Combined stresses push nation’s ecosystems to ‘tipping point’

Publicly released: Fri 6 Jul 2018 at 1156 AEST | 1356 NZST

Nature Climate Change

Australia’ s ecosystems are at a ‘ tipping point’ due to the combined stresses of climate change and extreme weather events, new research has found. Media Release. From:University of Tasmania. Australia’s ecosystems are at a ‘tipping Read more about Combined stresses push nation’s ecosystems to ‘tipping point’ - Scimex

Deep bond drives football hooliganism

Publicly released: Fri 6 Jul 2018 at 1030 AEST | 1230 NZST

Evolution and Human Behavior

A clampdown on security has so far meant Russia has avoided hooliganism outbreaks at the FIFA World Cup this year, but it remains a fear among officials. Now UK and Brazilian researchers have examined what drives football-related violence and found Read more about Deep bond drives football hooliganism - Scimex

White feathers study could contribute to future materials

Publicly released: Fri 6 Jul 2018 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Australian-led research has had a close look at the microscopic structure of white feathers from 50 different bird species to see if the structure of the feathers can allow scientists to predict how much the feathers reflect visible light and Read more about White feathers study could contribute to future materials - Scimex

Study finds new brain pathway for escaping predators

Publicly released: Fri 6 Jul 2018 at 0101 AEST | 0301 NZST

neuron

How the zebrafish brain perceives and reacts to predators has been determined by researchers at the University of Queensland. Media Release. From:The University of Queensland. How the zebrafish brain perceives and reacts to predators has been Read more about Study finds new brain pathway for escaping predators - Scimex

Spiders travel on electricity

Publicly released: Fri 6 Jul 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Current Biology

Spiders can travel through the air great distances by releasing silk and floating away. Their "ballooning" was thought to require things such as wind, but UK researchers have found natural electric fields not only trigger ballooning but also Read more about Spiders travel on electricity - Scimex

Space (eye)balls become flattened after time in orbit

Publicly released: Fri 6 Jul 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Ophthalmology

Some astronauts' eyes become ‘flattened’after spending time in space, which could be a result of their brains moving upwards and pulling back on the nerves in their eyes, say international researchers. The team found ‘globe flattening’in Read more about Space (eye)balls become flattened after time in orbit - Scimex

Puppers learn from doggos and hoomans

Publicly released: Thu 5 Jul 2018 at 2300 AEST | Fri 6 Jul 2018 at 0100 NZST

Scientific Reports

Pups as young as eight weeks have the ability to learn from watching both dogs and humans, say Hungarian scientists. The undoubtedly adorable fluff-balls were able to learn how to open a puzzle box containing a tasty treat after they watched their Read more about Puppers learn from doggos and hoomans - Scimex

Integrated quantum circuitry is possible with atomically thin materials, study shows

Publicly released: Thu 5 Jul 2018 at 2101 AEST | 2301 NZST

Nature Communications

Scientists at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have demonstrated an integrated photonic device made entirely of atomically thin materials that can confine light into sub-micrometre scale spaces. This study brings 2D materials one step Read more about Integrated quantum circuitry is possible with atomically thin materials, study shows - Scimex

Obesity affects prostate cancer test results

Publicly released: Thu 5 Jul 2018 at 1700 AEST | 1900 NZST

Society of Endocrinology

University of Adelaide research shows that the results of the most widely used test for prostate cancer may be affected by obesity. Media Release. From:The University of Adelaide. University of Adelaide research shows that the results of the most Read more about Obesity affects prostate cancer test results - Scimex

Too many hamburgers could be linked to asthma

Publicly released: Thu 5 Jul 2018 at 1401 AEST | 1601 NZST

Respirology

Fast foods will get you nowhere fast, as a review of 16 studies suggests eating too much of the beige-stuff could be linked to having asthma or other allergic diseases such as pollen fever, eczema, and rhino-conjunctivitis. Hamburgers were singled Read more about Too many hamburgers could be linked to asthma - Scimex

