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Dynamic Ensis invention improves box quality

24 May 2007 - CSIRO A new invention by Ensis that measures the stiffness of corrugated boxes will provide the paper packaging industry with the ability to improve the quality of their products, and help exporters reduce the risk of product damage through faulty boxes.

Explaining the methane mystery

24 May 2007 - CSIRO Scientists have explained why atmospheric levels of the greenhouse gas methane have stabilised in recent years, but warn that increases could resume in the near future.

CSIRO builds smart farm

23 May 2007 - CSIRO CSIRO is working towards the 'Smart Farm' of the future with research focussing on Wireless Sensor Networks and their potential to transform the Australian agriculture industry.

General relativity survives gruelling pulsar test

23 May 2007 - CSIRO Astronomers have used a pair of pulsars orbiting each other, found with CSIRO’s Parkes telescope in 2003, to show that Einstein’s theory of general relativity is correct to within 0.05%, the most stringent limit to date.

Aussie team makes landmark insulin discovery

12 May 2007 - CSIRO A team of CSIRO scientists has determined the molecular structure of the insulin receptor, the protein on the surface of cells that mediates the effects of insulin. This advance builds on many years of international research to understand how insulin functions in the body.

Climate change and the risk to water supply

11 May 2007 - CSIRO Science can assist the community to avoid rather than simply understand the potential negative effects of climate change, according to CSIRO Research Fellow, Dr Barrie Pittock

Nerve cell software keeps track of brain change

10 May 2007 - CSIRO Brain research will get a boost as CSIRO launches in the United States its HCA-Vision nerve cell analysis software at Neuroscience, the world's largest conference for brain researchers.

New research Cluster launched to seek solutions to elusive Hydrogen Economy

09 May 2007 - CSIRO A new $10.6 million research cluster aimed at leading Australia nearer to a sustainable hydrogen economy will be launched at CSIRO’s Energy Centre in Newcastle.

New beef feed efficiency test a world first

08 May 2007 - CSIRO The world’s first commercial DNA test for beef cattle feed efficiency was launched at the Australian Lot Feeders Association’s annual conference on the Gold Coast last week.

New bio-agent for parasite control

07 May 2007 - CSIRO A new environmentally-friendly treatment to control the tiny parasitic worms which plague the livestock sector is set to become a commercial reality. Since 1997, CSIRO researchers and their partners at Sydney-based company, International Animal Health Products Pty Ltd, have worked to develop effective methods to grow and introduce the fungus, Duddingtonia flagrans, into stockfeed.

Waste not, want not

07 May 2007 - CSIRO Recovering low- and medium-grade waste heat from industrial processes potentially offers substantial energy savings, according to a recent review by the Energy Transformed Flagship, which also recommends using satellite technology to map the nation’s hot spots.

Genomics builds marine know-how

06 May 2007 - CSIRO CSIRO’s Wealth from Oceans Flagship is exploring how modern genomics can contribute to marine conservation and management by providing data more effectively and perhaps yielding new types of data.

New CO2-capture technology has potential

05 May 2007 - CSIRO CSIRO’s low-emission coal research program today received a boost when the Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard, announced funding for the development of post-combustion capture technology as part of the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

Air shower set to cut water use by 30 per cent

04 May 2007 - CSIRO As Australians become increasingly alert to the importance of using water wisely in the home, CSIRO researchers have found a way to use a third less water when you shower, by adding air.

Cool smelting option to help reduce global warming?

03 May 2007 - CSIRO Australian researchers are investigating a new way of making aluminium that could cut the energy required to produce the metal by up to 30 per cent. Aluminium is an energy-intensive industry, consuming as much as 15 per cent of Australia’s electricity, which contributes to the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Littlest ship an ocean science giant

02 May 2007 - CSIRO Australian climate scientists in Hobart and their international colleagues are celebrating the feats of a tiny New Zealand research vessel that is transforming the study of oceans and climate in the Southern Hemisphere.

When sea change meets climate change

01 May 2007 - CSIRO Scientists have called for the development of constructive national and international partnerships to underpin an increasingly concerted effort to manage climate change.

Every wanna-be rocker’s fantasy comes true

30 April 2007 - CSIRO CSIRO has ‘built’ a shirt which could fulfil the fantasy of anyone who has, in the privacy of their homes, jammed along with one of rock ‘n roll’s great lead guitarists.

Virtual map of the sheep genome, a world first

29 April 2007 - CSIRO In a world first, a team of international scientists led by CSIRO has constructed a virtual map of the genome of the sheep. The ‘virtual sheep genome’, a physical DNA map of more than 98 per cent of the sheep genome, will be made publicly available by CSIRO this week. It contains the ‘best bet’ about where the sheep’s vast amount of hereditary information can be found on its 26 chromosomes.

Major Australian Alzheimer’s study launched

28 April 2007 - CSIRO A major Australian study to better understand the devastating and deadly Alzheimer’s disease is being launched in Melbourne. The $10 million Australian Imaging, Biomarker and Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing has brought together leading Australian researchers for a three-year study to improve our understanding of the causes and diagnosis of the disease, to examine lifestyle and diet factors that may influence the onset of Alzheimer’s and to help develop preventative strategies.

