Focus on seasonal, not yearly, changes when considering impacts of climate change

Publicly released: Thu 24 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Results from a 40-year study of a Montana prairie say may be better to look at local and seasonal changes -- compared to yearly climate changes -- when forecasting how climate change affects ecosystems. Over the four decades, temperature increased Read more about Focus on seasonal, not yearly, changes when considering impacts of climate change

Youth workers: care for yourself in order to help others

Publicly released: Thu 24 Dec 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Drug and Alcohol Review

Youth workers need to be kind to themselves in order to be better at their jobs, say Aussie researchers who surveyed 258 Aussie youth alcohol and other drug workers. They found that burnout and secondary traumatic stress was associated with less Read more about Youth workers: care for yourself in order to help others

Wear a mask and step back: Masks could block almost all those COVID droplets

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Masks can block 99. 9 per cent of COVID-linked droplets, say international researchers who measured droplets spread by coughs and speaking, with and without surgical or handmade cotton face masks. They estimate a person standing 2m from someone Read more about Wear a mask and step back: Masks could block almost all those COVID droplets

Tasmania may help save the rock wallaby

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Maria Island, off Tasmania's eastern coast, could be a suitable spot to move an insurance population of endangered brush-tailed rock wallabies to help stop them becoming extinct, according to Australian research. The recent Australian mega-fires Read more about Tasmania may help save the rock wallaby

Aged care residents experience a different kind of reality

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 1009 AEDT | 1209 NZDT

Journal of Medical Internet Research

Cutting-edge technology is normally associated with youth, but a group of aged care residents in Adelaide are learning how useful (and how much fun) virtual reality can be. Read more about Aged care residents experience a different kind of reality

How COVID-19 polarised politics: #IStandWithDan versus #DictatorDan

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 0926 AEDT | 1126 NZDT

Media International Australia

A QUT study of two interrelated Twitter hashtag campaigns in relation to the Victorian Premier Dan Andrews’ handling of the COVID-19 second wave found the activity was driven by a “small, hyper-partisan core of highly active participants” and Read more about How COVID-19 polarised politics: #IStandWithDan versus #DictatorDan

New mammogram measures of breast cancer risk could revolutionise screening

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 0826 AEDT | 1026 NZDT

International Journal of Cancer

New techniques for predicting breast cancer risk from mammograms that were developed in Melbourne could revolutionise breast screening by allowing it to be tailored to women at minimal extra cost. World-first techniques for predicting breast cancer Read more about New mammogram measures of breast cancer risk could revolutionise screening

Keeping up appearances: male fairy-wrens show looks can be deceiving

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 0700 AEDT | 0900 NZDT

Behavioural Ecology

By choosing these high-quality males, females may ensure a good father or good genes for their offspring. But do high quality males that are preferred by females invest more in their appearance? Read more about Keeping up appearances: male fairy-wrens show looks can be deceiving

Carbon-neutral jet fuels?

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

Flying produces large amounts of carbon emissions, but a more sustainable fuel option could eventually make flying carbon neutral. Researchers at Oxford and Cambridge created a cheap method that uses iron, manganese and potassium to convert carbon Read more about Carbon-neutral jet fuels?

Investing in a frontline response to elder abuse

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

University of Queensland researchers are working with a team of 50 social workers across south east Queensland to create a uniform, national approach to identifying abuse in elderly people who present to hospitals. Read more about Investing in a frontline response to elder abuse