-
Exercise for low back pain beneficial but no one agrees on why
Musculoskeletal Science and Practice
A new UNSW evidence review has found there is still no consensus between researchers about why exercise works for low back pain patients – despite decades of studies on the topic. Exercise is scientifically proven to provide relief from chronic Read more about Exercise for low back pain beneficial but no one agrees on why
Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales|Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) -
Polariton interactions: light matters
Physical Review Research
Why do 2D exciton-polaritons interact? This intriguing quasiparticle, which is part light (photon), and part matter (exciton), doesn’t behave as predicted: continuing to interact with other particles when confined to two dimensions in extremely Read more about Polariton interactions: light matters
Australia; VICARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies (FLEET)... -
COVID‑19 vaccines – are we there yet?
Australian Prescriber
Australian and New Zealand experts summarise the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Australia. As of mid-December 2020, more than 200 COVID‑19 vaccine candidates are in development and 11 have entered phase III clinical trials globally. All generate Read more about COVID‑19 vaccines – are we there yet?
Australia; New Zealand; NSW; VIC; TASThe University of Sydney|RMIT University|Monash University... -
Alcohol industry submissions to Australian policy consultations distort scientific evidence
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
Almost all alcohol industry submissions to policy consultations in Australia over a five year period presented a distorted view of the scientific evidence, according to a new study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. The study Read more about Alcohol industry submissions to Australian policy consultations distort scientific evidence
Australia; WANational Drug Research Institute (NDRI) -
Coral can acquire their algae partners from giant clam poo
PLOS ONE
Japanese scientists say algae expelled in giant clams' poo are capable of colonising corals. They dropped clam poo on corals (Acropora tenuis) in the lab, and found the algae from the poo had partnered with the corals within three days. They then Read more about Coral can acquire their algae partners from giant clam poo
InternationalHiroshima University, Japan -
Dogs less stressed when trained with TLC - treats, love and care
PLoS ONE
Research shows that training dogs using punishments stresses them out. A study of 92 dogs undergoing training in Portugal found that those trained exclusively or mostly using positive reinforcements were less stressed. They showed fewer Read more about Dogs less stressed when trained with TLC - treats, love and care
InternationalUniversidade do Porto, Portugal -
Truth can be obscured by bodycam footage
PLOS ONE
Reviewing police body-worn (‘bodycam’) videos can both enhance and detract from an individual’s recollections of crimes, according to new Australian research. In most instances, this practice enhanced the completeness and accuracy of a Read more about Truth can be obscured by bodycam footage
Australia; NSWThe University of Sydney -
Secret of Australia’s volcanoes revealed
Science Advances
Why has the east coast had hundreds of volcanoes since the dinosaur age? Previous explanations have only told part of the story but new research from the University of Sydney proposes a theory to explain not only Australia's volcanic coast, but Read more about Secret of Australia’s volcanoes revealed
Australia; New Zealand; NSW; VICThe University of Sydney|GNS Science|Monash University -
Around 1 in 8 top nutrition research papers has ties to industry
PLOS ONE
An Aussie-led analysis of studies published by top nutrition journals in 2018 shows that 13. 4 per cent disclosed involvement from the food industry, and studies with industry involvement were more likely to report results favourable to industry Read more about Around 1 in 8 top nutrition research papers has ties to industry
Australia; VICDeakin University -
Taking virus selfies with your phone
Science Advances
US researchers have developed a system for quickly identifying viruses using nanoparticles, artificial intelligence and a smartphone. The test sensitivity came out at nearly 99 per cent when used on clinical samples containing low levels of Read more about Taking virus selfies with your phone
InternationalHarvard Medical School, USA -
Smile and 70 per cent of the world smiles with you
Nature
Charles Darwin claimed that human facial expressions are a universal language. That’s just been tested by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley. They used a form of artificial intelligence to assess six million YouTube videos from Read more about Smile and 70 per cent of the world smiles with you
InternationalUniversity of California, Berkeley, USA; Google Research, USA -
Scientists coax mouse stem cells into becoming an egg, almost
Nature
Japanese and UK scientists have almost made an egg out of mouse stem cells - the cells that can go on to become any type of cell. They used a combination of eight proteins called transcription factors to nudge mouse stem cells into becoming similar Read more about Scientists coax mouse stem cells into becoming an egg, almost
InternationalKyushu University, Japan -
How COVID-19 changed the way Australians used health services in 2019-20
Fewer Australians presented to hospital emergency departments with injuries and less elective surgery was performed, but more people filled prescriptions and had telehealth medical consultations after COVID-19 restrictions were first implemented in Read more about How COVID-19 changed the way Australians used health services in 2019-20
AustraliaAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) -
Sights set on curbing gun crime
Criminology & Criminal Justice
A community or sub-culture encouraging young men’s exposure and obsession with guns – as well as ready access to firearms and drugs – can make gun violence ‘all too easy’, with Flinders University experts promoting a new direction on Read more about Sights set on curbing gun crime
Australia; SAFlinders University -
Hares out of place
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Seasonal camouflage is important in many alpine animals, but climate change threatens that strategy. A study in the Scottish Highlands looked at data on hare moulting and snow cover over the last 65 years. Between the 1950s and 2016 the duration of Read more about Hares out of place
InternationalUniversity of Michigan, USA -
Birdsong for happiness
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Hearing birdsong when out walking appears to improve feelings of well-being. Californian researchers assessed people’s well-being after they had walked one of two nature trails. Some were unknowingly played additional bird calls along the trail, Read more about Birdsong for happiness
InternationalCalifornia Polytechnic State University, USA -
Small male crickets amp up the volume with leaves
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Male crickets use sound to attract mates, with big males usually being louder and more successful. However, scientists in India have found that in one variety of tree cricket, small males make holes in leaves and use them to amplify their sound. Read more about Small male crickets amp up the volume with leaves
InternationalIndian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India -
What’s up Skip? Kangaroos really can ‘talk’ to us
Biology Letters
New study shows kangaroos stare at humans to ‘ask’ for help. Animals that have never been domesticated, such as kangaroos, can intentionally communicate with humans, challenging the notion that this behaviour is usually restricted to Read more about What’s up Skip? Kangaroos really can ‘talk’ to us
Australia; VICThe University of Sydney|University of Roehampton -
Are we a vaccine hog? Nearly 1/4 of the world may miss out on COVID-19 vaccines until 2022
The BMJ
Nearly a quarter of the world’s population may not have access to a COVID-19 vaccine until at least 2022, warns an international study. The research highlights that Japan, Australia, and Canada have collectively reserved more than 1 billion Read more about Are we a vaccine hog? Nearly 1/4 of the world may miss out on COVID-19 vaccines until 2022
Australia; InternationalJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA, Fudan University, China -
Testosterone can help prevent type 2 diabetes in men
Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology
The largest investigation of testosterone treatment ever undertaken has shown that, over and above the effect of a lifestyle program, treatment with testosterone prevents or reverses newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in men. The study, known as T4DM Read more about Testosterone can help prevent type 2 diabetes in men
AustraliaThe University of Adelaide
EXPERT Q&A: Answering your questions about COVID-19 variants
With reports of new COVID-19 strains emerging in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil, an Australian expert a...
Mantis males must wrestle if they don't want to lose their heads
The praying mantis has a reputation for cannibalism because females often eat males before they get a cha...
Bee gone? A quarter of bee species haven’t been seen in 30 years
While reports and records of animal species have increased dramatically over the last few decades, the nu...
Resources for journalists
Links to expert comments, media briefings and the latest COVID-19 news and research here
