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Society & Culture

assisted reproductive technologies IVF risk

Scientists consider the risks of IVF

Tuesday, 7 February 2012

One child in every classroom is Australia is the result of assisted reproductive technologies such in vitro fertilisation, but the long-term effects of these technologies remain unclear, scientists report.


testosterone language development problems

Testosterone linked to boys' language problems

Monday, 6 February 2012

Exposure to high levels of testosterone in boys before birth is linked to an increased risk of language development delays, according to a new study. But for girls, the opposite is true.


should we bring elephants to Australia

Should we introduce elephants to Australia?

Thursday, 2 February 2012

We should introduce elephants and other large mammals to Australia to ease the impact of bushfires and feral animals on the environment, an Australian scientist has suggested.


Narcissistic males health problems

Narcissism has a higher health cost for men

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

Narcissistic males are more likely to experience long-term health problems than females with the same personality trait, new research suggests.


black hole

Science in review: 10 biggest stories for 2011

Thursday, 22 December 2011

From overachieving neutrinos to Earth-like planets and test tube sperm: here are the top 10 science stories of 2011, as chosen by the editors at COSMOS. Plus, we reveal which stories were particularly popular in the office.


douglas mawson centenary

Huge iceberg foils Mawson centenary plans

Thursday, 22 December 2011

An iceberg nearly 100 km long was yesterday preventing tourist ships from reaching Antarctica to mark the centenary of Australian explorer Douglas Mawson's epic polar voyage.


contagious yawning

Contagious yawning stronger amongst family

Monday, 19 December 2011

Not all yawns are created equal: you're more likely to 'catch' a yawn from a family member than a stranger, researchers report.


plastic brain

Taxi driver training changes brain structure

Wednesday, 14 December 2011

Learning the locations of London's 20,000 landmarks and the 25,000 streets and 320 routes that connect them has changed the growth of taxi drivers' brains.


fear of snakes

Fear of snakes? This could be why

Tuesday, 13 December 2011

Our early relatives would have made an easy meal for large snakes, according to new research that provides solid evidence for the threat snakes posed to primitive humans and other primates.


global warming

World sets course for 2015 global climate pact

Monday, 12 December 2011

A marathon U.N. climate conference yesterday approved a roadmap towards an accord that for the first time will bring all major greenhouse-gas emitters under a single legal roof.


oldest mattress

Oldest known mattresses kept the bugs away

Friday, 9 December 2011

They may have lacked spring form mattresses, but modern humans were still sleeping comfortably as early as 77,000 years ago, an international team of archaeologists reports.


human evolution

Human brain evolution traced to gene activity

Wednesday, 7 December 2011

The rapid evolution of the human brain may be traceable to specific gene activity, researchers in China and Germany suggest.


world's leading biosecurity lab

Australia opens world's leading biosecurity lab

Tuesday, 29 November 2011

The world's most advanced biosecurity lab has raised its curtain in Geelong, Australia.


Christmas tree worm

Australia plans world's biggest marine protection zone

Friday, 25 November 2011

Australia plans to establish the world's biggest marine protection zone to safeguard a huge swathe of the Coral Sea, a biodiversity hotspot brimming with life.


Michelle Simmons

Quantum computing pioneer is NSW Scientist of the Year

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

A scientist who is pioneering the development of the world's first quantum computer has been named the 2011 NSW Scientist of the Year tonight at Government House in Sydney.