Call to schools to provide healthy lunches

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1400 AEDT | 1600 NZDT

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Packing a lunchbox with fruit, sandwiches, and snacks is common practice for most Australian school children. But what if there was another way? Flinders University researchers investigating the pros and cons of school-provided lunches say uniform Read more about Call to schools to provide healthy lunches

Talking with your hands helps listeners separate an obJECT from an OBject

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Talking with your hands, or specifically what is known as 'beat gestures', can influence what speech sounds we perceive and can help people pick up stresses on different parts of a word, for example distinguishing OBject from obJECT. Beat gestures Read more about Talking with your hands helps listeners separate an obJECT from an OBject

Variety is the spice of life, at least for sparrows

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

For the last 2,000 years there has been debate about whether a more varied social group benefits the individuals in it. Experiments with house sparrows suggest that groups containing different personality types (in terms of exploratory behaviour) Read more about Variety is the spice of life, at least for sparrows

Being transparent about COVID testing benefits the workplace

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

A simulation model for small workplaces shows that workers who are open about testing for COVID-19 and their test results translate into improved workplace productivity and minimised infections, compared to those employees who keep such information Read more about Being transparent about COVID testing benefits the workplace

Even very young kids can socially distance at school

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Measures to reduce COVID-19 spread in English primary schools reduced close in-person contacts by 50-80 per cent, according to UK research. Researchers surveyed teachers from 34 UK primary schools on close contacts before and after distancing Read more about Even very young kids can socially distance at school

Sorry, but you are probably fatter than an elephant

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Journal of Experimental Biology

Do you think elephants are fat? Well, they're probably less podgy than you, according to international scientists. They measured fat levels in 35 female and nine male captive Asian elephants, and say they carry less body fat than the average person. Read more about Sorry, but you are probably fatter than an elephant

NT alcohol policies reduce ICU admissions

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

Anaestesia and Intensive Care

The introduction of alcohol harm limitation policies in Central Australia from 2018 have had a marked effect on critical health figures, with a 38% relative reduction in Hospital Intensive Care Unit admissions associated with alcohol misuse, as well Read more about NT alcohol policies reduce ICU admissions

Why does Flu get worse as we age - and is it the same for COVID?

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Clinical & Translational Immunology

Elderly people who contract the Flu seem to produce fewer immune 'emergency' signals from infected cells, and therefore a slower immune response to infection than younger people, according to Aussie researchers. The team also found that regardless Read more about Why does Flu get worse as we age - and is it the same for COVID?

Long-term study reveals harm in regular cannabis use

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Drug and Alcohol Review

Regular cannabis use has harmful effects regardless of the age a person starts using, a University of Queensland-led study has found. The study examined people who began regular cannabis use in high school or in their early 20s, and compared both Read more about Long-term study reveals harm in regular cannabis use

Skink social network may help save species

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

New Zealand Journal of Ecology

Reptiles, apart from dinosaurs, aren’t usually thought of as particularly sociable. However, researchers from the University of Otago found that social groups of between two and eight endangered Otago skinks in Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary persisted Read more about Skink social network may help save species

Early antibiotic use could have an effect on growth

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

Exposure to antibiotics in the first few weeks of life is associated with reduced weight and height in boys up to the age of six, but not girls, according to international researchers who suggest this effect may be due to changes in the development Read more about Early antibiotic use could have an effect on growth

Three-day old blind mice, see how they 'run' to their mums

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Cell Reports

Three day old mice, still blind, can recognise their mum, and they retain this memory later in life. Experiments showed that the babies preferentially orientate to their caregiver (biological or foster mother) if given a choice between her and an Read more about Three-day old blind mice, see how they 'run' to their mums

Putting bugs on the menu, safely

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Food Chemistry

The thought of eating insects is stomach turning for many, but new Edith Cowan University (ECU) research is shedding light on allergy causing proteins which could pose serious health risks for those suffering from shellfish allergy. The research, Read more about Putting bugs on the menu, safely

No fans, no fights - did sporting matches get less heated during COVID?

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jan 2021 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

Humanities & Social Sciences Communications

Sporting matches may have been less emotional in 2020, according to international research, which suggests that the absence of supporters at Austrian Bundesliga soccer games during the COVID pandemic resulted in fewer arguments or emotional Read more about No fans, no fights - did sporting matches get less heated during COVID?

Air pollution linked to increased risk of progressive and irreversible blindness

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

British Journal of Ophthalmology

Air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of progressive and irreversible sight loss, known as age-related macular degeneration, according to UK research. The study of over 100,000 people found that people who were exposed to higher fine Read more about Air pollution linked to increased risk of progressive and irreversible blindness

Afternoon naps may boost your brain

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

General Psychiatry

If you were looking for an excuse to sneak in a quick siesta, Chinese scientists say taking a regular afternoon nap may be linked to improved mental agility. They studied 2,214 people, 1,534 of whom enjoyed a regular afternoon snooze, and say a Read more about Afternoon naps may boost your brain

Music can soothe following major heart surgery

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Open Heart

Listening to music is linked to a significant reduction in anxiety and pain after major heart surgery, according to Dutch scientists who brought together previous research on the subject and re-analysed the pooled results. As music has neither risks Read more about Music can soothe following major heart surgery

Musicians have more connected brains than non-musicians, even without perfect pitch

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jan 2021 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

JNeurosci

The brains of musicians have stronger structural and functional connections compared to those of non-musicians, according to international research. Musicians that began their training at a younger age also had stronger structural connections than Read more about Musicians have more connected brains than non-musicians, even without perfect pitch

Discovery makes the invisible visible

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Photonics

Australian scientists have discovered a new way to analyse microscopic cells, tissues and other transparent specimens, through the improvement of an almost 100-year-old imaging technique. Australian scientists have discovered a new way to analyse Read more about Discovery makes the invisible visible

Seaweed's spread around the world reflected in its genomes

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Ecology & Evolution

The intentional and unintentional spread of the seaweed Undaria pinnatifida to other parts of the world has left genetic traces on its genomes, an international study involving New Zealand researchers has found. While native to Northeast Asia, the Read more about Seaweed's spread around the world reflected in its genomes