Australia and more than half of the world set to miss chronic disease targets

Publicly released: Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The Lancet

Australia, along with more than half of all countries in the world, is predicted to fail to reach the WHO target to reduce premature deaths from cancers, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes by 2030, according to a new Read more about Australia and more than half of the world set to miss chronic disease targets - Scimex

Mapping the US drug overdose epidemic

Publicly released: Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0800 AEST | 1000 NZST

Science

Better understanding of the dynamics of the current US overdose epidemic may help in the development of more effective prevention and control strategies, say authors of a new study. The US authors mapped nearly 600, 000 deaths from unintentional Read more about Mapping the US drug overdose epidemic - Scimex

Preventing a dengue outbreak at the Olympics

Publicly released: Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

In 2014, Tokyo had an unexpected outbreak of dengue fever, which has led researchers to investigate how to prevent another outbreak during the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. By putting Japan's current preparedness plans through a Read more about Preventing a dengue outbreak at the Olympics - Scimex

Researchers find Holy Grail of palaeontology – 558 million-year-old fat reveals earliest known animal

Publicly released: Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Science

Scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) and overseas have discovered molecules of fat in an ancient fossil to reveal the earliest confirmed animal in the geological record that lived on Earth 558 million years ago. Media Release. Read more about Researchers find Holy Grail of palaeontology – 558 million-year-old fat reveals earliest known animal - Scimex

Science under scrutiny

Publicly released: Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Science

Climb atop shoulders and wait for superstar researchers to die. That, suggested Isaac Newton and then Max Planck, is how science advances (more or less). Einstein was of the view that: “A person who has not made his great contribution to science Read more about Science under scrutiny - Scimex

Kiwifruit doubled its vitamin C genes twice

Publicly released: Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

iScience

Our beloved kiwifruit has about the same vitamin C as an orange, which Chinese researchers have traced back to two separate evolutionary events that allowed the fruit's ancestors to spontaneously double its DNA. The two events – about 50-57 Read more about Kiwifruit doubled its vitamin C genes twice - Scimex

Why are we generous? Because sharing is catching

Publicly released: Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Current Biology

Why are we such a cooperative bunch, even though there's frequently nothing in it for us? It may be because sharing is contagious, according to a six-year study of the Hadza hunter-gatherer people in Tanzania by US and Tanzanian researchers. They Read more about Why are we generous? Because sharing is catching - Scimex

The cloud of chemicals and microbes that we live in

Publicly released: Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Cell

All the chemicals and microbes that invade our personal space have been tracked by US scientists. For two years, the scientists used a wearable air monitoring device to collected data from 15 people who travelled the globe, including trips to Read more about The cloud of chemicals and microbes that we live in - Scimex

Scientists gave octopuses ecstasy and they started hugging

Publicly released: Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Current Biology

In a classic "who funded this?" study, US scientists gave MDMA to a species of solitary, asocial octopus and watched the critters get all touchy-feely with one another. The loved-up cephalopods spent more time interacting and even made extensive Read more about Scientists gave octopuses ecstasy and they started hugging - Scimex

Who did my surgery?

Publicly released: Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

In teaching hospitals, it's common for trainee surgeons to be involved in surgeries, which could range from assisting a senior surgeon to performing procedures themselves. A survey of 160 patients found the majority agreed it was important they knew Read more about Who did my surgery? - Scimex

Call for early drug warning system to include new compounds

Publicly released: Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

An early warning system for drugs should attempt to identify new psychoactive compounds, write two researchers in the New Zealand Medical Journal. Up to 45 people are thought to have died in relation to synthetic cannabinoids in the past year, Read more about Call for early drug warning system to include new compounds - Scimex

Tobacco retailers may support specialist stores

Publicly released: Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Early findings from a survey of Auckland dairy owners suggest they may be on board with legislation that would only permit the sale of tobacco from specialist, tobacco-only stores. The dairy owners expressed an unwillingness to stop selling tobacco Read more about Tobacco retailers may support specialist stores - Scimex

Today's adolescents less fit than their parents were

Publicly released: Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Data from the Dunedin Study suggests today's adolescents are less fit and weigh more than their parents did at the same age, which the researchers say might indicate a higher burden of non-communicable disease in the current generation. An Read more about Today's adolescents less fit than their parents were - Scimex

Quick and not-so-dirty: a rapid nano-filter for clean water

Publicly released: Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Advanced Functional Materials

Researchers have designed a rapid nano-filter that can clean dirty water over 100 times faster than current technology. Simple to make and simple to scale up, the technology harnesses naturally occurring nano-structures that grow on liquid metals. Read more about Quick and not-so-dirty: a rapid nano-filter for clean water - Scimex

