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Do not try to make George’s Marvellous Medicine at home
The BMJ
Do not try to make George’s Marvellous Medicine yourselves at home, it could be toxic and potentially dangerous say literature loving researchers from the UK. Two researchers and their five children read Roald Dahl's George’s Marvellous Read more about Do not try to make George’s Marvellous Medicine at home
InternationalUniversity Hospitals of Derby and Burton, University of Nottingham, UK -
Patient death rates higher on surgeons’ birthdays
The BMJ
Elderly patients going under the knife on their surgeon’s birthday appear to have a higher death rate than if they had the surgery on another day. US researchers looked at more than 980,000 common emergency procedures on over-65s. Of the 2,000 Read more about Patient death rates higher on surgeons’ birthdays
InternationalUniversity of California - Los Angeles, USA -
Too many treats? Dogs and owners share diabetes risk
The BMJ
You might have heard of dogs that look like their owners - now Swedish research has shown some owners eat and exercise like their dogs. The study found people who had a dog with diabetes were 38 per cent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes Read more about Too many treats? Dogs and owners share diabetes risk
InternationalUppsala University, Sweden -
Scientists call for robust goal for species in Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
Conservation Letters
Scientists urge that a clear, unambiguous goal for preventing human-induced species extinctions and stabilising populations must be front and centre in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework – currently formulated draft iterations carry a Read more about Scientists call for robust goal for species in Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
Australia; QLDThe University of Queensland -
Sleep, food, or exercise: which has the biggest impact on mental health?
Frontiers in Psychology
University of Otago researchers have identified sleep quality as the biggest predictor of depressive symptoms and wellbeing among young adults, compared to diet and physical activity. The research team surveyed 1100 young adults in New Zealand and Read more about Sleep, food, or exercise: which has the biggest impact on mental health?
New Zealand; InternationalUniversity of Otago -
The vicious cycle of poverty and mental health
Science
People who live in poverty are often disproportionately affected by mental illness, with those on the lowest incomes typically 1. 5 to 3 times more likely than the well-off to experience depression or anxiety. This review looks at ways in which Read more about The vicious cycle of poverty and mental health
InternationalMassachusetts Institute of Technology, USA -
Faecal transplants may help immunotherapy for cancer patients
Science
New early-stage research shows faecal transplants may show some promise in making cancer immunotherapy more effective. This phase 1 clinical trial transplanted the faecal matter of two melanoma patients who had responded well to earlier Read more about Faecal transplants may help immunotherapy for cancer patients
InternationalTel Aviv University, Israel; Sheba Medical Center, Israel -
Tasmanian devils may survive their own pandemic
Science
Amid the global COVID-19 crisis, a study released this week has some good news about a wildlife pandemic, which may help scientists better understand how other emerging diseases evolve. Griffith University researchers were part of an international Read more about Tasmanian devils may survive their own pandemic
Australia; QLD; TASGriffith University -
Detection dogs show promising ability to sniff out COVID-19
PLOS One
Detection dogs could also be able to be trained to smell COVID-19 in infected people, according to early research. French and Lebanese researchers trained six working detection dogs -- who were already pros in other fields like explosives detection Read more about Detection dogs show promising ability to sniff out COVID-19
InternationalUniversite´ Paris Est, Maisons-Alfort, France -
How common are mental heath issues in our incarcerated Indigenous Aussies?
Australian Journal of Social Issues
Aussie and US researchers say that young Indigenous Australians were overrepresented in both the mental health and prison systems from their examination of 23- and 24-year-olds born in Queensland in 1990. The team looked at population data from Read more about How common are mental heath issues in our incarcerated Indigenous Aussies?
