Kakadu still battling South American invader

Biological control of the aquatic weed salvinia in the billabongs of Kakadu National Park has been “fitful and incomplete”.

Byproducts key to charcoal fuel viability

A new pyrolysis technology could expand charcoal production in Australia tenfold, and generate a range of valuable byproducts, according to the February edition of CSIRO's Process magazine.

Mini 'doughnut-blimp' leads the way at QCAT

Visitors to CSIRO’s Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies (QCAT) complex in Pullenvale, Brisbane, might soon have a floating doughnut to show them around.

Working together to take the pulse of the universe

Using the Parkes radio telescope, CSIRO astronomers are working closely with NASA to unlock one of astronomy’s great enigmas – the science behind pulsars.

Alzheimer’s protein puts top brains to the test

CSIRO scientists and collaborators have made major inroads in cracking a structure of the protein thought to cause Alzheimer’s disease.

Using mining by-products to reduce algal blooms

CSIRO research has shown that some mining by-products can be effective in preventing nutrients from entering river systems, thereby reducing the potential for algal blooms.

CO2-chomping microbes battling for ocean iron

Australian, Belgian and New Zealand scientists have expanded our understanding of the way phyoplankton take up scarce iron in the ocean – a process that regulates ocean food chains from the bottom up and helps remove up to 40 per cent of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere.

Robotic glider to map Moreton Bay impacts

A $200,000 CSIRO coastal glider is bound for Queensland to be deployed in Moreton Bay to investigate the impact of the recent flooding on marine ecosystems.

New crop of plant scientists emerges at CSIRO

Some of Australia’s top science and engineering students have begun a ten-week, hands-on work experience program at CSIRO Plant Industry’s research facilities in Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide and Narrabri.

Climate is warming – despite 'ups and downs'

Periodic short-term cooling in global temperatures should not be misinterpreted as signalling an end to global warming, according to an Honorary Research Fellow with CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Barrie Hunt.

Research collaboration to deliver ‘healthier’ grains

Four of Australia’s leading research institutions will collaborate closely over the next three years to fast-track development of new ‘healthier’ varieties of three of the world’s most widely cultivated cereal grains.

Tasmanian scientists expand their view of the ocean

Tasmanian scientists will soon have unprecedented access to data from high-tech equipment for monitoring coastal and ocean ecosystems.

Measuring how farm animals 'feel'

CSIRO is researching ways to improve the welfare of livestock by developing scientific methods for assessing how animals 'feel' in response to common management practices.

An Australian first for lupin genome project

As part of the first major plant genome sequencing project managed in Australia, CSIRO researchers will soon start sequencing the narrow leaf lupin genome.

Brainstorming the big biodiversity issues

More than 700 leading international and Australian ecologists will attend the Ecological Society of Australia’s Annual Conference in Canberra this week (6-10 December) to brainstorm issues critical to ensuring a healthy future for Australian biodiversity.

CO2 capture from coal power begins in Qld

Low emissions coal technology research has reached an important milestone in Queensland with the first capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) from Tarong Power Station flue gases using post combustion capture (PCC) technology.

Water savings from willow removal

Removing willows growing in the stream bed of creeks and rivers could return valuable water resources to river systems, new CSIRO research has found.

New edition of soil analysis 'bible' released

A new ‘bible’ on analysing soils for factors like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and toxic substances, was released in Canberra last night at the Australasian Soil & Plant Analysis Council Conference.

Funding to help solve solar energy puzzle

CSIRO has welcomed the award of a $5.65 million grant from the Australian Solar Institute towards three major solar research projects worth a total of $16 million.

World-leading spatial experts meet in Sydney

Senior CSIRO scientists will this week host a meeting of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC®) in Sydney to discuss developing and implementing new standards for geospatial and location technology.

SEQ drought likely caused by ‘climate variability’

The recent South-East Queensland (SEQ) drought was likely caused by shifts associated with climate variability over decades rather than climate change, according to the findings of a team of CSIRO researchers led by Dr Wenju Cai.

Global CO2 emissions may set a record this year

Global carbon dioxide emissions contributing to atmospheric warming show no sign of abating and may reach record levels in 2010, according to the Global Carbon Project (GCP), supported by CSIRO’s Marine and Atmospheric Research Division.

Scientists question fisheries health test

A measure widely advocated as a means of assessing the health of marine ecosystems is an ineffective guide to trends in biodiversity, and more direct monitoring is needed, a new study has found.

CSIRO’s supercomputer is Australia’s ‘greenest’

CSIRO’s graphics processing unit (GPU) cluster is now Australia’s ‘greenest’ supercomputer ranking 11th on an internationally recognised list of the world’s 500 fastest and most energy efficient supercomputers – the Green500 List.

National ‘CarbonKids Schools Program’ launch

Students from 10 Sydney schools will join guests at Rydalmere East Public School today to celebrate the launch of the 2010 National CarbonKids Schools Program by former Chief Scientist of Australia, CSIRO’s Dr Jim Peacock, and the Chairman of Bayer Australia Limited, Joerg Ellmanns.