Hey baby! Pandas can tell a potential mate from their bleats

Publicly released: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 2300 AEST | Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 0100 NZST

Scientific Reports

Giant pandas spend their mostly solitary lives in dense bamboo thickets, and international researchers say that the iconic Chinese animals can identify who is nearby, and whether they could be a potential mate, by their bleats. Using recordings of Read more about Hey baby! Pandas can tell a potential mate from their bleats - Scimex

Mass graveyard of mummifed penguins shows how deadly climate can be

Publicly released: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 1223 AEST | 1423 NZST

Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences

A 200 year old graveyard full of mummified penguin bodies has been found in East Antarctica by Australian and Chinese scientists. The researchers say it is likely the mass deaths were linked to two massive weather-related calamities that could Read more about Mass graveyard of mummifed penguins shows how deadly climate can be - Scimex

World-first major desalination field study finds minimal marine impact

Publicly released: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 1201 AEST | 1401 NZST

Water Research

Highly saline flows from the Sydney Desalination Plant will not affect surrounding marine life as commonly believed, a major new study led by UNSW Sydney shows. Media Release. From:The University of New South Wales. The results of a world-first Read more about World-first major desalination field study finds minimal marine impact - Scimex

Reef-building coral establishing off Tasmania as waters warm

Publicly released: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 1130 AEST | 1330 NZST

Coral Reefs

IMAS researchers investigating Australia’ s southernmost coral-dominated reefs off north eastern Tasmania have attributed their presence so far south to warming waters and associated increases in sea urchins. Media Release. From:Institute for Read more about Reef-building coral establishing off Tasmania as waters warm - Scimex

Anti-cancer drugs may hold key to overcoming antimalarial drug resistance

Publicly released: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 0930 AEST | 1130 NZST

Nature Communications

Scientists have found a way to boost the efficacy of the world’ s most powerful antimalarial drug with the help of chemotherapy medicines. Scientists from the University of Melbourne and the Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda have discovered Read more about Anti-cancer drugs may hold key to overcoming antimalarial drug resistance - Scimex

Call to ban energy drink sales to kids

Publicly released: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The BMJ

The President of the UK Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has called for a legal ban on the sale of caffeinated energy drinks to children and young people in England, in an effort to tackle the "twin epidemics of obesity and mental Read more about Call to ban energy drink sales to kids - Scimex

High gluten diet in pregnancy linked to diabetes in children

Publicly released: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

BMJ

A high gluten intake by mothers during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of their child developing type 1 diabetes, according to international research. Mothers in the study with the highest gluten intake had double the risk of type 1 Read more about High gluten diet in pregnancy linked to diabetes in children - Scimex

AI can teach a plane to soar like the birds

Publicly released: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

With the help of AI, mechanical gliders have been taught to glide like birds, soaring on rising air currents — or ‘thermals’, according to US research. The AI learnt through a 'carrot and stick' approach called reinforcement learning, where Read more about AI can teach a plane to soar like the birds - Scimex

Moderate warming could melt East Antarctic Ice Sheet

Publicly released: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

Parts of the world’s largest ice sheet would melt if Antarctic warming of just 2° C is sustained for millennia, according to international research. University of Queensland scientist Dr Kevin Welsh was part of a team that used evidence from warm Read more about Moderate warming could melt East Antarctic Ice Sheet - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Cannabis for pain? It's still complicated

Publicly released: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Psychiatry

A US study of existing research looking at cannabinoid drugs for pain relief has found they may prevent the onset of pain by increasing pain thresholds, but may not reduce the intensity of pre-existing pain or help people who are hyper-sensitive to Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Cannabis for pain? It's still complicated - Scimex

Scientists crack genetic code of cane toad

Publicly released: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

GigaScience

A group of scientists from UNSW Sydney, the University of Sydney, Deakin University, Portugal and Brazil have unlocked the DNA of the cane toad, a poisonous amphibian that is a threat to many native Australian species. The findings were published in Read more about Scientists crack genetic code of cane toad - Scimex

Can video games help chronic low back pain?

Publicly released: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 0005 AEST | 0205 NZST

Physical Therapy

New research from University of Sydney has found home-based video-game exercises can reduce chronic low back pain in older people by 27 per cent, which is comparable to benefits gained under programs supervised by a physiotherapist. Media Release. Read more about Can video games help chronic low back pain? - Scimex

Health Star Ratings: What’s on the labels of Australian beverages?