Australia; QLDGriffith University|The University of Queensland -
Developing a safe inhalable vaccine system
Med
Researchers have designed a system that allows vaccines and drugs to be inhaled. A 10 amino acid peptide that helps molecules or particles to move from the lungs to the blood was attached to a bacterial virus. When this was given to mice and Read more about Developing a safe inhalable vaccine system
InternationalRutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, USA -
Isolation among the elderly linked to increase risk of falling
Scientific Reports
Loneliness and social isolation may be an important predictor of falls among the elderly, according to new research. A study that analysed the health data of over 13,000 British people over the age of 60 found that people who lived alone had an 18% Read more about Isolation among the elderly linked to increase risk of falling
InternationalUniversity College London, UK -
Seaweed-munching crabs could help save coral reefs
Current Biology
Coral reefs in the Caribbean may be getting a boost from king crabs, which appear to keep excessive seaweed growth under control in the reefs. Experiments on the Florida Keys demonstrated that the king crabs are much better than other species at Read more about Seaweed-munching crabs could help save coral reefs
InternationalFlorida International University, USA -
Human eggs often contains serious errors in their chromosomes
The American Journal of Human Genetics
Around 1 in 15 human eggs have a pair of chromosomes that failed to exchange genetic material properly, which researcher say suggests that right from the get-go a large proportion of human eggs are predestined to be chromosomally abnormal. The Read more about Human eggs often contains serious errors in their chromosomes
InternationalWashington State University, USA -
Tiny bubbles on electrodes key to speeding up chemical processes
Nature Communications
New Curtin University-led research has shown the formation of bubbles on electrodes, usually thought to be a hindrance, can be beneficial, with deliberately added bubbles, or oil droplets, able to accelerate processes such as the removal of Read more about Tiny bubbles on electrodes key to speeding up chemical processes
Australia; WACurtin University -
CSIRO maps Darwin’s ‘hot spots’ and heat-health vulnerability
On the back of Darwin’s record-breaking November heat, scientists from Australia’s national science agency CSIRO have released two reports, one mapping the city’s surface temperatures and one providing strategies to deal with urban heat. Read more about CSIRO maps Darwin’s ‘hot spots’ and heat-health vulnerability
Australia; NTCSIRO -
New resource to help clinicians implement best-practice guideline for the diagnosis of autism
Autism CRC has today launched a National Guideline Implementation Toolkit to help clinicians to upskill and deliver the recommendations of the recently published National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism. The Toolkit makes an Read more about New resource to help clinicians implement best-practice guideline for the diagnosis of autism
AustraliaAutism CRC -
Wastewater flushes out COVID-19 cases weeks before people show symptoms
Environmental Research
An Aussie study has provided further evidence that wastewater (untreated sewage) testing can detect COVID-19 in communities weeks before people display symptoms, suggesting this testing could provide a targeted early detection system as economies Read more about Wastewater flushes out COVID-19 cases weeks before people show symptoms
Australia; QLDCSIRO|The University of Queensland -
Cannabis genomics has potential to transform production of high-quality plant-derived therapeutics
New Phytologist
Cannabis research and genetic improvements are gathering pace thanks to new genomic technologies, combined with less restrictive laws governing cultivation, research and use of the plant, according to a La Trobe University study. Read more about Cannabis genomics has potential to transform production of high-quality plant-derived therapeutics
Australia; VICLa Trobe University -
The AusSMC's Top 10 Science Stories 2020
There's no getting away from the fact that 2020 was an 'annus horribilis' for us all, as COVID-19 infected millions around the world, killing more than a million, and leading to drastic curbs on normal life. The virus hit while Australia was still Read more about The AusSMC's Top 10 Science Stories 2020
AustraliaAustralian Science Media Centre
COVID-19 lockdowns may be making more kids near-sighted
US and Chinese scientists say being stuck indoors during the pandemic may be affecting some kids' eye...
COVID-19 virus can infect brain cells and cause brain damage
Using both mouse and human brain tissue, US researchers found SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect the central ...
Project maps 'astronomical' number of celestial objects
Nearly 700 million astronomical objects have been carefully catalogued and made public as part of a major...
Resources for journalists
Links to expert comments, media briefings and the latest COVID-19 news and research here
