After-work hobbies key to proactivity in the workplace

Publicly released: Mon 11 Feb 2019 at 1330 AEDT | 1530 NZDT

Journal of Applied Psychology

Employees who engage in sporting, learning and volunteering activities outside work are more likely to get a better night’s sleep and be more proactive in their job, new research involving Curtin University researchers has found. Media Release. Read more about After-work hobbies key to proactivity in the workplace - Scimex

Say ‘no’ to that golden glow: Social media helps stop unhealthy tanning

Publicly released: Mon 11 Feb 2019 at 1300 AEDT | 1500 NZDT

Computers in Human Behavior

There’s no such thing as a healthy tan. Yet despite the known risks of skin cancer, summer always sees thousands of sun lovers heading to the beach in the search of that perfect golden glow and challenging the ‘tanned ideal’is an uphill battle. Read more about Say ‘no’ to that golden glow: Social media helps stop unhealthy tanning - Scimex

Wave energy - researchers examine influence of wave climate variability in conversion

Publicly released: Mon 11 Feb 2019 at 1201 AEDT | 1401 NZDT

Energy

Wave energy advocates argue that consistency is an advantage in the mix of renewable energy technologies, particularly in a future low-emission society. New research by Griffith University reveals seasonal and inter-annual variations in wave energy Read more about Wave energy - researchers examine influence of wave climate variability in conversion - Scimex

New heated tobacco device causes same damage to lung cells as e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes

Publicly released: Mon 11 Feb 2019 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

ERJ Open Research

A new study that directly compares new heated tobacco devices with vaping and traditional cigarettes shows that all three are toxic to human lung cells. Funder: This study was supported by the Rebecca L Cooper Foundation, Sydney, New South Wales, Read more about New heated tobacco device causes same damage to lung cells as e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes - Scimex

For best quality of life, treat cerebral palsy early

Publicly released: Mon 11 Feb 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

MJA

Early identification of cerebral palsy in kids is key to improving their quality of life, according to Aussie researchers. Cerebral palsy is a movement disorder and is the most common cause of childhood physical disability. The authors looked at Read more about For best quality of life, treat cerebral palsy early - Scimex

Longest-ever eDNA study offers important insights into ocean health

Publicly released: Sat 9 Feb 2019 at 1801 AEDT | 2001 NZDT

PLOS Genetics

Tiny genetic ‘breadcrumbs’left behind by marine organisms offer unprecedented insights into ocean biodiversity and how it changes over time and in response to our changing climate, new research at Curtin University, in collaboration with CSIRO, Read more about Longest-ever eDNA study offers important insights into ocean health - Scimex

The grass is only greener when the rain falls in spring

Publicly released: Sat 9 Feb 2019 at 0301 AEDT | 0501 NZDT

Nature Plants

For a planet beset by the negative impacts of climate change, it has long been assumed there would be at least one significant benefit: rising carbon dioxide levels would lead to huge growth in the world’s grasslands. Media Release. Read more about The grass is only greener when the rain falls in spring - Scimex

Advancing women in science and medicine

Publicly released: Fri 8 Feb 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The Lancet

Medical journal The Lancet has dedicated an entire issue to advancing gender equity in science, medicine and global health. Research papers in the special issue include highlighting bias against women in peer-review processes, debunking myths about Read more about Advancing women in science and medicine - Scimex

Cycling fatalities almost halved since introduction of mandatory helmet laws

Publicly released: Fri 8 Feb 2019 at 0912 AEDT | 1112 NZDT

International Journal of Epidemiology

A UNSW Sydney study has shown a clear link between mandatory helmet laws and a drastic reduction in cycling fatalities. Media Release. From:The University of New South Wales. The evidence is in: Australian mandatory helmet laws brought in to reduce Read more about Cycling fatalities almost halved since introduction of mandatory helmet laws - Scimex

