Going vegan may help your gut bugs boost your heart health

Publicly released: Tue 18 Feb 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Switching from a meaty diet to plant-based foods may decrease your risk of heart problems because it stops your gut bugs producing a substance that increases your risk of heart disease, according to US scientists. They looked at blood samples from Read more about Going vegan may help your gut bugs boost your heart health - Scimex

Claimed benefits of auditory illusion 'binaural beats' may be illusory

Publicly released: Tue 18 Feb 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

eNeuro

You may have heard of the auditory illusion known as 'binaural beats' and their amazing abilities to reduce anxiety, and improve focus and mood, but international researchers say the hype doesn't ring true. Binaural beats are an auditory illusion Read more about Claimed benefits of auditory illusion 'binaural beats' may be illusory - Scimex

Aerosol pollution may have partially offset global economic inequality

Publicly released: Tue 18 Feb 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Climate Change

Despite their negative impact on health, human aerosol emissions have effectively offset about one-third of the extra heat from man-made greenhouse gases. Aerosol pollution is primarily made up of sulfate, which interacts with clouds and sunlight in Read more about Aerosol pollution may have partially offset global economic inequality - Scimex

New paediatric care model produces positive results

Publicly released: Tue 18 Feb 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Australian Health Review

An Australian pilot study has found that paediatricians embedded into GP clinics reduced emergency department referrals and unnecessary prescriptions. The program, run in north west Melbourne, also boosted GP’s confidence in treating common Read more about New paediatric care model produces positive results - Scimex

Three quarters of Aussies impacted by angry summer bushfires

Publicly released: Tue 18 Feb 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

More than three quarters of Australian adults report that they were affected by the nation’s recent unprecedented bushfires, according to a new poll from The Australian National University (ANU). The latest ANUpoll also found the Government’s Read more about Three quarters of Aussies impacted by angry summer bushfires - Scimex

Ancient plant foods discovered in Arnhem Land

Publicly released: Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 2200 AEDT | Tue 18 Feb 2020 at 0000 NZDT

Nature Communications

Australia’s first plant foods – eaten by early populations 65, 000 years ago - have been discovered in Arnhem Land. Preserved as pieces of charcoal, the morsels were recovered from the debris of ancient cooking hearths at the Madjedbebe Read more about Ancient plant foods discovered in Arnhem Land - Scimex

Almost one-third of school students bullied

Publicly released: Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

The Lancet (EClinicalMedicine)

Adolescent boys from lower socio-economic backgrounds are most likely to be the victims of bullying, according to the first comprehensive study of school bullying around the world. Media Release. From:The University of Queensland. Adolescent boys Read more about Almost one-third of school students bullied - Scimex

The dinosaur in the cupboard under the stairs

Publicly released: Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

Historical Biology

The mystery surrounding dinosaur footprints on a cave ceiling in Central Queensland has been solved after more than a half a century. University of Queensland palaeontologist Dr Anthony Romilio discovered pieces to a decades-old puzzle in an unusual Read more about The dinosaur in the cupboard under the stairs - Scimex

Immunity key to motor neurone disease treatment

Publicly released: Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Brain Communications

Customised immune-blocking medication may be the key to treating patients with motor neurone disease (MND), which currently has no cure and limited therapeutic options. Funder: FightMND, Wesley Medical Research, NHMRC and the Queensland Government. Read more about Immunity key to motor neurone disease treatment - Scimex

Unlocking low-cost material from solar cells to manipulate light for industry

Publicly released: Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Advanced Science

Crystal materials used in solar cells known as perovskites have been discovered to be cheap alternatives to shape laser light with potential application in industries as diverse as telecommunications, medical diagnostics and consumer electronics. Read more about Unlocking low-cost material from solar cells to manipulate light for industry - Scimex

Back to Uni warning to students to wash their hands

Publicly released: Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 0701 AEDT | 0901 NZDT

As students return to Uni the Food Safety Information Council has released an Australia-wide hand washing study which showed only 69% of young people under 25 said they always washed their hands after going to the toilet and only 49% said they Read more about Back to Uni warning to students to wash their hands - Scimex

Quality of life for carers

Publicly released: Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Journal of Intellectual Disability Research

A new study has examined the wellbeing of caregivers – mostly mothers – of children with an intellectual disability to determine factors that could enhance quality of life. Funder: Funding for this study was received from programme grant from Read more about Quality of life for carers - Scimex

Setting the records straight on Aboriginal STI rates

Publicly released: Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

MJA

The automatic assumption that STIs in young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are a result of sexual abuse further stigmatises them and discourages them from presenting to health services, according to Aussie researchers. They say that on Read more about Setting the records straight on Aboriginal STI rates - Scimex

Indigenous status going under-reported in Aussie hospitals

Publicly released: Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

MJA

A survey of patients attending the Cairns Hospital has found that almost 2 in 10 of those who identify as Indigenous do not have their Indigenous status recorded in hospital data. The researchers say this degree of under-reporting on Indigenous Read more about Indigenous status going under-reported in Aussie hospitals - Scimex

Childhood cancer rates increase with no change in sight

Publicly released: Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

MJA

The incidence rate of childhood cancer in Australia increased by 1.2 per cent each year between 2005 and 2015, and is expected to rise a further 7 per cent over the next 20 years, according to Australian research. When you take into account current Read more about Childhood cancer rates increase with no change in sight - Scimex

Insufficient evidence backing herbal medicines for weight loss

Publicly released: Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism

Researchers from the University of Sydney have conducted the first global review of herbal medicines for weight loss in 19 years, finding insufficient evidence to recommend any current treatments. Media Release. From:The University of Sydney. Review Read more about Insufficient evidence backing herbal medicines for weight loss - Scimex

Around 1 in 4 of us are avoiding gluten - but it may be unnecessary

Publicly released: Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

MJA

Many Australians are unnecessarily subjecting themselves to a gluten-free diet, say Australian researchers who found that around 3 in 20 Australians believe they are wheat sensitive, and almost a quarter of us are avoiding gluten, despite the fact Read more about Around 1 in 4 of us are avoiding gluten - but it may be unnecessary - Scimex

Test measures immune response to improve ovarian cancer diagnosis

Publicly released: Sun 16 Feb 2020 at 2230 AEDT | Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 0030 NZDT

Scientific Reports

Researchers have developed a simple blood test that measures the body’s own immune response to improve diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Funder: NHMRC, Women’s Cancer Fund, Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation Inc., Australia, John Brunner estate. Read more about Test measures immune response to improve ovarian cancer diagnosis - Scimex

Young cancer survivors face higher risk of health problems later on

Publicly released: Sat 15 Feb 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The Lancet Oncology

Childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk of premature death compared to the general population, according to an observational study of more than 10, 000 cancer patients and their siblings. The data show people who were diagnosed with cancer Read more about Young cancer survivors face higher risk of health problems later on - Scimex

Mimicking nature for sustainable energy solutions

Publicly released: Fri 14 Feb 2020 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

Advance Materials

A QUT researcher is mimicking the sub-microscopic structures and optical properties of natural objects, such as seashells, fish scales and fly eyes, to develop sustainable energy solutions and ways to benefit the environment. Funder: Australian Read more about Mimicking nature for sustainable energy solutions - Scimex