Natural environments favour ‘good’ bacteria

Publicly released: Wed 22 May 2019 at 1500 AEST | 1700 NZST

Environmental International

A new study has shown that restoring environments to include a wider range of species can promote ‘good’ bacteria over ‘bad’ – with potential benefits for human health. Media Release. From:The University of Adelaide. A new study has shown Read more about Natural environments favour ‘good’ bacteria - Scimex

Probe detects the mechanism for spreading of metastatic cancer cells

Publicly released: Wed 22 May 2019 at 1112 AEST | 1312 NZST

Molecular Pharmacology

A new fluorescent sensor developed by researchers from the University of Adelaide can detect migrating cancer cells and could be used to target medication to stop metastasis in aggressive cancers. A new fluorescent sensor developed by researchers Read more about Probe detects the mechanism for spreading of metastatic cancer cells - Scimex

Can an online self-help program improve wellbeing?

Publicly released: Wed 22 May 2019 at 0946 AEST | 1146 NZST

A free online self-help program that aims to help individuals think and behave in ways that support increased wellbeing is being offered by researchers from The University of Queensland and Curtin University. Media Release. From:The University of Read more about Can an online self-help program improve wellbeing? - Scimex

Women less likely to get CPR and survive a cardiac arrest

Publicly released: Wed 22 May 2019 at 0905 AEST | 1105 NZST

European Heart Journal

Women who have a cardiac arrest outside hospital are less likely to receive CPR from bystanders and more likely to die than men, according to Dutch research. The study found that people did not recognise that women who collapsed were having a Read more about Women less likely to get CPR and survive a cardiac arrest - Scimex

Good eye for sizing up giants of the deep

Publicly released: Wed 22 May 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

Scientists familiar with shark ecology and behaviour are also expert in visually estimating shark size, according to new research published by the Royal Society. It found Flinders University Southern Shark Ecology Group experts more accurate at Read more about Good eye for sizing up giants of the deep - Scimex

There no longer be dragons. Aussie reptile may be extinct

Publicly released: Wed 22 May 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

Australian researchers have examined the Grassland Earless Dragons of south-eastern Australia in detail and identified two new species. But one of these new species has not been seen since 1969, raising the possibility it is the first extinction of Read more about There no longer be dragons. Aussie reptile may be extinct - Scimex

Plastic debris more of a risk than oil for filter feeding whales

Publicly released: Wed 22 May 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

Plastic debris may pose a greater risk to whales than ingestion of oil, according to US researchers who found that oil does not clog whale baleen, the mouth tissue that filter feeding whales use to trap and filter their prey. The study found oil was Read more about Plastic debris more of a risk than oil for filter feeding whales - Scimex

Know your enemy - Prey change their behaviour when predators don't look hungry

Publicly released: Wed 22 May 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Royal Society Proceedings B

Prey animals change their behaviour depending on how active their predators are, according to Australian and International research. The study investigated the behaviour of mosquitofish and their predator, the jade perch, and found that mosquitofish Read more about Know your enemy - Prey change their behaviour when predators don't look hungry - Scimex

ANU scientists help unlock the potential of ultra-thin 2D materials

Publicly released: Wed 22 May 2019 at 0849 AEST | 1049 NZST

Quantifying Quasi‐Fermi Level Splitting and Mapping its Heterogeneity in Atomically Thin Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

Scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) have, for the first time, demonstrated the maximum potential of ultra-thin 2D materials to generate electricity using sunlight. Funder: Australian Renewable Energy Agency. Grant Number: Read more about ANU scientists help unlock the potential of ultra-thin 2D materials - Scimex

Kānuka honey heals cold sores as fast as common anti-viral creams

Publicly released: Wed 22 May 2019 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

BMJ Open

A honey lab-funded, randomised trial has found kānuka honey and regular anti-viral creams work at the same pace to heal cold sores. Researchers tested a hypothesis that kānuka honey would reduce the healing time by one day, when compared with Read more about Kānuka honey heals cold sores as fast as common anti-viral creams - Scimex

Protecting against type 1 diabetes

Publicly released: Wed 22 May 2019 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Cell Reports

A new study has investigated how exposure to certain triggers can increase the risk of type 1 diabetes. Researchers from The Westmead Institute for Medical Research are looking at an array of potential triggers that could increase the risk of type 1 Read more about Protecting against type 1 diabetes - Scimex

Fish fences damage ecosystems and cause social conflict

Publicly released: Wed 22 May 2019 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Communications

Artisanal fish fences wreak havoc on marine life and make it easier for overfishing to take place, a study focused along the Indonesian coast has found. The fences funnel fish into a small space, so when the tide recedes, they're ripe for the taking. Read more about Fish fences damage ecosystems and cause social conflict - Scimex

Marine megafauna close to the coast but far from safe

Publicly released: Wed 22 May 2019 at 0030 AEST | 0230 NZST

Trends in Ecology and Evolution

New research has highlighted links between coastal habitats and the conservation of threatened marine species. The study from The Global Wetlands Project, published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution, shows that far more species of marine animals, Read more about Marine megafauna close to the coast but far from safe - Scimex

Plant discovery opens frontiers

Publicly released: Tue 21 May 2019 at 1158 AEST | 1358 NZST

Nature Communications

University of Adelaide researchers have discovered a biochemical mechanism fundamental to plant life that could have far-reaching implications for the multibillion-dollar biomedical, pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology industries. Media Read more about Plant discovery opens frontiers - Scimex

Improved fish oil from Vortex Fluidic Device

Publicly released: Tue 21 May 2019 at 1144 AEST | 1344 NZST

LWT: Food Science and Technology

Remarkable South Australian nanoscience invention the Vortex Fluidic Device is now being used in food processing for the first time - with positive results that may help improve people’s capacity to absorb fish oil. Media Release. From:Flinders Read more about Improved fish oil from Vortex Fluidic Device - Scimex

How ‘doping’ boosts next-gen solar cells towards commercialisation

Publicly released: Tue 21 May 2019 at 1057 AEST | 1257 NZST

Advanced Energy Materials

An international team of researchers has brought a new generation of solar cells a step closer to commercialisation, by showing how sunlight can trigger a ‘healing process’ in the cells to improve their efficiency and stability. Funder: Read more about How ‘doping’ boosts next-gen solar cells towards commercialisation - Scimex

Bring on faster internet: device packs more into optical fibre

Publicly released: Tue 21 May 2019 at 1024 AEST | 1224 NZST

Nature Communications

A research team has developed a light beam device that could lead to faster internet, clearer images of space and more detailed medical imaging. Funder: The authors acknowledge the Discovery (DP170101400, DE180100009) program of the Australian Read more about Bring on faster internet: device packs more into optical fibre - Scimex

How much is student debt affecting wellbeing?

Publicly released: Tue 21 May 2019 at 1000 AEST | 1200 NZST

Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online

The debt New Zealand students face today is unprecedented and there's limited understanding around the impact it has on their wellbeing, authors state in a research article. Although it's often labelled 'good debt', results from 70 in-depth Read more about How much is student debt affecting wellbeing? - Scimex

Giant impact damaged the far side of the moon

Publicly released: Tue 21 May 2019 at 1000 AEST | 1200 NZST

Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets

The asymmetrical contrast between the two sides of the Moon is probably because a wayward dwarf planet or asteroid crashed into the planet millions of years ago, international researchers say. While the side of the moon we see from Earth is full of Read more about Giant impact damaged the far side of the moon - Scimex