Birdsong finds rhythm between science and art

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 1353 AEDT | 1553 NZDT

Native Western Australian birds are the composers and stars of an engaging new music project at Edith Cowan University. Native Western Australian birds are the composers and stars of an engaging new music project at Edith Cowan University. Western Read more about Birdsong finds rhythm between science and art

Just one drink a day may set your heart a-flutter

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 1105 AEDT | 1305 NZDT

European Heart Journal

European researchers have linked one small alcoholic drink a day with an increase in the risk of atrial fibrillation - an irregular and often rapid heart rate in the upper chambers of the heart that beat out of sync with the bottom half. In the past, Read more about Just one drink a day may set your heart a-flutter

Snakes evolve a magnetic way to be resistant to venom

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Snakes may have evolved a neat way of not being killed by their own toxic venom and it works in much the same way as when the same sides of a magnet repel each other, according to Australian research. Snake neurotoxins have evolved to have lots of Read more about Snakes evolve a magnetic way to be resistant to venom

We may have discovered the reason flies are so darn hard to swat

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

International researchers may have figured out why there are no flies on houseflies when it comes to outsmarting us. Houseflies use specialised hind-wings called halteres to stabilise their bodies during takeoff, allowing them to take off more Read more about We may have discovered the reason flies are so darn hard to swat

Telling a really big lie turns us into copycats

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Dutch and UK researchers say we start to mimic the actions of an interviewer when asked to tell them a huge whopper of a lie. They used motion capture to monitor the behaviour of liar and lie-ee as the fibbers told progressively bigger untruths. We Read more about Telling a really big lie turns us into copycats

Redesigning our cities could help stop diseases spreading

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society A

US and Mexican scientists say city design plays an important role in how infectious diseases spread. They looked at neighbourhood-level census data for Guadalajara, a city in western Mexico, and found that daily patterns of people's movements Read more about Redesigning our cities could help stop diseases spreading

EXPERT REACTION: Scientists call for pause to AstraZeneca vaccine rollout

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 1009 AEDT | 1209 NZDT

The Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology says the federal government should immediately pause the planned rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine because it may not be effective enough to generate herd immunity. Below, Aussie scientists Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Scientists call for pause to AstraZeneca vaccine rollout

More women are temporarily conscious during surgery than we thought, despite general anaesthesia

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 1001 AEDT | 1201 NZDT

Anaesthesia

A UK study of awareness during pregnancy-related surgery under general anaesthesia shows around 1 in 250 women may be temporarily conscious during the surgery, and some may experience long-term psychological harm. Some women temporarily regain Read more about More women are temporarily conscious during surgery than we thought, despite general anaesthesia

Impact of COVID lockdown on aeromedical retrievals

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 0944 AEDT | 1144 NZDT

Internal Medicine Journal

New data released this week by Australian researchers reveals the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown period on aeromedical retrievals in rural and remote regions. New data released this week by Australian researchers reveals the impact of the COVID-19 Read more about Impact of COVID lockdown on aeromedical retrievals

Exploring the reasons why some women use force

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 0854 AEDT | 1054 NZDT

In the context of family relationships, women who use force generally do so because they want power rather than because they have power, according to new research. Women who use force commonly also see themselves as responsible for their actions, Read more about Exploring the reasons why some women use force