CSIRO completes its insulin receptor research

27 April 2007 - CSIRO Dr Graeme Woodrow, Chief of CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies, today made a statement regarding the project undertaken by CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies to determine the structure of the insulin receptor.

Turning one man’s trash into another’s treasure

26 April 2007 - CSIRO CSIRO has developed an innovative solution to two very different problems confronting two of the biggest industries in the remote community of King Island in the Bass Strait, by transforming waste cardboard into an abundant fuel source.

Insect pests to have a new foe

25 April 2007 - CSIRO A new method for designing insecticides could produce chemicals which are deadly to specific pests yet harmless to other species. A partnership between CSIRO and Australian Wool Innovation is on the way to discovering new environmentally-friendly insecticides. Safer insecticides targeting sheep blowflies and sheep body lice are being developed to save the wool industry millions of dollars in lost stock, while promoting a clean green image for wool.

Sustainable products, sustainable futures

24 April 2007 - CSIRO Information about the environmental impact of a range of industry materials is to be made available to the public via a new national database. The Australian Life Cycle Inventory database initiative, led by CSIRO, will allow users from government and industry to assess and compare products across a number of industries ranging from building to packaging materials, and to choose those likely to give the best performance relative to their environmental impact.

Research spotlight turns on Ningaloo region

23 April 2007 - CSIRO A new $12 million research collaboration was announced today for Western Australia's Ningaloo Reef Region. The Minister for Education, Science and Training and the Member for Curtin in WA, the Hon Julie Bishop, launched the Ningaloo Flagship Collaboration Fund Cluster today, at Murdoch University.

Increase in carbon dioxide emissions accelerating

22 April 2007 - CSIRO New research shows the rate of increase in carbon dioxide emissions more than doubled since the 1990s. According to the co-Chair of the Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research scientist Dr Mike Raupach, 7.9 billion tonnes of carbon were emitted into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and the rate of increase is accelerating.

Out-smarting hitch-hikers in timber

21 April 2007 - CSIRO Pests hitch-hiking in timber being traded internationally could be in for a rocky ride if delegates at a Post Harvest Timber Forum have their way. Delegates from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China and the United States will gather to discuss ways to move timber around the world without threatening the biosecurity of importing countries.

Parkes gears up for another 45 years

20 April 2007 - CSIRO CSIRO’s Parkes telescope, which turned 45 in October, is getting a new lease on life this week with the replacement of some of its drive gears. The new gears replace the ones fitted to the telescope when it was built in the late 1950s.

A vital step towards controlling Crown Rot

19 April 2007 - CSIRO By mapping the family tree of the fungus that causes ‘Crown Rot’ in wheat, CSIRO Plant Industry has taken a major step towards controlling the devastating disease. With a clearer picture of the fungus’ genetic history and development, researchers hope they will be better equipped to find longer lasting and more effective strategies to reduce the impact of Crown Rot, a disease which currrently costs the wheat industry around $50 million in lost yield every year.

Found, the apple gene for red

18 April 2007 - CSIRO CSIRO researchers have located the gene that controls the colour of apples, a discovery that may lead to bright new apple varieties. “The red colour in apple skin is the result of anthocyanins, the natural plant compounds responsible for blue and red colours in many flowers and fruits,” says the leader of the CSIRO Plant Industry research team, Dr Mandy Walker.

CSIRO demonstrates world’s fastest wireless link

17 April 2007 - CSIRO CSIRO researchers will tomorrow demonstrate the fastest and most efficient wireless link ever achieved. The CSIRO ICT Centre today announced that it has achieved over six gigabits per second over a point to point wireless connection with the highest efficiency (2.4bits/s/Hz) ever achieved for such a system.

$8.5m funding boost for CSIRO biosecurity laboratory

16 April 2007 - CSIRO CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong will spend $8.5 million provided as part of the Federal Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy to enable external researchers to access the world-class facility.

Elusive rust resistance genes located

15 April 2007 - CSIRO The discovery of a DNA marker for two key rust resistance genes is enabling plant breeders around the world to breed more effective rust resistant wheat varieties. The genes, Lr34 and Yr18 are inherited together and provide wheat plants with improved protection against leaf rust and stripe rust, two major diseases of wheat in Australia and worldwide.

Asian haze impacts on Australian rainfall

14 April 2007 - CSIRO Elevated particle emissions resulting from increased economic activity in Asia may have increased Australia’s tropical rainfall, according to new research on the way pollution influences our climate.

Extracting bioactives from agricultural and food processing streams

13 April 2007 - CSIRO Transforming products from agricultural and food processing streams into health-enhancing ingredients for use in a variety of foods and nutraceuticals is the aim of a new $7 million Flagship Collaboration Fund Cluster involving CSIRO’s Food Futures Flagship, Monash University and the University of Melbourne.

World authority praises new geology publication

12 April 2007 - CSIRO Dr Anthony J. Naldrett, the world’s foremost authority on the geology and origin of nickel-copper-platinum group element deposits, has described a new volume edited by CSIRO’s Dr Stephen Barnes in glowing terms.

Maths a priority area for growth says CSIRO

11 April 2007 - CSIRO CSIRO welcomes the recommendations of a review of the state of the mathematical sciences in Australia which was released yesterday by a committee of the Australian Academy of Science.

