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How we use music to lull us to sleep
PLOS ONE
An online survey of 651 people by UK scientists found around two-thirds of respondents used music to help them sleep, covering 14 genres and 545 artists. Even people who didn't report problems sleeping used music to help them nod off, and Read more about How we use music to lull us to sleep - Scimex
InternationalUniversity of Sheffield, UK -
Stressed-out birds sing fewer and more boring songs
PLOS One
Male songbirds stressed by factors like a lack of food in early life may have impaired singing prowess - making it harder for them to attract mates. UK authors found the males that lived more comfortable lives as nestlings sang more often as adults Read more about Stressed-out birds sing fewer and more boring songs - Scimex
InternationalLancaster University, UK -
Neanderthal lives not so traumatic
Nature
Neanderthals and contemporary humans experienced similar levels of head trauma, challenging a stereotype that Neanderthals lived more violent lives. This stereotype came about because we tend to compare Neanderthals to present-day cases, not to Read more about Neanderthal lives not so traumatic - Scimex
InternationalUniversity of Tübingen, Germany -
Super-Earth spotted in the neighbourbood
Nature
Spanish scientists scanning the night's sky have found a planet three times the mass of Earth that seems to be orbiting a star in our neighbourhood. The planet they've found is what's known as a Super-Earth - planets bigger than Earth but smaller Read more about Super-Earth spotted in the neighbourbood - Scimex
InternationalInstitute of Space Sciences (IEEC-CSIC), Spain -
Climate change and urbanisation kick up a storm
Nature
Human activity from climate change and urbanisation has a profound effect on hurricanes, US researchers have found. The researchers modelled how 15 destructive hurricanes, including Katrina and Irma, would have played out in pre-industrial, modern Read more about Climate change and urbanisation kick up a storm - Scimex
InternationalLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA | University of Iowa, USA -
Hitting a wall with weight loss? Try switching to low-carb
BMJ
Low carb diets may help people maintain weight loss, according to US researchers. When people lose weight, their body adapts by slowing metabolism and burning fewer calories, often leading to weight regain. Researchers wanted to see if dietary Read more about Hitting a wall with weight loss? Try switching to low-carb - Scimex
InternationalBoston Children’s Hospital, USA -
Blood pressure rising as we age likely a result of Western lifestyles
JAMA Cardiology
US scientists measured blood pressure in 72 members of an undisturbed tribe, the Yanonami, and 83 members of a tribe with more contact with the west, the Yekwana, in Venezuela to determine whether rising blood pressure as we age occurs naturally. Read more about Blood pressure rising as we age likely a result of Western lifestyles - Scimex
InternationalJohns Hopkins University, USA -
First assessment of planetary boundaries for antibiotic and pesticide resistance shows several are already crossed
Nature Sustainability
Resistance to antibiotics and pesticides (known collectively as biocides) is rising at alarming rates. Doctors are seeing more patients with untreatable infections and in some areas, farmers are unable to kill off weeds and insects that reduce their Read more about First assessment of planetary boundaries for antibiotic and pesticide resistance shows several are already crossed - Scimex
Australia; NSWCSIRO -
Pneumococcal vaccine protects children in Fiji, new research finds
The Lancet Global Health.
