queensland
Taking the Coastwatchers into cyberspace

Professor Dan Svantesson says Australia needs a cyber militia to defend against online threats. The Coastwatchers began in 1919 as a network of brave civilian observers along Australia’s northern frontier, using their local knowledge to keep watch over the seas. Now, more than a century after their founding, it's time…

6 Sep 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceDigital economySocial sciencesTropical

Bond University
Griffith to open CBD campus at iconic Treasury Building

Griffith University is proud to announce the establishment of its new Brisbane City campus, set to open in 2027 at the historic Treasury Building on Queen Street. By 2035, the city campus is expected to be home to approximately 7,000 students and 200 staff, offering a state-of-the-art educational environment fostering…

6 Sep 2024
Immune cell 'atlas' will help kids fight life–threatening diseases

Researchers at UQ are developing a comprehensive paediatric immune cell 'atlas' to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of children with life–threatening diseases such as cancer, diabetes and lupus. Project lead and Director of the Ian Frazer Centre for Children’s Immunotherapy Research Professor Di Yu will collaborate with the Queensland…

6 Sep 2024

Digital economyHealth & medical
Six of the world’s seven extant sea turtle species are classified as vulnerable or endangered.

Six of the world’s seven extant sea turtle species are classified as vulnerable or endangered. IMOS led a pilot tagging program to track the movements of three species of turtles, providing data vital for conservation.

6 Sep 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
Research reveals cyberbullying is pushing teenage girls towards cosmetic procedures

Adolescent females subjected to appearance-related cyberbullying are more likely to feel ashamed of their bodies, a desire to change their appearance and suffer eating disorder symptoms, according to new UniSC research.

6 Sep 2024

Digital economySocial sciences
Eureka! QUT researcher wins top science prize

QUT Associate Professor Aaron McFadyen is among the winners of the 2024 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes announced last night. Professor McFadyen received the Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology – having developed software that has revolutionised the way we analyse, assess and access airspace keeping operations safe while improving…

5 Sep 2024

Digital economyTransport
Eureka! UniSC insect expert in national science award win - Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science

A University of the Sunshine Coast entomologist helping Queensland children find new insect species in their school grounds to add to a global database is celebrating the project’s win in last night’s 2024 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.

5 Sep 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureSocial sciences
UQ researchers and educators awarded three Eureka Prizes

Teams of researchers from UQ working on pioneering melanoma imaging and preventing deadly infections, along with a science engagement team, have won prestigious 2024 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.

5 Sep 2024

Digital economyHealth & medical
UQ researchers awarded Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships

Nine University of Queensland researchers have been awarded $2.1 million through the 2024 Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships program.

5 Sep 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureHealth & medicalTropical
Congratulations to Associate Professor @rsuarezsaa who recieved @arc_gov_au funding to research the brain circuit formation in mammals

Congratulations to Associate Professor @rsuarezsaa who recieved @arc_gov_au funding to research the brain circuit formation in mammals to understand early brain formation and manipulate brain wiring. 👏🧠

5 Sep 2024

Health & medical

Queensland Brain Institute
Congratulations, TRI-based Prof Peter Soyer from @UQ #FrazerInstUQ, a winner in the @eurekaprizes for 2024.

Congratulations, TRI-based Prof Peter Soyer from @UQ #FrazerInstUQ, a winner in the @eurekaprizes for 2024. He won for leading work to improve early detection and build a national targeted melanoma screening program.

5 Sep 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
Newly published research using #drone mapping and #AI to count giant clams on the Great Barrier Reef.

Newly published research using #drone mapping and #AI to count giant clams on the Great Barrier Reef. The future of ecological conservation lies in innovative technologies that streamline data collection and analysis. This is the work of @jcu masters student Olivier Decitre.

4 Sep 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTransportTropical
Capturing PFAS chemicals for better battery technology

Researchers at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology have made a filter which quickly and cleanly captures per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The filter contains a patented sorbent solution that uses an ion-exchange technique to isolate and remove the PFAS particles as the water passes through it.

4 Sep 2024

Environment & natureHealth & medical
Professor @John_J_McGrath is a key figure in global mental health research.

Professor @John_J_McGrath is a key figure in global mental health research. His work explores critical questions about what goes wrong in the brain, when it happens, and how we might prevent it.

3 Sep 2024

Health & medical

Queensland Brain Institute
RT by @UQscience: Do tourists visiting the Great Barrier Reef want to learn more about climate change?

RT by @UQscience: Do tourists visiting the Great Barrier Reef want to learn more about climate change? Research by @UQScience's Dr Yolanda Waters has revealed that educating visitors about climate change impacts makes for a positive tourism experience.

3 Sep 2024

Social sciencesTransportTropical
Colourful, melodious birds at risk from poor urban planning

New research led by Griffith University reveals how urban areas in Brisbane are losing bird species with characteristics that people find most “aesthetically pleasing”. The study, led by Dr Andres Felipe Suarez-Castro, found 82 different bird species across 42 different landscape types in Brisbane, but the variety of smaller, colourful…

3 Sep 2024

Environment & nature
Bold climate action benefits more than just the environment – it’s also great for business

As the world grapples with the intensifying challenges of climate change, businesses are under increasing pressure to take action. Business must lead the charge in good faith. Yet still too often, taking bold action on climate is painted as a kind of tradeoff – that because it costs money to…

3 Sep 2024

Environment & natureSocial sciences

University of Southern Queensland
Great ‘techspectations’ by customers let down by retailers

QUT researchers have found that while Australians generally trust retail technology, they remain hesitant to swiftly adopt new advancements, largely due to concerns over security and privacy. Led by Dr Nadine Ostern, the research team from the QUT Centre for Future Enterprise have published the Trust Trend Report: Consumer Perceptions…

3 Sep 2024

Digital economySocial sciences
Study finds program boosts cognitive engagement of students with language and attention difficulties

A QUT-led study has found high school students with disabilities impacting language and information processing were able to better comprehend content when teachers adopted evidence-based strategies to increase the accessibility of classroom teaching.

3 Sep 2024

Social sciences
Digital map of Australia’s environmental health vulnerabilities

Another step in the creation of a national digital environmental health decision-support platform has been awarded $1.9 million from the Medical Research Future Fund National Critical Research Infrastructure program. Co-lead researcher Dr Aiden Price from QUT’s Centre for Data Science said the funding would support the continued development of the…

3 Sep 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureHealth & medical
Reef tourism encourages climate action

UQ research has revealed that informing tourists visiting the Great Barrier Reef about climate impact doesn't negatively affect their experience and can help encourage climate action. The researchers surveyed 656 reef visitors about their experiences and behaviours during boat trips.

3 Sep 2024

Environment & natureSocial sciencesTropical
A drug free life for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients possible within a decade

Long term relief is within reach for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis after an $11.5 million grant to a UQ–led team. Professor Ranjeny Thomas AM from UQ’s Frazer Institute received the funding as part of the Federal Government’s Frontier Health and Medical Research initiative, which will allow the Reset Rheumatoid Arthritis…

3 Sep 2024

Advanced manufacturingHealth & medical
A quantum leap for biology

UQ has launched a $45 million research initiative to position Australia as a global leader in quantum biotechnology, and tackle some of the world's biggest challenges. The ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology (QUBIC) brings together quantum technologies with life sciences, paving the way for advancements in health, energy…

3 Sep 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyEnergyFood & agricultureHealth & medicalQuantum
Frazer Institute’s Dr Tim Wells and his team at TRI are tackling the superbug P. aeruginosa in people with #cysticfibrosis.