HD Medical and CSIRO sign agreement for non-contact heart sensor

10 April 2007 - CSIRO CSIRO has announced the signing of a licensing agreement with Melbourne based bio-technology medical device company, HD Medical Group Limited, for commercial application of its non-contact sensor technology.

Ensis team helps rebuild after Boxing Day tsunami

09 April 2007 - CSIRO Scientists from Ensis are undertaking a project in Thailand to help reforest the small island of Pra Thong, which bore the brunt of the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004. The 75 square kilometre island, lying off Thailand’s south west coast in the Andaman Sea, lost 200 of its population of 1500 people and three of its four villages. As the giant wave swept inland, it also took with it acres of natural forest and cash crops such as cashew nut trees.

Energy Express, new energy buildings for Australia

22 October 2006 - CSIRO A new design software tool, Energy Express is expected to mark a turning point in the way energy-efficient commercial buildings are designed in Australia and overseas

New high-tech concrete is lighter, stronger & green

22 October 2006 - CSIRO Australian scientists have developed a breakthrough low-cost, lightweight, concrete technology that is set to lower costs and speed up construction projects from residential homes to high-rise buildings.

New test to detect aquatic pests

22 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO marine scientists have developed a technique that gives new hope in the battle to stop the spread of aquatic pests.

CSIRO brings home the bacon

22 October 2006 - CSIRO A team of CSIRO Livestock Industries researchers are helping to make pigs healthier and happier, while fattening the bottom line. Dr David Strom leads a team at CSIRO Livestock Industries' Australian Animal Health Laboratory, detecting and modulating immune responses in pigs.

Improving livestock production techniques

21 October 2006 - CSIRO Scientists from eight developing countries, the US, Europe, Japan and New Zealand will attend a workshop in Brisbane next week to learn new techniques designed to improve the productivity of ruminant livestock animals while reducing their emissions of a major 'greenhouse' gas, methane.

Knowing when to flower

21 October 2006 - CSIRO The secret of flowering in our major food crops like wheat has been revealed with the discovery by CSIRO Plant Industry of a gene that triggers flowering in cereals. 'Important cereal crops like wheat and barley rely on the gene we found, WAP1, to initiate flowering,' says Dr Ben Trevaskis, CSIRO Plant Industry.

Breakthrough polymer for bone repair

21 October 2006 - CSIRO A breakthrough in polymer development means that soon there may be a radical new treatment for people with broken bones, a special kind of material that can 'glue' the bone back together and support it while it heals.

Fighting sheep worms with genomics

21 October 2006 - CSIRO Leading-edge technology is being used by two CSIRO Livestock Industries' research teams to identify genes that enable sheep to resist intestinal parasites. The discovery of such genes could lead to new products, control strategies, and markers to identify superior animals in selective breeding programs, which will substantially improve the overall health and welfare of the national flock.

Squirty star imitates black hole

20 October 2006 - CSIRO Scientists using CSIRO's Australia Telescope near Narrabri in northern NSW have made a discovery that they hope will increase our understanding of a fundamental cosmic process.

Study confirms sheepskins prevent bed sores

20 October 2006 - CSIRO A major cause of patient pain and suffering and additional healthcare costs in hospitals and aged care facilities, pressure ulcers (bed sores), can be more than halved by using a simple but effective bedding overlay product developed by CSIRO.

Sunbaking to make your car body stronger

20 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO scientists have discovered a new process which could soon lead to the production of aluminium cars and planes that get stronger the longer they are left to 'bake' in the sun.

International effort assists dairy research

20 October 2006 - CSIRO A plant toxins expert from Iran is assisting CSIRO Livestock Industries' scientists in their search for the cause of a liver disease afflicting dairy cattle in southern Australia.

High-vigour wheat puts weeds in the shade

19 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO through Graingene, is breeding new 'high-vigour' wheats so fast-growing they can out-compete weeds while maintaining high yields. Weeds cost Australian farmers over $4 billion annually in chemical and mechanical control and yield losses.

Smart statistics for cancer diagnosis

19 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO statisticians have developed a new way to subtype paediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, the most common form of cancer in children under 12. CSIRO's new molecular classifier is being validated on clinical samples by the Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research.

Breeding mastitis out of the dairy herd

19 October 2006 - CSIRO New technology developed by CSIRO Livestock Industries will lead to the development of new strategies designed to substantially reduce the $140 million lost each year due to Australian dairy cows contracting udder infections.

Pine nutrition project to boost production

19 October 2006 - CSIRO A system designed to optimise fertilising strategies for radiata pine plantations in the Green Triangle (SE South Australia and SW Victoria) is being jointly developed by CSIRO, the Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation and key softwood growers in the region.

Bluetongue disease a growing threat

18 October 2006 - CSIRO Research into the reasons for the recent world-wide spread of the devastating animal disease, bluetongue, could have major implications for the long-term future of Australia's sheep industry.

Australian scientists' revolution in casting technology

18 October 2006 - CSIRO Australian researchers who have worked quietly over several years in a long ignored area of metallurgy have been rewarded with a startling discovery, which is set to reshape the way metals are manufactured around the world.

Frogs muscle-in on wasting process

18 October 2006 - CSIRO Scientific studies of a unique Australian frog could lead to the development of new ways to improve livestock production levels and boost the prospects of maintaining human muscle strength into old age.

