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Last updated: Thursday, 4 December 2008Latest News in Science

'Voiceprints' are a misnomer, says expert

Speech analysis might be flavour of the month on TV, but one expert says popular crime shows may be giving the public an unrealistic idea of what the science can do. read more ''Voiceprints' are a misnomer, says expert'

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Last updated 04/12/2008Latest News In Science

wave form

Identifying someone from the sounds they make when the speak is not as straightforward as some may think (Source: iStockphoto)

Identifying someone from the sounds they make when the speak is not as straightforward as some may think 'Voiceprints' are a misnomer, says expert

Speech analysis might be flavour of the month on TV, but one expert says popular crime shows may be giving the public an unrealistic idea of what the science can do.more''Voiceprints' are a misnomer, says expert'
Thursday, 04 December 2008Tags: acoustic, forensic-science, physics, sydney-2000, united-kingdom

An analysis of the cannibas showed that it would have had potent psychoactive properties Oldest marijuana stash found

A kilogram of green plant material found in a 2700-year-old grave in the Gobi Desert has just been identified as the world's oldest marijuana stash, say researchers.more'Oldest marijuana stash found'
Thursday, 04 December 2008Tags: cannabis, archaeology, botany, social-sciences, china

Researchers are concerned the Sunda megathrust still has a large amount of built-up pressure Quake potential remains in Sumatra: study

An area off Indonesia's Sumatra Island that has been the source of disastrous earthquakes, still carries a lot of pent-up pressure that could result in a strong quake, say researchers.more'Quake potential remains in Sumatra: study'
Thursday, 04 December 2008Tags: earthquake, tidal-wave, earth-sciences, geology, sumatra, united-states

Cane toads have advanced eastward across Australia and are now at the Western Australian border Dead toads may keep natives away

Early evidence suggests native animals may be trained to avoid poisonous cane toads, using dead toads spiked with a chemical that induces nausea, say researchers. more'Dead toads may keep natives away'
Wednesday, 03 December 2008Tags: pest-management, ecology, the-university-of-sydney-2006, nt, darwin-0800, wa

The fossilised imprint was made by an insect about eight centimetres long as it stood on mud some 312 million years ago Ancient insect makes a lasting impression

US researchers say they have discovered what appears to be the oldest imprint of a prehistoric insect, made while the dragonfly-like creature was still alive.more'Ancient insect makes a lasting impression'
Wednesday, 03 December 2008Tags: fossils, palaeontology, invertebrates, united-states

On message: Superior reading ability helps people read texts faster GR8 spllrs r good txtrs, says study

People proficient in reading and writing are better at communicating via text messaging, an Australian psychologist says.more'GR8 spllrs r good txtrs, says study'
Wednesday, 03 December 2008Tags: english, languages, mobile-phones, psychology, randwick-2031, university-of-tasmania-7005

Research suggests that genetic factors may play a role in some cases of childhood sleepwalking, sleep talking and night terrors Sleep terrors may be inherited

Night terrors, which send children into sudden inconsolable screaming, are at least partially inherited, according to a Canadian study.more'Sleep terrors may be inherited'
Tuesday, 02 December 2008Tags: child-health-and-behaviour, sleep-disorders, sleep, adelaide-5000, canada

Fowl news: More human deaths from H5N1 have been reported in Indonesia than in any other country Invisible line 'protects Australia from bird flu'

Australia's best defence against an outbreak of avian influenza is an invisible line passing through the Indonesian archipelago between Bali and Lombok that birds are reluctant to cross, a team of zoologists says.more'Invisible line 'protects Australia from bird flu''
Tuesday, 02 December 2008Tags: ecology, zoology, avian-influenza, birds, canberra-2600, bathurst-2795, university-of-tasmania-7005, papua, papua-new-guinea, russian-federation

The researchers believe BioBeer could contain significant levels of the chemical compound resveratrol GM beer could be good for your health

Here's a reason to raise a pint; scientists in the US are creating a beer that contains the same compound found in red wine, which has been linked to good health and longevity.more'GM beer could be good for your health'
Tuesday, 02 December 2008Tags: microbiology, genetically-modified-food, gm-technology, alcohol, food-safety, united-states

Drivers using a hands-free device drift out of their lanes and miss exits more frequently, say researchers Mobiles distract more than passengers

Using a hands-free device on a mobile phone is more distracting than sitting next to a talkative passenger, say US researchers.more'Mobiles distract more than passengers'
Monday, 01 December 2008Tags: road, mobile-phones, computers-and-technology, psychology, australia, united-states

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