Isolation makes us literally hungry for company

Publicly released: Tue 24 Nov 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Neuroscience

Social isolation can evoke a craving response in the human brain, US research finds. Scientists restricted the in-person and online social interactions of 40 people for ten hours and measured their brain response. Showing the participants pictures Read more about Isolation makes us literally hungry for company

Candy with a chance of meatballs: Movie food and drinks fail the health test

Publicly released: Tue 24 Nov 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Internal Medicine

Popular US movies depict an unhealthy diet, with the majority showing unhealthy foods and drinks, according to US research. The study looked at the 250 top-grossing US films between 1994 and 2018 and found that 73 per cent would be unhealthy enough Read more about Candy with a chance of meatballs: Movie food and drinks fail the health test

Study reveals true origin of oldest evidence of animals

Publicly released: Tue 24 Nov 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Ecology & Evolution

Two teams of scientists have resolved a longstanding controversy surrounding the origins of complex life on Earth. The joint studies found molecular fossils extracted from 635-million-year-old rocks aren’t the earliest evidence of animals, but Read more about Study reveals true origin of oldest evidence of animals

Using cutting edge technology to bioprint mini-kidneys

Publicly released: Tue 24 Nov 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Materials

Researchers have used cutting edge technology to bioprint miniature human kidneys in the lab, paving the way for new treatments for kidney failure and possibly lab-grown transplants. Similar to the process used to 3D print materials like metal and Read more about Using cutting edge technology to bioprint mini-kidneys

Greenhouse gas is still at record levels despite COVID-19 lockdowns, according to WMO

Publicly released: Mon 23 Nov 2020 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin

The WMO says COVID-19 has not curbed record levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, despite the industrial slowdown as a result of the pandemic. The WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin reports that the reduction in CO2 emissions in 2020 will be Read more about Greenhouse gas is still at record levels despite COVID-19 lockdowns, according to WMO

Machine learning predicts onset of dementia

Publicly released: Mon 23 Nov 2020 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Nature Scientific Reports

Researchers from the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) and the School of Computer Science and Engineering at UNSW Sydney have undertaken the largest comparison of survival analysis methods to date, to predict the onset of dementia using Read more about Machine learning predicts onset of dementia

NT croc resurgence under investigation

Publicly released: Mon 23 Nov 2020 at 1700 AEDT | 1900 NZDT

A team of researchers from Charles Darwin University will investigate the impact of the recovery of the northern Australian estuarine crocodile population on river ecosystems. The project in collaboration with Griffith University, the Australian Read more about NT croc resurgence under investigation

No meat may make vegan bones brittle

Publicly released: Mon 23 Nov 2020 at 1201 AEDT | 1401 NZDT

BMC Medicine

A lack of meat in their diet may be making vegans, vegetarians and pescatarians more susceptible to bone breaks, say UK scientists. The team say when compared with people who ate meat, vegans with lower calcium and protein intakes on average had a Read more about No meat may make vegan bones brittle

New tool to combat terrorism

Publicly released: Mon 23 Nov 2020 at 1156 AEDT | 1356 NZDT

Forensic Science International: Genetics

Forensic science experts at Flinders University are refining an innovative counter-terrorism technique that checks for environmental DNA in the dust on clothing, baggage, shoes or even a passport. The research, led by postdoctoral research associate Read more about New tool to combat terrorism

Unlocking cheaper, sustainable chemicals

Publicly released: Mon 23 Nov 2020 at 1104 AEDT | 1304 NZDT

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Article

A new technique to make cheaper more efficient biological enzyme hybrids could have valuable applications in future water recycling, targeted drug manufacturing and other industries, Flinders University green chemistry researchers say in a new Read more about Unlocking cheaper, sustainable chemicals