science wire

An international team of scientists studying ultrafast physics have solved a mystery of quantum mechanics, and found that quantum tunneling is an instantaneous process. The new theory could lead to faster and smaller electronic components, for which quantum tunneling is a significant factor. It will also lead to a better understanding of diverse areas such as electron microscopy, nuclear fusion and DNA mutations.

The Australian Academy of Science has honoured scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) for their work and discoveries in the core of the earth, astronomy, rocket science and the human immune system.

Yes some of these commuting problems fall on state governments. But at the same time there are many other sites of responsibility - our employers and companies for example - who could offer their staff the chance to work from home.

Supernova SN2012fr, just to the left of the centre of the galaxy, outshone the rest of the galaxy for several weeks: Credit Brad Tucker and Emma Kirby Scientists have captured the early death throes of supernovae for the first time and found that the universe's benchmark explosions are much more varied than expected.

It's like the moment when Galileo first turned a telescope towards the skies and started a new epoch of astronomy.

Scientists from the ANU have sought the advice of Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for their high-technology research into cricket bats.

Scientists from the ANU have sought the advice of Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for their high-technology research into cricket bats.

The world's largest fusion energy experiment, ITER, has turned to Australian physicists to supply a crucial imaging system for the multi-billion-euro experiment.

Work from a new generation of artists explore current issues around the environment, cultural experiences, religion, people and personalities.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) should hold interest rates steady at 2.25 per cent ahead of the May 12 budget due to a lack of clear direction for the Australian economy, the ANU RBA Shadow Board has found.

The Australian discovery of a strange exoplanet orbiting a small cool star 500 light years away is challenging ideas about how planets form. "We have found a small star, with a giant planet the size of Jupiter, orbiting very closely," said researcher George Zhou from the Research School of Astrophysics and Astronomy.

ANU has  secured its position as Australia's top university in the latest QS global subject rankings.

A new poll on national identity from ANU has found Australians believe speaking English and respect for political institutions and laws are the most important factors in being Australian. Being born in the country was the least important factor. The latest ANUpoll found overwhelming support for immigration, finding it is both good for the economy and for society, although there was significant support (65 per cent) for stronger measures to exclude illegal immigrants.

International law experts at the ANU have released legal advice on Indonesia's death penalty and found the punishment for drug offences breaches international law.

Scientists have for the first time captured live images of the process of taste sensation on the tongue. The international team imaged single cells on the tongue of a mouse with a specially designed microscope system. "We've watched live taste cells capture and process molecules with different tastes," said biomedical engineer Dr Steve Lee, from the ANU Research School of Engineering.

The University's John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine to establish a Joint Research Centre for Personalised Immunology.

The Australian National University (ANU) has begun an archaeological dig on Springbank Island in Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin.

Preventing Australia's biodiversity from collapsing needs long-term science-based programs that are more complex than just culling cats and foxes, says leading environmental scientist Professor David Lindenmayer.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) doesn't need to cut interest rates a second time this year and should hold rates steady after its April board meeting, The Australian National University (ANU) RBA Shadow Board has found.

More than 40,000 amateur astronomers have classified two million unidentified heavenly bodies found by the SkyMapper telescope at The Australian National University (ANU). Among the haystack of celestial data, the volunteers uncovered five sought-after supernovas, extremely bright exploding stars, which provide crucial information about the history and future of the universe.

"Inaction could mean extinction," said Dr Stojanovic, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society.

The amount of vegetation globally has increased by the equivalent of almost four billion tonnes of carbon since 2003 despite large-scale deforestation in the tropics, a new analysis of 20 years of satellite data has found. An Australian-led international team of scientists published the findings , finding a range of causes for the increase.

A large majority of Australians says they would support changes to the Constitution to remove clauses that discriminate on the basis of race A major new poll of Australian attitudes on Indigenous issues has found overwhelming support to change the Constitution to remove of references to race.

Alex Slobozhanyuk (L) and Andrey Miroshnichenko with models of the material structures, in front of the Nishi building that inspired them. Image: Stuart Hay, ANU Physicists inspired by the radical shape of a Canberra building have created a new type of material which enables scientists to put a perfect bend in light.

A new study of Australian English is trying to find out if Australians all sound the same, or if people speak differently in the country compared to cities or across the states. PhD researcher Sydney Kingstone from the  School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics is conducting a nation-wide survey to find out what Australians think about their English.

A 400 kilometre-wide impact zone from a huge meteorite that broke in two moments before it slammed into the Earth has been found in Central Australia. The crater from the impact millions of years ago has long disappeared. But a team of geophysicists has found the twin scars of the impacts - the largest impact zone ever found on Earth - hidden deep in the earth's crust.

A plant scientist from The Australian National University (ANU) has called for the United Nations to guarantee free and open access to plant DNA sequences to enable scientists to continue work to sustainably intensify world food production.

ANU academics have used the national Close the Gap day on 19 March to comment on what needs to be done to improve Indigenous health and life expectancy.

Researchers have linked antibiotic resistance with poor governance and corruption around the world. Lead researcher Professor Peter Collignon from The Australian National University (ANU) School of Medicine said the increase in antibiotic-resistant infections was one of the greatest threats facing modern medicine.

There is some evidence that certain immigrant groups, particularly those that come from countries which are war zones, have difficulty engaging with the Anzac legend.

Researchers have found that assisting vegetation to grow back naturally could be a far more profitable way for farmers to lock in carbon than the more commonly considered method of planting trees and shrubs.

Katy Perry's legal case against a 3D printing artist highlights the need for the reform of Intellectual Property (IP) laws due to the rise of 3D printing technology, according to Australian National University (ANU) legal expert Professor Matthew Rimmer.

An international group of scientists, industry representatives and policymakers wants to set guidelines for the science behind valuing nature.

The legal industry needs to change in order to stop losing talented women, according to Justice Rachel Pepper, Judge-in-Residence at The ANU.

Rubisco has baffled scientists for over 50 years, as it is thousands of times less efficient at its job than most other enzymes Australian scientists have found a way to improve production of an enzyme essential to plant growth. The discovery advances efforts to improve global food security that aim to increase the yields of some of our most important staple crops, such as wheat, cotton and rice.

The rise of electronic currency will lead to the phasing out of physical cash in Australia within a decade, according to Professor Rabee Tourky, Director of the Australian National University (ANU) Research School of Economics.

After 30 years of effort we are thoroughly integrated in the region. However many of the advantages that gave Australia influence during this period are also at an end.

ANU Professor Yun Liu, Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province Yunxian Chen and Guangdong Fenghua Advanced Technology Corporation's Zezhong Li.

There are clear signs the weaker dollar is helping the domestic economy. However, the danger is that Australia is becoming embroiled in the global currency war.

A comprehensive new report on Australia's tax system has set a roadmap for reform and discusses the need to examine the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the income taxation of savings, superannuation taxes and the future of the company tax for multinationals and small business.

At nearly 13 billion light years distance the ultrabright quasar appears as a tiny red dot in the cente of the image.

The first large-scale, direct evidence on smoking and mortality in Australia shows up to 1.8 million of the country's 2.7 million smokers will die from their habit if they continue to smoke. Professor Emily Banks said the research, published in the international journal BMC Medicine, was an important reminder that the war on tobacco was not yet won.

Scientists are teaming up to use satellite data to target deadly parasites to help predict patterns of parasitic diseases such as malaria, worms and hydatids.