Wilson da Silva

EIGHT complete skeletons of prehistoric marsupial lions are among an astonishing menagerie of megafauna fossils discovered in a hidden cave in Australia’s outback desert. Only partial skeletons have been found before.Among the creatures, all of which…

THEY play hard, they play often, and they play to win. Australian sports teams win more than their fair share of titles, demolishing rivals with seeming

It took something special to turn round Australia's sporting fortunes. Now the secret's out, who'll be next in the top spot?By Wilson da SilvaTHEY PLAY HARD, they play often, and they play to win. Australian sports teams win more than their fair…

It’s time to rethink the way we look at the human genome.Wilson da Silva, GlasgowWE STORE our most important genes in the centre of the nuclei of our cells, a geneticist told the British Association meeting in Glasgow last week. This discovery…

It's time to rethink the way we look at the human genome

IT HAS been called the botanical find of the century: a lonely stand of conifers, the last of their kind and thought to have been extinct for aeons—until

They should have died out with T. rex, but their seedlings are alive and well in nurseries around the world. By Wilson da SilvaIT HAS been called the botanical find of the century: a lonely stand of conifers, the last of their kind and thought to…

Wilson da Silva, SydneyIF you’ve ever wondered what colour the dinosaurs were, you won’t have much longer to wait. Researchers in Australia have reconstructed the skin colours of ancient fish from fossils and say the technique will help to…

Wilson da Silva, Sydney TRIALS of a type of gene therapy that slices through the genetic material ofHIV and prevents it from multiplying have begun in Australia. Within a few months they should provide the first signs of whether the technique…

Wilson da Silva, Sydney BY GROWING heart cells in the laboratory, scientists have discovered clues to how fish oils help prevent heart attacks. It seems that fatty acids in the oils team up with the cells to keep the heart beating…

Wilson da Silva, Sydney MORE airline passengers are dying from heart attacks and other medical emergencies than in plane crashes. The latest figures from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) suggest that the number of in-flight…

Wilson da Silva, SydneyDESPITE their solid appearance, modern aircraft are riddled with holes—each one a potential weak spot. Now a novel method for making holes, invented by Australian defence scientists, could make planes stronger and…

Wilson da Silva, Sydney A SECOND bizarre bacterium which packs all its DNA into a central compartment has been discovered by researchers in Australia. Like its predecessor, the cell may also shed light on how animal and plant cells evolved.…

Wilson da Silva, Sydney THE fangs of Australia’s feared funnel web spider could contain an environmentally friendly pesticide. Active compounds in the venom have been found to attack only the nervous systems of insects, leaving large animals—and…

Wilson da Silva, Sydney THE Australian government’s decision to loosen its data protection laws could trigger a “data boycott” by the European Union. Experts predict that a flare-up between the EU and Australia could be followed by a…

Wilson da Silva, Sydney AUSTRALIA and New Zealand are poised to introduce what may be the world’s toughest regulations governing the sale of food made from genetically modified plants or animals.The regulations were prepared by the…

Wilson da Silva, SydneyTHE writing may be on the wall for oranges with pips. Biologists in Australia and Japan have genetically engineered tobacco plants so that they destroy their own seeds. They say the same technique should work in…

Wilson da Silva, Sydney CHIMPANZEES may have once walked upright, but lost the ability and returned to the trees, according to an Australian researcher. His controversial claim is that humans diverged from chimpanzees between 3.6 and 4…

Wilson da Silva, SydneyJUST when visiting Olympic athletes thought it was safe to compete in the once polluted waters of Sydney Harbour, another menace has resurfaced—sharks.Triathlon and yachting athletes are scheduled to use the waters…

Wilson da Silva, MelbourneTEXTBOOKS say that our sense of balance relies on fluid-filled canals in the inner ear. But researchers in Australia now suggest that when we are standing still, our calf muscles take over. “Most people are…