Booze may make men more pushy when it comes to sex

Publicly released: Thu 5 Jul 2018 at 1401 AEST | 1601 NZST

Aggressive Behaviour

A small study of 62 men on dates with computer-simulated partners suggests hitting the bottle may make blokes more persistent in their demands for sex, even after they've been turned down. And when the computer-generated dates continued to turn down Read more about Booze may make men more pushy when it comes to sex - Scimex

Shrinking rivers affect fish populations

Publicly released: Thu 5 Jul 2018 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

Science Advances

Shrinking rivers are less able to support larger predatory fish like brown trout and eels, according to data from 29 New Zealand rivers. This may explain why smaller habitats are a major driver for predator loss worldwide, Kiwi researchers say. Read more about Shrinking rivers affect fish populations - Scimex

Audit of QLD prawn farms targets biosecurity threats

Publicly released: Thu 5 Jul 2018 at 1032 AEST | 1232 NZST

Biosecurity across Northern Australia’s prawn aquaculture industry will be under the microscope in the latest Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) project announced today. Funder: CRCNA, Australian Prawn Farmers' Read more about Audit of QLD prawn farms targets biosecurity threats - Scimex

Diet during pregnancy may affect bub's gut bugs

Publicly released: Thu 5 Jul 2018 at 1000 AEST | 1200 NZST

Microbiome

What mums-to-be eat during pregnancy may affect the types of bacteria that make up bub's gut bugs, and those effects may depend on how bub was delivered too, according to a US study of 97 babies born vaginally and 48 born via C-section. The Read more about Diet during pregnancy may affect bub's gut bugs - Scimex

New interpretation of one of psychology’s most famous experiments

Publicly released: Thu 5 Jul 2018 at 0925 AEST | 1125 NZST

PsyArXiv

A classic psychological study that suggests people will behave brutally when the situation demands it has been challenged by a University of Queensland researcher. Professor Alex Haslam said recently digitised audio and video tapes from the Stanford Read more about New interpretation of one of psychology’s most famous experiments - Scimex

Sleep disorder linked to brain structure changes seen in dementia

Publicly released: Thu 5 Jul 2018 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

European Respiratory Journal

Obstructive sleep apnoea has been linked with brain structure changes seen in the early stages of dementia University of Sydney research reveals. Published today in the European Respiratory Journal, the study’s authors say the finding provides Read more about Sleep disorder linked to brain structure changes seen in dementia - Scimex

What's the future of using online ancestry sites to catch criminals?

Publicly released: Thu 5 Jul 2018 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences

In a commentary article, Australian scientists discuss the use of online ancestry sites to catch criminals, as in the recent case of the Golden State Killer in the USA, who was tracked down by comparing crime scene DNA with online genealogy data. Read more about What's the future of using online ancestry sites to catch criminals? - Scimex

Kids of healthier mums less likely to be obese

Publicly released: Thu 5 Jul 2018 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The BMJ

Children of mums who follow a healthy lifestyle are 75 per cent less likely to be obese than those whose mums live unhealthily, according to Canadian and US researchers. The study included data from 24, 289 kids aged between nine and fourteen, and Read more about Kids of healthier mums less likely to be obese - Scimex

Einstein’s theory of relativity holds true in new test

Publicly released: Thu 5 Jul 2018 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

New research tests the strong equivalence principle, which says all objects fall the same way in a gravitational field, regardless of how strong their self-gravity is. A new system of stars discovered in 2012 proved to be the perfect system to Read more about Einstein’s theory of relativity holds true in new test - Scimex

IVF gives hope to northern white rhino gene conservation

Publicly released: Thu 5 Jul 2018 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature Communications

IVF has been used to create embryos that are a mix of the endangered northern white rhino - a species with only two surviving females - and a closely related subspecies, in an international study that includes an Aussie. The researchers transferred Read more about IVF gives hope to northern white rhino gene conservation - Scimex