@UQ_News Frazer Institute’s Dr Tim Wells and his team at TRI are tackling the superbug P. aeruginosa in people with #cysticfibrosis. The team is planning a trial of a new therapy 🙏 @CF_Foundation and @CFAustralia. @UQMedicine

2 Sep 2024

Health & medical
In the @AmerChemSociety @MacroJrnls_ACS journal Biomacromolecules, Professor Michael Monteiro's research group takes a look at how the polymer tadpoles they design could help improve integrin-targeted therapy for certain cancer stem cells.

In the @AmerChemSociety @MacroJrnls_ACS journal Biomacromolecules, Professor Michael Monteiro's research group takes a look at how the polymer tadpoles they design could help improve integrin-targeted therapy for certain cancer stem cells. Michael is the AIBN’s resident expert in 'living' radical polymerisation, specialising in complex nanostructures like nanoworms, toroids, vesicles, spheres…

2 Sep 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Consumers want cage-free eggs, but Indonesian farmers say they need more support to do this

With rising consumer concerns for animal welfare worldwide, the poultry industry is starting to let their hens roam around in bigger spaces. Indonesia, the second-largest egg producer worldwide, is also experiencing this transition, as many multinational and Asian food companies are committing to improving animal welfare standards and sourcing exclusively…

2 Sep 2024

Food & agricultureSocial sciencesTropical

University of Queensland
New research centre focuses on children's palliative care

A QUT-led project to establish the Centre of Research Excellence for Paediatric Palliative Care in Australia has been funded with a $3M grant from the NHMRC. The research centre would generate new knowledge about models of care appropriate for geographically dispersed and diverse populations; new approaches to shared decision-making; and…

2 Sep 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Geneticist uncovers the history of us

Distinguished Professor Lyn Griffiths is a 'DNA detective', tracking down genetic links to human ailments to lead to personalised treatment. She also uses next-generation genome sequencing to identify the remains of missing Australian soldiers.

2 Sep 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyHealth & medical
50 years of research: QUT study reveals key strategies to combat urban heat vulnerability

A QUT study analysing five decades of research and thousands of studies has identified five critical areas needed to tackle urban heat vulnerability (UHV), a growing issue impacting millions in increasingly heat-prone cities.

30 Aug 2024

EnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureHealth & medicalSocial sciencesTransport
Focus on healthier people and planet proves winning formula for UniSC

From a ‘game-changing’ koala chlamydia vaccine to a trial of a needle-free flu vaccine, the University of the Sunshine Coast’s success in research and bioinnovation has been recognised in the Life Sciences Queensland GENE Awards.

30 Aug 2024

BiotechnologyEnvironment & nature
UQ recognised in Life Sciences Queensland Awards

A bioscience startup and a world–leading immunologist at The University of Queensland are among the winners in the Life Sciences Queensland (LSQ) GENE Awards. The awards recognise the innovative research being undertaken at the University from discovery through to commercialisation.

30 Aug 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
QUT celebrates nine new Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards

QUT is celebrating nine new ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards (DECRA) valued at $3.7million.

30 Aug 2024

Digital economyEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureHealth & medicalMining & resourcesSocial sciencesTransport
Dr Nathalie Bock awarded by Life Sciences Queensland for pioneering research

Dr Nathalie Bock from QUT’s School of Biomedical Sciences has been awarded Life Sciences Queensland's Rose-Anne Kelso Commemorative Award, which recognises a scientist’s research and dedication to the health and life sciences industry.

30 Aug 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical
UQ granted $6 million for two new Centres of Research Excellence

UQ researchers have received two $3 million grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council to accelerate knowledge and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and to improve gynaecological cancer treatment.

30 Aug 2024

Health & medical
TRI-based Dr Charles Bell from @MaterResearch awarded an @arc_gov_au Discovery Early Career Researcher Award.

TRI-based Dr Charles Bell from @MaterResearch awarded an @arc_gov_au Discovery Early Career Researcher Award. He will use the support to improve understanding of the gene regulation process and predictability of cell behaviour.

30 Aug 2024

Digital economyHealth & medical
‘Sauna’ sanctuaries at risk for stingrays

A new study from James Cook University has revealed that mangrove habitats may serve as temporary sanctuaries for stingrays, but scientists fear the ‘saunas’ could become too hot to handle with climate change accelerating.

29 Aug 2024

Environment & natureTropical
High-flying researchers take funding to the stars

The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) hopes to better understand the insides of stars as one of two research projects awarded a combined $939,422 in funding as part of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) scheme. UniSQ will soon welcome asteroseismologist Dr Gang Li from…

29 Aug 2024

Defence, aviation & space
Far North Queensland Microclimate Data - The far north Queensland microclimate is an ongoing long-term microclimate monitoring project

🔍 #DataDiscovery | Far North Queensland Microclimate Data The far north Queensland microclimate is an ongoing long-term microclimate monitoring project from 5 tropical rainforest sites, located within an elevation range of 40-1,550m above sea level.📊:

29 Aug 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
🔥🌊A new JCU study has revealed mangrove habitats may serve as temporary sanctuaries for stingrays

🔥🌊A new JCU study has revealed mangrove habitats may serve as temporary sanctuaries for stingrays, but scientists fear the ‘saunas’ could become too hot to handle with climate change accelerating. @physiologyfish

29 Aug 2024

Environment & natureTropical
UQ project sweetens sewers to extend pipe life

UQ research has won an international innovation award for successfully tackling odour and corrosion in sewers. Dr Jiuling Li from the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology at UQ has developed real-time control and chemical dosing technology to combat hydrogen sulphide.

29 Aug 2024

BiotechnologyEngineering
UQ mid–career researchers top the nation in ARC Future Fellowships scheme

Fifteen University of Queensland researchers have been awarded $15.3 million through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowships 2024 scheme to drive research and innovation.

28 Aug 2024

Advanced manufacturingDigital economyEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureHealth & medicalMining & resourcesQuantumSocial sciences
Emerging UQ researchers secure ARC boost

Researchers from The University of Queensland have secured more than $7.2 million through the Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) program to strengthen national research and innovation capacity.

28 Aug 2024

BiotechnologyEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureHealth & medicalQuantumSocial sciences
Crash proof your share price: inform investors of possible climate policy impacts

A study of 3,000 US firms found that under Democrat governments, firms that keep shareholders regularly informed of environmental-political risks are less susceptible to sudden crashes in their share price.

28 Aug 2024

Environment & natureSocial sciences
Risks faced by women using anabolic steroids in Australia

A new study published in Drug and Alcohol Review has revealed critical insights into the challenges and risks faced by women who use anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). While these substances are illegal in Australia, changing ideals in body aesthetics and growing popularity of sports such as powerlifting are pushing more women…

28 Aug 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
RT by @UQscience: Dr Yang Liu is using data from #Arabidopsis, a model plant, to improve phenotypic predictability.

RT by @UQscience: Dr Yang Liu is using data from #Arabidopsis, a model plant, to improve phenotypic predictability. This work is inspiring further investigation into the causes and consequences of evolutionary forces. Yang is a Postdoc at @arc_gov_au CoE Plant Success and @QAAFI @UQscience 🌱🖥️

28 Aug 2024

Digital economyFood & agriculture
A new #ACIAR-supported project led by @jcu with Vietnam's Research Institutes for Aquaculture aims to develop sustainable, eco-friendly grouper feed.

