Australian healthcare workers almost 3 times more likely to get COVID-19 than the general population

Publicly released: Thu 12 Nov 2020 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

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

Evidence against paired brain training and stimulation for older adults

Publicly released: Thu 12 Nov 2020 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

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

Australian Food Safety Week: Aussies urged to learn about food safety

Publicly released: Thu 12 Nov 2020 at 0700 AEDT | 0900 NZDT

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

Putting it between the posts: Researchers offer tips to improve goal kicking accuracy in AFL

Publicly released: Thu 12 Nov 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

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

Rare deep-sea Bigfin Squid filmed in Aussie waters for the first time

Publicly released: Thu 12 Nov 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

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

New tractor beam has potential to tame lightning

Publicly released: Thu 12 Nov 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Nature Communications

Lightning never strikes twice, so the saying goes, but new technology may allow us to control where it hits the ground, reducing the risk of catastrophic bushfires. Read more about New tractor beam has potential to tame lightning

Meth use in Victoria shows Melbourne is different from the regions

Publicly released: Thu 12 Nov 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Drug and Alcohol Review

People who use methamphetamine in Melbourne differ to those in the regions in terms of the sociodemographic characteristics and in how they use the drug, according to Australian research. The study found higher rates of methamphetamine dependence Read more about Meth use in Victoria shows Melbourne is different from the regions

You could get 'hot tub lung' from a pool, if it's humid enough

Publicly released: Thu 12 Nov 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Respirology Case Reports

Ever dreamt of a big house with a fancy indoor pool? This might change your dream home design: Aussie researchers have described the first case of ‘hot tub lung’ originating from a Queensland family’s indoor swimming pool. Hot tub lung is a Read more about You could get 'hot tub lung' from a pool, if it's humid enough

Investigating the causes of stuttering

Publicly released: Thu 12 Nov 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

New Zealand is participating in an international study that is searching for the genes that cause stuttering. Researchers are recruiting 1000 New Zealanders who stutter for the largest study of its kind into stuttering that aims to help develop Read more about Investigating the causes of stuttering

Older adults at greater risk of heart disease, and cholesterol meds might help

Publicly released: Wed 11 Nov 2020 at 2000 AEDT | 2200 NZDT

The Lancet

The risk of heart attack and cardiovascular disease is highest in people aged 70 and over with elevated levels of LDL cholesterol, compared to younger age groups, according to an observational study which estimates the number needed to treat with Read more about Older adults at greater risk of heart disease, and cholesterol meds might help

Legal avenues to Tobacco Endgame goal

Publicly released: Wed 11 Nov 2020 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

A multi-stranded strategy is needed to reach the lofty goal of the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame (CREATE), says a chief investigator and co-director of the project’s legal dimension, QUT Professor Matthew Read more about Legal avenues to Tobacco Endgame goal

Cane toads are getting harder, better, faster, stronger

Publicly released: Wed 11 Nov 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Cane toads have become faster and more efficient as they’ve spread across Australia, according to Aussie researchers who looked at how they’ve evolved in leaps and bounds as they’ve spread into new regions. Researchers measured toads in Read more about Cane toads are getting harder, better, faster, stronger

Distancing age groups could reduce COVID-19 deaths

Publicly released: Wed 11 Nov 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Open Biology

COVID-19 deaths could be significantly reduced if people are only allowed to socialise within their own age group in places such as movie theatres or restaurants, according to new modelling. The study authors modelled the pandemic under these rules, Read more about Distancing age groups could reduce COVID-19 deaths

New seal species named after Middle-Earth’s Great Sea

Publicly released: Wed 11 Nov 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Researchers have found a new species of extinct monk seal which lived in the Tasman Sea around New Zealand. The discovery has forced an rethink of the evolutionary history of seals, as it shows ‘true seals’ evolved in the Southern Hemisphere far Read more about New seal species named after Middle-Earth’s Great Sea

Link between sleep apnea and increased risk of dementia found

Publicly released: Wed 11 Nov 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

A new study by Monash University has found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been linked to an increased risk of dementia. The study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, and led by Dr Melinda Jackson from the Turner Institute for Read more about Link between sleep apnea and increased risk of dementia found

Future doctors need more nutrition education

Publicly released: Wed 11 Nov 2020 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health

Medical students need more support to increase their nutrition knowledge and skills before they graduate a Griffith University study has found. The five-year study published in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health, examined over 100 New Read more about Future doctors need more nutrition education

Engineering Australia's Next Industrial Revolution

Publicly released: Wed 11 Nov 2020 at 0700 AEDT | 0900 NZDT

The 2020 recipient of the RSV’s prestigious Medal for Excellence in Scientific Research is Professor Bronwyn Fox, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) at Swinburne University of Technology. “It is because of her sustained Read more about Engineering Australia's Next Industrial Revolution

Around 1 in 6 of us drank more booze during the pandemic, but 1 in 6 drank less

Publicly released: Wed 11 Nov 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Drug and Alcohol Review

Around 1 in 6 Australians drank more alcohol during the COVID19 pandemic  - but around 1 in 6 Aussies also drank less, possibly because the pubs and clubs were shut, according to Australian research. The survey of over 2,000 people found that Read more about Around 1 in 6 of us drank more booze during the pandemic, but 1 in 6 drank less

Looking through the door of meth labs

Publicly released: Wed 11 Nov 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Drug and Alcohol Review

Methamphetamine ‘cooks’ in domestic labs are most likely to be male, Caucasian and about 30 years’ old, according to University of Queensland researchers. Read more about Looking through the door of meth labs

Reopening restaurants and cafes carries high risk of spreading COVID

Publicly released: Wed 11 Nov 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Reopening places such as restaurants, fitness centres, cafes, and hotels carries the highest risk for transmitting SARS-CoV-2, according to modelling based on US data, but there is hope for our café culture, with the research also suggesting that Read more about Reopening restaurants and cafes carries high risk of spreading COVID