Can animals use iridescent colours to communicate?

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

Trends in Ecology and Evolution

A new paper from the University of Melbourne reveals how animals use beautiful but unreliable iridescent colours as communication signals. Special adaptations enable animals to control how these shifting colours appear so that they can convey Read more about Can animals use iridescent colours to communicate?

Little impact of COVID-19 pandemic on routine childhood vaccination in Australia

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

A new report “COVID-19: Impact on routine childhood vaccination uptake in Australia” released today by NCIRS found no substantial impact on vaccination uptake at any of the National Immunisation Program schedule points. Read more about Little impact of COVID-19 pandemic on routine childhood vaccination in Australia

World-first skin cancer treatment aims to help transplant patients

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

A new medication which can be applied to the skin could help prevent organ transplant recipients from developing harmful skin cancers. Read more about World-first skin cancer treatment aims to help transplant patients

Gut microbiome link to deadly lung disease

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Nature Communications

Research led by the Centenary Institute, the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Queensland has shown for the first time a link between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an often fatal lung condition, and the gut Read more about Gut microbiome link to deadly lung disease

Alzheimer’s disease drug may help fight against antibiotic resistance

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science Translational Medicine

An experimental Alzheimer's disease treatment is proving effective at treating some of the most persistent, life-threatening antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Researchers from The University of Queensland, The University of Melbourne and Griffith Read more about Alzheimer’s disease drug may help fight against antibiotic resistance

Emotional responses to music - without a sound

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Music prompts strong emotional responses in people – but often it’s not just the sounds that shape what emotion we experience. Many inbuilt expectations and preferences set up our emotional framework for music, even notions that don’t even Read more about Emotional responses to music - without a sound

New hope for tinnitus sufferers

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Australian researchers have developed a new technology to objectively measure tinnitus, according to a study published on November 18th in the journal PLOS ONE. Read more about New hope for tinnitus sufferers

Super-resolution 'street view' microscopy hits the SPOT

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Nature Communications

An advanced technique called SPOT is giving researchers a 'street view' of the vital lipid membranes surrounding organelles. This opens up opportunities to study the sophisticated world of lipid dynamics with the potential for monitoring and Read more about Super-resolution 'street view' microscopy hits the SPOT

EXPERT REACTION: South Australia to begin 6-day "circuit breaker" lockdown

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 1534 AEDT | 1734 NZDT

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has this afternoon announced the state will begin a 6-day lockdown from midnight tonight. Schools, restaurants, sport, weddings and funerals are amongst those to be closed or banned. The measure, described Read more about EXPERT REACTION: South Australia to begin 6-day "circuit breaker" lockdown

Chinese COVID-19 vaccine found to be safe and induce immune response

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 1244 AEDT | 1444 NZDT

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

A COVID-19 vaccine candidate based on an inactivated whole SARS-CoV-2 virus has been found to be safe and induce an antibody response in healthy volunteers, results from a phase I and II trial have shown. The vaccine, known as 'CoronaVac', was Read more about Chinese COVID-19 vaccine found to be safe and induce immune response

Research into Kathleen Folbigg murder case indicates genetic disease at play

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 1226 AEDT | 1426 NZDT

EP Eurospace

A team of international scientists including Australian researchers has found that a rare genetic mutation carried by Kathleen Folbigg and her two infant daughters could have explained the children's deaths. Kathleen Folbigg was convicted in 2003 of Read more about Research into Kathleen Folbigg murder case indicates genetic disease at play

Free telescopes set school kids dancing with the STARS

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

Children in remote and regional schools will soon be visited by astronomers bearing gifts in a quest to kindle interest in the cosmos. Read more about Free telescopes set school kids dancing with the STARS

COVID case numbers may be six times higher than reported

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Australian researchers say the true number of infections in the COVID-19 pandemic could be around six times greater than the reported number of cases. The researchers used the number of reported deaths in 15 developed countries, including Australia, Read more about COVID case numbers may be six times higher than reported

Whale song leads researchers on a journey through the South Pacific

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Scientists have discovered more about humpback whale migration through underwater acoustic monitoring. The songs, recorded around New Zealand, suggest the whales most likely breed in the waters off New Caledonia, and predominantly travel through the Read more about Whale song leads researchers on a journey through the South Pacific

New electronic chip delivers smarter, light-powered AI

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 0830 AEDT | 1030 NZDT

Advanced Materials

Researchers have developed artificial intelligence technology that brings together imaging, processing, machine learning and memory in one electronic chip, powered by light. Read more about New electronic chip delivers smarter, light-powered AI

Can wearable tech predict COVID-19 and reveal how pandemics affect us?

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 0700 AEDT | 0900 NZDT

University of Sydney researchers have joined an international US-led effort to discover if data from wearable tech like smartwatches and activity trackers could provide an early indication of COVID-19, as well as examine how pandemics change our Read more about Can wearable tech predict COVID-19 and reveal how pandemics affect us?

Childhood lead exposure may corrode brains later in life

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA

Lead exposure has been linked to disrupted brain development, and new research shows it may have long-term consequences for structural brain integrity too. Researchers used data from participants in The Dunedin Study, who have been tracked from Read more about Childhood lead exposure may corrode brains later in life

Weka: Pest controller or apex predator?

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

New Zealand Journal of Ecology

There’s a controversial predator in New Zealand forests, and it’s not your tabby - it’s a native flightless bird. Weka are opportunistic omnivores, feeding on invasive predators like rats and mice as well as the eggs and chicks of other native Read more about Weka: Pest controller or apex predator?

NEWS BRIEFING: What is stopping us winning the war on waste? ATSE report

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 0005 AEDT | 0205 NZDT

Australians create around 67 million tonnes of waste each year, that's 2. 7 tonnes for every person. At the moment we only recycle just over half of this waste; the rest ends up in landfill. But if we recycled it all, we could also create an extra Read more about NEWS BRIEFING: What is stopping us winning the war on waste? ATSE report

Love goes on in lockdown, but is less physical for some

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexual activity and dating app use declined among Australian adults during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, although chatting on dating apps increased, University of Melbourne research has found. The national online survey looked at the impact Read more about Love goes on in lockdown, but is less physical for some