🐟 A new #ACIAR-supported project led by @jcu with Vietnam's Research Institutes for Aquaculture aims to develop sustainable, eco-friendly grouper feed, for the #sustainabledevelopment of #Vietnam's #grouper industry. Groupers are the most profitable marine species in Vietnam's expanding marine aquaculture industry, providing income for around 2,000 Vietnamese smallholders.

28 Aug 2024

Food & agricultureTropical
Cute, carnivorous, fierce & hard to find – welcome to the secret world of the #JuliaCreek dunnart

Cute, carnivorous, fierce & hard to find – welcome to the secret world of the #JuliaCreek dunnart. These tiny, endangered #marsupials hide in outback #Queensland & #QUT researchers are on a mission to find them.

28 Aug 2024

Environment & natureTropical
Ten Griffith researchers secure more than $4.5m in DECRAs

Griffith projects win $4,579,244 from $92.9 million funding round. Ten Griffith University academics are among the 200 early career researchers who have been named in the latest round of Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRAs).

27 Aug 2024

Advanced manufacturingDigital economyEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureHealth & medicalQuantumSocial sciencesTropical
De-mystifying the targeted removal of red blood cells

The mystery surrounding the targeted removal of red blood cells from the human body is at the centre of new Griffith University research. Research Fellow Dr Lennart Kuck from Griffith’s School of Health Sciences and Social Work led a study investigating the enigma with his findings published today in PNAS.

27 Aug 2024

Health & medical
Australia’s 5 million shiftworkers can look forward to smarter shuteye and healthier lifestyles,

Australia’s 5 million shiftworkers can look forward to smarter shuteye and healthier lifestyles, thanks to Australian Government backing for innovative #CQUniversity #sleep research. CQUniversity sleep researcher Dr Grace Vincent has been awarded an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA), receiving $488,579 over three years to develop…

27 Aug 2024

Digital economySocial sciences
Game-changing needle-free COVID-19 intranasal vaccine

A next-generation COVID-19 mucosal vaccine is set to be a gamechanger not only when delivering the vaccine itself, but also for people who are needle-phobic. New Griffith University research, published in Nature Communications, has been testing the efficacy of delivering a COVID-19 vaccine via the nasal passages.

27 Aug 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
Are Earth’s missing millions of undescribed insect species prone to extinction?

In two new research papers, Griffith ecologists have highlighted the millions of insects that remain undiscovered and unnamed by scientists were likely to be more vulnerable to extinction than named species. In journals, Current Biology and Insect Conservation and Diversity, the two studies looked at insect species and prevalence in…

26 Aug 2024

Environment & natureTropical
Trial to improve IV treatment for hospitalised babies

The University of Queensland is leading a trial across Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast focusing on improving the delivery of life-saving treatments for hospitalised babies. Professor Amanda Ullman said a new monitoring device will be tested to determine if it accurately detects when IV fluid is delivered into the tissue…

26 Aug 2024

Health & medical
Researchers earn Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships

Four University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) researchers have been awarded a combined total of more than $2.8 million through the Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships (AQIRF) scheme. The Fellowships support researchers partnering with industry on innovative research addressing issues that will positively impact Queensland.

26 Aug 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyDigital economyEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureHealth & medicalMining & resourcesTransport
Transitioning the world's biggest companies to net zero

A new $60–million Biosustainability Hub at UQ will use synthetic biology to help the world's biggest businesses transition to net zero.

26 Aug 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyDefence, aviation & spaceEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureMining & resourcesTransport
CQUniversity behavioural scientist, @DrAnjumNaweed, a 2024 @arc_gov_au #FutureFellow, for groundbreaking research to assess how ‘investigation trauma’ impacts workplace safety and culture.

CQUniversity behavioural scientist, @DrAnjumNaweed, has been named an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow for 2024, for groundbreaking research to assess how ‘investigation trauma’ impacts workplace safety and culture.

26 Aug 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Mapping invasive plants using drone imagery

QUT Dr Fernando Vanegas Alvarez has been awarded an Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship $240,000 grant toward a project to develop a proven framework for classifying and mapping invasive plant species using drone-collected imagery.

26 Aug 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceDigital economyEngineeringEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureTropical
Advance Queensland grant to improve paediatric scoliosis treatment

Dr Sinduja Suresh from QUT’s School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering has received an Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship grant of $160,000 to develop a novel, state-of-the-art, digital platform for the automated design of spine braces to improve conservative treatment for children with scoliosis.

26 Aug 2024

Advanced manufacturingDigital economyEngineeringHealth & medical
Scientists have revealed Indigenous fire management can ‘lock up’ more carbon than other methods of native bushland management

Scientists have revealed Indigenous fire management can ‘lock up’ more carbon than other methods of native bushland management and the practice could prove very lucrative for landholders. Distinguished Professor Michael Bird is a co-author of the new study that compares carbon sequestration in the tropical savannah of northern Queensland’s Undara…

23 Aug 2024

Environment & natureTropical
Early retirement of coal plants can be profitable for investors

New research from Griffith University provides crucial evidence the early retirement of coal-fired power plants can be financially advantageous for investors, which is contrary to mainstream belief. The research provides insights into the financial viability of accelerating the transition from coal to renewable energy in developing Asian economies to address…

23 Aug 2024

EnergyEnvironment & natureSocial sciences
Antibiotic resistance research to continue after huge funding boost

Bond University academics are among a team of researchers awarded almost $4 million to reduce the overprescription of antibiotics for common conditions such as sore throat, sinusitis and colds. The team, led by Bond University’s Institute for Evidence Based Healthcare, will collaborate with GPs, practice managers, nurses and patients to…

23 Aug 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences

Bond University
Diabetes footcare project awarded $1.3M to evaluate novel rural outreach services

The project, Queensland Diabetes Footcare Hubs (Q DFootHubs), has received $1,363,466.75 from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) under its Partnership Projects program. The projects’ co-lead, QUT Associate Professor Peter Lazzarini, from the Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation (AusHSI) said the project’s overarching aim was to evaluate…

22 Aug 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Research leans on climate insights from Brisbane built environment experts

QUT researchers have found that ambiguous infrastructure planning codes and guidelines have created a disconnect between public expectations and the capacity of planning systems to evolve rapidly in the face of climate change.

22 Aug 2024

EngineeringEnvironment & natureSocial sciences
The changes to cell DNA that could revolutionise disease prevention

UQ researchers have discovered a mechanism in DNA that regulates how disease–causing mutations are inherited. Dr Anne Hahn and Associate Professor Steven Zuryn from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute said the findings could provide a promising therapeutic avenue to stop the onset of heritable and age-related diseases.

22 Aug 2024

Health & medical
Paying for groceries with your face? Not all sold on it: QUT research

As the use of Facial Recognition Payment Technology (FRPT) grows, taken up by retailers, governments, hotels and others, some consumers do not completely trust its use say QUT researchers. Their study looks at just how comfortable people would feel paying for their groceries with their face and found that despite…

22 Aug 2024

Digital economySocial sciences
NHMRC $1.3M grant to boost Indigenous health and wellbeing

A collaborative research project led by QUT and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS) Brisbane has been awarded $1,332,594.60 in funding through the 2023 NHMRC Partnerships Projects program. The four-year program of work aims to develop, implement and evaluate the impact of culturally appropriate, scalable tools…

22 Aug 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Curve appeal: how round rooms spark creativity

New research has revealed curved or round rooms enhance positive mood, make us calmer and boost creativity. Employing virtual reality technology, Dr Baumann and his team sought to investigate the effects of curved and rectangular architectural spaces on affective states, heart rate, and creativity.

