Home births safe for low-risk pregnancies

Publicly released: Fri 9 Aug 2019 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

EClinicalMedicine

Giving birth at home has no effect on a baby's safety for low-risk pregnancies, according to an analysis of multiple studies including some from New Zealand and Australia. Although more women are opting to give birth at home, there have been few Read more about Home births safe for low-risk pregnancies - Scimex

Like moths to a colourful flame

Publicly released: Fri 9 Aug 2019 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Current Biology

A nocturnal moth may be using its colourful wing patterns to attract a female mate, according to new research led by The University of Western Australia and the Adolphe Merkle Institute in Switzerland. Animals that are active at night are thought to Read more about Like moths to a colourful flame - Scimex

How do sharks find their friends in the ocean? They glow in the dark!

Publicly released: Fri 9 Aug 2019 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

iScience

Some species of shark can glow in the dark, helping them pick out their friends in the vast ocean, according to international research which identified a fluorescent green chemical in the skin of swell sharks and chain catsharks. According to the Read more about How do sharks find their friends in the ocean? They glow in the dark! - Scimex

Marine heatwaves a bigger threat to coral reefs than previously thought

Publicly released: Fri 9 Aug 2019 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Current Biology

Marine heatwaves are a much bigger threat to coral reefs than previously thought, research revealing a previously unrecognized impact of climate change on coral reefs has shown. Funder: Australian Research Council Discovery Program Grant DP160100271 Read more about Marine heatwaves a bigger threat to coral reefs than previously thought - Scimex

Study examining how flu impacts children’s immune systems seeks participants

Publicly released: Fri 9 Aug 2019 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

N/A

Australian researchers examining how the flu affects the immune response of young children are looking for children to take part in a new study. The research, to be led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, will ultimately help scientists Read more about Study examining how flu impacts children’s immune systems seeks participants - Scimex

Trading meat for plants would save 29 million hectares of farmland in the US

Publicly released: Thu 8 Aug 2019 at 2300 AEST | Fri 9 Aug 2019 at 0100 NZST

Scientific Reports

Replacing meat for protein-rich vegetarian foods like asparagus, soy and buckwheat would reduce the amount of land required for food production by up to 50 per cent in the US and provide diets with just as many nutrients as those with meat, Read more about Trading meat for plants would save 29 million hectares of farmland in the US - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: IPCC 2019 Special Report on Climate Change and Land

Publicly released: Thu 8 Aug 2019 at 1800 AEST | 2000 NZST

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is releasing Climate Change and Land, a special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gases. A press conference Read more about EXPERT REACTION: IPCC 2019 Special Report on Climate Change and Land - Scimex

Healthy hearts at 50 helps you avoid dementia later on

Publicly released: Thu 8 Aug 2019 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The BMJ

People who scored better on a cardiovascular health test at the age of 50 have been found to have lower rates of dementia later in life, according to data from nearly 8000 British men and women. Researchers followed participants who were free of Read more about Healthy hearts at 50 helps you avoid dementia later on - Scimex

Major surgery associated with small, long term decline in brain power

Publicly released: Thu 8 Aug 2019 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The BMJ

International researchers say that having major surgery has been associated with a small, but long term, decline in brain power - the equivalent, on average, to just less than five months of regular noodle ageing. Curiously, the odds of a Read more about Major surgery associated with small, long term decline in brain power - Scimex

Benefits of early intensive blood pressure control in acute stroke due to intracerebral haemorrhage

Publicly released: Thu 8 Aug 2019 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

Lancet Neurology

A new study, published in The Lancet Neurology, has revealed an optimal approach to lowering elevated blood pressure (BP) for treating patients with acute stroke due to spontaneous bleeding in the brain (intracerebral haemorrhage or ICH), the most Read more about Benefits of early intensive blood pressure control in acute stroke due to intracerebral haemorrhage - Scimex

