Research & Science

A new study says that early humans were primarily vegetarians.

Early humans found to be vegetarians

The popular image of early humans feasting on animals may be off the mark. New research has found that early hominins mostly ate plants. A study, published this week in
Read more 21 January 2025
Aging robots may need to be repurposed and reskilled to avoid future junk heaps - Newsreel

Aging robots may need to re-trained

There has been significant attention paid to the need to reskill humans in the digital high-tech era. Now, it seems, robots may need to do the same to avoid high-tech
Read more 21 January 2025
Panoramic view of the Andromeda galaxy taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. | Newsreel

Galactic image of 200 million stars 10 years in the making

A photograph 10 years in the making and featuring 200 million stars is helping scientists better understand our Milky Way galaxy. University of Washington astronomers
Read more 20 January 2025
Australian Antarctic Program scientists prepare to pull the cover over the million year ice core drilling shelter. | Newsreel

Ice core to reveal million-year-old climate secrets

An Australian team has started drilling in the Antarctic, aiming to capture climate data from one million years ago. Australian Antarctic Program scientists aim to
Read more 20 January 2025
screen

Reducing screen time is harder without green space

Programs to reduce screen time for young people tend to be less effective if there is no green space nearby for them to escape to. A University of Michigan study said
Read more 17 January 2025
Green hydrogen. | Newsreel

Reality check for green hydrogen dreams

Less than 10 percent of announced green hydrogen projects worldwide have come to fruition as high costs and uncertainty continue to impact the technology. A new study by
Read more 16 January 2025
QIMR Berghofer researcher Dr Brittany Mitchell, right, and colleague. | Newsreel

Gene discovery helps better predict risk of depression

Scientists have enhanced the ability to predict a person’s risk of depression through the discovery of almost 300 more genes linked to the condition. The global study,
Read more 16 January 2025
Woman reading a book. | Newsreel

Looking for a dopamine hit? Read a great book

The power of words has been confirmed, with new experiments showing the human brain releases chemicals based on language, just as it does for physical experiences. An
Read more 15 January 2025
Great white shark. | Newsreel

Demand for shark meat drives extinction risk

A rise in global demand for shark and ray meat is driving many species to extinction with Australia one of the few safe havens for the marine creatures. James Cook
Read more 15 January 2025
3D printed fungal battery.

Fungi power drives new battery option

European scientists have created a 3D printable biodegradable fungal battery. Researcher Carolina Reyes, from the Swiss research institution Empa, said the new microbial
Read more 15 January 2025