Publicly released: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Health Promotion Journal of Australia

The Health Star Rating (HSR) System provides a useful tool to communicate health and nutrition messages to consumers. Given the large contribution from sugar-containing beverages to sugar intake in the Australian diet and the adverse health outcomes Read more about Health Star Ratings: What’s on the labels of Australian beverages? - Scimex

Obesity linked to incontinence in young to mid-aged women

Publicly released: Wed 19 Sep 2018 at 1401 AEST | 1601 NZST

Obesity Reviews

Being overweight or obese is associated with an increased risk of urinary incontinence for young to middle-aged women, according to a study from the University of Queensland. When compared to a ‘ normal’ body mass index, overweight was Read more about Obesity linked to incontinence in young to mid-aged women - Scimex

Gorillas love of salt may be putting them in harm's way

Publicly released: Wed 19 Sep 2018 at 1401 AEST | 1601 NZST

Biotropica

The hunt for salt-rich food may be encouraging gorillas to leave the relative safety of park areas, to try and feed on human crops or high altitude plants, both of which may put them at risk, say Australian researchers. Leaving their natural habitat Read more about Gorillas love of salt may be putting them in harm's way - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Chlorine leak in Sydney hotel

Publicly released: Wed 19 Sep 2018 at 1300 AEST | 1500 NZST

A chlorine gas leak has been reported in a hotel in Sydney today, with a number of people treated after being exposed to the gas. Below an expert responds. Expert Reaction. These comments have been collated by the Science Media Centre to provide a Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Chlorine leak in Sydney hotel - Scimex

Quantum Anomaly - Breaking a Classical Symmetry with Ultracold Atoms

Publicly released: Wed 19 Sep 2018 at 1027 AEST | 1227 NZST

Physical Review Letters

Fundamental research: FLEET study of ultracold atomic gases at Swinburne University of Technology finds quantum anomaly, strongly interacting particles breaking classical symmetry in a 2D Fermi gas. Out today in Physical Review Letters. Funder: Read more about Quantum Anomaly - Breaking a Classical Symmetry with Ultracold Atoms - Scimex

Creating digital 3D spider webs

Publicly released: Wed 19 Sep 2018 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

Picture a spider's web and you're probably imagining a 2D orb web, but these are only 10 per cent of webs, with the rest made up of 3D structures like funnel, sheet or cobwebs. US researchers have developed a way to digitally map the architecture of Read more about Creating digital 3D spider webs - Scimex

Orderliness predicts student achievement

Publicly released: Wed 19 Sep 2018 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

If you were raised in East Asia, you were likely taught to lead a disciplined life. Now Chinese researchers analysing anonymous data of nearly 20, 000 undergraduate students have linked this 'orderliness' with academic performance. Using data from Read more about Orderliness predicts student achievement - Scimex

Microplastics stick around in mozzies' bodies

Publicly released: Wed 19 Sep 2018 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Biology Letters

UK researchers have shown for the first time that microplastics in the environment can be eaten by mosquito larvae and transferred to the adult stage. They say this could represent another way of microplastics travelling through the environment, as Read more about Microplastics stick around in mozzies' bodies - Scimex

UK yoghurt way too sugary

Publicly released: Wed 19 Sep 2018 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

BMJ Open

A survey of yoghurt for sale in UK supermarkets has shown the products have sugar well above the recommended threshold, with the exception of natural and Greek yoghurt. While yoghurt can be a good source of protein and calcium, and can aid digestion, Read more about UK yoghurt way too sugary - Scimex

Don't forget to breathe: air pollution and dementia link

Publicly released: Wed 19 Sep 2018 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

BMJ Open

London isn't exactly known for its fresh air, but an observational study has found a link between air pollution and increased risk of dementia. The study found Londoners who lived in areas with the worst air pollution had a 40 per cent greater risk Read more about Don't forget to breathe: air pollution and dementia link - Scimex

Low nutritional value foods could mean a higher cancer rate

Publicly released: Wed 19 Sep 2018 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS Medicine

Making healthier food choices is a key issue for cancer prevention, according to European researchers. The study analysed food intake from 471, 495 adults across 10 European countries and found cancer rates were higher in those who ate food of a Read more about Low nutritional value foods could mean a higher cancer rate - Scimex

The global burden of tuberculosis is falling

Publicly released: Wed 19 Sep 2018 at 0200 AEST | 0400 NZST

The global burden of tuberculosis is falling, but faster detection and treatment would help the process, according to a new World Health Organization report. TB caused an estimated 1.3 million deaths in 2017, according to the report, and remains one Read more about The global burden of tuberculosis is falling - Scimex

Generic EpiPen approved by FDA

Publicly released: Wed 19 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA

The US FDA has approved the first generic epinephrine autoinjector to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, after ballooning prices from EpiPen producer Mylan saw the wholesale price surge from around US$100 in 2009 to over US$600 in 2016. The Read more about Generic EpiPen approved by FDA - Scimex