22 Aug 2024

Digital economySocial sciences

Bond University
AI tool to personalise brain stimulation therapy for major depression

A QIMR Berghofer-led consortium hopes to increase the overall effectiveness of brain stimulation for people with major depression by identifying which patients will best respond to the potentially life-changing treatment. Almost half of all people with major depression benefit from transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a widely used non-invasive treatment that…

22 Aug 2024

Digital economyHealth & medical
Acounselling program originally designed to promote walking has improved the quality of life for sufferers of blocked leg arteries

Researchers have discovered a counselling program originally designed to promote walking has improved the quality of life for sufferers of blocked leg arteries and helped protect from its deadly effects – but not in the way anticipated. Professor Jonathan Golledge said that blocked leg arteries affect nearly one in five…

22 Aug 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
QBI researchers have discovered a DNA mechanism that controls how disease-causing mutations are inherited.

QBI researchers have discovered a DNA mechanism that controls how disease-causing mutations are inherited. Dr. Anne Hahn and A/Professor Steven Zuryn believe this could lead to therapies that prevent heritable and age-related diseases.

22 Aug 2024

Digital economyHealth & medical

Queensland Brain Institute
A unique new JCU project to predict the effect of climate change on the food sources of billions of people has received more than a million dollars in funding

A unique new James Cook University project to predict the effect of climate change on the food sources of billions of people has received more than a million dollars in funding from the federal government. JCU marine ecologist Associate Professor Sue-Ann Watson will lead the project – funded by a…

21 Aug 2024
QUT scientist leads new study to benchmark crop residue emissions

A new $8 million national study is set to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from crop residues, to help the Australian grains industry accurately report its carbon footprint, with potential benefits for future market access and price. QUT Professor David Rowlings, a soil scientist in the sustainable agriculture program at…

21 Aug 2024

Environment & natureFood & agriculture
$41M project to fast-forward breeding of new varieties for next-gen orchards

QUT plant scientists and roboticists will lead a $41million, five-year project to accelerate the development of new varieties of almond, apple, macadamia, citrus and mango to enable more efficient and sustainable orchard production. This collaborative project brings together plant genomics and robotics research strengths from QUT, Murdoch University, The University…

21 Aug 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyEngineeringFood & agricultureTropical
Bond University #psychology students and academics are running a #research trial using the power of #VR in sessions to break the ice, prior to treatment. Read about the results:

Bond University #psychology students and academics are running a #research trial using the power of #VR in sessions to break the ice, stimulate open dialogue and help relax the children prior to treatment.

21 Aug 2024

Digital economyHealth & medicalSocial sciences

Bond University
Potential new treatment pathway for bladder cancer

UQ research could lead to a more effective immunotherapy treatment against bladder cancer. A team led by Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes from UQ’s Frazer Institute has found the mechanism used by bladder cancer to suppress the immune system’s natural killer (NK) cells.

21 Aug 2024

Health & medical
Market Australian-made to tap into video games popularity

Australia’s video games development industry urgently needs better marketing to tap into the $3.9 billion spent nationally on buying games, according to new UniSC research.

21 Aug 2024

Digital economySocial sciences
🌱🛰️A ground-breaking tool developed by JCU researchers could help farmers win the fight against a major sugar cane disease.

🌱🛰️A ground-breaking tool developed by JCU researchers that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence and satellite imagery could help farmers win the fight against a major sugar cane disease.

20 Aug 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceDigital economyFood & agriculture
🐄 A new A$3.7 million ACIAR-funded research project, led by @CQU, will create more profitable links for smallholder farmers in Indonesia

🐄 A new A$3.7 million ACIAR-funded research project, led by @CQU, will create more profitable links for smallholder farmers in Indonesia's 🇮🇩 growing dairy sector. The 5-year initiative aims to increase farmer livelihoods by working with milk cooperatives to improve their engagement with the private sector and build more inclusive…

20 Aug 2024

Food & agricultureSocial sciencesTropical
Defining the line between virtual and reality

Griffith University’s Dr Ausma Bernot teamed up with researchers from Monash University, Charles Sturt University and University of Technology Sydney to investigate what has been termed as ‘metacrime’ – attacks, crimes or inappropriate activities that occur within virtual reality environments.

19 Aug 2024

Digital economySocial sciences
UQ researchers secure NHMRC Partnership Projects funding

Researchers from The University of Queensland have been awarded more than $2.9 million through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Partnership Projects scheme to develop early health interventions.

19 Aug 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Nearly $3 million in NHMRC grants for Griffith research

Griffith has been awarded nearly $3 million from the NHMRC 2023 Partnership Projects PRC2 round. Congratulations to Professor Lara Farrell from the School of Applied Psychology and Professor Fabricio Da Silva Costa from the School of Medicine and Dentistry.

19 Aug 2024

Digital economyHealth & medicalSocial sciences
Most Australians are worried about artificial intelligence, new survey shows. Improved media literacy is vital

After becoming mainstream in 2023, generative artificial intelligence (AI) is now transforming the way we live. This technology is a type of AI which can generate text, images and other content in response to prompts. In particular, it has transformed the way we consume and create information and media.

19 Aug 2024

Digital economySocial sciences

Queensland University of Technology
UQ researcher awarded top Queensland science prize

A University of Queensland researcher developing targeted treatments for life–threatening diseases has been named the 2024 Queensland Young Tall Poppy of the Year. Associate Professor Joy Wolfram is leading research on cell-to-cell communication to develop more targeted and effective drug delivery methods and treatments for cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and…

16 Aug 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
Hailstone library to improve extreme weather forecasting

A UQ library – full of hailstones instead of books – is helping researchers to better understand and predict damaging storms. Dr Joshua Soderholm, an Honorary Senior Research Fellow from UQ’s School of the Environment, and lead researcher PhD candidate Yuzhu Lin from Penn State in the US, have found…

16 Aug 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & nature
2024 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Awards for stellar QUT researchers

Three QUT researchers, Dr Brooke Williams, Dr Angela Guerrero and Dr Naomi Paxton, working in the fields of environmental management, tissue engineering and sustainability are among the outstanding early-to-mid-career scientists recognised in the 2024 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Awards.

16 Aug 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyDefence, aviation & spaceDigital economyEngineeringEnvironment & natureHealth & medicalSocial sciences
The secret world of the dunnarts

They live in a secret underground world, hidden down the cracks of the hardened clay soil of outback Queensland – small as a mouse, cute as a bilby and sometimes as ferocious as a tiger. Associate Professor Andrew Baker and Dr Emma Gray from the QUT School of Biology and…

15 Aug 2024

Environment & natureTropical
Climate change has microscopic winners – and a lot of big losers

The world’s oceans are home to microscopic organisms invisible to the human eye. The tiny creatures, known as “prokaryotes”, comprise 30% of life in the world’s oceans. These organisms play an important role in keeping the oceans in balance, recycling nutrients up marine food chains to fish, and regulating the…

15 Aug 2024

Environment & nature
A little help for robots that don't know their own strength

QUT researchers, who recognised that grasping objects is difficult for robots, have built a smart object that can measure a robot’s squeezing force. “To find out how hard the robot is squeezing an object we built a smart object that can measure this squeezing force, how hard it is squeezed…

15 Aug 2024

Digital economyEngineering
Launch of world first patient registry for Australia’s most common genetic disorder

People with haemochromatosis now have the opportunity to join the world’s first cloud-based patient registry aimed at advancing research and understanding of the potentially life-threatening, inherited iron-overload condition. The new Australian Haemochromatosis Registry will be an important national and global resource for clinicians and researchers.

