If COVID vaccines just shortened the infectious period they'd save millions of lives and billions of dollars

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Computational Biology

A vaccine or medication which shortened the infectious period of COVID-19 could potentially prevent millions of cases and save billions of dollars, according to US computer modelling. The researchers created a computer model that simulates the Read more about If COVID vaccines just shortened the infectious period they'd save millions of lives and billions of dollars

NEWS BRIEFING: BOM Annual Climate Statement 2020 - Australia's 4th-warmest year on record

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

BRIEFING RECORDING AVAILABLE The Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) Annual Climate Statement summarises the previous year, providing information on temperature, rainfall and significant weather in Australia. Bureau scientists say 2020 was Australia's Read more about NEWS BRIEFING: BOM Annual Climate Statement 2020 - Australia's 4th-warmest year on record

Feeding wolves scraps may be why you have a pupper now

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Scientific Reports

Handing over leftover meat to wolves during harsh winters may have led to the early domestication of dogs around the end of the last ice age - 29,000 to 14,000 years ago - say European researchers. The team suggests that, where we would usually have Read more about Feeding wolves scraps may be why you have a pupper now

Identical twins no longer genetically identical early in development

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Genetics

Identical twins have genetic differences that begin in the early stages of embryonic development, according to international research. Identical twins come from a single sperm and egg but cell division during embryonic growth can lead to genetic Read more about Identical twins no longer genetically identical early in development

More than half of all COVID-19 is spread by people without symptoms

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

More than half of all transmission of COVID-19 is from people without COVID-19 symptoms, according to US modelling. The modelling suggests that 59 per cent of all transmission came from people without symptoms comprising 35 per cent from people Read more about More than half of all COVID-19 is spread by people without symptoms

CMRI expands gene therapy research partnership with LogicBio Therapeutics

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) is pleased to announce that its partnership with LogicBio Therapeutics to develop the next generation of viral vectors for gene therapy applications has been extended for another two years and two new Read more about CMRI expands gene therapy research partnership with LogicBio Therapeutics

Australia’s Black Summer a climate wake-up call

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jan 2021 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Communications Earth & Environment

The 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires are a “wake up call” demonstrating the extreme effects of climate change in Australia, according to a group of experts who’ve published a new study examining the factors that caused the disaster. The 2019/20 Read more about Australia’s Black Summer a climate wake-up call

Breatharian bacteria breakdown greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jan 2021 at 1630 AEDT | 1830 NZDT

Nature Microbiology

Soil bacteria play a much greater role in regulating our atmosphere than previously thought. A recent study led by Monash University has revealed diverse bacteria in soils can breakdown trace gases, such as the toxic pollutant carbon monoxide and Read more about Breatharian bacteria breakdown greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants

EXPERT REACTION: Aussie COVID vaccine rollout brought forward to February

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jan 2021 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

The rollout of a coronavirus vaccine in Australia will be brought forward to next month, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying the first groups are expected to receive the jab in mid-to-late-February. The PM said the first groups to receive the Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Aussie COVID vaccine rollout brought forward to February

Like investors, bacteria, viruses and cancer cells hedge their bets

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jan 2021 at 1215 AEDT | 1415 NZDT

Biophysical Journal

Bacteria, viruses and cancer cells can act like savvy human investors by diversifying their population against future shocks, just as people hedge their investments with a diversified portfolio against uncertainty. Cells ‘put buy’ slow-growing Read more about Like investors, bacteria, viruses and cancer cells hedge their bets

Effect of COVID-19 greatest on people living with dementia

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jan 2021 at 0901 AEDT | 1101 NZDT

Nature Reviews Neurology

Evidence suggests that people with dementia are more likely to contract COVID-19 than people without dementia. It also shows that older adults with dementia are more likely to have severe disease outcomes from the virus, including increased risk of Read more about Effect of COVID-19 greatest on people living with dementia

The world’s fastest optical neuromorphic processor

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jan 2021 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Nature

An international research team led by Swinburne University of Technology has demonstrated the world’s fastest and most powerful optical neuromorphic processor for artificial intelligence (AI), which operates at faster than 10 trillion operations Read more about The world’s fastest optical neuromorphic processor

Not just a guys’ club: resistance training benefits older women just as much as older men

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jan 2021 at 0700 AEDT | 0900 NZDT

Sports Medicine

Sure, everything might come down to sex – but not when strength training is concerned. Men and women aged over 50 can reap similar relative benefits from resistance training, a new study led by UNSW Sydney shows. Men and women aged over 50 can Read more about Not just a guys’ club: resistance training benefits older women just as much as older men

How to talk about death, dying

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Our reluctance to think, talk or communicate about death is even more pronounced when we deal with others’ loss compared to our own, new research finds, but either way we tend to frame attitudes and emotions in a sad and negative way. Teaching new Read more about How to talk about death, dying

Genomes reveal new insights into iconic Aussie animals

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Australian scientists have published the full genetic code of the egg-laying monotreme mammals, platypus and echidna. Monotremes display a unique mix of mammalian and reptilian features and form the most distantly related, and least understood, Read more about Genomes reveal new insights into iconic Aussie animals

Where have all the platypuses gone? Five Brisbane waterways are no longer home to the Aussie icon

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jan 2021 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Australian Mammalogy

Five waterways near Brisbane that were once home to platypuses may no longer have platypuses living there, say Australian researchers, who looked for platypus DNA in 54 waterways around Brisbane. Areas of concern they found were the mid to upper Read more about Where have all the platypuses gone? Five Brisbane waterways are no longer home to the Aussie icon

A tale of two cities: Renters in Melbourne and Sydney flock to CBDs while home owners hit the 'burbs

Publicly released: Wed 6 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society A

Renters in Melbourne and Sydney tend to cluster nearer commercial centres, whereas mortgagors tend to populate the outer suburbs, Australian researchers have found. The study found that both cities are developing towards having multiple cities Read more about A tale of two cities: Renters in Melbourne and Sydney flock to CBDs while home owners hit the 'burbs

Facebook data could map COVID transmission risk in Aussie outbreaks

Publicly released: Wed 6 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

Facebook's mobility data could be used to estimate the spread of COVID-19 transmission risk from locations where active cases have been identified, say Australian researchers. The team used the data, which tells them the number of people moving Read more about Facebook data could map COVID transmission risk in Aussie outbreaks

Cats vs Quolls: Feral cats are a triple threat compared to native predators

Publicly released: Wed 6 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Compared to native predators like quolls, feral cats pose a triple threat to native wildlife thanks to their sheer numbers, foraging intensity and their ability to live in a range of environments, according to Australian research. The study found Read more about Cats vs Quolls: Feral cats are a triple threat compared to native predators

Looking at nature can lower your brain's load

Publicly released: Wed 6 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Compared to looking at urban landscapes, looking at nature scenes, even for a short time, can lower your brain's cognitive load and even help you walk quicker, according to UK research. The study placed people in front of either city or nature Read more about Looking at nature can lower your brain's load