Why are we grumpy when we're tired?

Publicly released: Wed 27 Mar 2019 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

We all know a bad night’s sleep can make people touchy, but the reasons why are unclear, say international researchers who found it’s not caused by reduced brain activity. Forty-seven young (aged 20-30) and 33 older (aged 65-75) poor souls were Read more about Why are we grumpy when we're tired? - Scimex

Our knowledge of language could fit on a floppy disk (remember them?)

Publicly released: Wed 27 Mar 2019 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

It might seem surprising, but our knowledge of language could almost fit on a good old floppy disk, according to US researchers. The average English-speaking adult has learned 12.5 million bits, or around 1.5 megabytes, of information, and most of Read more about Our knowledge of language could fit on a floppy disk (remember them?) - Scimex

Teens who believe in fate are more likely to drink and smoke

Publicly released: Wed 27 Mar 2019 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Teens who believe everything happens by chance are more likely to become smokers or risky drinkers than those who believe they have control over their own actions, according to a study of over 4, 600 young people. British researchers analysed data Read more about Teens who believe in fate are more likely to drink and smoke - Scimex

Face off – Cyclists not human enough for drivers

Publicly released: Wed 27 Mar 2019 at 0601 AEDT | 0801 NZDT

Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

A new Australian study has found that more than half of car drivers think cyclists are not completely human, with a link between the dehumanisation of bike riders and acts of deliberate aggression towards them on the road. Media Release. Read more about Face off – Cyclists not human enough for drivers - Scimex

Healthy nose microbes could protect against glue ear

Publicly released: Wed 27 Mar 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

PLOS One

Having healthy gut microbes is all the rage, but new research suggests the bacteria in kids' noses could help protect them against 'glue ear'. Chronic otitis media with effusion, where thick fluid gathers in the space behind the ear drum, is common Read more about Healthy nose microbes could protect against glue ear - Scimex

Gravitational wave researchers resume search for ripples in space and time

Publicly released: Wed 27 Mar 2019 at 0201 AEDT | 0401 NZDT

Researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav), as part of an international team of scientists, are set to resume their hunt for gravitational waves - ripples in space and time - on April 1. They will be Read more about Gravitational wave researchers resume search for ripples in space and time - Scimex

Male crickets use female scent to rate fertility prospects

Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2019 at 1830 AEDT | 2030 NZDT

Evolution

Researchers at The University of Western Australia have found that male insects are able to use female scent to assess not only how many eggs she will produce, but also the egg-laying potential of their daughters. The study builds on previous UWA Read more about Male crickets use female scent to rate fertility prospects - Scimex

Motion recognition tech assists epilepsy diagnosis

Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2019 at 1700 AEDT | 1900 NZDT

Motion recognition technology is being used to help neurologists in the study of patients’ behaviour during seizures, to provide clues on the sub-type of epilepsy the patient has and identify unusual seizure movements that require further Read more about Motion recognition tech assists epilepsy diagnosis - Scimex

Sepsis diagnosis challenge leads to overuse of antibiotic

Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2019 at 1448 AEDT | 1648 NZDT

Jama Pediatrics

Delays in recognising and treating sepsis contribute to worse outcomes for patients, yet recognising this overwhelming infection remains a challenge. University of Queensland Child Health Research Centre Associate Professor Luregn Schlapbach said Read more about Sepsis diagnosis challenge leads to overuse of antibiotic - Scimex

Why we share or hide knowledge from co-workers

Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2019 at 1300 AEDT | 1500 NZDT

Journal of Organizational Behavior

Employees who enjoy their jobs and gain meaning from their roles are more likely to share information with their colleagues, new research led by Curtin University has found. Media Release. From:Curtin University. Employees who enjoy their jobs and Read more about Why we share or hide knowledge from co-workers - Scimex

Discovery to help wheat cope with salty soils

Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2019 at 1223 AEDT | 1423 NZDT

New Phytologist

Western Australian scientists have discovered two enzymes that explain the sensitivity of wheat plants to salty soils. The findings could lead to advances that strengthen crops against salinity, an issue costing WA farmers more than $500 Read more about Discovery to help wheat cope with salty soils - Scimex

Treating emissions differently

Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2019 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment

New Zealand's Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has suggested we need to change the way we treat greenhouse gases by tackling the different sources separately. Because carbon dioxide is the main driver of global temperature rise, and Read more about Treating emissions differently - Scimex

Women who work night shifts at greater risk of miscarriage

Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Occupational & Environmental Medicine

Pregnant women who work two or more night shifts in a week are more likely to miscarry the following week than those who don't work nights or work just one night shift in a week, according to a Danish study of 22, 744 pregnant women, most of whom Read more about Women who work night shifts at greater risk of miscarriage - Scimex

Sitting down too much linked to thousands of deaths a year

Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health

We all enjoy a bit of couch time after a hard day at work, but Northern Irish researchers say that all this excess time lounging around is linked to nearly 70, 000 deaths per year in the UK, as well as putting a strain of over £0.7bn a year on the Read more about Sitting down too much linked to thousands of deaths a year - Scimex

Woman taking cholesterol-busting red yeast rice supplements suffers acute liver injury

Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

BMJ Case Reports

Red yeast rice supplement - which is taken to lower cholesterol as an alternative to statins - has the potential to cause liver damage, warn US doctors after a 64-year old woman developed acute liver injury after six weeks of taking the supplement. Read more about Woman taking cholesterol-busting red yeast rice supplements suffers acute liver injury - Scimex

Cool Earth theory sheds more light on diamonds

Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2019 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Chemical Geology

A QUT geologist has published a new theory on the thermal evolution of Earth billions of years ago that explains why diamonds have formed as precious gemstones rather than just lumps of common graphite. Media Release. From:Queensland University of Read more about Cool Earth theory sheds more light on diamonds - Scimex

Huge police presence made G20 protesters in Brisbane feel violence was justified

Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Australian Journal of Psychology

The 2014 G20 meeting in Brisbane had one of the largest peacetime mobilisations of police in Australian history, which protesters at the event perceived as a threat and justification for violence, say Australian authors. The team used a special Read more about Huge police presence made G20 protesters in Brisbane feel violence was justified - Scimex

Our friendly bacteria are part of our families

Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Microbiology

The bacteria that live in our guts and mouths are shared within our households, particularly between spouses, according to Australian, US and Fijian scientists. They looked at bacteria from 287 people from the Fiji Islands, and also found women Read more about Our friendly bacteria are part of our families - Scimex

Deadly meningitis could be cleared with anti-psychotics

Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Microbiology

French scientists have successfully combated the potentially fatal bacterium that causes meningitis - inflammation in the membranes of the brain and spinal cord - with drugs meant to treat psychotic disorders, in tests on mice. The authors say the Read more about Deadly meningitis could be cleared with anti-psychotics - Scimex

ANU scientists solve mystery shrouding oldest animal fossils

Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Ecology and Evolution

Scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) have discovered that 558 million-year-old Dickinsonia fossils do not reveal all of the features of the earliest known animals, which potentially had mouths and guts. Media Release. From:The Read more about ANU scientists solve mystery shrouding oldest animal fossils - Scimex