Sandalwood might be a hairy help to the balding

Publicly released: Wed 19 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Communications

The smell of sandalwood might help the follically challenged after UK researchers found the substances that create sandalwood's smell stimulate hair growth in human scalp tissue. To be able to smell sandalwood, the odour molecules trigger smell Read more about Sandalwood might be a hairy help to the balding - Scimex

Surprise finding uncovers balancing act between birth defects and cancer

Publicly released: Wed 19 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Cell Reports

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers have made a surprise discovery about how subtle changes in the way cell survival is regulated during embryonic development can have drastic health implications. Funder: Cancer Council of Victoria, Lady Read more about Surprise finding uncovers balancing act between birth defects and cancer - Scimex

Organochlorine pesticide exposure in the womb linked to poorer lung function in childhood

Publicly released: Tue 18 Sep 2018 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

European Respiratory Society International Congress

Babies exposed to higher levels of organochlorine compounds - which include DDT - in the womb go on to have worse lung function in childhood, according to a Spanish study of 1, 308 babies born between 2004 and 2008. The compounds are now banned in Read more about Organochlorine pesticide exposure in the womb linked to poorer lung function in childhood - Scimex

For middle aged drinkers, losing rep may be more concerning than getting sick

Publicly released: Tue 18 Sep 2018 at 1000 AEST | 1200 NZST

BMC Public Health

The health risks associated with drinking alcohol are of low concern to drinkers between the age of 30 and 65, according to researchers from the University of Adelaide. An analysis of 13 studies revealed that middle aged people who drink moderately Read more about For middle aged drinkers, losing rep may be more concerning than getting sick - Scimex

Which skin cancer treatment should you get?

Publicly released: Tue 18 Sep 2018 at 0700 AEST | 0900 NZST

Annals of Internal Medicine

Canadian researchers compared tumour treatments for common types of skin cancer and found little evidence backing up which treatment should be used and when. Individually, commonly used treatments like surgery, external beam radiation, and topical Read more about Which skin cancer treatment should you get? - Scimex

Magellanic Clouds duo may have been a trio

Publicly released: Tue 18 Sep 2018 at 0530 AEST | 0730 NZST

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Two of the closest galaxies to the Milky Way— the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds— may have had a third companion, astronomers believe. Research published today describes how another “luminous”galaxy was likely engulfed by the Large Read more about Magellanic Clouds duo may have been a trio - Scimex

Gene therapy helps mice addicted to cocaine

Publicly released: Tue 18 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Biomedical Engineering

US researchers have helped mice beat their cocaine addictions using gene therapy. The researchers incorporated an enzyme that can break down cocaine into a mouse's stem cells, then transplanted these cells back into the mouse to act as a depot for Read more about Gene therapy helps mice addicted to cocaine - Scimex

1 in 11 US teens have used e-cigs for cannabis

Publicly released: Tue 18 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Pediatrics

A survey of 20, 000 US teenagers aged 11-18 found that 9 per cent had used an e-cigarette to smoke cannabis. One quarter of those surveyed had used e-cigarettes before, and a third of those had used them with marijuana, THC, hash oil, or THC wax. Read more about 1 in 11 US teens have used e-cigs for cannabis - Scimex

Lonely ice volcano on Ceres was not always so alone

Publicly released: Tue 18 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Astronomy

The dwarf planet Ceres' has just one volcano, an icy peak known as Ahuna Mons, but this lonely volcano may have once had company, with US researchers finding evidence of 22 former ice volcanos on Ceres in images taken by NASA's Dawn mission. The Read more about Lonely ice volcano on Ceres was not always so alone - Scimex

‘Postal worker’ of the cell reveals insights into cellular cargo trafficking and disease

Publicly released: Tue 18 Sep 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature

Researchers have solved the structure of a complex molecular machine responsible for sorting and transporting cellular cargo, a discovery that provides important clues to how this machine functions and its contribution to neurodegenerative diseases. Read more about ‘Postal worker’ of the cell reveals insights into cellular cargo trafficking and disease - Scimex

Paracetamol may be linked to asthma in some children

Publicly released: Mon 17 Sep 2018 at 0801 AEST | 1001 NZST

The European Respiratory Society Congress

Certain children who take paracetamol during their first two years of life might be at a higher risk of developing asthma by age 18, according to Australian researchers. The susceptibility seems to be linked to a variant of a gene, GSTP1. This gene Read more about Paracetamol may be linked to asthma in some children - Scimex