14 Aug 2024

Digital economyHealth & medical
Brain scientist last night named Queensland Young Tall Poppy 2024

A University of the Sunshine Coast neuroscientist who is finding ways to reduce the risk of dementia in older people through lifestyle changes was last night named a Queensland Young Tall Poppy. Dr Sophie Andrews, who leads the Healthy Brain Ageing Program at UniSC’s Thompson Institute, was one of 16…

14 Aug 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Breakthrough to combat microplastics

James Cook University researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough that allows them to convert microplastics to a highly valuable material. The team ground up plastic bottles into microplastics and then used the new Atmospheric Pressure Microwave Plasma synthesis technique to convert the debris to graphene.

13 Aug 2024

Advanced manufacturingEngineeringEnvironment & nature
New international guidelines boost accuracy for cancer genetic testing

A new paper led by researchers from QIMR Berghofer paves the way for more specific public health information to provide a better balance between the harms and benefits of sun exposure in Australia. New international guidelines developed by QIMR Berghofer researchers are expected to improve the accuracy of genetic tests…

13 Aug 2024

Health & medical
Crypto investors enjoy researching options and driven by need for more

Investor interest in cryptocurrency is driven by greed and a need for the challenge of considering market information, a QUT-led study has found. The researchers studied consumer personality and perceptions of cryptocurrency to gain insight into the drivers of consumers’ investment decisions under risk.

13 Aug 2024

Digital economySocial sciences
‘Changing the Game’ for ag tech

Researchers from the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) are taking the idea of “try before you buy” straight to the bank to make it easier for farmers to utilise ag tech. The $3.7 million research project – a collaboration between UniSQ, the SQNNSW Innovation Hub, the GRDC and Queensland Cropping…

13 Aug 2024

EngineeringFood & agriculture
QBI researchers have developed a groundbreaking Tau antibody, showing promising potential as an #immunotherapy for #Alzheimers.

QBI researchers have developed a groundbreaking Tau antibody, showing promising potential as an #immunotherapy for #Alzheimers. This antibody targets harmful Tau and helps reestablish the brain's protein balance to restore broader #brainfunction.

12 Aug 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical

Queensland Brain Institute
Dugong survey reveals thriving population in far north Queensland

A new report from James Cook University’s TropWATER reveals a thriving dugong population in far northern Queensland, stretching from Cape York to Mission Beach. Over 17 years, the dugong population in the far northern Queensland area has grown at approximately 2% per year, indicating that the dugongs in this region…

11 Aug 2024

Environment & natureTropical
QUT Centre for Justice releases briefing papers on Queensland disaster resilience

A series of briefing papers on natural disaster response and recovery in Queensland has been released by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from QUT’s Centre for Justice.

9 Aug 2024

Environment & natureSocial sciencesTropical
People with back pain needed for UQ study

UQ researchers are seeking participants for a study looking to understand what factors influence day–to–day back pain. Lead investigator Dr David Klyne from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences said the project, funded by the US National Institutes of Health, will investigate how back pain symptoms are influenced by…

9 Aug 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Earth's mantle may reveal origins of life

Scientists have unearthed the deepest column of marine rock ever extracted from Earth's mantle – the enormous layer below its crust – which could help reveal conditions at the dawn of life.

9 Aug 2024

Environment & nature
🐍🐍🐍 AIBN researchers are working on a medical gel that uses snake venom to improve & halt uncontrolled bleeding and boost wound healing 🐍🐍🐍

🐍🐍🐍 AIBN researchers are working on a medical gel that uses snake venom to improve & halt uncontrolled bleeding and boost wound healing 🐍🐍🐍 Now we’re even closer to getting this product on the shelves thanks to the support of the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC)

9 Aug 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
RT by @UQscience: Scientists have unearthed the deepest column of marine rock ever extracted from Earth’s mantle 🌍

@UQscience: Scientists have unearthed the deepest column of marine rock ever extracted from Earth’s mantle 🌍#UQ's Professor Gordan Southam is analysing samples to understand links between the Earth’s geology, water chemistry, gases and microbiology.@UQScience 🔗

9 Aug 2024

EngineeringEnvironment & natureMining & resources
JCU helps dentists address domestic violence

Dentistry students and practitioners across Australia will now be equipped with the skills they need to recognise and respond to patients harmed by domestic and sexual violence thanks to a range of industry-leading tools developed by James Cook University.

9 Aug 2024

Social sciences
Researchers develop ground-breaking immunotherapy for aggressive brain cancer

QIMR Berghofer researchers have developed super-charged immune cells that could potentially improve glioblastoma survival by fighting the deadly brain cancer and preventing its recurrence. The researchers have developed a promising CAR T cell immunotherapy that is genetically engineered to target and destroy glioblastoma cancer cells.

8 Aug 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical
Dangers of distracted walking focus of winning QUT student road safety design

A concept created by QUT student Taylah Canning to raise awareness in young people about the dangers posed to motorists and pedestrians by mobile phone distraction will be featured on roadside billboards in Brisbane this month.

8 Aug 2024

Digital economySocial sciencesTropical
Securing voices of Country

UQ is moving to protect Australia's invaluable heritage of Indigenous languages with the development of a centralised digital archive. The project, a collaboration with the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) in the Language Data Commons of Australia (LDaCA), aims to help Australia further understand and preserve its culture, history and…

8 Aug 2024

Social sciences
Helping Vietnamese farmers ‘rice’ to the challenge

Researchers from the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) will receive part of a $1.45 million boost through the Australian Government’s Aus4Innovation program to develop technological solutions supporting sustainable agricultural practices in Vietnam.

8 Aug 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceDigital economyFood & agricultureTropical
UniSC to trial a single-dose investigational treatment for coeliac disease

A new treatment that aims to help people with coeliac disease will soon be trialled at University of the Sunshine Coast Clinical Trials clinic in Moreton Bay. Dr Ivan Lim, Principal Investigator of the trial at the Morayfield clinic, said coeliac disease was a common immune-based condition, triggered by gluten…

8 Aug 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical
Smallest arm bone in human fossil record sheds light on the dawn of Homo floresiensis

Discovery of rare early human fossils from Indonesia further unravels mystery of 'Hobbits'. A new study in Nature Communications co-authored by Griffith University reports the discovery of extremely rare early human fossils from the Indonesian island of Flores, including an astonishingly small adult limb bone.

