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Vending machines help Brits self-test for STIs
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Vending machines are an effective way to get people to test for STIs who might not normally do so, according to a UK research pilot. Eleven machines in the cities of Brighton, Hove and Bristol supplied STI self-test kits to the over 2,000 people Read more about Vending machines help Brits self-test for STIs
InternationalUniversity of Bristol, UK; University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, UK; Brighton and Sussex Medical School, UK; The National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration West, UK -
Schoolboy rugby players have more injuries the older they get
BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
Researchers analysed data from 66 schoolboy teams from 35 secondary schools in England. Boys playing in under 18s had more injuries (and therefore more lost practice and game time) than their peers in under 15s and under 13s. The study, funded by Read more about Schoolboy rugby players have more injuries the older they get
InternationalUniversity of Bath, UK; University of Gloucestershire, UK; Rugby Football Union, UK -
Lab-grown tumours predict treatment outcomes
Cell Reports Medicine
Researchers have grown tumours in the lab to accurately predict what drugs will work for people with bowel cancer – before they begin treatment. Researchers have grown tumours in the lab to accurately predict what drugs will work for people with Read more about Lab-grown tumours predict treatment outcomes
Australia; VICWEHI|The University of Melbourne|Monash University -
How do you find Nemo? Count the stripes on his side
Journal of Experimental Biology
Finding Nemo may be easier than we thought, as Japanese and Taiwanese scientists say clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) identify members of their own species by counting the number of vertical white stripes on their sides. Common clownfish don't like Read more about How do you find Nemo? Count the stripes on his side
InternationalOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan -
Which dogs live the longest?
Scientific Reports
All dogs go to heaven, but which ones live the longest? According to UK researchers, small, long-nosed dogs such as (Whippets and Miniature Daschunds) have the highest life expectancy, while male flat-faced dogs (such as English Bulldogs) have the Read more about Which dogs live the longest?
InternationalDogs Trust, UK; Liverpool John Moores University, UK -
Policy shifts a big concern for Māori health - Editorial
New Zealand Medical Journal
Researchers argue in a NZMJ editorial that the current government’s proposed changes to legislation will unfairly have huge negative impacts on Māori health. They write that the impending shifts that have been signalled so far – including the Read more about Policy shifts a big concern for Māori health - Editorial
New ZealandUniversity of Otago|University of Auckland -
Māori and Pasifika teens more likely to see vape ads online
New Zealand Medical Journal
Young New Zealanders are regularly exposed to online ads that promote vaping as an appealing product, according to a survey of more than 3500 people aged 14-20. Half of the sample said they had seen vape marketing on at least one social media Read more about Māori and Pasifika teens more likely to see vape ads online
New ZealandUniversity of Auckland|Massey University|The University of Queensland... -
Blind spots: impacts for half the world’s mines are undocumented, risking global harm
Nature
Australia has joined other large mining nations such as Russia, China and Brazil at the top of a list of countries with the biggest areas of undocumented or undermeasured mine impacts, according to a satellite image analysis of the world’s mines. Read more about Blind spots: impacts for half the world’s mines are undocumented, risking global harm
Australia; International; VICThe University of Melbourne -
Understanding rapid weight loss in older women: Message from the heart
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
Unexplained rapid weight loss in older people could be a sign of underlying disease and can be linked with increased risk of falls and fractures, as well as a poorer long-term prognosis. Unexplained rapid weight loss in older people could be a sign Read more about Understanding rapid weight loss in older women: Message from the heart
Australia; WAEdith Cowan University -
New genus of ‘alien-faced’ multi-legged forest dwellers discovered
European Journal of Taxonomy
University of the Sunshine Coast researchers have uncovered a new genus and five new species of millipedes in remote African jungles – and say the many-legged creatures could hold important clues to whether woody vines are choking or protecting Read more about New genus of ‘alien-faced’ multi-legged forest dwellers discovered
Australia; International; QLDUniversity of the Sunshine Coast -
Diagnostic tests needed for 2,500 patients exposed to hormone treatment
Leading Alzheimer’s disease researcher Professor Colin Masters of The Florey is warning of a serious public health issue following recent confirmation that patients in the UK contracted Alzheimer’s disease through medical procedures in the 1970s. Read more about Diagnostic tests needed for 2,500 patients exposed to hormone treatment
Australia; VICFlorey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health -
