Want to remember your dreams? Try taking vitamin B6

Publicly released: Fri 27 Apr 2018 at 0947 AEST | 1147 NZST

Perceptual and Motor Skills

New research from the University of Adelaide has found that taking vitamin B6 could help people to recall their dreams. Media Release. From:The University of Adelaide. New research from the University of Adelaide has found that taking vitamin B6 Read more about Want to remember your dreams? Try taking vitamin B6 - Scimex

Infinitely recyclable plastic?

Publicly released: Fri 27 Apr 2018 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

Science

Only five percent of plastic is actually recycled, and when it is, it's often just used to make low-value materials which still wind up in the landfill. Now US researchers have developed a new plastic polymer which can be easily recycled into its Read more about Infinitely recyclable plastic? - Scimex

Studying ancestral remains needs to be done respectfully, ethically

Publicly released: Fri 27 Apr 2018 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

Science

Ancestral remains should be regarded not as 'artefacts' but as human relatives who deserve respect, say the authors of a policy forum article in Science. Put forward by the North American Summer internship for Indigenous peoples in Genomics (SING) Read more about Studying ancestral remains needs to be done respectfully, ethically - Scimex

Geothermal power process may have triggered Korea quake

Publicly released: Fri 27 Apr 2018 at 0828 AEST | 1028 NZST

Science

A geothermal energy production site may have played a role in a magnitude 5.5 Pohang earthquake that struck South Korea late last year. In two separate studies, geologists identify links between the rate and volume of high-pressure water injected Read more about Geothermal power process may have triggered Korea quake - Scimex

Genetics illuminates the darkness of depression

Publicly released: Fri 27 Apr 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Genetics

The biggest study of its kind has allowed researchers to identify genetic risk factors associated with major depression, providing new insights for prevention and treatment. Australian researchers, including Professor Naomi Wray from The University Read more about Genetics illuminates the darkness of depression - Scimex

Good news! Dark choccies could improve your eyesight... Maybe

Publicly released: Fri 27 Apr 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Ophthalmology

Eating dark chocolate could slightly improve your eyesight, according to a small US study. The researchers tested volunteer's eyesight around two hours after they'd eaten a milk chocolate bar and after they'd eaten a dark chocolate bar, days apart. Read more about Good news! Dark choccies could improve your eyesight... Maybe - Scimex

What's that? Hearing aids linked to fewer ED visits and hospitalisations

Publicly released: Fri 27 Apr 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery

Older people with hearing loss are less likely to pay the ED a visit or be hospitalised, according to a US study. The authors looked at survey data from 1, 336 older adults with hearing loss and also found those with hearing aids were likely to Read more about What's that? Hearing aids linked to fewer ED visits and hospitalisations - Scimex

Fijian drinking water low in fluoride

Publicly released: Fri 27 Apr 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Low levels of fluoride could be contributing to poor dental health in Fiji, according to the results of a new study. Fijian and Australian researchers collected drinking water from 223 sites across the island nation and found concentrations were Read more about Fijian drinking water low in fluoride - Scimex

Booze ads are appealing to teen drinkers

Publicly released: Fri 27 Apr 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

ANZJPH

Some alcohol ads are appealing to teens in direct contradiction of the industry code, say Australian researchers. Alcohol advertising requires advert actors to be at least 25 years old and to be clearly depicted as adults. Instead of asking the Read more about Booze ads are appealing to teen drinkers - Scimex

Should the census include a question about smoking?

