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Who knew that eating poo was so vital for birds’ survival?
Biological Reviews
New research led by the University of South Australia and published in Biological Reviews explains how eating faeces (known as coprophagy) shapes wild birds’ digestive tracts, enabling them to absorb lost or deficient nutrients and adjust to Read more about Who knew that eating poo was so vital for birds’ survival?
Australia; SAUniversity of South Australia|University of Technology Sydney (UTS) -
Women with depression might face higher heart health risks than men
JACC: Asia
People with depression face a higher risk of heart disease, but more women experience heart disease following a depression diagnosis than men, according to international researchers. The team looked at over 4. 1 million patients aged 36-52, Read more about Women with depression might face higher heart health risks than men
InternationalUniversity of Tokyo, Japan -
New approach to understanding extent of lung cancer at diagnosis
Lancet Respiratory Medicine
An Australian study has highlighted a way to improve pre-treatment testing of lung cancer patients, to better detect cancers that may have unknowingly spread. An Australian study has highlighted a way to improve pre-treatment testing of lung cancer Read more about New approach to understanding extent of lung cancer at diagnosis
Australia; VICPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre|The University of Melbourne... -
Most male mammals are not larger than females
Nature Communications
Males are not larger than females in most mammal species, contrary to common belief, according to international researchers. The team compared male and female body masses of 429 species in the wild, and found that in most cases, such as lemurs, Read more about Most male mammals are not larger than females
InternationalPrinceton University, USA -
Soft wearable throat patch could help people with voice disorders to speak
Nature Communications
A soft, wearable, non-invasive patch may help people with voice disorders to speak, according to international researchers, who developed a magnetoelastic patch that adheres to the throat and uses AI to translate muscle movements into words. The Read more about Soft wearable throat patch could help people with voice disorders to speak
InternationalUniversity of California, USA -
DNA protecting gene’s crucial role in brain disorders revealed
Nature Communications
University of Adelaide researchers now know more about a mysterious gene’s role in maintaining healthy DNA – a crucial development that could lead to new treatments for life-threatening illnesses including neurodevelopmental disorders, some Read more about DNA protecting gene’s crucial role in brain disorders revealed
Australia; International; SAThe University of Adelaide -
Could ADHD medication be linked to lower death rates?
JAMA
The initiation of ADHD medication could reduce death rates in those who need it, according to international researchers. The team looked at data from 148,578 people diagnosed with ADHD in Sweden, and found the initial dispensation of ADHD medication Read more about Could ADHD medication be linked to lower death rates?
InternationalKarolinska Institutet, Sweden -
Our furry friends caused 12,000 human hospitalisations in Australia in a year
From mid 2021 to mid 2022, 12,000 Australians were hospitalised with an injury related to pet cats and dogs, according to a report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare that says 53% of all injuries related to animal contact are caused Read more about Our furry friends caused 12,000 human hospitalisations in Australia in a year
AustraliaAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) -
Census data reveals stark gap in asthma risk for inner and outer city kids
The journal of allergy and clinical immunology (JACI)
Children who live in the outer suburbs of Australia’s four biggest cities are twice as likely to have asthma as those living in inner city areas, according to a new study based on health data captured in the last Australian Census. The data was Read more about Census data reveals stark gap in asthma risk for inner and outer city kids
Australia; NSW; VIC; QLD; WATelethon Kids Institute|Curtin University -
Increasing disability employment could boost national economy by billions
A new report by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre at Curtin University reveals there has been no improvement in employment rates for people with disability in Australia over the last two decades, despite extensive policy reforms and greatly Read more about Increasing disability employment could boost national economy by billions
Australia; WACurtin University -
Mars attracts: how Earth’s interactions with the red planet drive deep-sea circulation
Nature Communications
Research from the University of Sydney and Sorbonne University suggests that giant whirlpools in warming oceans could run counter to ocean stagnation that some have predicted could impact the Gulf Stream. The team used the geological record of the Read more about Mars attracts: how Earth’s interactions with the red planet drive deep-sea circulation
Australia; NSWThe University of Sydney -
The same beer waste that gives us Vegemite could help us recycle metal waste
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Spent brewer's yeast - the basis of our much-loved breakfast spread Vegemite - can be used multiple times to pull metals out of water, say international researchers. They say this pre-Vegemite was able to pull metals such as aluminium, zinc and Read more about The same beer waste that gives us Vegemite could help us recycle metal waste
InternationalUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria -
History repeats as Coral Bay faces mass loss of coral and fish life
Journal of Coral Reefs
A perfect storm of environmental factors has seen a monumental loss of fish and coral life at a popular area of Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia’s Gascoyne region — however Curtin University research into the event shows there is hope it will Read more about History repeats as Coral Bay faces mass loss of coral and fish life
Australia; WACurtin University|Western Australian Museum -
COVID-19 dropped global life expectancy by 1.6 years
The Lancet
During the pandemic, global life expectancy dropped by 1. 6 years, reversing previous trends towards longer life expectancies. The study, which updates estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021, estimates that the pandemic caused Read more about COVID-19 dropped global life expectancy by 1.6 years
Australia; New Zealand; Pacific; NSW; VIC; QLD; SA; WA; TAS; NT; ACTThe University of Melbourne|The University of New South Wales... -
More than half of aged care residents are on antidepressants
Journal of American Medical Directors Association (JAMDA)
A new study by the Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA), based at SAHMRI, has found six out of ten Australian aged care residents are taking antidepressant medication. A new study by the Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA), based at SAHMRI, has Read more about More than half of aged care residents are on antidepressants
Australia; SASouth Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) -
Mixed results for older women taking calcium and vitamin D supplements
Annals of Internal Medicine
Taking calcium and vitamin D supplements in older age is linked to mixed long term health outcomes in women, according to an international study that found the supplements were associated in a reduced risk of dying of cancer but an almost equal Read more about Mixed results for older women taking calcium and vitamin D supplements
InternationalUniversity of Arizona, USA -
Love on the land: Helping farmers grow healthy relationships
Life on the land can be great, but it can also put a lot of pressure on romantic relationships. Now, rural health experts from the University of South Australia have launched a new online resource to help farmers build and maintain a healthy Read more about Love on the land: Helping farmers grow healthy relationships
Australia; SAUniversity of South Australia -
Helping reduce the global shortage of diabetes and weight loss drug semaglutide
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
Semaglutide is part of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor targeting family of peptide drugs which are mainly used to treat diabetes but are difficult and expensive to make. An international team of researchers led by Professor Akhter Read more about Helping reduce the global shortage of diabetes and weight loss drug semaglutide
Australia; VICFlorey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health -
Can good sleep make us more empathetic?
JNeurosci
Lack of sleep makes us less helpful and altruistic, according to a small study by international researchers. The team measured sleep activity in the brain during a normal night of sleep, then asked them to play a game where participants were given Read more about Can good sleep make us more empathetic?
InternationalUniversity of Bern, Switzerland -
Indigenous fire management started 11,000 years ago
Nature Geoscience
James Cook University researchers have discovered Indigenous fire management in northern Australia was being practiced at least 11,000 years ago – and it has implications for fire management practices today. JCU’s Distinguished Professor Michael Read more about Indigenous fire management started 11,000 years ago
Australia; QLD; SAJames Cook University|Flinders University|ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH)