EXPERT REACTION: Federal Government independent interim assessment of Murray Darling fish deaths

Publicly released: Fri 22 Feb 2019 at 1244 AEDT | 1444 NZDT

The Federal Government last night released an independent interim assessment of the recent fish deaths in the Murray Darling river system. The report suggests continued hot conditions, combined with a lack of water flow, caused the weir pools to Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Federal Government independent interim assessment of Murray Darling fish deaths - Scimex

Shots fired! Hayabusa2 fires a bullet at Ryugu to collect asteroid dirt

Publicly released: Fri 22 Feb 2019 at 1130 AEDT | 1330 NZDT

Japanese space-probe Hayabusa2 has completed the next stage of its mission, to touch down onto asteroid Ryugu and collect a small sample of the rocky surface. The space probe descended to the surface, and fired a metal bullet in order to smash up Read more about Shots fired! Hayabusa2 fires a bullet at Ryugu to collect asteroid dirt - Scimex

Researchers develop sharp solution for waste glass

Publicly released: Fri 22 Feb 2019 at 1123 AEDT | 1323 NZDT

A new process turning waste glass into everyday products could save tens of millions of tonnes of glass from going to landfill every year. Media Release. From:The University of Queensland. A new process turning waste glass into every day products Read more about Researchers develop sharp solution for waste glass - Scimex

Methane emissions ballooned between 2014-2017

Publicly released: Fri 22 Feb 2019 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

The amount of methane in the atmosphere has been rising since 2007 and it's not slowing down say an international team of researchers - including a New Zealander. Methane emissions had been dropping at the start of the century, but new air sampling Read more about Methane emissions ballooned between 2014-2017 - Scimex

Birds of a feather grow together

Publicly released: Fri 22 Feb 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Biology

Regardless of what kind of flying bird you look at, their feathers will be arranged in a precise hexagonal pattern, and European researchers have figured out why. They say a special signalling pathway - one known to be essential for hair, teeth, and Read more about Birds of a feather grow together - Scimex

Study links diabetes and back pain

Publicly released: Fri 22 Feb 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

People with diabetes have a 35 percent higher risk of experiencing low back pain and 24 percent higher risk of having neck pain than those without diabetes, a review by University of Sydney researchers has found.The analysis of eight previous Read more about Study links diabetes and back pain - Scimex

World's biggest bee found

Publicly released: Fri 22 Feb 2019 at 0100 AEDT | 0300 NZDT

Lost to science since 1981 and thought by some to be extinct, Wallace's giant bee (Megachile pluto) has been rediscovered in Indonesia by an international team of scientists and conservationists. Funder: Global Wildlife Conservation. Media Release. Read more about World's biggest bee found - Scimex

Ferocious T. rex evolved from tiny 78kg ancestor

Publicly released: Fri 22 Feb 2019 at 0100 AEDT | 0300 NZDT

Communications Biology

The remains of a new species in the tyrannosauroid family 15 million years older than other tyrannosaur fossils have been found in Utah. The new species – named Moros intrepidus – had short legs about 1.2 metres long when fully grown and is Read more about Ferocious T. rex evolved from tiny 78kg ancestor - Scimex

Even independent reviews of cannabis law reform can be clouded

Publicly released: Fri 22 Feb 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

Massey University's drug research team has concerns over the independent economic review of the potential legalisation of cannabis by consultancy Sense Partners. While they are broadly supportive of the of cannabis law reform based on harm reduction, Read more about Even independent reviews of cannabis law reform can be clouded - Scimex

Higher socioeconomic deprivation linked to more than one chronic condition

Publicly released: Fri 22 Feb 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

Multimorbidity, when one patient has two or more chronic conditions, is more common and appears earlier in areas with high socioeconomic deprivation, with Māori and Pacifica disproportionately affected. In a free GP clinic in Dunedin, the majority Read more about Higher socioeconomic deprivation linked to more than one chronic condition - Scimex

High referral rate for New Zealand women to be genetically tested for cancer risk

Publicly released: Fri 22 Feb 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

New Zealand women diagnosed with high-grade ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal cancer, the rate of referral for genetic BRCA testing is high compared to international rates, say New Zealand researchers. Women with specific variants of the BRCA Read more about High referral rate for New Zealand women to be genetically tested for cancer risk - Scimex

Are human brains unique?

Publicly released: Thu 21 Feb 2019 at 1623 AEDT | 1823 NZDT

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States

New University of Sydney research shows that properties thought to be unique to the human brain are also shared by the mouse brain. Media Release. From:The University of Sydney. New research shows that properties thought to be unique to the human Read more about Are human brains unique? - Scimex

Feeling closer to your friends could protect you from cyberbullying negativity

Publicly released: Thu 21 Feb 2019 at 1601 AEDT | 1801 NZDT

Psychology in the Schools

Young people who feel closer connections with their friends are less vulnerable to cyberbullying, according to Australian research. The researchers surveyed 229 young people between the ages of 12 and 17 in South Australia, on their experiences of Read more about Feeling closer to your friends could protect you from cyberbullying negativity - Scimex

Churchill Fellow goes global to explore VR as tool for social good

Publicly released: Thu 21 Feb 2019 at 1300 AEDT | 1500 NZDT

Imagine hanging out in a rainforest with orang-utans without having to leave your lounge room. Then imagine how the impact of threats to their habitat may become more real to you as a result. QUT Creative Industries alumnus, creative technologist Read more about Churchill Fellow goes global to explore VR as tool for social good - Scimex

Self-help manual to help child sleep patterns

Publicly released: Thu 21 Feb 2019 at 1259 AEDT | 1459 NZDT

Escalating family anxiety over childhood sleep problems affect everyone in a family unit – parents, siblings and the child enduring sleep issues – but a new book that teaches parents step-by-step treatments puts research-supported techniques Read more about Self-help manual to help child sleep patterns - Scimex

A better model for sewage systems – and the Murray

Publicly released: Thu 21 Feb 2019 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

ScienceDirect

An improved wastewater system using algae to accelerate the breakdown of effluent presents Australian rural communities with a significant breakthrough in cheaper and more efficient wastewater management, Flinders University researchers confirm in a Read more about A better model for sewage systems – and the Murray - Scimex

Tangle of shorebird policy unpicked

Publicly released: Thu 21 Feb 2019 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

Regional Environmental Change

Research has shown that international cooperation has been critical in protecting migratory shorebirds in the Asia Pacific, but ongoing challenges exist. The University of Queensland-led study surveyed and analysed the international policy framework Read more about Tangle of shorebird policy unpicked - Scimex

Origins of giant extinct New Zealand bird traced to Africa

Publicly released: Thu 21 Feb 2019 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

Diversity

Scientists have revealed the African origins of New Zealand’s most mysterious giant flightless bird – the now extinct adzebill – showing that some of its closest living relatives are the pint-sized flufftails from Madagascar and Africa. Read more about Origins of giant extinct New Zealand bird traced to Africa - Scimex

Supporting driver retirement for people with dementia

Publicly released: Thu 21 Feb 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

International Psychogeriatrics

Researchers are calling for Australia’s system of managing driver retirement for people with dementia to be overhauled. A University of Queensland study found a lack of suitable screening and assessment measures remained an issue for General Read more about Supporting driver retirement for people with dementia - Scimex

The new exercise trend that’s made for everyone

Publicly released: Thu 21 Feb 2019 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

British Journal of Sports Medicine

Bringing the science of high intensity interval training (HIIT) into everyday life could be the key to helping unfit, overweight people get more of the exercise they need to improve their health, according to an international research team. Funder: Read more about The new exercise trend that’s made for everyone - Scimex