Industrial-era northern England: gloomy enough to give you bone disease
PLoS ONE
It's not always sunny in northern England. Industrial-era dental tissue from 25 individuals showed that males and females experienced similar seasonal shortages of vitamin D at far higher rates than previously thought. Simply put: they weren't Read more about Industrial-era northern England: gloomy enough to give you bone disease
Australia; New Zealand; InternationalUniversity of Otago|The University of Queensland|Durham University, -
EXPERT REACTION: Our mood on Twitter takes up to three weeks to recover from a global shock
PLOS ONE
A wide survey of X (Twitter) posts has suggested that global happiness levels take about two weeks to rebound following a global crisis, or "shock". Two events (the initiation of pandemic lockdowns and the invasion of Ukraine) were studied by Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Our mood on Twitter takes up to three weeks to recover from a global shock
New Zealand; InternationalAUT University|University of Johannesburg -
Not so great, Danes? Many Danish dog owners dose their mutts with unlicensed cannabinoids
PLOS ONE
A survey of around 2,000 Danish dog owners found nearly two in five (38%) give their pooches cannabinoids, particularly cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabis is illegal for veterinary use in Denmark, as well as many other countries, so these pet owners are Read more about Not so great, Danes? Many Danish dog owners dose their mutts with unlicensed cannabinoids
InternationalUniversity of Copenhagen, Denmark -
People with hard-to-treat schizophrenia have different gut bugs, and medication may be to blame
JAMA Psychiatry
People with hard-to-treat, or treatment-resistant, schizophrenia have significantly different gut bugs making up their microbiome compared to people who respond well to treatment and those without the disorder, according to Australian research. Read more about People with hard-to-treat schizophrenia have different gut bugs, and medication may be to blame
Australia; QLDThe University of Queensland -
Futuristic fibres promise new yarns
Nature
New fibres may be able to receive electronic inputs, offering the possibility of programmable clothing. The authors note that this technology, if improved upon, could lead to developments like more flexible heart-monitors and hats that can detect Read more about Futuristic fibres promise new yarns
InternationalNanyang Technological University, Jilin University, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences -
2.5 hours or more of exercise weekly could reduce the risk of falls in older women
JAMA Network Open
For older women, exercising as little as 2. 5 hours a week could reduce the risk of falls and subsequent injury, according to Australian research. The researchers surveyed over 7000 women aged 65-70 years about how much they exercised, and three Read more about 2.5 hours or more of exercise weekly could reduce the risk of falls in older women
Australia; NSWThe University of Sydney|The University of Newcastle -
Vast majority of vaping shops in WA are near schools or in poorer areas
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Vape stores in WA are densely located around schools and in disadvantaged areas, according to Australian research, which found 88% of stores are within 1km of a school. They also found there are seven times as many vape shops in poorer areas, Read more about Vast majority of vaping shops in WA are near schools or in poorer areas
Australia; WAThe University of Notre Dame Australia|The University of Western Australia... -
Floating algae a raft for juvenile pelagic fish
Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
Floating macroalgal acts as a raft that provides habitat for a diverse array of juvenile oceanic fish a new Griffith University-led study has found. Floating macroalgal acts as a raft that provides habitat for a diverse array of juvenile oceanic Read more about Floating algae a raft for juvenile pelagic fish
Australia; QLDGriffith University|James Cook University -
Smaller dog breeds may also have a smaller risk of getting cancer
Royal Society Open Science
Small dog breeds such as Chihuahuas and Pomeranians are likely to have less risk of developing cancer than bigger breeds, according to a US study. The study found that larger breeds tend to have higher cancer risks although the risk drops in the Read more about Smaller dog breeds may also have a smaller risk of getting cancer
InternationalUniversity of California Riverside, USA -
As the climate warms, some reef fish prove more adaptable than others
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Australian and Japanese scientists say many fish species are moving to new environments as the climate changes and some are more adaptable to these new homes than others. They found tropical fish species that change the most to adapt to new Read more about As the climate warms, some reef fish prove more adaptable than others
Australia; NSW; QLD; SAThe University of Adelaide|University of Technology Sydney (UTS)... -
Kimchi three times a day could keep the kilos at bay
BMJ Open
Men who eat kimchi 1-3 times a day could be at a lower risk of obesity, according to research funded by the Korean government-backed World Institute of Kimchi. The team analysed the self-reported diets of over 100,000 middle-aged Koreans and Read more about Kimchi three times a day could keep the kilos at bay
