It’s a bird-eat-bird world

Publicly released: Thu 24 Jan 2019 at 1031 AEDT | 1231 NZDT

Austral Ecology

Baby birds and eggs are on the menu for at least 94 species of animals in Australia’s forests and woodlands, according to new research from The University of Queensland. PhD candidate Graham Fulton reviewed 177 existing bird studies across the Read more about It’s a bird-eat-bird world - Scimex

Three weeks in a cast may be enough to heal fractured ankles

Publicly released: Thu 24 Jan 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

Wearing a cast for three weeks may be just as good as wearing one for six weeks when healing ankle fractures, and may even lead to higher rates of ankle mobility, say international researchers. Cutting from six to three weeks may be beneficial as Read more about Three weeks in a cast may be enough to heal fractured ankles - Scimex

Should we rename low-risk cancers to sound less scary?

Publicly released: Thu 24 Jan 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

If your doctor says you have a carcinoma, you probably jump straight to worrying that you have cancer. In a debate article, two doctors argue for renaming low-risk cancers, vs. keeping things as they are. On the one hand, modern screening programs Read more about Should we rename low-risk cancers to sound less scary? - Scimex

Older lady? You might want to rethink that fried chicken

Publicly released: Thu 24 Jan 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

Postmenopausal women who regularly eat fried food are at an increased risk of heart-related death and death from any other cause, according to US scientists. They used questionnaires to assess the diets of 106, 966 women, aged 50 to 79, and found Read more about Older lady? You might want to rethink that fried chicken - Scimex

Could texts prevent you feeling the burn?

Publicly released: Thu 24 Jan 2019 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

As Queenslanders flock to the outdoors this Australia Day weekend, University of Queensland researchers are investigating whether text messages could prevent people falling victim to sunburn. UQ is recruiting 500 Queenslanders to join the Sun Text Read more about Could texts prevent you feeling the burn? - Scimex

Endometrial scratching in IVF is painful and pointless

Publicly released: Thu 24 Jan 2019 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

The New England Journal of Medicine

University of Auckland researchers found that a common fertility procedure does not increase success rates of pregnancy. Endometrial scratching is an additional procedure offered at IVF clinics that is suggested for boosting success rates; it's Read more about Endometrial scratching in IVF is painful and pointless - Scimex

Humpbacks are singing love songs for their supper

Publicly released: Thu 24 Jan 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Humpback whales which decide not to migrate to tropical waters for the breeding season have been detected singing their elaborate breeding songs in Icelandic feeding grounds, according to Icelandic researchers. They're not sure why the whales were Read more about Humpbacks are singing love songs for their supper - Scimex

Researchers test a gene drive in mice

Publicly released: Thu 24 Jan 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Nature

US researchers say they've had some success in testing out a gene drive in laboratory mice, the first successful attempt at using the technology, which has been applied to insects before, in mammals. Using CRISPR genome editing, the researchers Read more about Researchers test a gene drive in mice - Scimex

How to photograph things that aren't there

Publicly released: Thu 24 Jan 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Nature

US scientists have figured out how to take snaps of an object that's out of frame, using an ordinary digital camera and a computer. They used images displayed on a screen which was partially obscured by an opaque object, which cast a partial shadow Read more about How to photograph things that aren't there - Scimex

Gay marriage debate hit LGBT mental health, but also boosted resilience

Publicly released: Thu 24 Jan 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Australian Psychologist

The debate around marriage equality posed a significant mental health risk to the LGBT community, but also promoted psychological well-being when it provided LGBT people with opportunities for social support, according to psychologists at the Read more about Gay marriage debate hit LGBT mental health, but also boosted resilience - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Exercise helps prevent depression

Publicly released: Thu 24 Jan 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Psychiatry

An international study of the genetics of 300, 000 people suggests that exercise does help prevent depression, confirming what many scientists suspected to be true. Previous work had found a link between lack of exercise and depression, but none Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Exercise helps prevent depression - Scimex

Childhood lead exposure associated with life-long mental health problems

Publicly released: Thu 24 Jan 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Psychiatry

A long-term study in New Zealand found that lead exposure during childhood is linked to lifelong mental health problems, say international researchers. The study followed participants for 30 years and found childhood lead exposure was linked with Read more about Childhood lead exposure associated with life-long mental health problems - Scimex

Neurotoxins prevalent in eastern Australian freshwater systems

Publicly released: Wed 23 Jan 2019 at 1624 AEDT | 1824 NZDT

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

The presence of an amino acid, BMAA, produced by blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) and thought to be associated with a higher incidence of neurodegenerative disease, has been confirmed in eastern Australian freshwater systems. Funder: Motor Neurone Read more about Neurotoxins prevalent in eastern Australian freshwater systems - Scimex

Study on perceived hand size holds key to understanding brain-hand communication

Publicly released: Wed 23 Jan 2019 at 1624 AEDT | 1824 NZDT

PLOS One

Researchers from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and UNSW Sydney have released a new study in PLOS One on the proprioceptive measurements of perceived hand position using pointing and verbal localisation tasks. The study has the potential to Read more about Study on perceived hand size holds key to understanding brain-hand communication - Scimex

Competitive swimmers should hang back to boost their speed

Publicly released: Wed 23 Jan 2019 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

Ian Thorpe take note! Chinese and Scottish researchers have investigated the forces affecting swimmers in a race and found that following the leader can save you up to 63 per cent of wave drag by allowing you to ride the waves they've created, while Read more about Competitive swimmers should hang back to boost their speed - Scimex

Your flexible foot muscles are more than just a spring in your step

Publicly released: Wed 23 Jan 2019 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

It turns out that the muscles in your feet are more than just springs to stabilise movement and recycle energy. Australian researchers investigated how foot muscles help us move, and found that our muscles can change the function of the foot to suit Read more about Your flexible foot muscles are more than just a spring in your step - Scimex

Study that said sheep recognise celebrities may be woolly thinking

Publicly released: Wed 23 Jan 2019 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Do ewe remember the story from 2017 about sheep recognising celebrities (including Baarack Obaama)? That study claimed that sheep have an ability to recognise human faces which is "comparable" with humans', but new Australian-led research is calling Read more about Study that said sheep recognise celebrities may be woolly thinking - Scimex

Avoiding Listeria-laced lunchboxes and other back to work and school food safety tips

Publicly released: Wed 23 Jan 2019 at 0801 AEDT | 1001 NZDT

With research showing a third of Australian households have someone living in them at risk of serious Listeria infection, the Food Safety Information Council has released advice on safer lunchbox options (as well as sensible lunchbox food safety Read more about Avoiding Listeria-laced lunchboxes and other back to work and school food safety tips - Scimex

Dengue infection may help protect against Zika symptoms

Publicly released: Wed 23 Jan 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Medicine

Children previously infected with the dengue virus may have some protection from the influenza-like symptoms of Zika virus, say international researchers. However, dengue infection does not reduce the rate of infection from Zika, so it doesn't stop Read more about Dengue infection may help protect against Zika symptoms - Scimex

Pregnancy complications may be baaaaad for bub's heart later in life

Publicly released: Wed 23 Jan 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Biology

In a study on sheep, UK researchers have discovered that complications in pregnancy could spell out a heightened risk of heart disease for lambs later in life. The researchers found lower-than-normal levels of oxygen in the womb were a common Read more about Pregnancy complications may be baaaaad for bub's heart later in life - Scimex