News: Biological Science
Deep breath: this sea snake gathers oxygen through its forehead
![Deep breath: this sea snake gathers oxygen through its forehead](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-09/new-sea-snake-sanders.jpg?h=e3dd40f0&itok=48UvghcY)
Only fish have gills, right? Wrong. Scientists have found a snake that can breathe through the top of its own head.
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Why are fossils more often male?
![""](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-09/news-bison-wide.jpg?h=328d099e&itok=bhB4Fn6D)
University of Adelaide researchers have discovered that fossil and museum collections around the world are home to more male than female mammals.
Tackling the causes of the Amazon forest fires
![Wildfire](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-09/news-wildfire.jpg?h=fbf4b26c&itok=B8jNRnrW)
If we are so concerned for the rainforest why don’t we do more globally to help protect it?
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Spaghetti and mud pies scoop 3-Minute Thesis final
![Sciences 3 minute thesis finals 2019 winners](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-08/news-3mt-sciences-finals-2019-43.jpg?h=2f83cd36&itok=ZH84d4Eu)
The depth and diversity of research student projects in the Faculty of Sciences was once again on display at this week's final of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition.
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Why is the colour blue so rare in nature?
![Blue Morpho butterfly](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-08/news-blue-morpho-butterfly.jpg?h=e5aec6c8&itok=hXeTAGp4)
Blue is a very prominent colour on earth. But when it comes to nature, blue is very rare. Less than 1 in 10 plants have blue flowers and far fewer animals are blue.
Not all weeds are bad - Some may actually be good for Australian grasslands
![Mokota Conservation Park, a remnant grassland in the mid-north region of South Australia (approximately 160 km north of Adelaide). Photo by Greg Guerin.](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-08/news-guerin-mokota-conservation-park.jpg?h=82b3e5f6&itok=HFG5DUMK)
Recent case studies have revealed an overall positive relationships between the diversity of native species and presence of weedy species, notably in Mediterranean Biome grasslands.
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$35.6 million boost for sciences' research infrastructure
![Plant Accelerator, Waite campus](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-07/plantaccel-wide-4725.jpg?h=2084ef8f&itok=wLRx5Bme)
Research for a range of industrial sectors including scientific, advanced manufacturing, defence, resources, biomedical and agriculture has received a major boost.
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Plant discovery opens frontiers
![biochemical mechanism fundamental to plant life](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-05/biochemical-mechanism-plant-life.png?h=18ef190d&itok=c4bH4-d6)
Scientists discover biochemical mechanism fundamental to plant life that could have huge implications for biomedical, pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology industries.
Scientists discover how mutations in DNA can cause neurodegenerative disease
![Nervous Tissue: Spinal Cord Motor Neuron | Berkshire Community College Bioscience Image Library (CC0 1.0)](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-05/news-motor-neuron.jpg?h=55b8d563&itok=gMb2bZfr)
Scientists discover how mutations in DNA can cause neurodegenerative disease.
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On top of the world: Sciences research ranks high in ERA results
![Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing (IPAS) research using 3D printing for the Austofix wrist plate.](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-03/physics-research-19541.jpg?h=2f83cd36&itok=mANTGQQj)
Science research at the University of Adelaide has reached new heights according to the 2018 Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) results released this week.
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