Weaving Western and Indigenous knowledge together enhances conservation

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 1401 AEST | 1601 NZST

People and Nature

Moving plants and animals to establish new populations or strengthen existing ones can enhance species recovery and help make ecosystems more resilient. However, these projects are rarely led or co-led by Indigenous peoples, and they often fail to Read more about Weaving Western and Indigenous knowledge together enhances conservation

Iron study combats anaemia with cutting-edge computer simulation

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 1340 AEST | 1540 NZST

Lancet Global Health

A new iron intervention study has determined which of the world’s low-and-middle income countries would benefit from using iron-containing micronutrient powders to tackle childhood anaemia. Using advanced computer simulation techniques, the Read more about Iron study combats anaemia with cutting-edge computer simulation

New anti-cancer drug for prostate cancer

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 1300 AEST | 1500 NZST

FASEB Journal

A new anti-cancer drug for prostate cancer overcomes the twin problems plaguing researchers for decades. It halts metastasis (tumour spread) and drug resistance. Read more about New anti-cancer drug for prostate cancer

A force from nothing used to control and manipulate objects

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 1209 AEST | 1409 NZST

Nature Physics

A collaboration between researchers from The University of Western Australia and The University of California Merced has provided a new way to measure tiny forces and use them to control objects. Read more about A force from nothing used to control and manipulate objects

35-second scan could pick the next sporting champion

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science

How hard is it to pick the next Usain Bolt, Ian Thorpe or Anna Meares? Finding a world champion often falls to talent scouts and involves years of hard work, but could it be as simple as a 35-second body scan? Read more about 35-second scan could pick the next sporting champion

Eye-tracking tech helps all older people have better aged care quality assessment

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

Applied Health Economics and Health Policy

Memory loss among older Australians is on the rise as the Baby Boomer generation enters retirement – but a new technique tested by Flinders University researchers that investigates cognitive skills through eye-tracking technology may be used to Read more about Eye-tracking tech helps all older people have better aged care quality assessment

Melbourne's stage 3 lockdowns have prevented thousands of infections

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 1000 AEST | 1200 NZST

MJA

Victoria's COVID-19 control measures have reduced the reproduction ratio of the virus from 1. 75 to 1. 16 and averted between 9000 and 37 000 infections between 2 and 30 July, according to new research. Researchers estimated infection growth rates Read more about Melbourne's stage 3 lockdowns have prevented thousands of infections

Risk of COVID-19 spreading in schools and childcare is very low

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 1000 AEST | 1200 NZST

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

Real world data from the first wave of COVID-19 infections in NSW has shown that the risk of children and staff transmitting the virus in schools and early childhood education settings is very low, when contact tracing and epidemic management is in Read more about Risk of COVID-19 spreading in schools and childcare is very low

Obesity and overweight driving premature heart disease deaths

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 0930 AEST | 1130 NZST

BMC Medicine

More Australians and Americans are dying from cardiovascular disease attributable to excess weight, particularly in younger people, new research finds. University of Melbourne researchers warn that this trend will continue without concerted Read more about Obesity and overweight driving premature heart disease deaths

Used COVID-19 PPE could be turned into biofuels instead of landing in landfill

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Biofuels

Plastic from used personal protective equipment (PPE) can, and should, be transformed into renewable liquid fuels, according to Indian researchers. As COVID-19 sweeps the world, PPE is being disposed of at unprecedented levels, which could become a Read more about Used COVID-19 PPE could be turned into biofuels instead of landing in landfill

Is it time to rethink targeting ‘bad’ cholesterol to curb heart disease risk

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine

Setting targets for ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol levels to ward off heart disease and death in those at risk might seem intuitive, but a new analysis of data has not shown any consistent benefit for this approach, say international researchers. Read more about Is it time to rethink targeting ‘bad’ cholesterol to curb heart disease risk

Asthma drug can boost performance in non-asthmatic athletes

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

British Journal of Sports Medicine

A certain type of asthma drug - used in reliever inhalers like Ventolin - can boost sprint and strength performance in athletes who don’t have the respiratory condition. When researchers pooled the data from 34 studies, they found these so-called Read more about Asthma drug can boost performance in non-asthmatic athletes

Popular high blood pressure drug linked to increased skin cancer risk in older Australians

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 0800 AEST | 1000 NZST

Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology

Hydrochlorothiazide use increases older people’s risk of developing skin cancer, a study by UNSW Sydney scientists has shown – but the researchers warn against suddenly stopping the medicine. Read more about Popular high blood pressure drug linked to increased skin cancer risk in older Australians

Five-year runway to hydrogen power in airports

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 0800 AEST | 1000 NZST

A new report from Boeing and Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO shows that clean hydrogen can significantly reduce aviation emissions. Benefits may be seen within five years, with the possibility of hydrogen-fueled aircraft around Read more about Five-year runway to hydrogen power in airports

Accidental discovery might prevent or slow osteoarthritis

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 0700 AEST | 0900 NZST

Annals of Internal Medicine

Researchers from Switzerland, the UK and US have stumbled upon a potential treatment for osteoarthritis during a trial to reduce issues with the heart. Currently, there are no treatments that can either prevent or slow the progression of Read more about Accidental discovery might prevent or slow osteoarthritis

Māori and Pasifika scientists under-represented in NZ research sector

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand

Māori and Pasifika scientists have been “severely under-represented” in Aotearoa New Zealand’s universities and Crown research institutes (CRIs) in recent years, according to new research. A team of Auckland-based researchers points out that, Read more about Māori and Pasifika scientists under-represented in NZ research sector

Green apple flavour in vapes makes nicotine more addictive in mice

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

eNeuro

A green apple flavour in vaping liquids called farnesene may enhance the nicotine reward in the brain, as well as being a rewarding trigger itself, say US researchers, based on a study in mice. Given a choice, the mice preferred farnesene over a Read more about Green apple flavour in vapes makes nicotine more addictive in mice

Using automating risk models to predict child harm

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Pediatrics

A model used to predict foster care placement also appears to indicate whether children will later be seen in hospital with injuries, which US child protection agencies hope to use to identify those children at high risk of harm. The study team, led Read more about Using automating risk models to predict child harm

Human-related warming is likely behind glacier melt

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Climate Change

New Zealand's melting glaciers are up to ten times more like to be caused by climate change than other processes, according to New Zealand and Australian researchers. The trans-Tasman team says this increased likelihood is driven by present-day Read more about Human-related warming is likely behind glacier melt

Panda conservation efforts haven’t improved overall biodiversity

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Ecology and Evolution

Special conservation areas for pandas have had great success in bringing the bamboo crunchers back from the endangered list, but several carnivore species have all but disappeared from those same areas. New research looked at 73 protected areas - Read more about Panda conservation efforts haven’t improved overall biodiversity