Fresh Science

Some cases of breast cancer may be caused by a virus according to new research by scientists at the University of New South Wales and Prince of Wales Hospital.

A radical new theory that could dramatically alter the way scientists view the evolution of life has been recently accepted for publication in the leading “Journal of Molecular Evolution”.  Supported by an increasing body of evidence, the theory proposes that the nucleus of our cells evolved from a virus that infected ancient bacteria-like organisms.

Kristen Warren from Murdoch University in WA is working to save Indonesia’s orang-utans. Many captive orang-utans couldn’t be released into the wild because they appeared to be carrying a human hepatitis B virus. Kristen showed the virus is a new, orang-utan virus – a discovery essential to conservation of dwindling wild populations.  

With Ross River virus infecting an increasing number of Australians each year (5000-7000 cases), researchers have discovered how it tricks our body’s defences. New research conducted by Dr Surendran Mahalingam and Dr Brett Lidbury firstly at the University of Canberra and now at the John Curtin School of Medical Research (Australian National University) has found…