Publicly released: Fri 27 Apr 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Almost ten years ago the National Preventative Health Taskforce recommended the inclusion of “a question on smoking" in the Australian census but so far nothing has changed. Now, Australian experts are pushing for The Australian Bureau of Read more about Should the census include a question about smoking? - Scimex

Bike paths and cheaper public transport please say Sydneysiders

Publicly released: Fri 27 Apr 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Residents of inner-Sydney say there should be more bike paths and cheaper public transport, according to survey looking at transport policy options. The most supported policies were those that involved active travel including making buses and trains Read more about Bike paths and cheaper public transport please say Sydneysiders - Scimex

Kids exposed to general anaesthetic have poorer development, literacy and numeracy scores

Publicly released: Fri 27 Apr 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Pediatric Anesthesia

Exposure to general anaesthetic up to age four raises the risk of poor child development and reduced literacy and numeracy as measured by school tests, new research led by the University of Sydney reveals. The new finding published today in Read more about Kids exposed to general anaesthetic have poorer development, literacy and numeracy scores - Scimex

NEWS BRIEFING: Time is running out to record our unique species but Australasian scientists have a plan

Publicly released: Fri 27 Apr 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

BRIEFING RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE Australia has many unique plants and animals and some of the most extraordinary organisms anywhere on Earth, but only around 30 per cent of its estimated 600, 000 species have been discovered, documented and named. Read more about NEWS BRIEFING: Time is running out to record our unique species but Australasian scientists have a plan - Scimex

Neanderthals’ noggins hold clues to their disappearance

Publicly released: Thu 26 Apr 2018 at 2300 AEST | Fri 27 Apr 2018 at 0100 NZST

Scientific Reports

Neanderthals’brains may have affected their social and thinking abilities, and possibly contributed to their demise, according to an international study. The researchers reconstructed the brains of Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens from skull Read more about Neanderthals’ noggins hold clues to their disappearance - Scimex

Cheer now but pay later for the NDIS

Publicly released: Thu 26 Apr 2018 at 1500 AEST | 1700 NZST

Today’ s announcement by the federal government scrapping the 0.5 per cent increase to the Medicare levy to fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is good politics but bad policy says a QUT financial economist. Media Release. Read more about Cheer now but pay later for the NDIS - Scimex

Patients with severe paralysis regain use of hands and fingers for improved quality of life

Publicly released: Thu 26 Apr 2018 at 1300 AEST | 1500 NZST

Journal of Neurotrauma

Six people with severe spinal cord injuries have regained the use of their hands and fingers through a non-invasive spinal stimulation technique. Scientists employed at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and by the University of Read more about Patients with severe paralysis regain use of hands and fingers for improved quality of life - Scimex

New high-tech drones target Australian vineyards to help stop pests and diseases

Publicly released: Thu 26 Apr 2018 at 1000 AEST | 1200 NZST

Drones equipped with machine learning and hyperspectral cameras could become a new weapon for the grape industry, as it fights a major battle with a tiny pest. The high-tech UAVs have proved successful in detecting grape phylloxera (Daktulospaira Read more about New high-tech drones target Australian vineyards to help stop pests and diseases - Scimex

App an effective tool to record sun exposure

Publicly released: Thu 26 Apr 2018 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

JMIR Research Protocols

A smartphone app is an accessible tool that reliably measures the amount of exposure to the sun’ s skin-damaging ultra-violet radiation, a QUT study has found. Research fellow Dr Elke Hacker from QUT’ s Institute of Health and Biomedical Read more about App an effective tool to record sun exposure - Scimex

Hey parents, your kids are not wearing helmets on scooters and are ending up in ED

Publicly released: Thu 26 Apr 2018 at 0500 AEST | 0700 NZST

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health

Kids riding scooters have the lowest rate of helmet use and are ending up in emergency departments with head injuries, more often than kids on bikes, skateboards or other non-motorised wheeled recreational vehicles, say Australian experts. Less than Read more about Hey parents, your kids are not wearing helmets on scooters and are ending up in ED - Scimex

Who needs weather apps when you have social media?

Publicly released: Thu 26 Apr 2018 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Positive or negative vibes sent out by your social media bubble might be associated with what the weather is like in your city, say International and Australian scientists who gathered 3.5 billion posts from Facebook and Twitter over seven years. Read more about Who needs weather apps when you have social media? - Scimex