New guide to address over-prescription of opioids

Publicly released: Fri 8 Feb 2019 at 0901 AEDT | 1101 NZDT

National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction

In Australia, more than twice as many people die from pharmaceutical opioid overdose than from heroin overdose. Many doctors are becoming increasingly concerned about their patient’s pharmaceutical opioid use and are seeking ways to reduce it. Read more about New guide to address over-prescription of opioids - Scimex

Improved treatment of the most common form of stroke worldwide

Publicly released: Fri 8 Feb 2019 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

The Lancet

Rapidly lowering blood pressure is safe and reduces bleeds in the brain for stroke patients undergoing clot-busting treatments, finds a study of 2, 000 patients. Funder: NHMRC and Stroke Association UK. Media Release. From:George Institute for Read more about Improved treatment of the most common form of stroke worldwide - Scimex

The pill that could replace insulin injections

Publicly released: Fri 8 Feb 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

US researchers have developed a swallowable capsule that can attach itself to the inside of a stomach and inject drugs straight through the stomach wall to the gut. The shape of the capsule was inspired by the leopard tortoise’s ability to get Read more about The pill that could replace insulin injections - Scimex

Fish spied checking itself out in a mirror

Publicly released: Fri 8 Feb 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Biology

If a fish can recognise itself in a mirror, does that mean it is self-aware? International researchers have observed a species of fish passing the mark test - attempting to remove artificial marks on their body while looking in a mirror - a method Read more about Fish spied checking itself out in a mirror - Scimex

Developing diet drugs for female mozzies

Publicly released: Fri 8 Feb 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Cell

Mozzie diet drugs might be a way to quench their thirst for blood and slow disease spread, according to international researchers. Yellow fever, dengue, zika and chikungunya are all diseases spread by female mosquitos who bite humans, but after Read more about Developing diet drugs for female mozzies - Scimex

Crows can plan three steps ahead like humans playing chess

Publicly released: Fri 8 Feb 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Current Biology

New research shows that crows are able to plan three behaviours in advance when working towards a goal, similar to the way humans plan future moves in chess. The study by New Zealand and international scientists set up problems for New Caledonia Read more about Crows can plan three steps ahead like humans playing chess - Scimex

Burn, baby burn: Getting controlled fires to burn better

Publicly released: Fri 8 Feb 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

International Journal of Wildland Fire

Aussie researchers have identified a way to help predict fire spread in Eucalyptus forests, which could help fire managers more effectively carry out controlled burns to reduce bushfire risk. The researchers looked at the successes and failures at Read more about Burn, baby burn: Getting controlled fires to burn better - Scimex

Vitamin D with antibiotics could help fight a TB infection

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

European Respiratory Journal

Good ol’vitamin D could help patients fight drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), according to international and Australian researchers. The researchers pooled data from 1, 850 TB patients who took part in clinical trials of Vitamin D in eight Read more about Vitamin D with antibiotics could help fight a TB infection - Scimex

Global suicide deaths over 800,000

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

Worldwide, the total number of deaths from suicide increased 6.7 per cent between 1990 and 2016, to 817, 000 deaths. However, when adjusted for age the global mortality rate decreased by 33 per cent. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study Read more about Global suicide deaths over 800,000 - Scimex

More evidence for cervical HPV testing

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

A new study strongly supports high-risk HPV testing over traditional smears for cervical cancer screening. Australia has already shifted to the new way of testing and New Zealand is planning to make the shift in a few years' time. A UK pilot study Read more about More evidence for cervical HPV testing - Scimex

Ditch the diabetes with a stomach staple

Publicly released: Thu 7 Feb 2019 at 1001 AEDT | 1201 NZDT

Diabetologia

Danish researchers say that three-quarters of their participants with type 2 diabetes went into remission within a year of having gastric bypass surgery. The authors say that there was a higher likelihood of success if the patient was younger, had Read more about Ditch the diabetes with a stomach staple - Scimex