Booming Port Phillip Bay sea urchins here to stay without drastic action

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 0923 AEDT | 1123 NZDT

Ecology

Monitoring of sea urchins in Port Phillip Bay over a four year period has revealed that booming urchin populations and the barren grounds they created by overgrazing kelp beds are likely to persist in the long term unless drastic action is taken. Read more about Booming Port Phillip Bay sea urchins here to stay without drastic action - Scimex

Researchers reveal prostate tumours ‘fed’ by fatty acids

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 0834 AEDT | 1034 NZDT

Science Translational Medicine

An international multidisciplinary study initiated by Melbourne scientists has shown a link between prostate cancer and the uptake of fatty acids by cancer cells. The findings point to a possible therapeutic target for this common cancer. Funder: Read more about Researchers reveal prostate tumours ‘fed’ by fatty acids - Scimex

Transparency reporting by pharmaceutical industry in decline

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 0731 AEDT | 0931 NZDT

BMJ Open

Researchers warn Australian pharmaceutical companies are no longer required to publicly disclose many payments to the health sector, and advocate for US-style legislation to ensure full and long-lasting transparency. Media Release. From:The Read more about Transparency reporting by pharmaceutical industry in decline - Scimex

Bees have brains for basic maths

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 0601 AEDT | 0801 NZDT

Science Advances

Researchers have found bees can do basic mathematics, in a discovery that expands our understanding of the relationship between brain size and brain power. Media Release. From:RMIT University. Researchers have found bees can do basic mathematics, in Read more about Bees have brains for basic maths - Scimex

Link away - coloured hyperlinked words don't slow reading

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Coloured hyperlinks online do not have a negative impact on reading behaviour, according to UK research which found that multiple coloured words in text had no negative impact on reading behaviour. The study found that if a sentence featured only a Read more about Link away - coloured hyperlinked words don't slow reading - Scimex

LSD Lite? Drug microdosing effects may not measure up to big expectations

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Taking very small amounts of psychedelic substances such as LSD, on a regular basis – called ‘microdosing’– may improve psychological and cognitive functioning, but the effects do not exactly match users’expectations, a new study from Read more about LSD Lite? Drug microdosing effects may not measure up to big expectations - Scimex

Teenage pregnancy may have effects on your grandchildren's development

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Being pregnant in your teenage years may have a cascading effect down your bloodline, as North American researchers say that the grandchildren of teenage mums have lower school readiness scores than their peers. The team gathered their data from Read more about Teenage pregnancy may have effects on your grandchildren's development - Scimex

Melting ice sheets at both poles may have major climate impacts

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Nature

The combined melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets may affect the entire global climate system, triggering more variable weather and further melting. Researchers from Victoria University of Wellington have used satellite measurements of Read more about Melting ice sheets at both poles may have major climate impacts - Scimex

The past four years were the warmest on record

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Australia has had its warmest January on record, but in case you needed more evidence of long term climate change, the World Meteorological Organization has confirmed that the four years since 2015 have been the warmest ever recorded. The WMO Read more about The past four years were the warmest on record - Scimex

Older adults who rent are more likely to have poor health

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Older Kiwis who live in rental homes have poorer health compared to homeowners, according to data from annual health surveys. Females over 75 years old, Māori and Pacific people represented the highest proportion of renters in the country, meaning Read more about Older adults who rent are more likely to have poor health - Scimex

Dual use of tobacco and e-cigarettes common in New Zealand

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Nearly two-thirds of e-cigarette users in New Zealand also smoke tobacco cigarettes, according to a survey of over 3, 800 Kiwis. The 2016 Health and Lifestyles Survey talked to over 110 e-cigarette users, 90 of whom said they were also a current Read more about Dual use of tobacco and e-cigarettes common in New Zealand - Scimex

By their mid-30s around 1 in 6 Australian women have had an abortion

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

ANZJPH

By their mid 30s around 16 per cent of Australian women report having had an abortion, according to Australian research. The study used survey data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health which followed women born between 1973 and Read more about By their mid-30s around 1 in 6 Australian women have had an abortion - Scimex

Eliminating skin disease in Aboriginal children could reduce antibiotic use by almost 20%

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

A study has revealed that 95 per cent of children in five remote Aboriginal communities had received an antibiotic prescription before their first birthday and almost half of them had received up to six prescriptions. Media Release. From:Doherty Read more about Eliminating skin disease in Aboriginal children could reduce antibiotic use by almost 20% - Scimex

Skin sores drive high rates of antibiotics for kids living in remote Aboriginal communities

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

ANZJPH

High rates of chest and skin infections in early life drive high rates of antibiotic use in kids living in remote Aboriginal communities, according to Australian research. The study of kids in the Northern Territory’s East Arnhem region found 95 Read more about Skin sores drive high rates of antibiotics for kids living in remote Aboriginal communities - Scimex

Weight gain in early childhood affects teenage heart health

Publicly released: Wed 6 Feb 2019 at 1601 AEDT | 1801 NZDT

The Journal of Paediatrics

Excessive weight gain in children under two years can lead to cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in teenage years including increased cholesterol, being overweight and having fat around the middle, finds new research from the University of Read more about Weight gain in early childhood affects teenage heart health - Scimex

Workplace sexism leads women to feel they don't belong and impacts their mental health

Publicly released: Wed 6 Feb 2019 at 1601 AEDT | 1801 NZDT

Journal of Applied Social Psychology

Women who experience sexism in male dominated industries have a poorer sense of belonging at work, which is associated with poorer mental health, according to Australian research. The study of 190 women from a large Australian trade union that Read more about Workplace sexism leads women to feel they don't belong and impacts their mental health - Scimex

Australia’s oldest PhD graduate becomes a doctor at 94

Publicly released: Wed 6 Feb 2019 at 1110 AEDT | 1310 NZDT

For Australia’s oldest PhD graduate Dr David Bottomley, learning is a life-long journey. Media Release. From:Curtin University. For Australia’s oldest PhD graduate Dr David Bottomley, learning is a life-long journey. At 94 years of age, Dr Read more about Australia’s oldest PhD graduate becomes a doctor at 94 - Scimex

One joint won't hurt your junk, surprisingly a splif may step-up sperm counts

Publicly released: Wed 6 Feb 2019 at 1105 AEDT | 1305 NZDT

Human Reproduction

Moderate cannabis users have been found to have higher sperm counts and higher testosterone levels compared to men who never smoked it, in a surprising finding from US researchers. Previous studies had suggested that cannabis had a negative effect Read more about One joint won't hurt your junk, surprisingly a splif may step-up sperm counts - Scimex

How C-section rates are linked to body height

Publicly released: Wed 6 Feb 2019 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Adults around the world are getting taller and researchers say it's leading to higher rates of C-sections in many countries. As living conditions improve, a fetus is likely to experience a better environment for development than its mother did a Read more about How C-section rates are linked to body height - Scimex

Chemical exposure in communities across three continents

Publicly released: Wed 6 Feb 2019 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Using silicon wristbands worn by 246 volunteers, international scientists collected data on chemical exposure in 14 communities across Senegal, South Africa, Peru and the United States. The same 14 chemicals were detected in over 50 per cent of all Read more about Chemical exposure in communities across three continents - Scimex