Fresh Science

Cheaper, smaller specialist microscope invented in Australia could help create new materials or even quality-check new phones. A microscope that fits in the palm of your hand could soon become a standard tool for generating high-resolution images of atoms, cells, and new materials. The new device opens up a range of applications in industry. Researchers…

Nutrient stimulates glucose absorption and helps cells burn it as fuel A chemical produced in our gut after eating berries could provide a cheap, safe and delicious way to manage blood sugar, researchers at Monash University have found. “I have shown in the lab that this nutrient helps muscle absorb sugar in a similar way…

Science meets new challenges to winemakers from climate change  Riesling grapes are struggling with premature ageing because of hotter conditions in parts of Germany and Australia where they have previously thrived. “In recent years young Riesling wines have started to show a premature ‘aged’ character,” says Dr Yevgeniya Grebneva, a German scientist working for the…

Eye cells’ messaging system key to solving the problem of macular degeneration Researchers from the Australian National University have found that maintaining communication between cells in the eye can prevent vision loss through age-related macular degeneration (AMD).  The incurable condition, resulting from damage to the macula region of the retina, causes loss of sight at the…