Teens trying weed oil more likely to keep up the habit

Publicly released: Sat 25 Jan 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

A study of Californian teens has found those using cannabis concentrates - such as budder, shatter, and hash oil - were more likely to persist in using it a year later. The study looked at 2, 600 light- or non-users who had tried cannabis in either Read more about Teens trying weed oil more likely to keep up the habit - Scimex

Nano-thin flexible touchscreens could be printed like newspaper

Publicly released: Sat 25 Jan 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Electronics

Researchers have developed an ultra-thin and ultra-flexible electronic material that could be printed and rolled out like newspaper, for the touchscreens of the future. Funder: Australian Research Council DECRA Fellowship. Research conducted with Read more about Nano-thin flexible touchscreens could be printed like newspaper - Scimex

Cell network mapping reveals rewiring in colorectal cancer

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jan 2020 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Nature Communications

An international consortium of researchers from Australia, Ireland, the UK, Europe, and Canada, has painstakingly mapped an intracellular network that could open the door to discovering new targeted treatments for colorectal cancer. Funder: European Read more about Cell network mapping reveals rewiring in colorectal cancer - Scimex

World-first public database of mine tailings dams aims to prevent deadly disasters

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jan 2020 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

On the first anniversary of the Brumadinho mine disaster in Brazil, the Church of England Pensions Board and Swedish National Pension Fund, backed by the UN Environment Program, are launching a global database featuring more than 1700 mine tailing Read more about World-first public database of mine tailings dams aims to prevent deadly disasters - Scimex

Give & take: Cancer chromosomes give the game away

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jan 2020 at 1715 AEDT | 1915 NZDT

Nature Communications

As tumours develop, cancer cells gain and lose so-called “chromosome arms”, changing their response to drugs, a finding which may offer better personalised treatments for 17 types of cancer. Media Release. From:Queensland University of Read more about Give & take: Cancer chromosomes give the game away - Scimex

People respond to gravity through sight, rather than feel

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jan 2020 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

Frontiers in Neuroscience

What happens when you put someone on an uphill treadmill, but make them see a downhill slope through virtual reality? Researchers in Israel found participants in their study started ‘braking’when they saw the declining slope, despite actually Read more about People respond to gravity through sight, rather than feel - Scimex

Rising from the ashes: volunteers and good science vital to bush fire recovery

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jan 2020 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

University of South Australia ecologist Joan Gibbs describes the day that fires devastated her 70 acre property at Cudlee Creek. One month on, it is already showing signs of recovery. Media Release. From:University of South Australia. For the past Read more about Rising from the ashes: volunteers and good science vital to bush fire recovery - Scimex

Coronavirus infections—more than just the common cold

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jan 2020 at 1130 AEDT | 1330 NZDT

JAMA

Until recently, human coronaviruses received relatively little attention due to their mild 'common cold'-like symptoms in otherwise healthy people, but a team of US experts say the emergence of yet another outbreak of human disease caused by a Read more about Coronavirus infections—more than just the common cold - Scimex

Flood after the fire: Stopping the fire crisis from becoming a water crisis

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jan 2020 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Australasian Journal of Water Resources

Coordinated programs for assessing and treating affected water supplies and catchment areas are needed so that the fire crisis doesn't become a water crisis, according to Australian experts. The 2019/2020 megafires have burnt catchments across the Read more about Flood after the fire: Stopping the fire crisis from becoming a water crisis - Scimex

Heatwaves affect our new weapon against mosquito borne diseases

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jan 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Heatwaves may impact how well new bacterial weapons can infect the mosquitoes which spread diseases such as dengue and Zika virus, according to Australian research. The bacteria, called Wolbachia, have been introduced into mosquitoes in Australia, Read more about Heatwaves affect our new weapon against mosquito borne diseases - Scimex

Sharp increase in Ningaloo whale shark injuries might be due to boat encounters

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jan 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Marine Ecology Progress Series

Scarring and major lacerations due to vessel collisions becoming more common. Almost one-fifth of the whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef Marine Park show major scarring or fin amputations, with the number of Read more about Sharp increase in Ningaloo whale shark injuries might be due to boat encounters - Scimex

Large marine parks can save sharks from overfishing threat

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jan 2020 at 0301 AEDT | 0501 NZDT

Current Biology

‘No-take’ marine reserves - where fishing is banned - can reverse the decline in the world’s coral reef shark populations caused by overfishing, according to an Australian study. But University of Queensland, James Cook University (JCU) and Read more about Large marine parks can save sharks from overfishing threat - Scimex

The mummy returns - 3D-printed vocal tract reveals a 'hmmm' from beyond the grave

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jan 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Scientific Reports

UK and German scientists have recreated a sound that could have been made by an ancient Egyptian priest called Nesyamun who was mummified 3, 000 years ago by 3D-printing his vocal tract, and he sounds distinctly unimpressed by the whole thing. They Read more about The mummy returns - 3D-printed vocal tract reveals a 'hmmm' from beyond the grave - Scimex

Researchers uncover the genomics of health

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jan 2020 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Nature Communications

A DNA database of thousands of healthy older Australians is set to change how we determine which genes underpin disease. Funder: This research was supported by the NSW Health Office for Health and Medical Research, the Vodafone Foundation, the Read more about Researchers uncover the genomics of health - Scimex

Tick-tock! The countdown is on for back-to-school sleep routines

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jan 2020 at 1800 AEDT | 2000 NZDT

With less that a week to go until the start of a new school year, parents are preparing themselves for the inevitable back-to-school rush. But amid the dash for backpacks, books and last-minute haircuts, children’s sleep routines must also be high Read more about Tick-tock! The countdown is on for back-to-school sleep routines - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Could new coronavirus have come from snakes?

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jan 2020 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

Journal of Medical Virology

The novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, may have come from snakes, according to an evolutionary analysis of the virus. Researchers compared the genetic information of the virus with information already available on other viruses, and found that 2019-nCoV Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Could new coronavirus have come from snakes? - Scimex

First treatment for pain using human stem cells a success

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jan 2020 at 1500 AEDT | 1700 NZDT

Pain

Researchers at the University of Sydney have used human stem cells to make pain-killing neurons that provide lasting relief in mice, without side effects, in a single treatment. The next step is to perform extensive safety tests in rodents and pigs, Read more about First treatment for pain using human stem cells a success - Scimex

Ghostly particles detected in condensates of light and matter

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jan 2020 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

Nature Communications

Quantum fluids are not forever. Discover 'ghostly' particles and quantum depletion. FLEET study led by researchers at ANU makes first observation of ‘ghost particles’ from Bose-Einstein condensates via ‘quantum depletion’: particles expelled Read more about Ghostly particles detected in condensates of light and matter - Scimex

Pox parents get (some) shingles protection

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jan 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

Adults who are exposed to a child with chickenpox in the home get an immunity boost and are around 30 per cent less likely to develop shingles (caused by the same virus) over 20 years, finds a new UK study. The results have a bearing on a potential Read more about Pox parents get (some) shingles protection - Scimex

Corporate funding of patients groups is common but transparency is lacking

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jan 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

Industry funding of patient groups is common in many high income countries, including Australia, but financial transparency is inadequate, according to Australian-led research. The research looked at 26 studies of patient groups and found estimates Read more about Corporate funding of patients groups is common but transparency is lacking - Scimex