InternationalChung Ang University, South Korea -
Increasing your fitness could improve your odds of avoiding prostate cancer
British Journal of Sports Medicine
Men who improve their fitness could be reducing their risk of getting prostate cancer in the process, according to Swedish research led by a now Australia-based researcher. The team say there is little research on how your fitness over time impacts Read more about Increasing your fitness could improve your odds of avoiding prostate cancer
Australia; InternationalSwedish School of Sport and Health Sciences GIH, Sweden -
Diet rich in fish and veggies for infants may reduce risk of inflammatory bowel disease
Gut
A diet rich in fish and vegetables and low in meat, sweets, and sugary drinks, at the age of one may reduce the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease, according to international researchers. The team analyzed data collected from surveys Read more about Diet rich in fish and veggies for infants may reduce risk of inflammatory bowel disease
InternationalUniversity of Gothenburg, Sweden -
Australia’s quantum prowess kindling global attention
Defence and global technology heavyweights taking an interest in Australian quantum know-how. QUANTUM ENTREPRENEURS and researchers in Australia are attracting growing attention internationally, most recently from the defence sector. Just look at Read more about Australia’s quantum prowess kindling global attention
Australia; NSWThe University of Sydney -
Favourite Australian foods linked to Alzheimer's
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
A study has found a strong link between Alzheimer's disease and the daily consumption of meat-based and processed foods. Researchers at Bond University came to the conclusion after examining the diets of 438 Australians - 108 with Alzheimer's and Read more about Favourite Australian foods linked to Alzheimer's
Australia; QLDBond University|Griffith University -
Black summer bushfires wiped $2.8 billion from tourism supply chain
Economics of Disaster and Climate Change
First input-output economic analysis of 2019-20 fires also found 7300 jobs were lost. The study, by PhD student Vivienne Reiner from the Centre of Integrated Sustainability Analysis, highlights economic vulnerabilities to extremes of climate change. Read more about Black summer bushfires wiped $2.8 billion from tourism supply chain
Australia; NSWThe University of Sydney|The University of Queensland -
What happens when you let a predator loose in a conservation area? These quolls were put to the task
Animal Conservation
Reintroduced western quolls eat a whole range of prey, rather than just hunting the small threatened species to extinction, researchers have shown. In the first reintroduction of western quolls to a fenced conservation reserve, researchers from UNSW Read more about What happens when you let a predator loose in a conservation area? These quolls were put to the task
Australia; NSW; SAThe University of New South Wales -
Australia’s largest ‘living biobank’ to preserve our unique wildlife
Australia’s precious wildlife biodiversity will be preserved and species safeguarded against extinction thanks to a new ‘living biobank’ being developed by the University of Melbourne and Museums Victoria Research Institute. Australia’s Read more about Australia’s largest ‘living biobank’ to preserve our unique wildlife
Australia; VICThe University of Melbourne -
Death toll shows extreme air pollution events a growing urban threat
Heliyon
New Curtin University-led research has estimated that 1454 avoidable deaths (one person every five days) occurred in Australian capital cities in the past 20 years because of fine particle air pollution from extreme events such as bushfires and dust Read more about Death toll shows extreme air pollution events a growing urban threat
Australia; WACurtin University|The University of Sydney|CSIRO|The Australian National University -
Nature’s DNA traps: Spider webs put new spin on wildlife research
iScience
Spiders might be silent heroes in helping us understand and keep track of animals, with new Curtin research revealing their webs act like natural traps for tiny bits of environmental DNA (eDNA) from vertebrates, which could change how we learn about Read more about Nature’s DNA traps: Spider webs put new spin on wildlife research
Australia; WACurtin University -
Why can't insects resist the allure of lights at night?
Nature Communications
Why there's always a cloud of insects buzzing around your outside lights at night has remained a bit of a mystery since the Romans noticed they could use lights to trap insects, but now international scientists have shed some light on the reason. Read more about Why can't insects resist the allure of lights at night?
InternationalImperial College London, UK, Florida International University, USA -
Trial shows promise in addressing unnecessary caesarean sections
Nature Medicine
Unnecessary caesarean sections can cause avoidable harm to mothers and their babies. In a new study published in Nature Medicine, researchers found implementing the WHO Labour Care Guide can help improve women’s care during childbirth and reduce Read more about Trial shows promise in addressing unnecessary caesarean sections
Australia; VICBurnet Institute|Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (IECS-CONICET), India; Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Science Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences, India