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COVID-19 takes a year off life expectancy in Spain
PLOS One
Spain’s annual life expectancy at birth dropped by 0. 9 years between 2019 and July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study. It also shows that in the hard-hit city of Madrid weekly life expectancy dropped by 15 years, during Read more about COVID-19 takes a year off life expectancy in Spain
InternationalCenter for Demographic Studies, Spain -
Rapid COVID-19 test could be misleading
The BMJ
As many as one in five people who receive a positive result from a finger-prick antibody test might have never had a Covid infection, new research suggests. The study authors say the AbC-19 Rapid Test is accurate enough to give a good estimate of Read more about Rapid COVID-19 test could be misleading
InternationalPublic Health England, UK -
Dust storms make Mars sweat
Science
Our cold and dry solar system neighbour was once wet and warm, and researchers have posed a new theory for how Mars’ rivers and oceans disappeared. They’ve found evidence that Martian water is transported to the upper atmosphere, where it is Read more about Dust storms make Mars sweat
InternationalUniversity of Arizona, US -
Significant barriers to COVID-19 antibody treatments
JAMA
Antibody treatments for COVID-19 could face major issues with emergency approval and equity of treatment, US medical researchers argue. Monoclonal antibodies garnered attention when they were part of the cocktail of drugs used to treat US President Read more about Significant barriers to COVID-19 antibody treatments
InternationalMassachusetts General Hospital, US -
New COVID-19 strategy: vaccinate potential superspreaders first
PLOS ONE
As the world pins its hopes on Pfizer's announcement this week of an effective vaccine, Macquarie University researchers have unveiled a strategy addressing the question of who should be vaccinated first. Read more about New COVID-19 strategy: vaccinate potential superspreaders first
Australia; NSWMacquarie University -
An antidepressant might help stop mild COVID-19 from becoming worse
JAMA
The antidepressant fluvoxamine, usually sold under the brand name Luvox, may stop mild COVID-19 from becoming more severe, according to a small clinical trial by US researchers. In a randomised trial of people with mild COVID-19, none of the 80 Read more about An antidepressant might help stop mild COVID-19 from becoming worse
InternationalWashington University in St Louis, USA -
EXPERT REACTION: Climate model suggests we may be past the 'point of no return'
Scientific Reports
New climate modelling suggests that even ceasing all greenhouse gas emissions today might not be enough to stop global warming. The reduced complexity model suggests that even with no further emissions, global temperatures will rise enough for Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Climate model suggests we may be past the 'point of no return'
InternationalBI Norwegian Business School, Norway -
BRIEFING: State of the Climate BOM/CSIRO report - More big weather is coming
The sixth instalment of the joint Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO State of the Climate report will be released on Friday 13 November. The report, released every two years, shows Australia is continuing to warm and experiencing more frequent extreme Read more about BRIEFING: State of the Climate BOM/CSIRO report - More big weather is coming
AustraliaCSIRO|Bureau of Meteorology -
Tired of COVID? More than half of those who caught it have lasting fatigue
PLOS ONE
If you think you are tired of COVID, spare a thought for those who actually caught it, with a new Irish study showing that more than half of people with acute COVID-19 infection still feel fatigued 10 weeks after their initial illness. Of the 128 Read more about Tired of COVID? More than half of those who caught it have lasting fatigue
InternationalTrinity College Dublin, Ireland -
C4 rice’s first wobbly steps towards reality
Plant Biotechnology Journal
An international long-term research collaboration aimed at creating high yielding and water use efficient rice varieties, has successfully installed part of the photosynthetic machinery from maize into rice. Read more about C4 rice’s first wobbly steps towards reality
Australia; ACTARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis -
Tertiary funding system disadvantages Māori researchers
Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics
A new paper argues the system of funding universities and other tertiary institutes based on their performance, is to the disadvantage of Māori academics and worldviews. The authors say the system should be rebuilt, to better recognise not only Read more about Tertiary funding system disadvantages Māori researchers
New ZealandUniversity of Auckland|University of Canterbury -
Cutting-edge computer vision technologies help detect threats
UTS Intelligent Drone Lab and local industry partner DroneShield combine expertise to develop a world-leading computer vision system to help identify threats from incoming drones. Read more about Cutting-edge computer vision technologies help detect threats
Australia; NSWUniversity of Technology Sydney (UTS) -
Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression
BMC Medicine
A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of data from the UK Biobank, involving almost 85,000 people, has found that lifestyle factors such as less screen time, adequate sleep, a better-quality diet, and physical activity strongly impact Read more about Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression
Australia; NSWWestern Sydney University|University of Manchester, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre and King’s College London, United Kingdom, and the University of Padua, Padua, Italy. -
Is proton therapy the silver bullet for children with brain cancer?
Cancers
How safe is proton therapy for children with brain cancer compared to the conventional x-ray radiation delivered post-surgery? Read more about Is proton therapy the silver bullet for children with brain cancer?
Australia; SAUniversity of South Australia -
Light, liposomes, action: researchers show safer, more targeted way to deliver CRISPR gene therapy
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Biomedical researchers have come up with a novel way to use a beam of light to deliver CRISPR gene therapy molecules targeting illnesses. Read more about Light, liposomes, action: researchers show safer, more targeted way to deliver CRISPR gene therapy
Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales -
Australian healthcare workers almost 3 times more likely to get COVID-19 than the general population
International Journal of Nursing Studies
A new study has estimated how health workers’ risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection differs from that of the broader community. Read more about Australian healthcare workers almost 3 times more likely to get COVID-19 than the general population
Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales|The Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society -
Evidence against paired brain training and stimulation for older adults
Nature Human Behaviour
University of Queensland School of Psychology researchers conducted the largest study to date to determine whether combined brain training and electrical stimulation would improve a range of cognitive functions, such as attention, decision making Read more about Evidence against paired brain training and stimulation for older adults
Australia; QLDThe University of Queensland -
Australian Food Safety Week: Aussies urged to learn about food safety
Australian Food Safety Week 14 – 21 November 2020 - Food Safety Information Council research has found poorer food safety knowledge among younger Australians for example only 75% between 18 and 34 years said they always washed their hands after Read more about Australian Food Safety Week: Aussies urged to learn about food safety
AustraliaFood Safety Information Council -
Putting it between the posts: Researchers offer tips to improve goal kicking accuracy in AFL
PLOS ONE
Wanna kick goals like Tory Dickson and get it between the posts every time? Aussie researchers have found a host of factors that effect AFL goal kicking accuracy, including the players’ approach line path, their support-leg mechanics, the Read more about Putting it between the posts: Researchers offer tips to improve goal kicking accuracy in AFL
Australia; NSW; VICVictoria University|Australian Catholic University -
Rare deep-sea Bigfin Squid filmed in Aussie waters for the first time
PLOS One
Scientists have announced multiple sightings of the elusive Bigfin Squid in the Great Australian Bight. The squid, which have extremely long arms and tentacles, were filmed at depths of 2 to 3 kilometres during a program of deep-sea survey voyages Read more about Rare deep-sea Bigfin Squid filmed in Aussie waters for the first time
Australia; VIC; WA; TASCSIRO|Museums Victoria
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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