Research Highlights

Researchers from the University of Tasmania, supported by ARC funding, have released 19 immunised Tasmanian devils into Narawntapu National Park, marking an important point in the quest to save the devil from extinction. It is the first time a vaccine against the deadly cancer threatening the species has been tested in the wild. Previous trials of the vaccine have taken place in the laboratory at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania, where the devil research team led by immunologist Professor Greg Woods has been able to activate an immune response against cancer cells. Professor Woods said that, of the 19 devils to be released, 18 had produced an immune response to the vaccine. "This is an excellent outcome, but the real test will be determining whether the vaccine is effective in protecting devils in the wild, hence the release at Narawntapu," he said. Professor Woods also said the support of the ARC and the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal was critical for their ongoing work.

Media issued by the University of Tasmania.

Researchers at Swinburne University of Technology in collaboration with Monash University and supported by ARC funding, have developed an ultrathin, flat, ultra-lightweight graphene oxide optical lens with unprecedented flexibility. The ultrathin lens enables potential applications in on-chip nanophotonics and improves the conversion process of solar cells. Optical lenses are indispensable components in almost all aspects of technology including imaging, sensing, communications, and medical diagnosis and treatment. Recent breakthroughs in nanophotonics have led to the development of a number of ultrathin flat lens concepts, however their real-life application is limited due to their complex design, narrow operational bandwidth and time consuming manufacturing processes. Associate Professor Baohua Jia said the lens concept has a 3D subwavelength capability that is 30 times more efficient, able to tightly focus broadband light from the visible to the near infrared, and offers a simple and low-cost manufacturing method. Lead author of the research, PhD candidate Xiaorui Zheng said the lens has the potential to revolutionise the next-generation integrated optical systems by making miniaturised and fully flexible photonics devices.

Media issued by Swinburne University of Technology

New ARC-funded research undertaken at Murdoch University—in collaboration with Griffith University— suggests teenagers with high social media use at bedtime suffer disturbed sleep, which in turn leads to depressed mood. PhD candedate, Ms Lynette Vernon, study lead, said poor sleep can result in students feeling tired and moody, with feelings of sadness and declines in long-term wellbeing, and many adolescents were using social networking sites as a way to feel good. Ms Vernon recorded the social media activities of the more than 1800 adolescents for four years from 2010 to 2014, and each year analysed their sleep quality and their mood, including feelings about things to look forward to, whether difficulties were piling up and how unhappy or depressed they felt. 

Media issued by: Murdoch University

ARC-funded materials’ scientists from The University of New South Wales have created an ‘instruction manual’ for developing metallic glass—an ultra-tough yet flexible alloy described as the most significant materials science innovation since plastic. While still being metals, they become as malleable as chewing gum when heated and can be easily moulded or blown like glass. It’s just like something from science fiction—think of the Liquid-Metal robot assassin in the Terminator films—these materials behave more like glass or plastic than metal. They are also three times stronger and harder than ordinary metals, on average, and are among the toughest materials known. “Metallic glass alloys are expensive to manufacture and to date have only been used in niche products, such as ejector pins for iPhones, watch springs for expensive hand-wound watches, trial medical implants, and tennis racquets and golf clubs...they are also planned for use in the next Mars rover vehicle,” said study author, Dr Kevin Laws. “But if they become easier and cheaper to make, they could be widely used in many applications including as exceptionally strong components in personal electronic devices, in space exploration vehicles, and as hydrogen storage materials in next generation batteries.” 

Media issued by the University of New South Wales