‘I’m their kaumātua and I couldn’t even be there’ - Kaumātua responses to COVID-19

Publicly released: Mon 14 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand

As community leaders, kaumātua have been influential in curbing the spread of COVID-19, but they are also among the most vulnerable to the disease. University of Auckland researchers interviewed 23 kaumātua over the course of six weeks about their Read more about ‘I’m their kaumātua and I couldn’t even be there’ - Kaumātua responses to COVID-19

Almost 300 people have died playing football in Australia over the past 150 years

Publicly released: Mon 14 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Medical Journal of Australia

There have been at least 295 deaths due to football-related injuries in the past 146 years, according to an analysis of media reports. The majority of deaths resulted from head, neck or abdominal injuries at the community level of the collision codes Read more about Almost 300 people have died playing football in Australia over the past 150 years

Kids who've experienced bushfires at long term mental health risk

Publicly released: Mon 14 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Medical Journal of Australia

Children exposed to bushfires appear to be at a higher risk of mental health symptoms in the short, medium and long term, according to an Australian review of research. The study found that the risk of kids developing mental health symptoms later in Read more about Kids who've experienced bushfires at long term mental health risk

Med school entrance test still favours men despite recent changes

Publicly released: Mon 14 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Medical Journal of Australia

A change in one of the ways to assess undergraduate students for acceptance into medical school appears to have increased the gender gap between men and women, according to new Australian and NZ research. The Undergraduate Medical and Health Read more about Med school entrance test still favours men despite recent changes

PJs are OK: Scientists working from home in their in pyjamas work just as effectively

Publicly released: Mon 14 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Medical Journal of Australia

A study of staff and students at five medical research institutes in NSW has found that wearing pyjamas while working from home during the COVID pandemic was not associated with lower productivity, but was linked with poorer mental health. Not Read more about PJs are OK: Scientists working from home in their in pyjamas work just as effectively

What the fork? Teaspoons the main victims our our workplace cutlery kleptomania

Publicly released: Mon 14 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Medical Journal of Australia

Teaspoons being taken from work lunchrooms appears to be a more substantial problem than fork disappearance, according to Australian research. The researchers marked 18 spoons, knives and forks, in the staff tearoom of a public teaching and research Read more about What the fork? Teaspoons the main victims our our workplace cutlery kleptomania

Genetics indicate why some people get more severe COVID

Publicly released: Sat 12 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Genetic variants that are linked to the development of life-threatening illness in patients with COVID-19 have been identified and several are involved in inflammatory processes and the body’s response to invading viruses. The researchers looked Read more about Genetics indicate why some people get more severe COVID

A different kind of 27 club - Mass extinctions seem to follow a 27-million-year-cycle

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1601 AEDT | 1801 NZDT

Historical Biology

Mass extinctions of land-dwelling animals—including amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds— seem to follow a cycle of about 27 million years, according to researchers from the US, who found that major asteroid impacts and devastating volcanic Read more about A different kind of 27 club - Mass extinctions seem to follow a 27-million-year-cycle

On a "road to hell" at the current pace of action on climate change, say ex-UN climate leaders

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1300 AEDT | 1500 NZDT

Climate Policy

Four former senior members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat, say that the global response to climate change is completely insufficient and leaves the world on a “road to hell”. In reviewing 30 Read more about On a "road to hell" at the current pace of action on climate change, say ex-UN climate leaders

Changes in breathing rate could signal COVID before symptoms start

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1255 AEDT | 1455 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Changes in peoples breathing rate overnight may help detect COVID-19 before sysmptoms start, say Australian researchers. They developed a model based on respiratory rate that was able to identify 20 per cent of COVID-19 positive individuals prior to Read more about Changes in breathing rate could signal COVID before symptoms start