Magic mushroom compound psilocybin could be used to treat depression

Publicly released: Thu 5 Nov 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Psychiatry

A trial of 27 patients with major depressive disorder found that psilocybin - the active compound in magic mushrooms - produced large, rapid, and sustained improvements. The patients underwent two sessions on the drug combined with supportive Read more about Magic mushroom compound psilocybin could be used to treat depression

Source of mysterious radio waves from space pinpointed

Publicly released: Thu 5 Nov 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Three independent studies have found the source of a particular fast radio burst (FRB) - unexplained radio waves that reach us from space and last just a fraction of a second - helping to solve the mystery of what causes the strange phenomenon. The Read more about Source of mysterious radio waves from space pinpointed

Pushing away your poison: New form of brain-training helps prevent relapse after alcohol treatment

Publicly released: Thu 5 Nov 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Psychiatry

A recent study has shown that it may be possible to dampen the workings of the subconscious brain to prevent alcohol relapse, the results leading to a world-first trial of a personalised smartphone app called “SWiPE”. Read more about Pushing away your poison: New form of brain-training helps prevent relapse after alcohol treatment

Decline in reported availability of methamphetamine and heroin during COVID-19 restrictions

Publicly released: Thu 5 Nov 2020 at 0005 AEDT | 0205 NZDT

The Drug Trends program at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW Sydney has released reports on findings from annual surveys with hundreds of people who regularly use drugs in Australia. Read more about Decline in reported availability of methamphetamine and heroin during COVID-19 restrictions

Improvements in eye health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Publicly released: Thu 5 Nov 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

More Indigenous Australians are accessing eye health services than ever before, according to the AIHW Indigenous eye health measures 2020 report. In the last decade or so, the proportion of Indigenous Australians who had an eye health check Read more about Improvements in eye health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Vitamin D supplements help kids with severe eczema

Publicly released: Wed 4 Nov 2020 at 1601 AEDT | 1801 NZDT

Pharmacology Research & Perspectives

An Egyptian clinical trial of vitamin D supplementation to treat severe eczema in 86 children found that the supplements eased symptoms in the kids given the treatment, compared with those who did not receive vitamin D supplements. All the children Read more about Vitamin D supplements help kids with severe eczema

Rates of twice-exceptional children higher than previously thought

Publicly released: Wed 4 Nov 2020 at 1450 AEDT | 1650 NZDT

Australasian Journal for the Education of the Gifted

The prevalence rates of twice-exceptional children in Australian schools are significantly under-reported according to new Griffith University research published in the Australasian Journal for the Education of the Gifted. Twice-exceptional Read more about Rates of twice-exceptional children higher than previously thought

Mangroves act as ocean plastic sinks

Publicly released: Wed 4 Nov 2020 at 1425 AEDT | 1625 NZDT

Science Advances

An international research project has discovered that mangrove sediments are trapping much of the plastic that ends up in the world oceans. Results have revealed a pattern of plastic sedimentation gleaned from core samples collected from the Red Sea Read more about Mangroves act as ocean plastic sinks

Magma ‘conveyor belt’ fuelled world’s longest erupting supervolcanoes

Publicly released: Wed 4 Nov 2020 at 1153 AEDT | 1353 NZDT

Geology

International research led by geologists from Curtin University has found that a volcanic province in the Indian Ocean was the world’s most continuously active — erupting for 30 million years — fuelled by a constantly moving ‘conveyor Read more about Magma ‘conveyor belt’ fuelled world’s longest erupting supervolcanoes

Tea break snacks give us the feels

Publicly released: Wed 4 Nov 2020 at 1128 AEDT | 1328 NZDT

Food Quality and Preference

What you eat at tea break - and where you eat it - can conjure up different emotions, according to new Kiwi research. Scientists compared the emotional effects of eating a chocolate biscuit versus a caramel slice in different contexts: a real-world Read more about Tea break snacks give us the feels