New beef quality gene marker identified

18 October 2006 - CSIRO The discovery of a new gene marker for marbling of beef will help cattle producers more accurately predict the genetic potential of their animals to produce better tasting, more valuable, beef.

Acoustic research helps Blue Grenadier Fishery

17 October 2006 - CSIRO Scientists and fishers will use deep ocean acoustic remote sensing techniques developed by CSIRO to help give long-term sustainability to the largest fishery in Australia's south-east.

Wool Fibre Research Branches Out

17 October 2006 - CSIRO New research into the molecular events that underlie wool development could improve wool production and profits, according to CSIRO Livestock Industries scientist, Dr Graham Cam.

Ancient sands key to cleaning up industrial pollution

17 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO research has found unusual properties in ilmenite sand from the Murray Basin that could be harnessed to remove heavy metal and radioactive pollution from mine drainage, industrial waste streams, and ground water.

CSIRO based drug effective against bird flu

17 October 2006 - CSIRO Drugs based on CSIRO's research into the influenza virus have been shown to be effective, in laboratory tests, against a sample of an H5N1 influenza virus currently infecting chickens in Asia.

Cutting edge technology to improve border security

16 October 2006 - CSIRO A contract for the construction and supply of cutting edge neutron scanning technology was today signed by the CEOs of Customs and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

Plant disease discovery solves rusty problem

16 October 2006 - CSIRO In a world first CSIRO Plant Industry has discovered a gene that is the 'Achilles heel' of rust, a common disease of plants, which could save millions in breeding rust resistant plants and avert losses in food production.

Saltbush benefits for sheep and farmers

16 October 2006 - CSIRO Salinity and meat researchers in Western Australia have identified a major nutritional benefit for sheep grazed on saltbush, a plant which is being used extensively to reduce dryland salinity levels.

Ocean study explores link with Australian rainfall

16 October 2006 - CSIRO A five-nation oceanographic team is taking the first steps in a $3.6 million project studying the major flow of ocean currents between Asia and Australia and how they influence rainfall across Southern Australia and Indonesia.

New vaccine for cattle pneumonia

15 October 2006 - CSIRO A vaccine for a major bacterial cattle disease, bovine respiratory disease, which currently costs the Australian feedlot industry around $60m a year, is now available in Australia.

New fumigant to replace gas that damages ozone layer

15 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO and the global industrial gas company the BOC Group have signed a deal to deliver to the international market a new environmentally-safe fumigant for treating soil, insect pests, weeds and diseases.

Unlocking the ways insects pests survive without air

15 October 2006 - CSIRO A CSIRO scientist is a step closer to solving the mystery of how insect pests survive in low oxygen environments such as grain silos and how to reduce multi-million dollar reliance on toxic fumigants to kills such pests.

Drink less rather than shower less to save water

15 October 2006 - CSIRO If you are trying to do your bit for sustainability and save water by taking shorter showers, then a new report on sustainability reveals for the first time that there are more effective ways that our everyday choices can have a positive impact on the environment.

Bubbles could be the key to Future Blood tests

14 October 2006 - CSIRO Patients could soon have the results of blood tests available before they have finished their initial medical consultation thanks to new ways of mixing a single drop of blood.

CSIRO software streamlines drug discovery

14 October 2006 - CSIRO Potential new drugs for neurological disorders, like Parkinson’s are being screened faster thanks to software developed by CSIRO that automatically assesses a drug’s effect on nerve cells.

Flexible pain relief with morphine-free poppy

14 October 2006 - CSIRO A handful of genes in a morphine free poppy could hold the key to producing improved pain management pharmaceuticals. Norman, the 'no-morphine' poppy, is superior to morphine producing poppies as it produces thebaine and oripavine, compounds preferred by industry in the manufacture of alternative high value pain-killers.

New tool in animal disease fight

14 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO researchers are investigating whether an ancient arm of the immune system can be used to control livestock animal diseases. CSIRO Livestock Industries' scientist Dr Tim Doran says a biological phenomenon called RNA interference has huge potential to control, and possibly eliminate, a number of major animal diseases.

RNAi enlisted in hunt for prawn vaccines

14 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO researchers are using a biological phenomenon called RNA interference in an effort to develop a major biotechnological breakthrough for the aquaculture industry, vaccines for common prawn diseases.

Breakthrough takes root in acid soils

13 October 2006 - CSIRO In a world's first, scientists from CSIRO Plant Industry and Japan's Okayama University have isolated an aluminium tolerance gene from wheat which will accelerate the development of crops that can help battle Australia's $1 billion soil acidity problem.

Trees key to sustainable steel-making

13 October 2006 - CSIRO A multidisciplinary CSIRO team investigating uses of biomass in the steel industry has demonstrated that using char produced from trees instead of coke to fuel iron ore sintering significantly improves productivity and environmental performance.

Study to investigate link between essential fatty acids, concentration and behaviour

13 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO is undertaking a research project to investigate the impact of certain nutrients on attention and learning/behavioural problems that may be related to children's ability to concentrate.

Single molecule detection for future border security

13 October 2006 - CSIRO Advances in the detection of individual molecules that make up potentially hazardous compounds are leading scientists to develop new border security screening tools.

