Stop prioritising cars over kids' health, experts plead

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

British Journal of Sports Medicine

Clinicians and transport experts have written to the UK government calling for an end to prioritising cars over children's health. Investment in road building far exceeds that for active travel - public transport, footpaths and bike lanes - which Read more about Stop prioritising cars over kids' health, experts plead - Scimex

Love your backyard chooks but remember to wash your hands – Pet Day 11 April 2018

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0801 AEST | 1001 NZST

Backyard chickens are becoming popular with 3% of Australian households reporting that they keep chickens according to a survey by Animal Medicines Australia. But, with growing rates of Salmonella infections, the Food Safety Information Council is Read more about Love your backyard chooks but remember to wash your hands – Pet Day 11 April 2018 - Scimex

Outback radio telescope listens in on interstellar visitor

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0655 AEST | 0855 NZST

The Astrophysical Journal

A telescope in the Australian outback has been used to listen to a mysterious cigar-shaped object that entered our Solar System late last year. When ‘ Oumuamua was first discovered, astronomers thought it was a comet or an asteroid from within the Read more about Outback radio telescope listens in on interstellar visitor - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Link between poor sleep and an Alzheimer's protein

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0500 AEST | 0700 NZST

PNAS

US researchers have discovered a link between sleep deprivation and a brain protein called beta-amyloid – the protein that ‘clumps’together in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. The scientists measured beta-amyloid in 20 participants after Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Link between poor sleep and an Alzheimer's protein - Scimex

How canine STD-linked cancer regresses quickly

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0200 AEST | 0400 NZST

Cancer Cell

Dogs are afflicted by a particularly gruesome contagious cancer that is spread through sexual transmission and causes cauliflower-like growths on their genitals. But the cancer has a weird feature: it regresses within weeks after a single treatment Read more about How canine STD-linked cancer regresses quickly - Scimex

Both types of Tassie devil cancer may have similar origins

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0200 AEST | 0400 NZST

Cancer Cell

The two types of contagious cancer affecting Tasmanian devils may have similar origins, according to international and Australian researchers. The authors say devils may be at greater risk for these kinds of diseases - which are exceptionally rare - Read more about Both types of Tassie devil cancer may have similar origins - Scimex

Expressive eyebrows in early humans

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Ecology & Evolution

As anyone who can waggle their eyebrows will tell you, brows are a useful tool for expressing emotion. New research suggests these social signals may have been behind the evolution of prominent brow ridges in early humans, rather than physical Read more about Expressive eyebrows in early humans - Scimex

Capitalism may offer a fairer go than communism

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Human Behaviour

You're more likely to succeed in life based on your natural gifts in a capitalist rather than a communist society, according to an international and Australian study of Estonian society during and after the fall of the Soviet union. The scientists Read more about Capitalism may offer a fairer go than communism - Scimex

Antibiotics may also help your cells stop viruses too

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Microbiology

A group of antibiotics may also help your body fight off viruses, with new research showing they can help cells resist viral infection. The US researchers found that antibiotics given topically to mice triggered their cells to activate their defences Read more about Antibiotics may also help your cells stop viruses too - Scimex

Finger bone discovery believed to be from the oldest modern human found in Arabia

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Ecology and Evolution

Griffith University played a key role in the team behind new research published today in Nature Ecology and Evolution that describes the discovery of a fossil human finger bone at the site of Al Wusta, an ancient freshwater lake located in what is Read more about Finger bone discovery believed to be from the oldest modern human found in Arabia - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Inflammation in pregnant women linked to bubs' brain development

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Neuroscience

Inflammation in pregnant women, whether from infection, injury or other factors, has been linked to the development of newborns' brains, affecting brain organisation and short-term memory for perception and language at age two, say US and German Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Inflammation in pregnant women linked to bubs' brain development - Scimex

Conflict in outer space will happen: legal experts

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Space and military law experts from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have joined forces to take the lead on understanding how our Earth-bound laws will be applied in times of armed conflict in outer space. Media Release. From:UNSW Read more about Conflict in outer space will happen: legal experts - Scimex

Counting drinks occasionally may be linked to riskier drinking

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

ANZJPH

Occasionally counting your drinks to try and drink less may actually be linked to riskier drinking, according to an Australian study. Researchers looked at data from a survey of 11, 462 Aussies and found people who always used a strategy to keep a Read more about Counting drinks occasionally may be linked to riskier drinking - Scimex

Health costs massively underestimated in coal power pollution fees

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

ANZJPH

The health costs of sulphur emissions from coal power stations in NSW are 45 times greater than current pollution fees charged to electricity generators, according to Australian research. The researchers say that if just this one type of fine Read more about Health costs massively underestimated in coal power pollution fees - Scimex

Poor housing conditions linked to gut infections in NSW Aboriginal kids

Publicly released: Tue 10 Apr 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Housing problems such as overcrowding, damp and mildew are linked to recurrent gastrointestinal infection in Aboriginal children in urban New South Wales, according to Australian researchers. Their study found that the more housing problems kids Read more about Poor housing conditions linked to gut infections in NSW Aboriginal kids - Scimex

New imaging technique could lower radiation risk from PET scans

Publicly released: Mon 9 Apr 2018 at 1120 AEST | 1320 NZST

Neuroimage

A University of Sydney medical imaging expert is among a team of global researchers who have developed a new PET scanning technique that promises to dramatically decrease patients’ exposure to radiation. Media Release. From:The University of Read more about New imaging technique could lower radiation risk from PET scans - Scimex

Smart socks help physiotherapists treat patients remotely

Publicly released: Mon 9 Apr 2018 at 1001 AEST | 1201 NZST

‘Smart socks’are helping physiotherapists better assess and treat patients during video consultations, by providing information on weight distribution and range of movement during exercises like steps, squats or jumps. The wearable technology, Read more about Smart socks help physiotherapists treat patients remotely - Scimex

The barriers that stop anxious teen boys seeking help online

Publicly released: Mon 9 Apr 2018 at 0500 AEST | 0700 NZST

Australian Psychologist

Teen boys may be being put off from seeking online help for mental health issues such as anxiety, according to an Australian study. The authors surveyed 29 male teens - eight of whom had already sought help for anxiety - and found barriers to Read more about The barriers that stop anxious teen boys seeking help online - Scimex

Could Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds be the answer to mental illness?

Publicly released: Mon 9 Apr 2018 at 0500 AEST | 0700 NZST

Australian Psychologist

Australia is missing out on the benefits of using psychedelic drugs to treat a range of mental illnesses, say two Australian psychologists. Overseas research over the past 15 years has investigated the use of drugs such as LSD, MDMA (Ecstasy) and Read more about Could Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds be the answer to mental illness? - Scimex

Parkinson's disease: from hype to hope

Publicly released: Mon 9 Apr 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

Advances in the scientific understanding of Parkinson's disease are advancing rapidly, according to the author of a Perspective published online by the Medical Journal of Australia. Simon Lewis, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University Read more about Parkinson's disease: from hype to hope - Scimex