Photosynthesis Olympics: can the best wheat varieties be even better?

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 1230 AEDT | 1430 NZDT

Journal of Experimental Botany

Scientists have put elite wheat varieties through a sort of “Photosynthesis Olympics”to find which varieties have the best performing photosynthesis. This could ultimately help grain growers to get more yield for less inputs in the farm. Funder: Read more about Photosynthesis Olympics: can the best wheat varieties be even better? - Scimex

Warmer, shallow GC waters becoming calving habitat for humpbacks

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology

A team of researchers has found that migrating humpback whale mothers are giving birth more than 1000km south of their primary calving grounds off the Great Barrier Reef. Griffith and Massey University conducted surveys of humpback whale mothers and Read more about Warmer, shallow GC waters becoming calving habitat for humpbacks - Scimex

Trust your doctor, not your online genetic test

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

The BMJ

Online genetic tests should not be used to make health decisions and you should talk to your doctor about what they mean, say UK experts. Finding a health risk from these tests doesn't necessarily mean you will develop that health problem, and they Read more about Trust your doctor, not your online genetic test - Scimex

Transfer preemies to better hospitals before, not after, birth

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

The BMJ

Transferring extremely premature babies from small hospitals to those with neonate specialists in the first 48 hours after birth might increase the risk of severe brain injury, European researchers have found. However, we also know that keeping Read more about Transfer preemies to better hospitals before, not after, birth - Scimex

Biodiversity helps farms produce more crops

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Science Advances

Farmland supporting diverse animal, insect and plant life among crops is more productive - reducing the need for fertilisers and pesticides - say a large team of international researchers. Pulling together data from around 1, 500 agricultural fields Read more about Biodiversity helps farms produce more crops - Scimex

Namaste away your risk of type 2 diabetes

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

PLOS ONE

If you want to avoid developing type 2 diabetes, Aussie and Danish researchers suggest it may help to pull on those yoga pants and get yourself into some stretchy poses. The team, who reviewed 14 studies, found yoga to be linked to improvements in Read more about Namaste away your risk of type 2 diabetes - Scimex

Psoriasis linked to increased cancer risk

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

JAMA Dermatology

People with psoriasis appear to have an increased risk of developing and dying from cancer, according to international researchers who say dermatologists should keep this in mind when treating patients with psoriasis. The researchers combined Read more about Psoriasis linked to increased cancer risk - Scimex

Widely-used medications may increase risk of suicide

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), widely used for the management of hypertension, chronic kidney disease, heart failure and diabetes, may increase risk of suicide in patients, according to Canadian and Saudi researchers. Another type of drug Read more about Widely-used medications may increase risk of suicide - Scimex

How is this 3-metre-long Amazonian monster piranha-proof?

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

Matter

Arapaima gigas, the massive monster fish of the Amazon, have evolved armour-like scales that can deform, but do not tear or crack, when a piranha - known to have one of the most powerful bites in the animal kingdom - attacks, say US scientists. To Read more about How is this 3-metre-long Amazonian monster piranha-proof? - Scimex

Bulimia could have long term negative effects on women's heart

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

JAMA Psychiatry

Bulimia nervosa is one of the most common psychiatric diseases in women, and Canadian researchers say that they have found an association between the disease and issues with your heart down the line. The team compared women who were hospitalised for Read more about Bulimia could have long term negative effects on women's heart - Scimex

Teen's personality linked to their risk of getting dementia more than 50 years later

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

JAMA Psychiatry

Being a calm and mature teenager (if there is such a thing) could be linked to a lower risk of developing dementia half a century later, according to US researchers. But being an active high energy teen could also have a benefit. The researchers Read more about Teen's personality linked to their risk of getting dementia more than 50 years later - Scimex

Sleep congress reveals latest snooze secrets

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Sleep DownUnder 2019

Kiwifruit, cannabis and smartphone apps are among the latest sleep aids in the spotlight at an international sleep conference to be held in Sydney this week. Sleep DownUnder 2019, running from October 17-19, will host more than 800 of Read more about Sleep congress reveals latest snooze secrets - Scimex

Indigenous Aussie's flu vax rates fail to improve

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

ANZJPH

Despite influenza vaccination becoming free for Indigenous Aussies in 2010, there was no increase in the vaccine coverage between 2004 and 2013, according to Australian research. The study found that while coverage increased six per cent for those Read more about Indigenous Aussie's flu vax rates fail to improve - Scimex

Aged care staff sickness can worsen flu outbreaks among elderly

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

ANZJPH

To control influenza outbreaks in aged care facilities, we might need to start looking at the vaccination rates of the carers, according to Aussie researchers. The elderly are one of the most vulnerable groups of people when flu season comes around, Read more about Aged care staff sickness can worsen flu outbreaks among elderly - Scimex

Kids exposed to junk food ads while glued to the gogglebox

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

ANZJPH

Aussie scientists took a look back at TV advertising during times when children were likely to be tuned-in in 2017, and found kids were exposed to an average of 1.5 junk food ads for every hour spent watching between 7am and 9 am, and between 4pm Read more about Kids exposed to junk food ads while glued to the gogglebox - Scimex

Hope for millions of IBS sufferers: identifying the cause of pain as ‘gut itch’

Publicly released: Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

JCI Insight

This is big news for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) patients: 11 percent of the world’s population suffers from IBS, but the fight against chronic pain has taken a major step forward with scientists identifying receptors in the nervous system Read more about Hope for millions of IBS sufferers: identifying the cause of pain as ‘gut itch’ - Scimex

Prime Minister’s Prizes recognise excellence in science

Publicly released: Wed 16 Oct 2019 at 2200 AEDT | Thu 17 Oct 2019 at 0000 NZDT

Tonight, the 2019 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science were presented at a black-tie awards dinner at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday 16 October. The Prizes are Australia’s most prestigious awards for outstanding achievements in Read more about Prime Minister’s Prizes recognise excellence in science - Scimex

Scientists find new way to develop drought-resilient crops

Publicly released: Wed 16 Oct 2019 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

Journal of Experimental Botany

Australian research could help breeders develop more drought-resilient crops that can produce more food and more profit with less water. Scientists have developed a new method to identify drought-resilient wheat quickly, cheaply and accurately. Read more about Scientists find new way to develop drought-resilient crops - Scimex

Ocean’s deep-water may be corroding Byron Bay’s coastal ecosystems

Publicly released: Wed 16 Oct 2019 at 1501 AEDT | 1701 NZDT

Frontiers in Marine Science

Upwelling of deep, low pH, waters along the east Australian coast is a common and natural phenomenon, but together with ongoing human-induced ocean acidification it will result in additional stress to coral reef ecosystems such as the Great Barrier Read more about Ocean’s deep-water may be corroding Byron Bay’s coastal ecosystems - Scimex

Alcohol preloading leads to increased intoxication

Publicly released: Wed 16 Oct 2019 at 1501 AEDT | 1701 NZDT

Journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence

People who preload alcohol before a night out drink more than they predict and are more intoxicated at the end of the night, a Griffith University study has found. Funder: National Drug Strategy Law Enforcement Funding Committee. Media Release. Read more about Alcohol preloading leads to increased intoxication - Scimex