COVID toes may point to an overactive immune response

Publicly released: Thu 26 Nov 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

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

Reach for the stars, but don't get burned - how spaceflight affects astronaut health

Publicly released: Thu 26 Nov 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

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

Tackling disadvantaged children's education post-COVID

Publicly released: Thu 26 Nov 2020 at 0101 AEDT | 0301 NZDT

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

Fiji's vaccine program reduces childhood death and illness

Publicly released: Thu 26 Nov 2020 at 0101 AEDT | 0301 NZDT

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

1 in 4 drowning deaths off Aussie beaches are in young men

Publicly released: Thu 26 Nov 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

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

Survival protein may prevent collateral damage during cancer therapy

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 2200 AEDT | Thu 26 Nov 2020 at 0000 NZDT

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

New therapy to target the spread of bowel cancer

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 1645 AEDT | 1845 NZDT

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

New plant-based gel to fast-track 'mini-organs' growth, improve cancer treatment

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

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

Little megalodons were raised in nurseries

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

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

Westland petrels fly to the beat of their own drum

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

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

Young hihi cave to peer pressure

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

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

Malaria-spreading mosquito bites come later

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

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

Identifying a zapped bug from its smell

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

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

Make your own N95 mask with a candy floss machine?

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society A

A physicist is proposing an innovative way for people to make their own N95-style masks using the same machinery that turns sugar into candy floss. N95 masks are already made by electrically charging the fabric to improve their filtration, but Read more about Make your own N95 mask with a candy floss machine?

Plasma from recovered COVID patients of no benefit in severe COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

The plasma of patients who have recovered from COVID-19, known as convalescent plasma, has been found to be no better than placebo for patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, according to an Argentinian trial. Convalescent plasma is often given Read more about Plasma from recovered COVID patients of no benefit in severe COVID-19

Hydroxychloroquine also doesn't work to prevent COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

A trial which used hydroxychloroquine to try and prevent COVID-19 developing in people who were close contacts of a confirmed case, has found it provides no benefit. the trial of over 200 people found COVID-19 developed at the same rate in both the Read more about Hydroxychloroquine also doesn't work to prevent COVID-19

Meet the experts behind ensuring the reliability of sewage testing for coronavirus

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

The collaboration on Sewage Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 (ColoSSoS Project) is giving our regulators, industry and the community confidence in the quality and reliability of testing methods. The National Measurement Institute (NMI), together with Read more about Meet the experts behind ensuring the reliability of sewage testing for coronavirus

Urban estuaries have more methane making microbes

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

More urbanised parts of the Burnett River Estuary, around Bundaberg, and within the Great Barrier Reef catchment, have a higher proportion of methane producing microbes, according to Australian research. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and it is Read more about Urban estuaries have more methane making microbes

Tassie devil tumours evolved rapidly as they spread

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Biology

Tassie devil transmissible cancer devil facial tumor 1 (DFT1) has evolved over the past two decades with new types spreading and replacing others, which may explain why the iconic marsupial has become endangered so quickly, according to Read more about Tassie devil tumours evolved rapidly as they spread

C-section babies do just as well at school

Publicly released: Wed 25 Nov 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

A study finds kids born via caesarean section have just as good NCEA results as vaginally birthed babies. C-section babies often have different microbes in their gut, which researchers suspected might influence their academic performance through a Read more about C-section babies do just as well at school