Bricks & clicks: building design goes high tech

12 October 2006 - CSIRO Soon, planners, designers and builders will be able to work together using the same 'virtual environment'. Planners, designers and builders will soon be able to work together using the same 'virtual environment' in which internet gamers compete against each other in cyberspace.

Holden and CSIRO, Developing the next generation of hybrid powered cars

12 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO will work with Holden developing energy management control systems which integrate supercapacitors and advanced batteries for the next generation of hybrid powered vehicles.

GM pasture plant no greater weed risk

12 October 2006 - CSIRO New research has shown that genetically modified subterranean clover is unlikely to be more of a weed threat than conventional subterranean clover.

Climate change to increase extreme rainfall

12 October 2006 - CSIRO The climate of 2040 is likely to bring more intense and more frequent extreme rainfall events to coastal eastern Australia, according to a CSIRO climate expert. While climatologists have suggested for some time that climate change would lead to more intense rainfall globally, results from a computer model focussing on regional Australia suggest small areas receive much more extreme rainfall.

CSIRO points the way to seafloor riches

11 October 2006 - CSIRO The historic announcement of a new seafloor minerals initiative by Mining Company Placer Dome after it reached an agreement with Nautilus Minerals on its PNG tenements, is the next logical step in a chain of events that began with a mammoth research effort over almost 20 years by CSIRO Exploration & Mining.

New frontiers in annual ryegrass toxicity research

11 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO Livestock Industries and Department of Agriculture researchers are using new technologies to help control and improve monitoring of the plant-associated disease, annual ryegrass toxicity.

New frontiers in annual ryegrass toxicity research

11 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO Livestock Industries and Department of Agriculture researchers are using new technologies to help control and improve monitoring of the plant-associated disease, annual ryegrass toxicity.

Saltbush study prompts more questions

11 October 2006 - CSIRO Research by CSIRO Livestock Industries is moving closer to identifying plants which can be more successfully grown as feed for livestock in salt-affected areas.

Causes of methane growth revealed

11 October 2006 - CSIRO A study team lead by Dr Dominic Ferretti has a new insight on the effects of methane levels in the atmosphere. Following an international study into how methane levels in the atmosphere have evolved during the past 2000 years, atmospheric scientists have a new insight on methane, one of the world’s most influential greenhouse gases.

Minimising the risky business in engineering projects

10 October 2006 - CSIRO Invented by a team of scientists from CSIRO’s Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology is the Project management software that learns from previous projects. Project management software that learns from previous project successes and failures has been invented by a team of scientists from CSIRO’s Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology.

Aussie team makes landmark insulin discovery

10 October 2006 - CSIRO A team of CSIRO scientists has determined the molecular structure of the insulin receptor, the protein on the surface of cells that mediates the effects of insulin. This advance builds on many years of international research to understand how insulin functions in the body.

UK research to feature at Gold Coast conference

10 October 2006 - CSIRO The latest research into ‘precision animal farming’ in the UK and how it could be applied in Australia will be featured at the Horizons in Livestock Research Conference at the Gold Coast International Hotel from 8-11 October.

New multi-gene DNA test for beef marbling

10 October 2006 - CSIRO Australian cattle farmers are now better equipped to produce the perfect steak every time with the identification and commercialisation of a new gene marker test for beef marbling.

CSIRO helping to keep all eyes on the road

09 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO’s Hybrid Modular Processor System technology has just been adopted into a new breed of camera systems for the New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority.

European wasps thrive in our indian summer

09 October 2006 - CSIRO Just when you thought it was safe to leave your can of soft drink uncovered, CSIRO and the ACT Department of Urban Services are warning that European wasps are still very active in the local area.

On the hunt for deadly frog disease

09 October 2006 - CSIRO A workshop on new methods of detecting and controlling the spread of one of the world's most deadly frog diseases, chytridiomycosis. CSIRO Livestock Industries' Dr Alex Hyatt says the disease, caused by the chytrid fungus, has been associated with frog declines in eastern Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Panama, Ecuador, Venezuela and Spain.

General relativity survives gruelling pulsar test

09 October 2006 - CSIRO Astronomers have used a pair of pulsars orbiting each other, found with CSIRO’s Parkes telescope in 2003, to show that Einstein’s theory of general relativity is correct to within 0.05%, the most stringent limit to date.

Total Wellbeing Diet is beneficial for public health

08 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO stands by the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet which is based on a number of scientific trials, and is scientifically proven, the Group Executive of Agribusiness and Health, Dr Alastair Robertson said today.

Privacy software to unlock health data goldmine

08 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO has developed unique privacy software to allow health data collections to be used to improve the health of Australian people.

Can domestic bores help save our drinking water?

08 October 2006 - CSIRO Too much of our precious drinking water is still being used to water Perth gardens, according to CSIRO’s Dr Tony Smith. Dr Smith will present results from a study of Perth’s groundwater levels at a public seminar today at CSIRO’s Floreat Laboratories in Perth.

New generation tiger prawns tamed on-farm

08 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO's part in a collaborative project which has produced the world's first domestically-bred crop of tiger prawns is almost certain to lead to major improvements in the quality and consistency of the Australian product.

Research breakthrough a splashing success

07 October 2006 - CSIRO Collaboration between Flinders University and CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory has delivered the world’s first continuous southern bluefin tuna cell lines.

