DNA impacts revealed as ‘Gloomy Octopus’ expands range to Tasmania

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jun 2018 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

Scientific Reports

In a further sign of the impact of warming oceans on Tasmanian ecosystems, a species of octopus previously confined to eastern Australian waters is extending its range south, riding a new wave of warm water as ocean currents change. A new study Read more about DNA impacts revealed as ‘Gloomy Octopus’ expands range to Tasmania - Scimex

Calls of nature: ecoacoustic monitoring

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jun 2018 at 0840 AEST | 1040 NZST

Ecoacoustics Congress

Birds return to 15-year-old regrowth acacia forests in almost the same numbers of species as old growth forests, a QUT ecoacoustic research study has found. Media Release. From:Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The findings will be Read more about Calls of nature: ecoacoustic monitoring - Scimex

Penicillin allergies linked to greater risk of superbug infections

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jun 2018 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The BMJ

Having 'allergic to penicillin' listed in your patient notes might put you at higher risk of developing a superbug infection, according to US researchers. Following over 60, 000 patients with documented penicillin allergies for six years, the Read more about Penicillin allergies linked to greater risk of superbug infections - Scimex

Senate Committee recommends laws change so Australian babies don’t suffer mitochondrial disease

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jun 2018 at 0700 AEST | 0900 NZST

Australian women at risk of having babies suffering severe mitochondrial disease may soon be able to have healthy children, following the Senate Community Affairs References Committee recommendation (27 June) to move towards legalising mitochondrial Read more about Senate Committee recommends laws change so Australian babies don’t suffer mitochondrial disease - Scimex

New treatment to reverse drug resistance in some cancers

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jun 2018 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Science translational medicine

University of Queensland researchers have discovered how to reverse drug resistance in skin and mouth squamous cell carcinomas. UQ Diamantina Institute Associate Professor Nicholas Saunders said squamous cell carcinomas was curable when diagnosed Read more about New treatment to reverse drug resistance in some cancers - Scimex

First malaria-human contact mapped with Nobel Prize-winning technology

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jun 2018 at 0301 AEST | 0501 NZST

Nature

Melbourne scientists have taken a significant step toward developing a new vaccine for malaria, revealing for the first time an ‘atomic-scale’blueprint of how the parasite invades human cells. Using the Nobel Prize-winning technology cryo-EM Read more about First malaria-human contact mapped with Nobel Prize-winning technology - Scimex

Cigar-shaped object just a comet

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jun 2018 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

The cigar-shaped object that hurtled through the Solar System last year - ‘Oumuamua - was just a comet, according to new analysis of the path it travelled. When it was first spotted in October 2017, ‘Oumuamua had people excited that it was a new Read more about Cigar-shaped object just a comet - Scimex

New research finds Mars is a crusty old neighbour

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jun 2018 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

Using meteorites from Mars, international and Australian researchers have figured out that the planet formed a crispy outer layer while keeping its gooey centre no later than 4, 547 million years ago. They add that the key processes in making a Read more about New research finds Mars is a crusty old neighbour - Scimex

Drought sets the stage for tree death from pests and diseases

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jun 2018 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

A new review paper published in Nature outlines the current knowledge on the causes of tree death from drought and dehydration using specialised non-invasive methods, a timely issue as Australia’ s drought worsens. Funder: Australian Research Read more about Drought sets the stage for tree death from pests and diseases - Scimex

Newly discovered Xenomorph wasp has Alien-like lifecycle

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jun 2018 at 1500 AEST | 1700 NZST

Journal of Hymenoptera Research

A University of Adelaide PhD student has discovered a new species of wasp, named Xenomorph because of its gruesome parasitic lifecycle that echoes the predatory behaviour of the Alien movie franchise monster. Media Release. From:The University of Read more about Newly discovered Xenomorph wasp has Alien-like lifecycle - Scimex

Historical global fishing patterns mapped

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jun 2018 at 1300 AEST | 1500 NZST

Marine Policy

IMAS researchers have mapped, for the first time, the scale and patterns of change in global marine fishing over the last century and a half. Professor Reg Watson led the global study, which used historical data dating back to 1869 and new satellite Read more about Historical global fishing patterns mapped - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Senate pushes for plastic ban in five years

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jun 2018 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

A Senate inquiry into Australia’ s recycling crisis has recommended that all single-use plastics – which could potentially include takeaway containers, chip packets and coffee cups with plastic linings – be banned by 2023. Expert Reaction. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Senate pushes for plastic ban in five years - Scimex

Sex and the city bees

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jun 2018 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Royal Society Proceedings B

City bees could be having more bubs, according to UK researchers. The authors grew colonies from wild-caught bees and placed them cities, villages, or farmland, and found the city slickers and village-folk had more offspring, longer-living colonies Read more about Sex and the city bees - Scimex

Cancer growth mimics placenta development

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jun 2018 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Biology

The development of solid cancer resembles placenta development, Italian researchers have found. This includes the formation of new vessels, the ability to invade surrounding tissues and to evade the immune responses. If these processes share common Read more about Cancer growth mimics placenta development - Scimex

Recasting history of prehistoric fish-eating croc

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jun 2018 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

The fearsome Thoracosaurus, a dinosaur-era reptile from North America with jaws like giant pincers, bears an uncanny resemblance to a modern fish-eating croc called a gharial. However, new research led by Flinders University shows that these Read more about Recasting history of prehistoric fish-eating croc - Scimex

Using light for next generation data storage

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jun 2018 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Optics Express

Tiny, nano-sized crystals of salt encoded with data using light from a laser could be the next data storage technology of choice, following research by Australian scientists. Media Release. From:University of South Australia. Tiny, nano-sized Read more about Using light for next generation data storage - Scimex

Placenta slows growth while injured limbs catch up

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jun 2018 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS Biology

If an animal's limb is injured during foetal development, the placenta regulates growth so both limbs stay symmetrical, a US study has found. The researchers found mice can stimulate local growth while suppressing overall growth, thereby allowing Read more about Placenta slows growth while injured limbs catch up - Scimex

Counting penguin chicks is a happy feat

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jun 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Scientific Data

Almost 74, 000 photos of penguin colonies from across the Antarctic Peninsula and surrounds have been analysed by a large team of volunteers as part of an Australian and international study. The researchers set up 15 cameras to take hourly photos Read more about Counting penguin chicks is a happy feat - Scimex

World record set in quantum computing simulation – equivalent to a billion laptops

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jun 2018 at 1330 AEST | 1530 NZST

University of Melbourne scientists have set a world record in simulating quantum power on a classical computer, demonstrating more quantum data crunching than any of the existing quantum computer prototypes. Media Release. From:The University of Read more about World record set in quantum computing simulation – equivalent to a billion laptops - Scimex

Deadly worm disease infecting Australians needs to be on national list before it's untreatable

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jun 2018 at 1300 AEST | 1500 NZST

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease

A life threatening parasitic worm could be quietly infecting up to 60 percent of vulnerable Australians in remote northern communities but the true extent of its spread remains unknown because basic testing isn’t widespread and the worm isn’t Read more about Deadly worm disease infecting Australians needs to be on national list before it's untreatable - Scimex