More frequently sheared sheep are happier mothers

Publicly released: Thu 3 Dec 2020 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

Sheep shearing and epigenetic change

More frequently sheared pregnant sheep are more active, have lower stress levels and produce lambs with finer wool, according to University of Queensland research. Dr Edward Narayan from UQ’s School of Agriculture and Food Science and the Read more about More frequently sheared sheep are happier mothers

Incredible vision in ancient marine creatures drove an evolutionary arms race

Publicly released: Thu 3 Dec 2020 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Science Advances

Ancient deep sea creatures called radiodonts had incredible vision that likely drove an evolutionary arms race according to new research published today. Read more about Incredible vision in ancient marine creatures drove an evolutionary arms race

GPS trackers keep tabs on plastic pollution

Publicly released: Thu 3 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS One

Researchers have developed a low cost, open-source method to track common rubbish like plastic bottles via GPS in order to understand how plastic pollution spreads through the waterways. These “bottle tags” were released at 25 sites along the Read more about GPS trackers keep tabs on plastic pollution

Orca stranding linked to human activity

Publicly released: Thu 3 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS One

New research into trends behind orca stranding has revealed human activity as a cause of death across every age group of the orcas studied. A North American research team reviewed the pathology reports of almost 90 whales that stranded in Hawai’i Read more about Orca stranding linked to human activity

Continents were weak and prone to destruction in their infancy

Publicly released: Thu 3 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Monash University geologists have shed new light on the early history of the Earth through their discovery that continents were weak and prone to destruction in their infancy. Read more about Continents were weak and prone to destruction in their infancy

Why do so few native plants and animals have Māori names?

Publicly released: Thu 3 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

New Zealand Journal of Ecology

Only four per cent of New Zealand species have scientific names based on te reo Māori or ta re Moriori. An independent scientist and historian reviews the history, noting there are still no restrictions or recommendations on the source or language Read more about Why do so few native plants and animals have Māori names?

AI could keep weather balloons in the sky

Publicly released: Thu 3 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Artificial intelligence could help stratospheric balloons stay in place for weeks at a time, according to international research that could have really shortened Carl Fredrickson’s adventure in Up. Helium-filled ‘superpressure’ balloons are Read more about AI could keep weather balloons in the sky

Potential treatment restores vision in mice

Publicly released: Thu 3 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Aussie and international researchers have found a way to reprogram the neurons in mouse eyes to return them to a more ‘youthful’ state and restore vision, which could provide a new pathway for treating age-related vision loss. Neurons in the eye Read more about Potential treatment restores vision in mice

EXPERT REACTION: 2020 looks set to be one of the warmest years on record - WMO report

Publicly released: Thu 3 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

As if 2020 wasn't bad enough, now it looks like it is also on track to be one of the three warmest years on record, with the global mean temperature for January to October 2020 measuring around 1. 2°C above pre-industrial levels. With the fifth Read more about EXPERT REACTION: 2020 looks set to be one of the warmest years on record - WMO report

New project to improve health and well-being of young people with cerebral palsy

Publicly released: Thu 3 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

A new research project has been created to better understand and address the health care and service needs of adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy. Read more about New project to improve health and well-being of young people with cerebral palsy