Transforming the merino with modern genetics

07 October 2006 - CSIRO New CSIRO research is employing modern genetics to help transform the Australian merino into a sheep that can produce lean, fast growing lambs as well as its traditional, high-value fleece.

Vaccine to boost wool growth

07 October 2006 - CSIRO A prototype vaccine designed to significantly increase wool production is being researched by CSIRO for testing on Australian sheep flocks.

New software model to help plantation industry

07 October 2006 - CSIRO Ensis has developed a software model called CABALA that will help managers make better plantation management decisions. Ensis, the joint venture between CSIRO and Scion, has developed a software model called CABALA that will help managers make better plantation management decisions.

Energy technologies cut path to reduced emissions

06 October 2006 - CSIRO According to CSIRO’s Chief of Energy Technology, Dr David Brockway, a variety of technological advances being developed by CSIRO can dramatically reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.

New Study to protect Mt Gambier’s drinking water

06 October 2006 - CSIRO Joanne Vanderzalm from CSIRO Land and Water will be leading a new study on the effects of stormwater disposal and the quality of the water when it reaches Blue Lake, Mt Gambier.

New X-ray microscope for science and industry

06 October 2006 - CSIRO Australian researchers have taken X-ray technology to a new level, developing and using high-powered microscopes to see inside objects and capture high-resolution images of their subsurface structures.

Mini sensors to help in the fight against corrosion

06 October 2006 - CSIRO Sensors that have been designed to indicate environment impacts that lead to corrosion. Tiny and often tucked away in hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, a novel array of sensors is poised to change the costly and resource-intensive process of fighting corrosion in industries such as aerospace, shipping, mining, oil and gas.

Smart Textile helps care for all

05 October 2006 - CSIRO Advances by CSIRO in material sciences are creating ‘next to skin’ technology that can protect the body against skin tear wounds and traumas. By incorporating so-called ‘smart textiles’, next to skin technology is an emerging biomedical field with applications in medicine, sport, occupational safety, military and emergency services.

New printing technology to benefit the environment

05 October 2006 - CSIRO The Kirk Group and researchers at CSIRO Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology believe a clever coating system that uses a ‘Cold Spray’ to apply coatings can revolutionize manufacturing of printing rollers.

Future sheep may be haute couture

05 October 2006 - CSIRO The world’s most fashion conscious men and women may one day be wearing merino wool bred specifically for its ability to make haute couture (high fashion) clothing.

Cattle tracking to boost sustainability

05 October 2006 - CSIRO To improve land management and ensure long-term sustainability, state-of-the-art satellite technology is about to help. State-of-the-art satellite technology is about to help northern beef producers improve land management and ensure long-term sustainability by better understanding the grazing behaviour of their cattle.

CSIRO scientists explore the link between diet and DNA

04 October 2006 - CSIRO Researchers from CSIRO have joined with some of the world’s top scientists to provide an overview of nutrigenomics.

CSIRO reveals how continents can break apart

04 October 2006 - CSIRO A paper co-authored by CSIRO’s Professor Klaus Regenauer-Lieb and published in Nature today reveals new information on the strength of continents and how they can split apart.

Jet cleaning device makes light work of sludge cleaning

04 October 2006 - CSIRO Cleaning the inside of giant storage tanks at refineries and bulk chemical storage facilities is set to get a whole lot easier, safer and cheaper, with the development of an innovative jet cleaning device.

Heat treatment strengthens high-pressure die castings

04 October 2006 - CSIRO Invented by CSIRO Light Metals Flagship researchers, high-pressure die–cast parts made of aluminium are now able to have their strength doubled through a novel heat treatment process.

New solar energy research facility in the limelight

03 October 2006 - CSIRO National and international solar thermal energy researchers now have a unique research facility available to them. The $5.3 million National Solar Energy Centre will be opened today by the Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell.

Savings for miners in the pipeline

03 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO has announced that it will work with Queensland specialist pipe manufacturer, AC Whalan, to develop a new fibreglass pressure piping system to be used in the mining industry.

Keys to good health, diet, exercise and attitude

03 October 2006 - CSIRO The latest research into the health benefits associated with diet, exercise and personal attitude will be presented at this week’s 39th Annual Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology Convention in Adelaide.

Laser robot welders cut millions from turbine repairs costs

03 October 2006 - CSIRO A new laser welding technique is repairing power station turbine rotor blades in minutes, rather than days, through advances in the way repair metals fuse together.

Bats may help solve deadly virus mysteries

02 October 2006 - CSIRO According to leading CSIRO virologist, Dr Bryan Eaton, learning more about the world’s only flying mammal, the bat, will help protect humans and animals against a range of deadly diseases.

New model for ocean research

02 October 2006 - CSIRO The Wealth from Oceans Flagship has been established to provide Australia with the capacity to realise the potential economic and environmental benefits to be gained from its oceans, the Flagship’s Director, Craig Roy, said in Cairns today.

More people, less water: CSIRO examines future options

02 October 2006 - CSIRO New research by CSIRO and Monash University has examined a series of scenarios for how Australian cities could cope with the likely rise in demand for water. Australia now has a new capacity to understand the macroeconomic implications of Australia’s water resource challenges.

