News: Research
Scientists discover enzyme structure: potential to manipulate wine acidity
![Researchers and students wine tasting at Waite campus](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-11/winery-1682.jpg?h=6eb229a4&itok=Un7n7c5u)
Scientists have uncovered the structure of a grape enzyme that could lead to the manipulation of wine acidity without the costly addition of tartaric acid.
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Modern apes smarter than pre-humans
![Modern apes smarter than pre-humans](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-11/news-lucy-ape.jpg?h=cdaa52cf&itok=XwDjYwMq)
Scientists suggest living great apes are smarter than our pre-human ancestor Australopithecus, a group that included the famous ‘Lucy’.
Biodiverse soil dust linked to reduced anxiety
![Naturally-diverse airborne environmental microbial exposures modulate the gut microbiome and may provide anxiolytic benefits in mice](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-11/liddicoat-biodiverse-soil-anxiety.jpg?h=91a56051&itok=34t0UVqv)
Growing evidence links natural green space exposure with a range of health benefits, including for mental health.
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Gene scans provide deep insights into plant evolution
![Gnetum gnemon (Nature)](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-11/lowe-gnetum-gnemon.jpg?h=5d515c91&itok=7fmjxuKl)
The availability of high-quality plant genome sequences and advances in functional genomics is revolutionising our ability to understand plant evolution.
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Hot as shell: birds in cooler climates lay darker eggs to keep their embryos warm
![Birds lay eggs with a huge variety of colours and patterns, from immaculate white to a range of blue-greens and reddish browns.](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-10/news-bird-nest.jpg?h=08b866d1&itok=1gT7888V)
Research shows that climate is an important indicator of what colour and pattern bird eggs will be.
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New Ramsay Fellow in Applied Science
![Ramsay Fellow Fiona Whelan](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-10/ramsay-fellow-fiona-whelan.jpg?h=2f83cd36&itok=04v78CkZ)
Fiona Whelan has been appointed as the newest Ramsay Fellow in Applied Science.
Making high value products from agricultural waste
![Food being dumped, that could have been used in alternative ways](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-10/news-food-waste-dumping.jpg?h=b8aae163&itok=sYC3hkZr)
Sunscreen from mushroom waste, healthy skincare products from apples and berries, and high-tech materials from Brussels sprout stalks?
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New AgTech scholarship set to bear fruit
![School of Agriculture, Food and Wine image](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/ag-food-wine-22787.jpg?h=06b0bff9&itok=YaqmDucv)
A new partnership between the State Government and the University of Adelaide to deliver an AgTech PhD scholarship is open for applications.
Who's eating away Australia's national parks?
![Kangaroos grazing](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-10/news-kangaroos-grazing.jpg?h=2084ef8f&itok=cQVX06nS)
Australia’s national parks are under serious threat of overgrazing and native kangaroos are major contributors to the problem.
[Read more about Who's eating away Australia's national parks?]