New research has found that an Australian-subsidised pneumococcal vaccine in Fiji has reduced by half the number of children carrying the dangerous bacteria at the back of their nose. Fiji is one of the few Pacific Island nations to introduce a Read more about Pneumococcal vaccine protects children in Fiji, new research finds - Scimex
Australia; New Zealand; InternationalMurdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) -
Loss of animal or plant species to climate change causes global ‘extinction domino effect’
Scientific Reports
New research reveals the extinction of plant or animal species from extreme environmental change increases the risk of an ‘extinction domino effect’that could annihilate all life on Earth. This would be the worst-case scenario of what scientists Read more about Loss of animal or plant species to climate change causes global ‘extinction domino effect’ - Scimex
Australia; SAFlinders University -
Fat mouse mums couldn't care less
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
US scientists say mice born to overweight mothers are cared for less than their counterparts born to normal weight mums, even when they are fostered to normal mothers. This suggests that they give off a signal negatively impacting maternal care, say Read more about Fat mouse mums couldn't care less - Scimex
InternationalNorth Carolina State University, USA -
The echidna's sprawling gait explained
Royal Society Open Science
US scientists have built a computer model of an echidna's front limbs to compare the iconic Aussie animals with other mammals, and say the spiky critters have more restricted shoulder movement, but better forelimb rotation than mammals such as Read more about The echidna's sprawling gait explained - Scimex
Australia; InternationalHarvard University, USA -
Human activity has changed the course of evolution
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
We've altered Earth to such an extent in the last century that we've permanently changed the course of evolution by natural selection, according to Canadian researchers. Our influence favours plants and animals that can withstand development, Read more about Human activity has changed the course of evolution - Scimex
InternationalUniversity of British Columbia, Canada -
Lights out: birds and insects quit the skies during eclipse
Biology Letters
Bird and insect activity in the air decreased during the darkest periods of a solar eclipse over the US in 2017, suggesting light cues have a drastic effect on animal behaviour. Using data from 143 weather radar sites across the US, international Read more about Lights out: birds and insects quit the skies during eclipse - Scimex
InternationalCornell University, USA -
Komodo dragons are quite happy where they are, thank you very much
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Komodo dragons are a lazy bunch, very rarely moving on from the valleys where they were born, according to Australian-led research. The dragons probably don't move far beyond home because even a short move could prove costly, and when local Read more about Komodo dragons are quite happy where they are, thank you very much - Scimex
Australia; NSW; VIC; SADeakin University|The University of Adelaide|NSW Government... -
Obesity loves gestational diabetes and large bubs
Diabetologia
The odds of developing obesity are stacked against larger babies born to women with gestational diabetes, Canadian researchers have found. In a study of more than 81, 000 Canadian children, they found children whose mums had had gestational diabetes Read more about Obesity loves gestational diabetes and large bubs - Scimex
InternationalUniversity of Alberta -
Adults on the autism spectrum prescribed mental health drugs without diagnoses
The British Journal of Psychiatry
Off-label prescribing of psychotropic drugs to adults on the autism spectrum could be exposing individuals to harm, say NSW scientists. Media Release. From:The University of New South Wales. Adults on the autism spectrum are being prescribed mental Read more about Adults on the autism spectrum prescribed mental health drugs without diagnoses - Scimex
Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales -
Australians urged to buy accurate meat thermometers – Australian Food Safety Week
Testing by Choice has found a number of meat thermometers on sale in Australia were out by 2° C. Food Safety Information Council is urging people to pick up an accurate meat thermometer, using Choice’s survey as a buying guide, after their own Read more about Australians urged to buy accurate meat thermometers – Australian Food Safety Week - Scimex
AustraliaFood Safety Information Council -
Probiotic boosts mouse bones
Immunity
A widely-used probiotic stimulates bone formation in young female mice, according to US scientists. In animals dosed with bacteria called Lactobacillus rhamnosus, other intestinal microbes produced a metabolite called butyrate, which in turn Read more about Probiotic boosts mouse bones - Scimex
InternationalEmory University, USA -
Going gluten free may have a modest effect on gut bugs
Nature Communications
A small international study of 60 Danish people found that embarking on a low-gluten diet brought about modest changes in their gut bacteria and physiology. In the trial a low-gluten diet (2 g gluten per day) and a high-gluten diet (18 g gluten per Read more about Going gluten free may have a modest effect on gut bugs - Scimex
InternationalTechnical University of Denmark, Denmark
Hitting a wall with weight loss? Try switching to low-carb
Low carb diets may help people maintain weight loss, according to US researchers. When people lose weight...
Meningococcal disease spike prompts vaccination call
The Australian Academy of Science is urging parents to vaccinate their children against all strains of me...
The echidna's sprawling gait explained
US scientists have built a computer model of an echidna's front limbs to compare the iconic Aussie animal...
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