University of South Australia

A new type of dressing is shaping up as a way to heal chronic wounds without the need for antibiotics. Using a helium plasma jet to activate hydrogel, researchers have created a highly effective antibacterial cover that can swiftly overpower wounds.

Scientists have uncovered how the brain's far-reaching Behavioral Activation System, along with chemical drivers, can override other cognitive processes when we experience romantic love, driving that all-consuming focus on the object of our affection.

The animal kingdom has no shortage of weird and wonderful surprises, and this year biologists gave us some real treats to talk about. From microscopic bacteria to huge cetaceans, here are the most bizarre animal stories we covered in 2023.

A new study has found that short blood pressure fluctuations – across a day or several days – increase the risk of dementia in older adults. The findings suggest that blood pressure variability could be an early marker of cognitive impairment.

For the estimated 800 million people worldwide with acne, a successful new treatment would have a profound impact on quality of life. Scientists hope their new treatment method, using a drug that's unique in human medicine, will be the 'magic bullet.'

Researchers have found that using nanoflakes of black phosphorus on wounds infected with drug-resistant superbugs not only kills the bugs, but accelerates wound healing. They say the innovative antimicrobial can be incorporated into common materials.

The European red fox isn't native to Australia, but it does live there now, preying on native species. To help restore the ecological balance, scientists are experimenting with putting foxes off of some of those creatures, by making them barf.

Three new prostate cancer biomarkers have been identified that improve the visibility of cancer cells used by pathologists to grade the disease’s severity, which could help determine which patients require urgent treatment and those who don’t.

The health of Australian military personnel could soon be monitored using data collected by smartwatches and wearable devices and analyzed using a machine learning algorithm thanks to a new project designed to detect biological and chemical threats early.

A study has found that the humble sea cucumber may contain key ingredients that delay the onset of type 2 diabetes and the complications brought about by the disease. The discovery may lead to a natural treatment for the condition.

Playing dead is a common defense mechanism in the animal kingdom, but scientists in Australia have discovered an example on a whole new scale. Entire colonies of ants were found to be feigning death, in a collective behavior never before recorded.

With many countries around the world exploring the implementation of a four-day workweek, new Australian research into the health benefits associated with vacationing would seem to support a move in that direction.