Australian timber research takes industry to the cutting edge

02 October 2006 - CSIRO Technology used in the nuclear power and aerospace industries will help enhance timber quality control. A world-first application of aerospace technology to enhance timber quality control has been instigated through a joint research venture between:

Driving Australia’s light metal dollar further

01 October 2006 - CSIRO CSIRO today launched a national research partnership aimed at positioning Australia as a technology leader in designing lighter car components, a key to making cars more fuel-efficient.

Fix for pipes before they fail

01 October 2006 - CSIRO Urban floods caused by burst water mains may be a thing of the past thanks to a new model for predicting the lifespan of underground pipes. CSIRO researchers have developed a predictive model for estimating likely failures in underground pipeline networks made from a range of materials.

More fertile cattle worth millions to producers

30 September 2006 - CSIRO Research into finding the links between the genetic make-up of bulls and the fertility of their female progeny could be worth millions of dollars to Australian beef producers.

International presentation on sheep worm research

29 September 2006 - CSIRO Work by CSIRO Livestock Industries researcher, Kerri Tyrrell, which validates a new method of controlling a major parasite in Australian sheep, is being presented to the International Controlled Release Society conference in Vienna this week.

The Midas Bug, the bacterial alchemy of gold

29 September 2006 - CSIRO Bacteria play an important role in the formation of gold nuggets in Australia according to new research published this month in the international journal, Science today.

Parkes finds unexpected heartbeat’ in star

29 September 2006 - CSIRO Astronomers using CSIRO's Parkes telescope in eastern Australia have detected radio “heartbeats” from a star that was not expected to have them. A US-Australian research team found that a “magnetar” a kind of star with the strongest magnetic fields known in the Universe, is giving off extraordinary radio pulses, which links this rare type of star with the much more common “radio pulsars”.

International presentation on sheep worm research

29 September 2006 - CSIRO Work by CSIRO Livestock Industries researcher, Kerri Tyrrell, which validates a new method of controlling a major parasite in Australian sheep, is being presented to the International Controlled Release Society conference in Vienna this week. Ms Tyrrell successfully combined two chemicals in a unique way to produce a single controlled-release formulation for effective long-term protection against the damaging intestinal worm, Haemonchus contortus.

The Midas Bug - the bacterial alchemy of gold

29 September 2006 - CSIRO according to new research published this month in the international journal, Science today. The paper highlights the findings of a Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration project by CSIRO researcher, Dr Frank Reith.

Parkes finds unexpected heartbeat’ in star

29 September 2006 - CSIRO Astronomers using CSIRO's Parkes telescope in eastern Australia have detected radio “heartbeats” from a star that was not expected to have them. A US-Australian research team found that a “magnetar”, a kind of star with the strongest magnetic fields known in the Universe, is giving off extraordinary radio pulses, which links this rare type of star with the much more common “radio pulsars”.

Research partnership to protect the Coorong

28 September 2006 - CSIRO One of Australia’s most significant wetlands, the Coorong, at the mouth of the River Murray, is the focus of a new multi–million dollar research partnership that aims to improve the ecological health of the region and protect threatened birds and fish.

Australia-UK teams join to fight flu

28 September 2006 - CSIRO In a joint application to the British Medical Research Council, Dr Jennifer McKimm-Breschkin of CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies and Dr Andrew Watts of the University of Bath will share equally in a £408,000 (A$ 1M) grant over three years to tackle pandemic flu. Dr McKimm-Breschkin is an expert in testing inhibitors of flu and evaluating drug resistance. Dr Watts brings his medicinal chemistry expertise to the collaboration and will work on the design of new drug molecules.

Research partnership to protect the Coorong

28 September 2006 - CSIRO One of Australia’s most significant wetlands, the Coorong, at the mouth of the River Murray, is the focus of a new multi–million dollar research partnership that aims to improve the ecological health of the region and protect threatened birds and fish.

Australia-UK teams join to fight flu

28 September 2006 - CSIRO In a joint application to the British Medical Research Council, Dr Jennifer McKimm-Breschkin of CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies and Dr Andrew Watts of the University of Bath will share equally in a £408,000 (A$ 1M) grant over three years to tackle pandemic flu. Dr McKimm-Breschkin is an expert in testing inhibitors of flu and evaluating drug resistance. Dr Watts brings his medicinal chemistry expertise to the collaboration and will work on the design of new drug molecules.

Plastic meltdown technology a real lifesaver

27 September 2006 - CSIRO A polymer that transforms into a fireproof ceramic in a blaze is set to have a major impact on the $12 billion global passive fire-protection market, and stands to save many lives.

Plastic meltdown technology a real lifesaver

27 September 2006 - CSIRO A polymer that transforms into a fireproof ceramic in a blaze is set to have a major impact on the $12 billion global passive fire-protection market, and stands to save many lives. Fire accidents cause over 70,000 deaths and $115 billion worth of property damage a year worldwide. The ceramifying polymers have been developed by CSIRO and the CRC for Polymers, and are being commercialised by CRC spin-off company Ceram Polymerik.