7 Aug 2024

Social sciencesTropical
Wood-loving magic mushrooms from Australia are saprotrophic invaders in the Northern Hemisphere

Magic mushrooms are fungi that produce psilocybin, an entheogen with long-term cultural use and a breakthrough compound for treatment of mental health disorders. We studied whether connectivity is maintained across populations of a widespread species complex of magic mushrooms that has infiltrated the Northern Hemisphere

7 Aug 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureHealth & medical
Brewing up a home–grown coffee variety

The long–awaited genome sequencing of Arabica coffee could be the solution to producing a high–quality variety of Australian coffee, according to a University of Queensland researcher. Professor Robert Henry from Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation was part of a large international team which mapped the genome of Arabica…

7 Aug 2024

Digital economyFood & agriculture
Landmark approach to cotton disease research

A landmark partnership between the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) and the QLD Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) will help safeguard Australian cotton growers against the rising threat of disease and mitigate the economic impacts.

6 Aug 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyFood & agriculture
The key to fully autonomous vehicles might be closer than we think... 🚗

The key to fully autonomous vehicles might be closer than we think... 🚗 Researchers from the @QldBrainInst believe that using brain models of visual attention could help advance self-driving car technology. @jbmattingley @willjharrison

6 Aug 2024

Digital economySocial sciencesTransport

Queensland Brain Institute
Imagine predicting the recovery of a #stroke patient with only a 20-minute test... 😮

Imagine predicting the recovery of a #stroke patient with only a 20-minute test... 😮 @GailARobinson from #QBI has made this a reality after developing a new diagnostic tool to assess cognitive function in post-stroke patients.

5 Aug 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyHealth & medical

Queensland Brain Institute
A DNA-based method of biodiversity monitoring has provided new insights into the early-life stages of several species.

A DNA-based method of biodiversity monitoring has provided new insights into the early-life stages of several species, including the crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), and could reshape how we detect and monitor similar species moving forward.

5 Aug 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
🤝Rural, remote, and very remote communities in Far North Qld will benefit from a $4.5m trial to explore a new, connected, and integrated model of care and support services

🤝Rural, remote, and very remote communities in Far North Qld will benefit from a $4.5m trial to explore a new, connected, and integrated model of care and support services - delivered in partnership with the Qld Govt and JCU. More about FNQ Connect📑👉

2 Aug 2024

Digital economyHealth & medicalSocial sciencesTropical
How crowdshipping reduces the impacts of millions of deliveries

Crowdshipping could be the the answer to reducing the environmental impact of millions of online shopping deliveries, says University of the Sunshine Coast Professor Lynette Cheah, Chair of Sustainable Transport, writing for The Conversation.

2 Aug 2024

Digital economySocial sciencesTransport
Griffith awarded more than third of Future Fellowships

Eight of 22 Future Fellowships awarded to Griffith researchers. Out of 22 applications, Griffith was awarded eight Fellowships totalling almost $8.6M. This result represents a success rate of 36.4 per cent from its applications, one of the highest in the nation.

1 Aug 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyDigital economyEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureHealth & medicalQuantumSocial sciencesTransportTropical
Evidence of land-based impacts on water quality in the Great Barrier Reef

James Cook University TropWATER scientists are major contributors to the most comprehensive and rigorous review of water quality and the Great Barrier Reef – confirming that elevated levels of fine sediments, nutrients and pesticides continue to have detrimental impacts on the Great Barrier Reef, especially inshore ecosystems.

1 Aug 2024

Environment & natureTropical
Are young climate activists finally being heard? Our research shows adults support a youth voice to parliament

In recent years, the climate emergency has sparked a global response from children and young people. The School Strikes for Climate movement is a prominent example. Through this activism, children express their frustration at political systems that exclude their voices.

1 Aug 2024

Environment & natureSocial sciencesTropical

University of Queensland
UQ research shows positive parenting strategies can reduce child maltreatment

University of Queensland research shows child maltreatment cases decreased in socially disadvantaged communities that participated in positive parenting programs. The Parenting and Family Support Centre and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course (Life Course Centre) led the study, which involved delivering parenting programs…

1 Aug 2024

Social sciences
Calculate your personal long COVID risk

The UQ–led and developed COVID–19 Risk Calculator has been updated to determine a person's risk of developing long COVID. Developed in conjunction with Flinders University, QUT, the University of Sydney and the Immunisation Coalition, the online calculator provides a personalised risk assessment of developing long COVID 6 months after infection.

1 Aug 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Insect-based food could trigger allergies

James Cook University researchers say food derived from crickets and flies can cause allergic reactions in people with existing shellfish allergy – and this is not consistently picked up by currently available testing methods. Professor Andreas Lopata and Dr Shay Karnaneedi from JCU said edible insect proteins are increasingly manufactured…

31 Jul 2024

Food & agricultureHealth & medical
Research uncovers hidden Australian skin cancer epidemic

Deaths from non-melanoma skin cancers have almost doubled in Australia this millennium – and the culprit is hiding in plain sight, according to new medical research led by the University of the Sunshine Coast.

31 Jul 2024

Health & medical
Harnessing CO2 for a better world

A research effort to flip carbon dioxide from a climate change problem to a solution has been launched at UQ. Dubbed GETCO2, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide is focussing on turning CO2 into products such as fuels and chemicals.

31 Jul 2024

Advanced manufacturingEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & nature
Supercharging Queensland’s drug discovery pipeline

A $2 million grant awarded to establish the Queensland Drug Discovery Alliance (QDDA) will align and grow Queensland’s small molecule therapeutic discovery capability under the leadership of Therapeutic Innovation Australia (TIA).

31 Jul 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical
We've all heard of social mirroring, where people unconsciously imitate the actions & reactions of those around them.

We've all heard of social mirroring, where people unconsciously imitate the actions & reactions of those around them. #QUT researchers have found pedestrians crossing decisions involving automated vehicles are influenced by nearby pedestrians.

30 Jul 2024

Digital economySocial sciencesTransport
☀Designing new solar panels & figuring out better ways to recycle the old ones - will be crucial to achieving the climate and waste reduction goals

☀Designing new solar panels & figuring out better ways to recycle the old ones - will be crucial to achieving the climate and waste reduction goals Australia has set for itself. Our own ARC Laureate Prof Debra Bernhardt will help establish this critical green PV supply chain.

30 Jul 2024

Advanced manufacturingEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & nature

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
School sports houses help shape our understanding of belonging and identity. Does who they’re named after matter?

Sport plays an important role in the conception of Australian national identity. Our new research looked at the historical and contemporary naming of school sports houses in Queensland to understand how our broader societal ideas about role models and other positively regarded places, animals and things might have changed over…

29 Jul 2024

Social sciences

University of the Sunshine Coast
Cash and conservation: a worldwide analysis of wildlife on money

In the new study published in People and Nature, lead author Beaudee Newbery and his supervisors Associate Professor Guy Castley and Dr Clare Morrison, investigated the representation of native fauna on 4,541 banknotes from 207 countries between 1980 and 2017, to identify geographic hotspots and taxonomic patterns, and determine whether…

29 Jul 2024

Environment & natureSocial sciences
World first in steroid-related harm reduction

A focus on harm reduction has led to a world-first steroid-testing service being offered in Brisbane. Launched by Griffith University’s Dr Tim Piatkowski in partnership with the Queensland Injectors Health Network (QuIHN), Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action (QuIVAA) and The Loop Australia, the confidential service aims to empower…

29 Jul 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Personalised cancer vaccines to be produced at new UQ lab

A new facility at UQ is set to provide Australian researchers with cancer vaccines tailored to individual patients. The lab at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) will bring together the equipment and expertise to enable the design, manufacture and delivery of new mRNA cancer vaccines.

