Dolphins’ social network ABC News in Science: Female dolphins that “hang-out” with other mums are themselves more successful as mothers according to an international team of behavioural scientists. http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2010/11/02/3053831.htm The Science Show 6 November 2010 Excerpt: If you’re in your 30s or 40s, you’ll probably remember Flipper, a bottlenose dolphin, the star of a TV … More Dolphins’ social network

 Go getting kiwi scientist makes good in the UK 6/9/2010 Branwen Morgan talks to Phil L’Huillier Couple compete for extra muscle 6/9/2010 Branwen Morgan talks to Ravi Kambadur and Mridula Sharma It’s all in the genes 23/08/10 Branwen Morgan talks to Marcel Dinger Putting the air in people’s lungs 08/16/10  Branwen Morgan talks to David … More Waikato Times – profile series

Biofilms: new methods of attack  The Science Show on Radio National: “Biofilms, and no, they’re not a new genre of science movies. We’re talking about the layers of slime that build up on a variety of surfaces. In your body they are found on your teeth, in your blood, in your lungs, in fact nearly … More Biofilms: new methods of attack

Mitochondrial mysteries Australian Life Scientist: They are diseases most people haven’t heard of: Kearns-Sayre syndrome, Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, Leigh syndrome or MELAS. Neither had Associate Professor David Thorburn until he “inherited” the mitochondrial disease research group at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne on his return to Australia from the USA in … More Mitochondrial mysteries

Next Next Generation Sequencing  Australian Life Scientist: It took nearly two decades to go from the release of the first semi-automated genome sequencer in the mid-1980s to the launch of Roche’s flagship 454 FLX next generation sequencer in 2005. The 454 is now one of three major players in the next gen market whose impact … More Next Next Generation Sequencing

Australia reworks research philanthropy to fill unmet need Nature Medicine: Australians are known to be good at cheering on their sports teams and incredibly generous in times of crisis, as reflected by the level of public giving after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Yet philanthropic funding for health and medical research is relatively low by … More Australia reworks research philanthropy to fill unmet need

Spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down ABC News in Science: Mary Poppins was right: A spoonful of sugar really does help the medicine go down, according to the results of a new study. Dr Denise Harrison, of the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, and colleagues found that giving less than half a teaspoon … More Spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down

NZ’s GM cattle under fire Nature News: Scientists in New Zealand whose work with genetically modified (GM) animals had been threatened by a High Court ruling have been given a reprieve. But they say that the case highlights the legislative challenges their research faces. The case involves a series of applications made by the state-owned … More NZ’s GM cattle under fire

Concerns over varroa mite resistance ABC News in Science: The spread of a pesticide-resistant mite, which can decimate honeybee hives, is causing concern among beekeepers in New Zealand. Dr Mark Goodwin of the New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research says while Varroa destructor has been in New Zealand for ten years, they’ve only … More Concerns over varroa mite resistance

Tailored diet may slow down DNA damage ABC News in Science: Mounting evidence on the effect of micronutrients on DNA damage calls for a re-evaluation of recommended dietary intake values, say researchers. Professor Michael Fenech of CSIRO‘s Food and Nutritional Sciences Division in Adelaide lays out his argument in a paper accepted for publication in … More Tailored diet may slow down DNA damage