What is the future for coral reefs?

Publicly released: Wed 18 Jul 2018 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

2018 Coral Reef Futures Symposium & Public Forum

Prominent marine scientists from across the globe gather in Brisbane Thursday and Friday to discuss the future of coral reefs worldwide. Media Release. From:ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. What is the future for coral reefs? Read more about What is the future for coral reefs? - Scimex

Plant compounds found to activate cells used in transplants for spinal cord repair

Publicly released: Wed 18 Jul 2018 at 1000 AEST | 1200 NZST

Scientific Reports

Natural compounds derived from Australian plants have been found to stimulate cells that are useful for transplantation to repair spinal cord injuries. The results of this research have recently been published in Scientific Reports by a team of Read more about Plant compounds found to activate cells used in transplants for spinal cord repair - Scimex

Brain cells' jumping genes

Publicly released: Wed 18 Jul 2018 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Open Biology

The DNA of any two brain cells from an individual may differ due to the activity of retrotransposons, a type of 'jumping gene'. The resulting mosaicism has attracted growing interest as it could impact neurobiology. Here, we comprehensively review Read more about Brain cells' jumping genes - Scimex

Finding silver from your socks

Publicly released: Wed 18 Jul 2018 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

Silver has great germ-killing qualities and it is being used in everything from socks to bandages, but there is a lot we don't know about how these products degrade in the environment and their effects on human health. Australian researchers have Read more about Finding silver from your socks - Scimex

Mangroves: unsung heroes of carbon storage

Publicly released: Wed 18 Jul 2018 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Biology Letters

The oceans and land play an important role in keeping climate change in check by sucking up atmospheric carbon dioxide and acting as a long term storage facility (known by researchers as a 'sink'). Scientists from Southern Cross University studied Read more about Mangroves: unsung heroes of carbon storage - Scimex

Ancient dental gunk reveals the real Paleo diet

Publicly released: Wed 18 Jul 2018 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

The dental record can do more than prove who you are: it can also reveal what you ate, according to European researchers. Proteins found in ancient dental plaque had already uncovered that humans were drinking milk as far back as 6500 BCE. But this Read more about Ancient dental gunk reveals the real Paleo diet - Scimex

Fishy findings: Cochrane review finds omega-3 supplements don't help hearts

Publicly released: Wed 18 Jul 2018 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Omega-3 supplements may not be all they're cracked up to be, according to a comprehensive Cochrane review which found that increasing the amount of long-chain omega 3 fats (those found in fish) in our diets doesn't make our hearts any healthier. Read more about Fishy findings: Cochrane review finds omega-3 supplements don't help hearts - Scimex

Pekin into the duck genome

Publicly released: Wed 18 Jul 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Communications

Hundreds of years went into breeding the white-downed Pekin duck, and now Chinese researchers have delved into the duck's genome to uncover some of the traits that were selected for during the process. Mallard ducks were domesticated in China about Read more about Pekin into the duck genome - Scimex

Fast-tracked drug approvals lacking in evidence

Publicly released: Wed 18 Jul 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA

In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) created a new approval process to speed up the development of drugs intended to treat serious or life-threatening conditions. An analysis of these 'Breakthrough' therapies suggests the trials Read more about Fast-tracked drug approvals lacking in evidence - Scimex

Are social media binges giving teens ADHD symptoms?

Publicly released: Wed 18 Jul 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA

As if there weren't already enough reasons to get your kids off their digital devices, US researchers have found a link between texting, video chatting and hanging around on social media sites and reporting symptoms of Read more about Are social media binges giving teens ADHD symptoms? - Scimex

NEWS BRIEFING: First melanoma blood test to detect early-stage disease

Publicly released: Wed 18 Jul 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Oncotarget

BRIEFING RECORDING AVAILABLE Scientists from Edith Cowan University (ECU) have developed the world's first blood test capable of detecting melanoma in its early stages, an innovation that should save thousands of lives, and save the health system Read more about NEWS BRIEFING: First melanoma blood test to detect early-stage disease - Scimex

Preventing rheumatic heart disease through community-driven activities

Publicly released: Tue 17 Jul 2018 at 1900 AEST | 2100 NZST

Journal of the American Heart Association

Health activities driven by remote Indigenous communities may be key to the sustainable and successful treatment and prevention of a potentially fatal disease, a study has found. Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council. Media Release. Read more about Preventing rheumatic heart disease through community-driven activities - Scimex

Boost for translation of medical research into health solutions for patients

Publicly released: Tue 17 Jul 2018 at 1117 AEST | 1317 NZST

The translation of Australia’ s world-leading medical research into patient benefit has been boosted by a three-year funding commitment announced today by the Turnbull Government. Media Release. From:South Australian Health and Medical Research Read more about Boost for translation of medical research into health solutions for patients - Scimex

Tackling cancer at ground zero with designer molecules

Publicly released: Tue 17 Jul 2018 at 1000 AEST | 1200 NZST

Chemistry: A European Journal

A new molecule designed by University of Adelaide researchers shows great promise for future treatment of many cancers. The new molecule successfully targets a protein that plays a major role in the growth of most cancers. This protein target is Read more about Tackling cancer at ground zero with designer molecules - Scimex

Tell us what you really think of your healthcare

Publicly released: Tue 17 Jul 2018 at 0938 AEST | 1138 NZST

Everyone is a patient at some point in their lives and QUT is seeking 1000-plus Australians to participate in a survey about their experiences when talking with primary healthcare practitioners such as doctors and dentists, and x-ray clinic and Read more about Tell us what you really think of your healthcare - Scimex

High blood fat levels linked to having fewer kids

Publicly released: Tue 17 Jul 2018 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

BMJ Open

Norwegian research suggests an unhealthy blood fat profile before pregnancy is linked to having only one or no children, although the study cannot show that high fat levels actually cause reduced fertility. However, heart disease has been linked Read more about High blood fat levels linked to having fewer kids - Scimex

Kids who abuse animals likely to have been abused themselves

Publicly released: Tue 17 Jul 2018 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

Archives of Disease in Childhood

Older children who abuse animals are likely to have been abused themselves as kids, according to a review of evidence on the subject by UK researchers. When children aged over ten years continue to exhibit this kind of behaviour, the researchers say Read more about Kids who abuse animals likely to have been abused themselves - Scimex

Bowel cancer poo test could point to a risk of dying from a host of other diseases

Publicly released: Tue 17 Jul 2018 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

Gut

'Invisible' blood in stools, a key pointer used to screen for bowel cancer, might also indicate a higher risk of dying from heart, lung, digestive, blood, hormone and brain diseases, as well as other types of cancer, according to UK research. A test Read more about Bowel cancer poo test could point to a risk of dying from a host of other diseases - Scimex

Australia to lead lithium-ion battery recycling charge

Publicly released: Tue 17 Jul 2018 at 0800 AEST | 1000 NZST

A new battery recycling industry to tackle Australia’ s annual 3, 300 tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste could be on the cards, according to a new report by the national science agency. Media Release. From:CSIRO. A new battery recycling industry Read more about Australia to lead lithium-ion battery recycling charge - Scimex

Are probiotics good for you? The jury is out

Publicly released: Tue 17 Jul 2018 at 0700 AEST | 0900 NZST

Annals of Internal Medicine

There is not enough safety data available for probiotic and prebiotic products, according to an international review of trials assessing the health impacts of these supplements. Close to 400 published trials were assessed on how they reported the Read more about Are probiotics good for you? The jury is out - Scimex