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Babbling back at bubs may boost their vocab
PLOS ONE
US scientists say imitating the babbling sounds babies make, while incorporating real words, may help boost their vocabularies. The team recorded whole days of 'conversation' between 53 13-month-old babies and their carers and asked the carers to Read more about Babbling back at bubs may boost their vocab
InternationalUniversity of California, USA -
Female founding CEOs in male-dominated industries fare worse with investors
Science Advances
When men launch businesses in male-dominated industries, they raise more than ten times the average (NZD30 million) of what’s raised by women-led businesses, according to new research. An international research team looked at the data of hundreds Read more about Female founding CEOs in male-dominated industries fare worse with investors
Australia; International; QLDThe University of Queensland|London Business School, UK -
Invasive wasps nesting in aircraft instruments in Brisbane could lead to disaster
PLOS ONE
Please note this embargo has changed from 6AM AEDT Thursday 26 November to 6AM AEDT Tuesday 1 December 2020. Invasive keyhole wasps (Pachodynerus nasidens) in Brisbane like to nest in aircraft pitot probes - vital instruments that measure airspeed Read more about Invasive wasps nesting in aircraft instruments in Brisbane could lead to disaster
Australia; QLDEco Logical Australia, Brisbane Airport Corporation, Ecosure Pty Ltd -
Landmark study to improve global wheat production
Nature
In a landmark study, an international team of scientists, including researchers from The University of Western Australia, have sequenced and analysed the genomes of 15 wheat varieties that represent breeding programs from around the world. The Read more about Landmark study to improve global wheat production
Australia; WAARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology|The University of Western Australia -
Unexpected discovery about stem cell immortality
Nature
A new paper out in Nature will upend 20 years of thinking on how stem cells protect their DNA. Telomeres are the protective caps at chromosome ends. In adult cells, telomeres shorten each time a cell divides and this contributes to ageing and cancer. Read more about Unexpected discovery about stem cell immortality
Australia; NSWChildren's Medical Research Institute (CMRI)|The University of Sydney -
New wheat and barley genomes will help feed the world
Nature
An international research collaboration, including scientists from the University of Adelaide’s Waite Research Institute, has unlocked new genetic variation in wheat and barley – a major boost for the global effort in breeding higher-yielding Read more about New wheat and barley genomes will help feed the world
Australia; SAThe University of Adelaide -
New insights into what makes massive stars shine
Nature
Scientists have gained new evidence into the way the Sun (and other more massive stars) produce energy. Stars are fuelled by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium, but there’s another fusion process, involving carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, Read more about New insights into what makes massive stars shine
InternationalThe Borexino Collaboration, Italy -
COVID toes may point to an overactive immune response
JAMA Dermatology
People coming to a clinic with a chilblain-like condition during the COVID-19 pandemic, often called 'COVID toes', have characteristics which indicate an overactive immune response called a type I interferonopathy, according to French research. Read more about COVID toes may point to an overactive immune response
InternationalCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, France -
Reach for the stars, but don't get burned - how spaceflight affects astronaut health
Cell
As humanity continues to reach for the stars, we are discovering how space travel may affect our health. Loss of bone and muscle mass, immune dysfunction, as well as heart and liver problems have all been identified as existing issues resulting from Read more about Reach for the stars, but don't get burned - how spaceflight affects astronaut health
InternationalNASA, USA -
Tackling disadvantaged children's education post-COVID
COVID-19 has exposed fault lines in the education system for already disadvantaged students who are more likely to be severely impacted by the pandemic. Read more about Tackling disadvantaged children's education post-COVID
Australia; QLDThe University of Queensland -
Fiji's vaccine program reduces childhood death and illness
The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific
Fiji’s national vaccine program against pneumonia, a serious lung condition, and rotavirus, a common disease which causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, has reduced illness and death, new research shows. Read more about Fiji's vaccine program reduces childhood death and illness
Australia; International; VICThe University of Melbourne -
1 in 4 drowning deaths off Aussie beaches are in young men
Injury Prevention
Young men make up a quarter of drowning deaths off Aussie beaches, and researchers say the data suggests they may be overestimating their swimming ability or engaging in risky behaviour like jumping into the water without precaution. The study Read more about 1 in 4 drowning deaths off Aussie beaches are in young men
Australia; NSWSurf Life Saving Australia -
Survival protein may prevent collateral damage during cancer therapy
EMBO Journal
WEHI researchers have identified a protein that could protect the kidneys from ‘bystander’ damage caused by cancer therapies. The ‘cell survival protein’, called BCL-XL, was required in laboratory models to keep kidney cells alive and Read more about Survival protein may prevent collateral damage during cancer therapy
Australia; VICWEHI -
New therapy to target the spread of bowel cancer
Gastroenterology
For the first time, SAHMRI and University of Adelaide researchers are investigating gene therapy as an option to help people with metastatic bowel cancer. Read more about New therapy to target the spread of bowel cancer
Australia; SASouth Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)... -
New plant-based gel to fast-track 'mini-organs' growth, improve cancer treatment
Advanced Science
Monash University researchers have created the world’s first bioactive plant-based nanocellulose hydrogel to support organoid growth for biomedical applications. This includes cancer development and treatment, and for COVID-19. Read more about New plant-based gel to fast-track 'mini-organs' growth, improve cancer treatment
Australia; VICMonash University -
Little megalodons were raised in nurseries
Biology Letters
Spanish and UK scientists say megalodons (Otodus megalodon), the enormous, extinct relatives of modern sharks, may have raised their young in nurseries. They examined nine areas where megalodon remains have been found, and say five may have been Read more about Little megalodons were raised in nurseries
InternationalUniversitat de València, Spain -
Westland petrels fly to the beat of their own drum
Royal Society Open Science
Unlike its close seabird relatives, the Westland petrel breeds in the winter, takes a co-ed approach to foraging, and doesn’t have to go far to eat. Researchers used tracking data to study almost 30 adult Westland petrels, which live on the west Read more about Westland petrels fly to the beat of their own drum
Australia; New ZealandDeakin University|Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa -
Young hihi cave to peer pressure
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
When it’s time for a young animal to be more independent, does it keep the skills it learned from its parents or does it follow what its peers are doing? Researchers studied New Zealand’s own hihi for clues into this question, keeping an eye on Read more about Young hihi cave to peer pressure
New Zealand; InternationalUniversity of Cambridge, UK, Hihi Conservation Charitable Trust, Rotorua, New Zealand -
Malaria-spreading mosquito bites come later
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
The first mosquito bites are less likely to be the ones that spread malaria, according to new research. Using birds in a lab experiment, researchers found that the amount of parasites within the mosquito tripled between the mosquito’s first and Read more about Malaria-spreading mosquito bites come later
InternationalUniversity of Lausanne, Switzerland -
Identifying a zapped bug from its smell
Open Biology
For some, summer comes with the familiar smell of an insect when it hits a ‘zapper', but researchers say that unique odour could hold insights to help identify the bug. Researchers analysed the molecules of the burnt smell that came from different Read more about Identifying a zapped bug from its smell
InternationalUniversity of Liverpool, UK
EXPERT Q&A: Answering your questions about COVID-19 variants
With reports of new COVID-19 strains emerging in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil, an Australian expert a...
Mantis males must wrestle if they don't want to lose their heads
The praying mantis has a reputation for cannibalism because females often eat males before they get a cha...
Bee gone? A quarter of bee species haven’t been seen in 30 years
While reports and records of animal species have increased dramatically over the last few decades, the nu...
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