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Largest marine reptile may have been twice the length of a bus
PLOS ONE
International scientists have unearthed what may be the largest marine reptile ever to be described, Ichthyotitan severnensis, at an estimated 25 metres long. The team found and pieced together fragments of an ichthyosaur jawbone found in the UK, Read more about Largest marine reptile may have been twice the length of a bus
InternationalThe University of Manchester, UK -
Is medicinal cannabis in Australia 'the wild west of medicine'?
Drug & Alcohol Review
Australian experts interviewed 17 Aussie doctors about prescribing medicinal cannabis, and identified four factors that hinder the prescription of cannabis-based treatments. Barriers included: developing the clinical capabilities needed to prescribe, Read more about Is medicinal cannabis in Australia 'the wild west of medicine'?
Australia; VIC; QLDMonash University -
Sharing needles common among injecting drug users, even those treated for hep C
Drug & Alcohol Review
Australian experts say needle and syringe sharing is common among injecting drug users who attend drug treatment clinics and needle and syringe programs. They surveyed 1,555 Aussies who had injected drugs in the past month, and found 432 (28%) had Read more about Sharing needles common among injecting drug users, even those treated for hep C
Australia; NSWKirby Institute, UNSW Sydney|National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)... -
Most people experiencing homelessness have mental health disorders
JAMA Psychiatry
In a meta-analysis and systematic review, Canadian researchers say that most of the people experiencing homelessness have mental health disorders, with higher prevalences than those observed in the general community. The researchers say that not Read more about Most people experiencing homelessness have mental health disorders
InternationalUniversity of Calgary, Canada -
Genetic engineering could weed out the bad things in crops
Trends in Plant Science
Danish researchers say bioengineering crops to be colourful and have differently shaped leaves could make it easier to distinguish them from weeds, making them easier to cultivate. In an opinion piece, they say introducing pigments that are already Read more about Genetic engineering could weed out the bad things in crops
InternationalUniversity of Copenhagen, Denmark -
EXPERT REACTION: Climate change is set to drop the world's income by 19% and Australia will feel the pinch
Nature
Climate change is projected to reduce the income of the global economy by 19% by 2049, according to international scientists and Australia will be among the countries feeling the pinch. These economic damages are six times the costs of limiting Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Climate change is set to drop the world's income by 19% and Australia will feel the pinch
Australia; InternationalPotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany -
Warming tundra's impact on carbon emissions revealed
Nature
A study published today in Nature shows the intricate relationship between climate change and carbon release in Arctic and alpine tundra ecosystems. The study, which analysed 136 datasets across 28 tundra sites, including the Silver Plains Reserve Read more about Warming tundra's impact on carbon emissions revealed
Australia; International; TASUniversity of Tasmania -
Genetic drivers of autism could be stronger for men
JAMA Psychiatry
The degree to which genetics influence autism could be different for males and females, according to international researchers. The team analysed data from a study including over one million Swedish children, of which 12,226 received a diagnosis of Read more about Genetic drivers of autism could be stronger for men
InternationalKarolinska Institutet, Sweden -
Laser and light hair removal effectively treats excess hair growth from polycystic ovary syndrome
JAMA Dermatology
Laser and light-based therapies are effective in reducing the severity of excess hair growth in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to an Australian analysis of research. The team pooled together the results of six studies and Read more about Laser and light hair removal effectively treats excess hair growth from polycystic ovary syndrome
Australia; VICMonash University -
Instinct for 'fight or flight' may be much older than we thought
Nature
Our instinctive 'fight or flight' response to danger was thought to have evolved along with the sympathetic nervous system in backboned animals with a jaw, but US and Czech scientists say its origins may be much older than that. The sympathetic Read more about Instinct for 'fight or flight' may be much older than we thought
InternationalCalifornia Institute of Technology, USA, Goethe-Universität, Germany -
Injuries landing many Aussie kids and teens in hospital
This media release contains information some readers may find distressing as it refers to data about self-harm. If you or anyone you know needs help, support is available now. Call Lifeline (Aus) on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or Read more about Injuries landing many Aussie kids and teens in hospital
AustraliaAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) -
Breaking the chains: dismantling the illegal parrot trade
DNA databases are often used by police to place criminals at the scene of a crime, but scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) in collaboration with King’s Forensics in the UK are using cutting edge, low-cost genomic sequencing Read more about Breaking the chains: dismantling the illegal parrot trade
Australia; Pacific; International; ACTThe Australian National University -
EXPERT REACTION: Worst summer on record for the Great Barrier Reef
The Reef Snapshot: Summer 2023-24 has been released today, and it highlights some of the effects of the climate driven impacts across the Great Barrier Reef. The report notes widespread coral bleaching, two cyclones and several severe flood events. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Worst summer on record for the Great Barrier Reef
Australia; NSW; QLD; WA; TAS; ACTAustralian Science Media Centre|Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)... -
Increased monitoring capacity of deadly prion diseases
A state-of-the-art service based at The Florey is increasing its capacity to protect the public from the fatal brain condition Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). The rare neurodegenerative illness, caused by misfolded proteins called prions in the Read more about Increased monitoring capacity of deadly prion diseases
Australia; VICFlorey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health -
Climate change is wiping out rare bacteria in a 'greening' Antarctica
Conservation Biology
A warming climate in Antarctica is leading to a shift in the balance of the ecosystem’s microbes which in turn could accelerate the warming climate. Plenty is known about the existential threat of climate change to plants and animals. But by Read more about Climate change is wiping out rare bacteria in a 'greening' Antarctica
Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales -
Could motherhood and a TED-talk help bring our increasingly divided world together?
Royal Society Open Science
Humans seem more divided than ever, but international scientists say we could help bring people together by focusing on common life events such as motherhood, and recognising common ancestry. The researchers found that US mothers were more "fused" Read more about Could motherhood and a TED-talk help bring our increasingly divided world together?
InternationalUniversity of Oxford, UK -
No evidence that Tassie devil facial cancer threat has eased, scientists argue
Royal Society Open Science
In 2020, an international study was published that claimed devil facial tumour 1 (DFT1) - a transmissible cancer that has proved devastating for the charismatic critters - had shifted from being an emerging condition to an endemic disease, reducing Read more about No evidence that Tassie devil facial cancer threat has eased, scientists argue
Australia; International; TASUniversity of Cambridge, UK -
Artificial light and warmer water could increase the pressure on our kelp forests from hungry sea urchins
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Artificial light at night and ocean warming could increase the grazing of sea urchins on kelp forests, putting pressure on these important marine habitats, say Australian researchers. Kelp forests are important habitats that provide food and shelter Read more about Artificial light and warmer water could increase the pressure on our kelp forests from hungry sea urchins
Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales|The University of Sydney -
Fairy-wrens are more likely to help a mate in the harsh of winter
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Superb fairy-wrens are more cooperative during winter and are more likely to respond to calls of distress from other birds when the weather is at its harshest, according to Australian research. Superb fairy-wrens are social songbirds who live in Read more about Fairy-wrens are more likely to help a mate in the harsh of winter
Australia; VIC; ACTMonash University|The Australian National University... -
Teen internet addicts who don't sleep or exercise enough more likely to miss school
Archives of Disease in Childhood
Teens who compulsively spend too much time online and don't get enough sleep or exercise are more likely to skip school or miss classes because of illness, with girls affected by internet 'addiction' more than boys, say Finnish researchers. They Read more about Teen internet addicts who don't sleep or exercise enough more likely to miss school
InternationalWestern Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, Finland, Åbo Akademi University, Finland