26 Jul 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical
Seven steps to achieving our right to clean indoor air post-pandemic

Seven lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic about ventilation’s crucial role in preventing the spread of airborne pathogens has been set out in the journal Science by world-leading air quality scientist Professor Lidia Morawska, Professor Yuguo Li from The University of Hong Kong and Professor Tunga Salthammer from the University of…

26 Jul 2024

EngineeringEnvironment & natureHealth & medical
National Industry PhD projects success for QUT

Six QUT research projects as diverse as healthier food for senior Australians and hydrogen fuel-cell, electric-powered aircraft have been successful in round three of the National Industry PhD Program. The program supports PhD candidates to undertake industry-focused research projects and be equipped with the knowledge and skills to better translate university research…

26 Jul 2024

Advanced manufacturingDefence, aviation & spaceDigital economyEnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureHealth & medicalSocial sciencesTransport
Surveys reveal vast mangrove damage along Great Barrier Reef and restoration hotspots

A James Cook University report has found evidence that sea level rise is visibly impacting mangroves across approximately 80% of the coastline from Cairns to Gladstone, with significant erosion visible along the sea edges, scouring of saltmarshes and landward movement of mangroves.

26 Jul 2024

Environment & natureTropical
Nationwide survey asks if organ transplant recipients should be supported to connect with donor families.

A Griffith University-led study aims to discover how Australians feel about identity disclosure between organ transplant recipients and the families of diseased donors.

26 Jul 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
A new study from @vancedberg and @karen_cheney has found nudibranchs with strong chemical defences show bold, less variable colour patterns.

A new study from @vancedberg and @karen_cheney has found nudibranchs with strong chemical defences show bold, less variable colour patterns. These striking colours help warn predators and may reduce mistakes in prey recognition. 🌈🐌 More:

26 Jul 2024

Environment & nature
When accidents happen on high-speed roads, police, ambos, firies and other responders play a critical role but are also at greater risk of death, injury, and PTSD.

When accidents happen on high-speed roads, police, ambos, firies and other responders play a critical role but are also at greater risk of death, injury, and PTSD. A new program created by #QUT’s Professor Sharon Newnam may lessen those dangers.

25 Jul 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciencesTransport
Technology revolution vital for healthy ageing

Accelerating the pace of digital innovation will be critical to improving outcomes for ageing Australians, according to a leading researcher from the University of the Sunshine Coast.

25 Jul 2024

BiotechnologyDigital economyHealth & medical
Changes needed to keep First Nations children out of incarceration

More culturally responsive diversion programs are needed to prevent the incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, according to University of Queensland research.

25 Jul 2024

Social sciences
RT by @jcu: What can the ‘toughest’ #shark on the #greatbarrierreef teach us about #climatechange ?

RT by @jcu: What can the ‘toughest’ #shark on the #greatbarrierreef teach us about #climatechange ? Check out our epaulette shark breeding colony at @jcu

24 Jul 2024

Environment & nature
Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games: UQ experts

UQ has a range of experts available to comment on the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games – from sports coaching and sports psychology to tourism and marketing.

23 Jul 2024

Social sciences
Crypto scams claim victims across the socioeconomic spectrum

A UQ–led study has found consumer vulnerability to cryptocurrency investment scams has little to do with socioeconomic status. Associate Professor Levon Blue in UQ’s Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Engagement and affiliated with the School of Education said the biggest vulnerabilities for consumers were concerns over security, unsolicited advice…

22 Jul 2024

Digital economySocial sciences
QUT awarded US$4M to lift food security in Africa and India

QUT has been awarded a US$3,979,498 grant to develop technology that converts crop residues into higher quality livestock feed from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Project is to produce higher quality livestock feed from crop residues to lift productivity and income of small-scale farmers in Africa and India and…

22 Jul 2024

EngineeringEnvironment & natureFood & agricultureSocial sciencesTropical
A #UQ-led project, funded by the Queensland Government’s, will develop the world’s first test kit to measure stress levels of koalas

A #UQ-led project, funded by the Queensland Government’s Community Sustainability Actions Grant program, will develop the world’s first test kit to measure stress levels of koalas via their droppings.

22 Jul 2024

BiotechnologyEnvironment & natureHealth & medical
Dr Daniel Blackmore is fascinated by the world of neurogenesis and how exercise might help combat cognitive decline.

Dr Daniel Blackmore is fascinated by the world of neurogenesis and how exercise might help combat cognitive decline. In this podcast, we discuss his recent study which found HIIT can boost brain function in older adults for up to 5 years.

22 Jul 2024

Health & medical

Queensland Brain Institute
What happens when you pay Year 7 students to do better on NAPLAN? We found out

Akshay Chauhan/ Unsplash, CC BYNext month, we are expecting the results from the annual NAPLAN tests, which students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sat earlier this year. Each year, the tests are widely promoted as a marker of student progress and are used to inform decisions about what…

19 Jul 2024

Social sciences

Queensland University of Technology
Using a new laser technique, we've dated figurative rock art painted 51,200 years ago.

RT by @Griffith_Uni: Figurative art presents lifelike representations of subjects. Using a new laser technique, we've dated figurative rock art painted 51,200 years ago. @Griffith_Uni @scuniversity.

19 Jul 2024

Digital economySocial sciencesTropical
‘A catalyst for revolution’: Launch of Thrive looks to safeguard public health

Brisbane is positioned to become the global hub for healthy buildings with today’s launch of the ARC Training Centre for Advanced Building Systems against Airborne Infection Transmission (Thrive). Officially hosted by QUT, the $5 million training centre is working to design and develop a building system that reduces indoor airborne…

19 Jul 2024

EnergyEngineeringEnvironment & natureHealth & medical
Water security research to assist coastal communities to relocate in the Pacific

Securing the future of sustainable water supply of Pacific coastal communities relocating due to rising sea levels is the focus of new ACIAR-funded research. Led by the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), the A$2.25 million three-year project will work with communities, local and state governments in Fiji and Vanuatu to help…

19 Jul 2024

Environment & natureSocial sciencesTropical
Mission complete... Our researchers have reached new heights with a re-entry observation mission! @DrFabianZander 🚀

Mission complete... Our researchers have reached new heights with a re-entry observation mission! @DrFabianZander 🚀 University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) researchers travelled to New Zealand and the Cook Islands to acquire data on Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft’s (NG-20) destructive re-entry over the South Pacific.

18 Jul 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceDigital economy
Following the forays of fiendish foreign fish. 🐟🐠 Invasive fish are damaging aquatic ecosystems in northern Australia.

RT by @jcu: Following the forays of fiendish foreign fish. 🐟🐠 Invasive fish are damaging aquatic ecosystems in northern Australia.Professors Damien Burrows (@JCU) and Mark Kennard (@Griffith_Uni) are researching where they are and where they may invade next.🗺️🧬

18 Jul 2024

Environment & natureTropical
Study highlights need for high-quality professional learning to support more inclusive teaching practices

QUT education academics have identified the need for high-quality professional learning to help teachers more effectively engage and teach students with common disabilities like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Development Language Disorder (DLD).

18 Jul 2024

Social sciences
iKnow weKnow empowers Indigenous communities for a sustainable future

An innovative, Australian-first collaborative research project is co-designing resilient water and energy management solutions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The iKnow weKnow project, led by Griffith University through a three-year Australian Research Council Linkage grant, has partnered with eight water and energy industry organisations and four remote Indigenous…

17 Jul 2024

EngineeringEnvironment & natureSocial sciencesTropical
The eyes have it: Visual inspection experience essential for airport security screening

QUT researchers have used eye-tracking to study airport security screeners' performance during different visual inspection phases of a screening task. The research team investigated how airport security screeners employ problem solving techniques during x-ray screening, and how strategies change with experience.