A three-way coal research and development Joint Statement was signed

27 September 2006 - CSIRO The three signatories were the Japan Coal Energy Centre; Australian Coal Research Ltd, a company established by the Australian coal industry to manage the activities of the Australian Coal Association Research Program; and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

A three-way coal research and development Joint Statement was signed

27 September 2006 - CSIRO The three signatories were the Japan Coal Energy Centre; Australian Coal Research Ltd, a company established by the Australian coal industry to manage the activities of the Australian Coal Association Research Program; and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

Researchers are investigating Koi herpesvirus as a means of controlling the introduced fish

26 September 2006 - CSIRO Project leader Dr Mark Crane says the virus, which first emerged in Israel in 1998, caused mass mortalities in carp in the US, the UK, Israel, the Netherlands, Japan and Indonesia. So far the virus does not appear to have reached Australia.

Map sheds light on ocean floor

26 September 2006 - CSIRO The result of a major research initiative between the CSIRO’s Wealth from Oceans Flagship, and Geoscience Australia, together with CSIRO Exploration and Mining and the State and Territory Geological Surveys, the map was launched today by the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, and the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop.

Researchers are investigating Koi herpesvirus as a means of controlling the introduced fish

26 September 2006 - CSIRO Project leader Dr Mark Crane says the virus, which first emerged in Israel in 1998, caused mass mortalities in carp in the US, the UK, Israel, the Netherlands, Japan and Indonesia. So far the virus does not appear to have reached Australia.

Map sheds light on ocean floor

26 September 2006 - CSIRO The world’s first map to show a comprehensive summary of known offshore mineral occurrences has been released for Australia’s vast marine jurisdiction. The map shows the known seafloor locations of minerals, such as copper, gold, silver and diamond, compiled from survey information gathered over many decades.

Completed genome set to transform the cow

25 September 2006 - CSIRO The ability of scientists to improve health and disease management of cattle and enhance the nutritional value of beef and dairy products has received a major boost with the release this week of the most complete sequence of the cow genome ever assembled.

A new international research project seeks to protect environment from metal contaminants will be launched

25 September 2006 - CSIRO The project will be launched at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Asia/Pacific Conference. It will bring together scientists from CSIRO, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and is sponsored by Rio Tinto, the International Copper Association and the Nickel Producers Environmental Research Association.

Completed genome set to transform the cow

25 September 2006 - CSIRO The ability of scientists to improve health and disease management of cattle and enhance the nutritional value of beef and dairy products has received a major boost with the release this week of the most complete sequence of the cow genome ever assembled.

A new international research project that seeks to protect the environment from metal contaminants will be launched

25 September 2006 - CSIRO The project will be launched at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Asia/Pacific Conference. It will bring together scientists from CSIRO, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and is sponsored by Rio Tinto, the International Copper Association and the Nickel Producers Environmental Research Association.

Futuristic smart yarns on the horizon

18 November 2004 - CSIRO Technologies used to spin wool have been adapted to produce yarns made solely from carbon nanotubes (CNTs).

Energy Express,new energy buildings for Australia

14 May 2004 - CSIRO A new design software tool, Energy Express is expected to mark a turning point in the way energy-efficient commercial buildings are designed in Australia and overseas.

Double pulsar find to test relativity

14 January 2004 - CSIRO An international team of scientists working in the UK, Australia, Italy and the USA has made an astronomical discovery that has major implications for testing Einstein's general theory of relativity.

New device to help premature babies

22 December 2003 - CSIRO Australian scientists have invented a simple device that is ready to help thousands of premature babies in third-world countries who suffer from respiratory difficulties, problems that can cause brain damage and blindness.

New-generation autonomous helicopter to create new era of human safety

17 December 2003 - CSIRO Australian scientists have developed a 'brain', which enables the production of a world-first low-cost, intelligent small helicopter, set to end many difficult and dangerous tasks undertaken by humans.

Rapid ID system separates wheat from the chaff

11 December 2003 - CSIRO CSIRO Plant Industry has developed a simple high-throughput testing system that accurately identifies wheat and barley varieties. 'Accurate identification of wheat and barley varieties provides assurance of quality for products that require different grain characteristics, like bread, noodles and beer,' says Dr Kevin Gale, CSIRO Plant Industry.

Light factories: going one better than nature

09 December 2003 - CSIRO Researchers are attempting to perfect photosynthesis, a process pioneered by plants and bacteria, in an ambitious scheme to generate new foods, fabrics and even electricity, sustainably.

Pulsar find boosts hope for gravity-wave hunters

05 December 2003 - CSIRO A discovery made with CSIRO's Parkes radio telescope in eastern Australia may have brought forward the day when astronomers will directly detect cosmic gravity waves for the first time.

Coastal study clears muddy water

25 November 2003 - CSIRO A team of environmental detectives using catchment-scale forensics has found that coastal bays muddied by land clearing and farming can be restored to health by controlling soil erosion.

New production-ready magnesium sheet

25 November 2003 - CSIRO Australia's breakthrough low-cost, thin magnesium sheet technology will be made fully production-ready during the next twelve months. This follows the successful development by Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation of an industrial-scale pilot plant now producing near-net-shape, or close to production thickness, low-cost magnesium sheet.

Nanohouse brings nanotechnology home

19 November 2003 - CSIRO A new way of demonstrating the potential applications of nanotechnology is being unveiled today in Cairns at the 'Oz Nano 03' Nanotechnology conference. Nanotechnology is the design, fabrication, and characterisation of functional objects having dimensions at the nanometer (one billionth of a metre) length scale.