UK SMC BRIEFING + EXPERT REACTION: Phase 3 Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID vaccine trial results

Publicly released: Tue 24 Nov 2020 at 1042 AEDT | 1242 NZDT

Our colleagues at the UK SMC have hosted a media briefing to present the results of the Phase 3 trial into the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID vaccine. Phase 3 interim analysis including 131 Covid-19 cases indicates that the vaccine is 70. 4 per cent Read more about UK SMC BRIEFING + EXPERT REACTION: Phase 3 Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID vaccine trial results

Areas where the next pandemic could emerge are revealed

Publicly released: Tue 24 Nov 2020 at 1039 AEDT | 1239 NZDT

One Health

An international team of human- and animal health experts has incorporated environmental, social and economic considerations – including air transit centrality, to identify key areas at risk of leading to the next pandemic. The paper led by the Read more about Areas where the next pandemic could emerge are revealed

Taking the pill could be linked to reduced asthma severity

Publicly released: Tue 24 Nov 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Thorax

Taking the Pill may cut the risk of severe bouts of asthma, according to international researchers, however this effect is relatively small and doesn’t include the progesterone-only pill. The team looked at a database of six million patients, and Read more about Taking the pill could be linked to reduced asthma severity

Common form of food poisoning still comes mainly from chicken

Publicly released: Tue 24 Nov 2020 at 0921 AEDT | 1121 NZDT

International Journal of Infectious Diseases

Kiwi scientists looked at recent data to re-visit which food sources are responsible for Campylobacter infections, a common form of food poisoning caused by bacteria. Poultry still remains the lead culprit, with 84% of Campylobacter infections in Read more about Common form of food poisoning still comes mainly from chicken

Mother’s touch lingers in her child’s genes

Publicly released: Tue 24 Nov 2020 at 0910 AEDT | 1110 NZDT

eLife

Mothers leave their mark on their children in many ways – and Melbourne researchers have discovered a protein called SMCHD1 is involved in this ‘imprinting’ process. SMCHD1 switches certain genes off, altering how a cell behaves. The new Read more about Mother’s touch lingers in her child’s genes

Sound waves power new advances in drug delivery and smart materials

Publicly released: Tue 24 Nov 2020 at 0845 AEDT | 1045 NZDT

Advanced Science

Researchers have revealed how high-frequency sound waves can be used to build new materials, make smart nanoparticles and even deliver drugs to the lungs for painless, needle-free vaccinations. Read more about Sound waves power new advances in drug delivery and smart materials

Next generation drones could learn from bumblebees’ amazing flight

Publicly released: Tue 24 Nov 2020 at 0700 AEDT | 0900 NZDT

PNAS

An international study, led by researchers from UNSW Canberra, has discovered the secret of bumblebees’ self-aware dexterous flight, that could have applications for the next generation of drones and autonomous vehicles. Read more about Next generation drones could learn from bumblebees’ amazing flight

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

Bite-size view of brain space

Publicly released: Mon 23 Nov 2020 at 1013 AEDT | 1213 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

A new study fills in another gap in the remarkable evolutionary transition of life from water to land on Earth. Using micro-CT and MRI scans to make 3D models of small animal heads, palaeontology researchers from the University of Edinburgh, Read more about Bite-size view of brain space

Almost two-thirds of the public support pill testing at music festivals

Publicly released: Mon 23 Nov 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Drug and Alcohol Review

Almost two-thirds of the public support pill testing at music festivals, but opinions are highly polarised across the political spectrum, according to Australian research. The data from the 2019 Australian Election Study survey — a large Read more about Almost two-thirds of the public support pill testing at music festivals

Changes in fire activity are threatening more than 4,400 species globally

Publicly released: Mon 23 Nov 2020 at 0400 AEDT | 0600 NZDT

Science

Major new paper says too much or too little fire is threatening more than 4,400 species around the world, including the orangutan in Indonesia and mallee emu-wren in Australia. The research team also found a striking example from Australia: the Read more about Changes in fire activity are threatening more than 4,400 species globally