Fast decisions of flying insects

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

Australian scientists are homing in on the amazing flying skills of insects. How flying insects are able to respond rapidly and appropriately in fast-changing surroundings is a serious ambition of new Australian Research Council study. Led by Read more about Fast decisions of flying insects

Men more susceptible to COVID-19 than women

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1530 AEDT | 1730 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Men are more likely to test positive for COVID-19, more likely to have complications and more likely to die from the virus than women, independent of age, according to US scientists. They looked at the health records of almost 100,000 US adults and Read more about Men more susceptible to COVID-19 than women

COVID-19 virus can infect brain cells and cause brain damage

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1400 AEDT | 1600 NZDT

Journal of Experimental Medicine

Using both mouse and human brain tissue, US researchers found SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect the central nervous system. The team says the virus was able to infect neurons in human brain organoids - miniature 3D organs grown in the lab from human Read more about COVID-19 virus can infect brain cells and cause brain damage

Flight or fright: what is the future of the emus of east coast Australia?

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1348 AEDT | 1548 NZDT

Scientific Reports

Emu populations are projected to remain stable overall into the future under climate change scenarios, but east of the ranges, populations are likely to be further threatened by increasing urbanisation, and increasing losses from feral predators. Read more about Flight or fright: what is the future of the emus of east coast Australia?

Researchers track a century of sexual abuse in NZ

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1334 AEDT | 1534 NZDT

Social Science and Medicine

Rates of sexual abuse by an intimate partner over one’s lifetime have not changed, according to new estimates by New Zealand researchers. The study authors analysed data from face-to-face interviews with more than 4300 New Zealand women born as Read more about Researchers track a century of sexual abuse in NZ

Salt reformulation programs can substantially improve health, but not Australia’s

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1159 AEDT | 1359 NZDT

BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health

Government targets designed to lower the salt content of packaged foods will make little difference to the health of Australians, according to a new analysis published today. George Institute researchers found that even if the voluntary targets Read more about Salt reformulation programs can substantially improve health, but not Australia’s

What’s app-ening with my lungs?

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Learning about healthy lungs has just become a lot easier for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and health practitioners thanks to an expanded interactive app. The app, produced by the Menzies School of Health Research’s (Menzies) Read more about What’s app-ening with my lungs?

Sea lion diagnosed with tuberculosis triggers public health concerns

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

A wild Australian sea lion has been reported with tuberculosis in South Australia. The type of disease is not the typical presentation of tuberculosis, as this was not found in the animal’s lungs, but in its abdomen. Researchers from the Read more about Sea lion diagnosed with tuberculosis triggers public health concerns

Low carb diets can reverse type 2 diabetes

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

BMJ

Scientists have found that after six months, patients who followed a low carb diet containing less than 26 per cent of daily calories from carbohydrates achieved greater rates of type 2 diabetes remission than those who followed other diets Read more about Low carb diets can reverse type 2 diabetes

Scientists are a step closer to developing ‘smart’ stem cells – and they’re made from human fat

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Science Advances

A new type of stem cell – that is, a cell with regenerative abilities – could be closer on the horizon, a new animal study using human cells shows. These new, adaptive stem cells can lie dormant until needed. A new type of stem cell – that is, Read more about Scientists are a step closer to developing ‘smart’ stem cells – and they’re made from human fat

Plasma from recovered COVID patients works better if it has more antibodies

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

COVID patients who receive blood plasma with higher SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels had a lower risk of death than those who received plasma with lower antibody levels, according to US research. This sort of treatment, known as convalescent plasma, has Read more about Plasma from recovered COVID patients works better if it has more antibodies

Another COVID-19 vaccine shows promise

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

NEJM

Interim results of a phase 1-2a trial of a COVID-19 candidate vaccine, Ad26. COV2. S, suggest it can provoke a neutralising antibody response in 90 per cent of recipients 29 days after administration, reaching 100 per cent after 57 days. And white Read more about Another COVID-19 vaccine shows promise

Early warning sign for heart disease

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Journal of the American Heart Foundation

The build-up of calcium in a major artery outside of the heart could predict future heart attack or stroke, a new Edith Cowan University led study has demonstrated. The research could help doctors identify people at risk of cardiovascular disease Read more about Early warning sign for heart disease

Clinical trial finds vitamin D does not ward off colds and flu

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0759 AEDT | 0959 NZDT

The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology

An Australian randomised controlled trial of vitamin D supplements has found they do not protect most people from developing colds, flus and other acute respiratory infections, but may slightly shorten the length of infection and ease the severity Read more about Clinical trial finds vitamin D does not ward off colds and flu

Earth to reach temperature tipping point in 20-30 years

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science Advances

Earth’s ability to absorb carbon emissions through plants will likely cross a major tipping point within just two decades at the current rate of warming, according to a new study from the University of Waikato and US researchers. The study used Read more about Earth to reach temperature tipping point in 20-30 years

World’s oldest cave art discovered in Indonesia

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science Advances

A team of Griffith University archaeologists has shared in the discovery of what may be the world’s oldest known cave painting, dating back to at least 45,500 years ago. Uncovered in South Sulawesi during field research conducted with Read more about World’s oldest cave art discovered in Indonesia

Mental disorders and chronic physical disease may be linked

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

An international team of researchers looked at the health records of more than two million New Zealanders, finding that having a mental disorder was linked to later developed chronic physical diseases like cancer, diabetes, and gout at younger ages, Read more about Mental disorders and chronic physical disease may be linked

Ancient DNA reveals secrets of Game of Thrones wolves

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Extinct dire wolves split off from other wolves nearly six million years ago and were only a distant relative of today’s wolves, according to new research published in Nature. Dire wolves, made famous in the TV show Game of Thrones, were common Read more about Ancient DNA reveals secrets of Game of Thrones wolves

Spice up your solar panels by adding a touch of chili

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Joule

Scientists in China and Sweden have determined that a pinch of capsaicin, the chemical compound that gives chilli peppers their spicy sting, may be a secret ingredient for more stable and efficient perovskite solar cells. They found that sprinkling Read more about Spice up your solar panels by adding a touch of chili

EXPERT REACTION: World-first study shows increased atmospheric CO2 levels damage young lungs, in mice

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 1601 AEDT | 1801 NZDT

Environmental Health Perspectives

Australian researchers who have conducted the first study looking at the direct health impacts of predicted carbon dioxide levels say the results are worrying and highlight the urgent need for more research into the issue. Conducted in mice, the Read more about EXPERT REACTION: World-first study shows increased atmospheric CO2 levels damage young lungs, in mice