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Science In Public

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Stopping mineral processing from turning to jelly

Cooking minerals in huge mixing tanks can turn them to jelly, and an Adelaide researcher has found out why. The work could save the industry millions of dollars a year in lost production and cleaning costs.

Sticky gel-like materials form during the liquid processing of mineral ores, when clays present in the deposits release elements such as silicon and aluminium into the liquid under particular conditions of temperature and acidity. That’s what Dr Ataollah Nosrati, a research associate at the Ian Wark Research Institute (The Wark) of the University of South Australia has found.

To extract valuable metals, some of world’s largest mineral deposits are mined and processed as concentrated slurries. This generally occurs in mixing tanks at high temperatures under aggressive acidic or alkaline conditions. Zinc silicate ores, for instance, are typically cooked at between 50 °C and 80 °C under very acidic conditions for a couple of hours. [Read more…] about Stopping mineral processing from turning to jelly

Australia’s Nobel Prize winner, the Square Kilometre Array and more – stories of Australian Science 2012 out now

Our latest collection, Stories of Australian Science 2012, is now online here.

In the past year Australian science has continued to come of age on the global stage.

Brian Schmidt won a Nobel Prize, Australia won part of the $2 billion Square Kilometre Array radio telescope and Australians continue to add to the leadership and ranks of the most prestigious and productive research groups across the planet.

In this collection, you’ll learn about: the winners of major science prizes, the work of Australian science institutions, Australia’s connection to the 2012 announcement of the discovery of a Higgs boson-like particle and much more.

Australia's Nobel Prize winner, the Square Kilometre Array and more – stories of Australian Science 2012 out now

Our latest collection, Stories of Australian Science 2012, is now online here.

In the past year Australian science has continued to come of age on the global stage.

Brian Schmidt won a Nobel Prize, Australia won part of the $2 billion Square Kilometre Array radio telescope and Australians continue to add to the leadership and ranks of the most prestigious and productive research groups across the planet.

In this collection, you’ll learn about: the winners of major science prizes, the work of Australian science institutions, Australia’s connection to the 2012 announcement of the discovery of a Higgs boson-like particle and much more.

Solving the puzzle of complex inherited diseases

Centenary Institute Lawrence Creative Prize goes to young Brisbane researcher

Jian Yang, 2012 Centenary Lawrence Creative Prize winner (credit: Centenary Institute)

The winner of the Centenary Institute Lawrence Creative Prize is Dr Jian Yang, from the Diamantina Institute of the University of Queensland.

He has solved one of the great puzzles of human genetics—why the genes typically implicated in inherited diseases like schizophrenia, obesity and diabetes only account for a small amount of their heritability. [Read more…] about Solving the puzzle of complex inherited diseases

Crocodile eggs measure river health

A new land management tool using Aboriginal knowledge

Ngan’gi speakers know it’s time to look for freshwater crocodile eggs when the red kapok trees near the Northern Territory’s Daly River burst into flower.

This can occur at a different time each year, but the environmental link is solid.

A Darwin-based scientist has converted this link and other intimate Aboriginal knowledge of Australia’s landscape into an environmental management tool. [Read more…] about Crocodile eggs measure river health

2012 Prime Minister’s Science Prizes

The 2012 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science winners:

PM’s Science Prizes recipients with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Senator Chris Evans. Credit: idphoto

[Read more…] about 2012 Prime Minister’s Science Prizes

An Australian who has truly made a galactic impact: 2012 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science

Ken Freeman

In April 2010, an unusual party was held under the clear skies of the Namibian desert. It was an international science conference to celebrate the 70th birthday of Professor Ken Freeman, the Duffield Professor of Astronomy at the Australian National University’s Mt Stromlo Observatory, a man regarded internationally as Australia’s most renowned astronomer.

[Read more…] about An Australian who has truly made a galactic impact: 2012 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science