Posts tagged as:

microbiology

Bacteria munch up alumina impurities

19 July 2010

Previously unknown species of naturally-occurring bacteria have the potential to save the alumina and aluminium industries millions of dollars while helping to reduce their impact on the environment, microbiologist Naomi McSweeney has found in a collaborative project between Alcoa, CSIRO and the University of Western Australia.

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Fool’s gold reveals the ancient evolution of life on earth

11 August 2009

‘Fool’s gold’ has tricked many amateur gold miners, but Queensland researchers have discovered it can reveal much about the early evolution of life on Earth. Three billion years ago the Earth couldn’t support life as we know it – the atmosphere was deadly to oxygen-breathing plants and animals. But two and half billion years ago [...]

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Life beneath the sheets: 9000 years in the dark

27 July 2009

Researchers at Geoscience Australia have unravelled the development of a unique seafloor community thriving in complete darkness below the giant ice sheets of Antarctica. The community beneath the Amery Ice Shelf in Antarctica is 100 km from open water and hidden from view by ice half a kilometre thick. This ecosystem has developed very slowly [...]

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Little ripples, big swirl

16 August 2007

How mini-earthquakes and tornados could one day be saving lives Monash University engineer Leslie Yeo is using tiny earthquakes and tornados to assist the detection of biohazards and germ warfare. He and collaborator James Friend at the Micro/Nanophysics Research Laboratory hope to integrate their technology into an inexpensive, credit-card-sized sensor within five to ten years.

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Slime wars: bacteria harnessed to fight biofouling

16 August 2007

Warfare between bacteria could provide an environmentally friendly solution to biofouling, according to Dhana Rao and her colleagues at the University of NSW.

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Patterson’s curse may be a saving grace for salmon

10 August 2006

Fish make omega-3 from noxious weed Australian scientists have found that fish fed oil extracted from one of Australia’s most damaging noxious weeds, Patterson’s curse, produce health-giving omega-3 oils for human consumption.

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It’s life, but not as we know it

22 August 2005

Billion year old bacteria in NT rocks and bugs from outer space Researchers from the CSIRO, Sydney University and Colorado State University have developed a means of detecting signs of ancient microbes which may have lived on Earth or come from outer space. The group already has picked up signs of bacteria more than a [...]

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Hitchhiking pests uncovered

31 August 2004

A test for  toxic algae could help save our coastal waters from attack by invading pests Coastal waters around the world are threatened by invaders lurking in the ballast water of cargo ships. A new global agreement will require ships to meet strict regulations to ensure they do not harbour any unwanted invaders. New technologies [...]

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Yoghurt won’t stop thrush

31 August 2004

Probiotics not always the right approach Millions of women around the world have probably used yoghurt as a folk remedy to prevent thrush while taking antibiotics. A Melbourne GP and PhD student has proven that Lactobacillus acidophilus, a key bacterium in yoghurt, was not effective in the prevention of thrush (‘vulvovaginitis’) after antibiotics. Her findings [...]

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Wastewater reuse: are Australian children at risk from playing in their own backyard?

31 August 2004

Four thousand families around Sydney may be placing their young children at risk by spraying partially treated sewage from their onsite aerated sewage systems on lawns where children play. The sewage may contain disease causing microorganisms such as viruses and Cryptosporidium which can cause gastroenteritis in children who play in areas sprayed with sewage. Katrina [...]

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Plants eavesdrop on bacterial attack plans

19 August 2003

Plants can listen in on bacterial communication and can even mimic this communication, possibly in an attempt to stop any attacks, according to a breakthrough in scientific understanding announced today in Melbourne.

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Aussie arsenic-eating bacteria may save lives and clean mines

19 August 2003

Melbourne scientists plan to harness the strange appetite of newly discovered Australian bacteria to help purify arsenic-contaminated water.

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Laser technology to revolutionise the detection of dangerous bugs in water

10 May 1998

Pure clean water A young Sydney researcher and surfer is using laser technology to revolutionise the detection of dangerous bugs like cryptosporidium in water.

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Bacterial gossip can be stopped!

10 May 1998

 Bacteria “talk” using chemical signals to prepare their attack on humans, animals and plants. Could a chemical from seaweed disrupt their conversation and stop the invasion?

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