17 Jul 2024

Digital economyTransport
‘My brain leaves the room’: what happens when teachers talk too much?

About four students in every classroom will have a language or attention disorder. While some of these students will have an official diagnosis of developmental language disorder (DLD) or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), others will be “hiding in plain sight”. In our new study, we interviewed 59 students with DLD…

17 Jul 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences

Queensland University of Technology
PsiQuantum Partners with Queensland Universities, Bolstering the Future of Quantum Computing in Australia

PsiQuantum will partner with five leading universities in Queensland after signing a memorandum of understanding to help support the growing demand for skills in the quantum computing economy and to explore research projects in adjacent fields.

16 Jul 2024

Advanced manufacturingDigital economyEngineeringQuantum
Opportunities to flow from first river given ‘personhood’ status

Griffith University’s Australian Rivers Institute (ARI) has announced the establishment of a formal international partnership with Ngā Tāngata Tiaki O Whanganui. Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui, the Whanganui Iwi, is the tribal entity responsible for the promotion and protection of the wellbeing of the Whanganui River on New Zealand’s North…

16 Jul 2024

Environment & nature
A chemical–free way to control flystrike in sheep

A chemical–free method of controlling flystrike in sheep is a step closer, according to University of Queensland research. Research Fellow Dr Karishma Mody and PhD candidate Yunjia Yang are using the innovative RNA technology to combat sheep blowfly, a major disease and welfare issue for sheep.

15 Jul 2024

Advanced manufacturingFood & agriculture
Landmark discovery solves baffling mystery around Gulf War Illness in veterans

In a world-first discovery, Griffith University researchers have discovered faulty cell function in veterans suffering from Gulf War Illness (GWI), also known as Gulf War Syndrome (GWS), is likely caused by intense exposure to hazardous biological and chemical agents during war service. The landmark research, published in PLOS ONE, solves…

15 Jul 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceHealth & medicalSocial sciences
UQ health and medical research secures $7.5 million boost

University of Queensland researchers have been awarded more than $7.5 million through 4 Medical Research Future Fund schemes focused on improving health outcomes.

12 Jul 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medicalSocial sciences
UQ awarded almost $1 million to address global health challenge

UQ researchers have been awarded almost $1 million through the Australia–India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) to combat the threat of antimicrobial resistance to human health. Led by Professor Mark Blaskovich from, the project will combine research from UQ and AbGenics Life Sciences in India to support the development of new…

12 Jul 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical
Respiratory bacteria 'turns off' immune system to survive

Researchers from The University of Queensland have identified how a common bacterium is able to manipulate the human immune system during respiratory infections and cause persistent illness.

12 Jul 2024

Health & medical
CQUniversity has been named the successful recipient of more than $1 million in the latest round of the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund.

CQUniversity has been named the successful recipient of more than $1 million in the latest round of the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund. Led by CQUniversity Professor Jamshid Aghaei, the Driving Resilience: Harnessing Green Mobile Energy Hubs (GMEHs) for Electrical Distribution Network and Displaced Communities Resilience project aims to…

11 Jul 2024

EnergyEngineeringTropical
QCIF & UQ are partnering on the “3D Total Skin Imaging for Melanoma Early Detection in Regional Australia” project

☀ Sensitive Data Infrastructure for Skin Cancer Detection ☀ QCIF & UQ are partnering on the “3D Total Skin Imaging for Melanoma Early Detection in Regional Australia” project by providing expertise in data infrastructure and AI federated learning.

11 Jul 2024

Digital economyHealth & medical
Astronomers amazed by black hole discovery

A massive black hole – about 20,000 times the size of the sun – has been confirmed as the closest to our solar system by an international study involving UQ researchers. The study involved analysing and cataloguing 1.4 million stars in the cluster, which were then compared against theoretical models…

11 Jul 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceDigital economy
Lion with nine lives breaks record with longest swim in predator-infested waters

Africa’s most resilient lion and his brother risk all to find mate. A record-breaking swim by two lion brothers across a predator-infested African river has been documented in a study co-led by Griffith University and Northern Arizona University.

11 Jul 2024

Environment & natureTropical
QUT researchers unveil new automated visual mapping technique

Researchers at QUT have developed an automated system that improves how robots map and navigate the world. Lead researcher, Dr Fontan said Visual SLAM was a technology that helped devices like drones, autonomous vehicles, and robots navigate. “It enables them to create a map of their surroundings and keep track…

10 Jul 2024

Defence, aviation & spaceDigital economyEngineeringTransport
UQ research reveals exercise brain boost can last for years

A longitudinal study by UQ researchers has found high–intensity interval exercise improves brain function in older adults for up to 5 years. Emeritus Professor Perry Bartlett and Dr Daniel Blackmore from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute led the study in which volunteers did physical exercise and had brain scans.

10 Jul 2024

Health & medical
Rising sea levels spell danger for shorebirds

A James Cook University-led study which found rising sea levels will dramatically reduce shorebird numbers in Europe could forecast a similar fate for their Australian cousins – even if humanity manages to limit global warming to less than two degrees.

10 Jul 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & natureTropical
Innovative new app uses latest technology to immerse users in the world’s oldest living culture

A new mobile app using geo-locational and augmented reality technology has been developed by QUT to show sites of significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout QUT Gardens Point precinct.

10 Jul 2024

Digital economy
Ancient dingo DNA shows modern dingoes share little ancestry with modern dog breeds

A landmark study of ancient dingo DNA revealed that the distribution of modern dingoes across Australia, including those on K’gari, pre-dates European colonisation and interventions like the dingo-proof fence, co-led research by QUT and University of Adelaide researchers has found.

9 Jul 2024

Digital economyEnvironment & nature
Detecting lung cancer with nanotech

University of Queensland researchers have designed a device that uses a simple blood test to detect early stage lung cancer. Dr Richard Lobb and Quan Zhou from UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology said the diagnostic device could help patients begin treatment and get ahead of the disease before…

9 Jul 2024

Advanced manufacturingBiotechnologyHealth & medical
QUT Professor Anne Chang’s global call for health strategies to begin pre-conception to prevent Indigenous People’s disproportionate burden of chronic lung disease is The Lancet Respiratory Medicine’s cover article

QUT Professor Anne Chang’s global call for health strategies to begin pre-conception to prevent Indigenous People’s disproportionate burden of chronic lung disease is The Lancet Respiratory Medicine’s cover article @LancetRespirMed #QUT #QUTHealth

8 Jul 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciences
Indigenous people can get cheap or free medicines. But we show access depends on your postcode

Policies designed to ensure Indigenous Australians have equitable access to medicines aren’t being accessed uniformly across the nation, our research shows. We mapped where Indigenous Australians are using a program to access free or discounted medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). We found access was patchy and depended on…

8 Jul 2024

Health & medicalSocial sciencesTropical

Griffith University
Revealing a master controller of development and ageing

University of Queensland researchers have unlocked crucial molecular secrets of ageing in cells, potentially paving the way to improve quality of life as people age. The study decoded the process by which genes regulate how people mature as they grow and age.

8 Jul 2024

BiotechnologyHealth & medical