Small dino-like sister suggests origin of pterosaurs

Publicly released: Thu 10 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

The closest evolutionary relatives of pterosaurs, the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight, may be a group of small, dinosaur-like animals known as lagerpetids, international research reveals. This finding provides a new framework to study Read more about Small dino-like sister suggests origin of pterosaurs

There may be more human-made stuff in the world than living plants and animals

Publicly released: Thu 10 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

This year may be the year that the mass of human-made items exceeds living biomass like plants and animals. Researchers in Israel estimate that over the last 100 years, the mass of material made by people has doubled every 20 years, while natural Read more about There may be more human-made stuff in the world than living plants and animals

Routine risk scores may not help heart attack patients

Publicly released: Thu 10 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Cardiology

Although international guidelines recommend use of the risk scores to guide treatment of patients suspected of having a heart attack or other acute coronary syndrome, Australian research has found that they had no impact on patient care aside from Read more about Routine risk scores may not help heart attack patients

Space weather discovery puts ‘habitable planets’ at risk

Publicly released: Thu 10 Dec 2020 at 0100 AEDT | 0300 NZDT

The Astrophysical Journal

Stellar flares with a chance of radio bursts: that's the weather from Proxima Centauri. New research led by the University of Sydney suggests exoplanets around red dwarf M-type stars will likely be exposed to coronal mass ejections, making the Read more about Space weather discovery puts ‘habitable planets’ at risk

Burns prevention and treatment an urgent priority for Indigenous children

Publicly released: Thu 10 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Journal of Burns Care Research, Injury Epidemiology

A nine-year analysis of Australian children hospitalised for burns has found Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were admitted three times as frequently as non-Indigenous children and spent five times longer in hospital. Read more about Burns prevention and treatment an urgent priority for Indigenous children

Helping Australia remain a key player in quantum hardware development

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Nature Communications

A joint research venture between the Monash University School of Physics and Astronomy and the University Melbourne School of Physics is investigating the integration of cutting-edge research in quantum computing with commercial activities. Read more about Helping Australia remain a key player in quantum hardware development

Developing rapid genomics strategies to trace coronavirus

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Nature Communications

A team of leading Sydney researchers is pioneering the use of a fast genomic sequencing technology to help determine the source of hard-to-trace coronavirus cases. Read more about Developing rapid genomics strategies to trace coronavirus

Sick Tassie devils may go into iso

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Tasmanian devils with Devil Facial Tumour Disease became increasingly socially isolated as their sickness gets worse, interacting with other devils at a far lower frequency, according to Australian research. The researchers say this suggests Read more about Sick Tassie devils may go into iso

Climate change creates plankton winners and losers

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society Proceedings B

Climate change is predicted to cause significant changes to plankton communities in coastal waters, based on a study near Seattle, USA. Researchers identified 222 planktonic species from DNA in seawater and related their community diversity to Read more about Climate change creates plankton winners and losers

Charles Darwin was right about why insects are losing the ability to fly

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of Royal Society B

Most insects can fly. Yet scores of species have lost that extraordinary ability, particularly on islands. On the small islands that lie halfway between Antarctica and continents like Australia, almost all the insects have done so. Darwin’s Read more about Charles Darwin was right about why insects are losing the ability to fly