University of Wollongong

Cancer

Molecule targets DNA donut to stop cancer cells dividing

Cancer cells have gone rogue and are dividing unchecked, and now Australian researchers have designed a new molecule that may put a stop to that. It targets a protein called PCNA, a donut-shaped structure that plays a key role in cell division, which could lead to a new class of cancer treatments.

Using chemicals found in sea snail eggs, researchers at the University of Wollongong in Australia have created a compound that's very effective at killing multi-drug resistant cancer cells

Cancer

Potential cancer killer hatched from sea snail eggs

Potential cancer treatments often come from unexpected sources. Now, tests have shown that a type of molecule originally derived from sea snail eggs has performed surprisingly well in destroying cancer cells, particularly those that have become resistant to other treatments.

Dr Shahriar Hossain is developing a wind turbine that uses a magnesium diboride superconducting coil

Environment

Superconducting coil to slash costs and improve efficiency of direct-drive wind turbines

Dr Shahriar Hossain from the University of Woolongong in Australia is looking to overcome the problems posed by gearboxes in wind turbines by replacing them with a superconducting coil to slash production costs and drastically improve efficiency.

The artificial muscles can lift 100 times as much weight as human muscles of the same size (Photo: University of British Columbia)

Science

Powerful artificial muscles made from ... fishing line?

Scientist have used ordinary fishing line and sewing thread to create artificial muscles. With possible applications including robotics and prostheses, they're 100 times more powerful than human muscles of the same size.