#MeToo may be starting to bite on sexual harassment

Publicly released: Thu 18 Jul 2019 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

The #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, which called out sexual assault and sexual harassment, may be having an impact, after surveys of 500 women found levels of unwanted sexual attention and sexual coercion were lower in 2018 than in 2016. However the Read more about #MeToo may be starting to bite on sexual harassment - Scimex

Orangutans survive in managed forests, but decline near palm oil plantations

Publicly released: Thu 18 Jul 2019 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS One

Orangutan populations have remained stable within well-managed forests in Malaysian Borneo where there is little hunting, but have declined in areas with large oil palm plantations. The largest populations of orangutans, numbering about 5, 500, were Read more about Orangutans survive in managed forests, but decline near palm oil plantations - Scimex

NZ could save billions in healthcare if we ditched cars to walk or cycle short trips

Publicly released: Thu 18 Jul 2019 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS One

Choosing to walk or cycle instead of drive for trips under 5 kms could save billions in healthcare costs and help reduce emissions, according to Kiwi-led research. Using existing data on physical activity, air pollution and travel preferences, the Read more about NZ could save billions in healthcare if we ditched cars to walk or cycle short trips - Scimex

Wiping out a mozzie with a double whammy

Publicly released: Thu 18 Jul 2019 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

More than 90 per cent of disease-carrying mosquitoes have been eliminated in a field trial in China, by combining two techniques which impact the ability of mosquitoes to breed. The international and Australian researchers infected the mosquitoes Read more about Wiping out a mozzie with a double whammy - Scimex

200 times faster than ever before: the speediest quantum operation yet

Publicly released: Thu 18 Jul 2019 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

A group of physicists at UNSW Sydney have built a super-fast version of the central building block of a quantum computer. The research is the milestone result of a vision first outlined by scientists 20 years ago. Funder: The research was supported Read more about 200 times faster than ever before: the speediest quantum operation yet - Scimex

AI could boost the success of clinical trials

Publicly released: Thu 18 Jul 2019 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences

High failure rates of clinical trials slow down the already glacial speed of drug development even further. But using artificial intelligence could make clinical trials more likely to succeed resulting in more drugs to market, argue researchers in a Read more about AI could boost the success of clinical trials - Scimex

Autism is mostly explained by genetics, not environment

Publicly released: Thu 18 Jul 2019 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Psychiatry

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) seems to be mostly caused by genetics, according to a study which used population data from five countries, including Australia, over 13 years. The researchers looked at over two million people, around 22, 000 of which Read more about Autism is mostly explained by genetics, not environment - Scimex

Daily coffee doesn’t affect cancer risk

Publicly released: Thu 18 Jul 2019 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

International Journal of Epidemiology

A large Mendelian randomization study by QIMR Berghofer researchers has found drinking coffee every day neither reduces nor increases a person's risk of developing or dying from any cancer. Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council. Media Read more about Daily coffee doesn’t affect cancer risk - Scimex

Bilbies change their breeding in cooler colonies

Publicly released: Thu 18 Jul 2019 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Wildlife Research

Bilbies may be able to adapt their breeding to suit local environmental conditions, Australian researchers discovered after they introduced the threatened species to two temperate sites around the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. The greater bilby Read more about Bilbies change their breeding in cooler colonies - Scimex

Dingo levy on dog food could help us control dingoes without culling

Publicly released: Thu 18 Jul 2019 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Wildlife Research

Our love of dogs could be used to help the dingo, say Aussie researchers who suggest a levy on the sale of pet dogs, dog food, or both, to help fund the research and development of non-lethal ways to manage dingoes. Aussies spend over AU$10 billion Read more about Dingo levy on dog food could help us control dingoes without culling - Scimex

Opening up new possibilities for sound waves

Publicly released: Wed 17 Jul 2019 at 1900 AEST | 2100 NZST

Nature Communications

We’ve all seen a booming loud speaker rattle a window. Imagine what those sound waves could do if you could effectively steer them. Acoustics have already been used in medicine, pest control and speaker technology, and an international research Read more about Opening up new possibilities for sound waves - Scimex

People with diabetes sought for e-health exercise study

Publicly released: Wed 17 Jul 2019 at 1547 AEST | 1747 NZST

University of Queensland researchers are exploring the effect of an e-health exercise program for managing type 2 diabetes. The program aims to help people design and tailor exercise options that suited their preferences and lifestyle. Media Read more about People with diabetes sought for e-health exercise study - Scimex

Global commission into health inequities of mental illness gives blueprint for change

Publicly released: Wed 17 Jul 2019 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

Lancet Psychiatry

Findings released today by a commission into health inequities experienced by people with mental illness lays bare their drastic physical health challenges, and recommends changes to health policy and treatment innovations to tackle what is regarded Read more about Global commission into health inequities of mental illness gives blueprint for change - Scimex

Dolphin mums teach their bubs to sponge

Publicly released: Wed 17 Jul 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Biology Letters

Dolphin culture is alive and well, according to researchers who found the practice of ‘sponging’is a learned behaviour passed down from mother to calf. Some dolphins in WA use marine sponges for protection as they forage for prey, but Read more about Dolphin mums teach their bubs to sponge - Scimex

Drones herd white rhinos away from poachers

Publicly released: Wed 17 Jul 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Drones could be used to herd endangered white rhinos away from places like fencelines where they might get poached. UK researchers trialled a few different methods in a game reserve in South Africa to encourage rhinos to flee so they can help them Read more about Drones herd white rhinos away from poachers - Scimex

Even great apes bond over binge-worthy TV

Publicly released: Wed 17 Jul 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Proceedings B

Sharing experiences – like watching movies or playing board games together – makes us socially closer, and now we know this experience isn’t uniquely human. International researchers got great apes to watch a video with a human, with another Read more about Even great apes bond over binge-worthy TV - Scimex

Why are the frills on frillneck lizards red in the west and yellow in the east?

Publicly released: Wed 17 Jul 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Australian researchers have found differences in the chemical pigments that produce colour which explains why Australia's iconic frillneck lizards tend to have red frills in the west and yellow frills in the east. The researchers found that the red Read more about Why are the frills on frillneck lizards red in the west and yellow in the east? - Scimex

Menstrual cups are safe, cheap, and environmentally friendly

Publicly released: Wed 17 Jul 2019 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The Lancet Public Health

The first major review of menstrual cups indicates they are a safe option for women while helping tackle period poverty and reducing waste from sanitary products. About three-quarters of women surveyed said they would continue using menstrual cups Read more about Menstrual cups are safe, cheap, and environmentally friendly - Scimex

MEDIA BRIEFING: Mental illness takes a toll on the body and years from your life: 20 year life expectancy gap revealed

Publicly released: Wed 17 Jul 2019 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The Lancet Psychiatry

People suffering from mental illness face drastic physical health challenges too, according to an Aussie-led task force which found people with mental illness could experience a gap in life expectancy of around 20 years. The report found a broad Read more about MEDIA BRIEFING: Mental illness takes a toll on the body and years from your life: 20 year life expectancy gap revealed - Scimex

Video intervention offers promising language boost for kids showing early signs of autism

Publicly released: Wed 17 Jul 2019 at 0201 AEST | 0401 NZST

Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

The first rigorous trial of a pre-emptive behavioural intervention for babies showing early signs of autism has found the therapy can improve early language development. A research team led by Professor Andrew Whitehouse and Dr Kristelle Hudry found Read more about Video intervention offers promising language boost for kids showing early signs of autism - Scimex