Keep those bad bugs away from home fermented food and drinks

Publicly released: Thu 8 Aug 2019 at 0730 AEST | 0930 NZST

With the popularity of fermented food and drinks (such as kombucha, yoghurt, cheese, sour cream, salami, soy sauce, sourdough bread, sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi, kefir and fish sauce) many people are trying to ferment food and drink at home. While Read more about Keep those bad bugs away from home fermented food and drinks - Scimex

Vitamin D supplements probably can't protect you from diabetes

Publicly released: Thu 8 Aug 2019 at 0700 AEST | 0900 NZST

The New England Journal of Medicine

People at high risk for type 2 diabetes are unlikely to lower their risk by taking vitamin D supplements, say US researchers. Previous research suggested an association between low vitamin D levels and a risk of type 2 diabetes, but the team say Read more about Vitamin D supplements probably can't protect you from diabetes - Scimex

Ancient origins of a human bone disease

Publicly released: Thu 8 Aug 2019 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS One

An ancient lizard suffered a bone condition similar to one seen in people today, suggesting the disease has been around for a very long time. Researchers identified the condition similar to Paget's disease - which causes issues in the hips and Read more about Ancient origins of a human bone disease - Scimex

Fast food on your commute may be bad for your BMI

Publicly released: Thu 8 Aug 2019 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS One

Driving past fast-food restaurants on your way home from work might be linked to higher BMI, according to a researcher who tracked over 700 workers in Louisiana, USA. We already know that the types of food available in our neighbourhood influences Read more about Fast food on your commute may be bad for your BMI - Scimex

Gluten response in coeliac patients could lead to diagnostic test

Publicly released: Thu 8 Aug 2019 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Science Advances

Distinct markers in the blood of people with coeliac disease have been detected within a few hours of gluten being consumed. The findings could lead to a world-first blood test for diagnosing coeliac disease. Funder: The research was supported by Read more about Gluten response in coeliac patients could lead to diagnostic test - Scimex

Helping solve the mystery of when plate tectonics emerged

Publicly released: Thu 8 Aug 2019 at 0301 AEST | 0501 NZST

Nature

New Curtin University research into how Earth’s rocks formed billions of years ago has helped unlock the mystery of how the planet’s unique plate tectonic behaviour changed over its more than four billion-year lifetime. The research, published Read more about Helping solve the mystery of when plate tectonics emerged - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Warm waters and overfishing may be increasing the levels of mercury in our seafood

Publicly released: Thu 8 Aug 2019 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

Who's down for sushi with a side of mercury? International researchers suggest that our warming oceans and changing diet due to overfishing could be increasing the levels of methylmercury (MeHg) in some fish we like to chow down on. They say that Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Warm waters and overfishing may be increasing the levels of mercury in our seafood - Scimex

Renewable energy storage needs to be 90 per cent cheaper

Publicly released: Thu 8 Aug 2019 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Joule

The cost of energy storage will be critical in determining how much renewable energy like wind and solar can compete with other resources, and according to researchers, technologies with storage capacity costs below $20/kWh will make them competitive Read more about Renewable energy storage needs to be 90 per cent cheaper - Scimex

International and National health leaders come together to solve Australia's biggest health problems

Publicly released: Wed 7 Aug 2019 at 1411 AEST | 1611 NZST

2019 Partnerships for Better Health International Symposium

Health professionals, scholars, patients, and carers will gather in Sydney’s Darling Harbour from 29-30 August, 2019 for the Maridulu Budyari Gumal – the Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research &Enterprise (SPHERE) Partnerships for Read more about International and National health leaders come together to solve Australia's biggest health problems - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Poultry protection - Eating chicken may defend against breast cancer

Publicly released: Wed 7 Aug 2019 at 1401 AEST | 1601 NZST

International Journal of Cancer

International researchers suggest that red meat may increase the risk of breast cancer, whereas chowing down on chicken may be protective against breast cancer risk. Gathering data from over 42, 000 women, the team found those who consumed the Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Poultry protection - Eating chicken may defend against breast cancer - Scimex