Latest Research News

Latest Research News

Breakthrough research for a better world

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Speed-reducing innovations drive safety on regional roads

University of Adelaide’s Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) is developing technology to reduce crashes at regional intersections and––in the words of CASR researcher Chris Stokes––“save lives.”

Read more about Speed-reducing innovations drive safety on regional roads

New AI-powered Bushfire-fighting App NOBURN Goes Live

University of Adelaide experts from the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) developed a new AI-powered model to help predict and prevent devastating bushfires. 

Read more about New AI-powered Bushfire-fighting App NOBURN Goes Live

Professor Helen Marshall Named 2023 South Australian Scientist of the Year

Leading University of Adelaide vaccinologist Professor Helen Marshall AM has been named 2023 South Australian Scientist of the Year for her life-saving research on meningococcal disease and immunisation.

Read more about Professor Helen Marshall Named 2023 South Australian Scientist of the Year

Wildlife trade threatening unprotected animals

New research from the University of Adelaide’s Invasion Science and Wildlife Ecology Group shows that three times as many unregulated species are being imported into the US compared to regulated species.

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Bike tech powers world record win

The humpback whale's incredible ability to make tight turns and spectacular leaps has inspired cutting-edge cycling technology that powered Olympic cycling champion Filippo Ganna hour world record win.

Read more about Bike tech powers world record win

Agriculture, food and wine

Stories

New Weapons in the Battle Against Herbicide-Resistant Weeds

The Soares da Costa team from the University of Adelaide’s Waite Research Institute has developed new herbicidal compounds that will stop resistant weeds in their tracks.

Assembling haplotypes faster than ever with HaploMaker

A team from the Biometry Hub at the University of Adelaide has developed an improved algorithm for haplotype assembly that could help researchers more accurately track plant genetic variation.

Stress less! Targeting the plant cargo hub to help them deal with environmental stress

Just like an international port in a big city, every individual plant cell contains its own cargo hub that responds to their import and export needs.

Creativity and culture

Stories

Breathing life back into performing arts

COVID-19 has decimated the performing arts sector and many people are wondering what post-pandemic live performances will look like.

The solution to staying safe could lie in the virtual world

Whilst many of us escape into virtual worlds as a fun diversion, Researchers believe the secret to teaching people to behave safely and act decisively in the real world can also be found amongst online realms.

Reading the history of indigenous South American peoples in ancient DNA

Ancient human DNA dating back almost 9,000 years has provided significant genetic insights for an international large-scale study in South America.

Defence, cyber and space

Stories

Bots Manipulate Public Opinion Russia - Ukraine in Conflict

New research from the University of Adelaide has shown that social media bot accounts have been used in malicious campaigns to influence online discussion during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Autonomous rovers for moon exploration

When it comes to studying the surface of moons and planets, robot explorers called “rovers” are the gold standard. They can travel into space far more easily than a human astronaut, traverse new terrains quickly, and collect mountains of useful data.

Giving REDSPICE bite: Why strengthening Australia’s cyber capability demands unprecedented ASD-university collaboration

The Australian Government’s REDSPICE blueprint, released with last week’s 2022-23 budget, will significantly increase the Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD) cyber and intelligence capabilities.

Energy, mining and resources

Stories

Growing the graphene industry

With the goal of developing a sustainable graphene-based industry in Australia and world-wide, the team at the University of Adelaide’s ARC Graphene Research Hub has made several significant breakthroughs in graphene manufacturing and utilisation.

Renewable energy

The Discovery Pod | Season 1, Episode 6 
Cracking the code – finding new ways to power our nation and drive the manufacturing economy.

Professorial Lecture Series: Assoc. Prof. Carl Spandler

Unearthing rare earths: Why mining critical metals is vital to our future, and why Australia is well placed to profit.

Environment, sustainability and climate change

Stories

Bringing oyster reefs back from extinction

Oyster reefs carpeted thousands of kilometers of Australian coastline 200 years ago, but were dredged to near extinction within a century of colonial settlement. An ambitious nationwide restoration program now seeks to bring them back. In South Australia, the largest reef restoration in the Southern Hemisphere, Windara Reef, was constructed in 2017 to restore the ecosystem of the native mud oyster, Ostrea angasi, off the Yorke Peninsula.

Bushfire and the challenge to respond to new levels of environmental risk

There have been terrible bushfires this summer across southern Australia – and they are still going. Part of the reason for this disaster is the unprecedented climatic conditions that the country has been facing, including record hot and dry conditions.

New AI-powered Bushfire-fighting App NOBURN Goes Live

University of Adelaide experts from the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) developed a new AI-powered model to help predict and prevent devastating bushfires. 

Health and biotech

Stories

Professor Helen Marshall Named 2023 South Australian Scientist of the Year

Leading University of Adelaide vaccinologist Professor Helen Marshall AM has been named 2023 South Australian Scientist of the Year for her life-saving research on meningococcal disease and immunisation.

Bike tech powers world record win

The humpback whale's incredible ability to make tight turns and spectacular leaps has inspired cutting-edge cycling technology that powered Olympic cycling champion Filippo Ganna hour world record win.

Breakthrough 3D-printed micro device will streamline IVF procedure

A revolutionary new 3D-printed device created by University of Adelaide researchers will make the only treatment for men with low sperm counts faster, cheaper, and more accessible.

Societal wellbeing

Stories

Speed-reducing innovations drive safety on regional roads

University of Adelaide’s Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) is developing technology to reduce crashes at regional intersections and––in the words of CASR researcher Chris Stokes––“save lives.”

Jailing is Failing: Rehabilitation in the Australian Prison System

The women entering Australia’s prison system are invariably accompanied by significant histories of trauma and abuse. Some have had children forcibly removed, and many women are experiencing levels of self-harm and suicidal ideation that would be completely unacceptable if identified in the outside world.

Research unpacking student scholarships for work experience

Financial support for students undertaking work integrated learning is essential for improving the accessibility of internships and work placements. Research from the University of Adelaide Law School has identified key gaps in these programs and generated recommendations for maximising their accessibility.