Australia’s 10 worst invasive species

Publicly released: Wed 20 Feb 2019 at 1018 AEDT | 1218 NZDT

Pacific Conservation Biology

New research has shown that invasive or pest species are a problem for 1, 257 threatened species in Australia, or about four out of five species. The research which has been published in Pacific Conservation Biology also identified the top ten Read more about Australia’s 10 worst invasive species - Scimex

New hope for first responder mental health

Publicly released: Wed 20 Feb 2019 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Journal of Medical Internet Research

World-first research will see emergency services workers become better equipped to take on the many mental health challenges of their demanding roles. UNSW’s Workplace Mental Health Research Team, the Black Dog Institute and Fire and Rescue NSW Read more about New hope for first responder mental health - Scimex

NZ's giant raptors evolved from tiny Aussie relatives

Publicly released: Wed 20 Feb 2019 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

Both of New Zealand’s extinct giant raptors were once related to much smaller, open land adapted Australian relatives, according to new Australasian research. The Eyles’harrier and Haast’s eagle diverged from their Aussie relatives about two Read more about NZ's giant raptors evolved from tiny Aussie relatives - Scimex

This Japanese plant could help preserve your youth

Publicly released: Wed 20 Feb 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

A Japanese plant commonly found in herb gardens could hold the secret to anti-aging, say international researchers. The study investigated a compound known as 4, 4’-dimethoxychalcone (DMC) found in the leaves and stalks of the Ashitaba plant, and Read more about This Japanese plant could help preserve your youth - Scimex

Sophisticated monkey hunting aids human colonisation of South Asian rainforest

Publicly released: Wed 20 Feb 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

New evidence has revealed specialised hunting of monkeys by humans 45, 000 years ago was the key to successfully colonising the rainforests of Sri Lanka. The findings, published in Nature Communications, reveals the discovery of cut-marked and burnt Read more about Sophisticated monkey hunting aids human colonisation of South Asian rainforest - Scimex

Less flexible antibodies in elderly reduce their protection against the flu

Publicly released: Wed 20 Feb 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Cell Press

Influenza vaccines may not be as effective in elderly people as they are less capable of producing antibodies that can adapt to new viral strains, say international researchers. As we age, our B cells and the antibodies they release have fewer Read more about Less flexible antibodies in elderly reduce their protection against the flu - Scimex

Testing pain relief treatments for whiplash

Publicly released: Tue 19 Feb 2019 at 1510 AEDT | 1710 NZDT

Researchers in the RECOVER Injury Research Centre are seeking people with neck pain from a whiplash injury to help them test the effectiveness of non-opioid pain relief. Media Release. From:The University of Queensland. Researchers are investigating Read more about Testing pain relief treatments for whiplash - Scimex

American whalers left rock engravings in Pilbara in 1840s

Publicly released: Tue 19 Feb 2019 at 1258 AEDT | 1458 NZDT

Antiquity

A team of archaeologists from The University of Western Australia working with Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and Rio Tinto have discovered Indigenous people were not the only ones to leave their mark in the Dampier Archipelago. Archaeologists Read more about American whalers left rock engravings in Pilbara in 1840s - Scimex

WA universities to help shape the future of space technology

Publicly released: Tue 19 Feb 2019 at 1201 AEDT | 1401 NZDT

Western Australian universities will play a major role in helping shape the future of space technology when a prestigious international symposium is held in Perth next month. The Emerging and Disruptive Technology Assessment Symposium (EDTAS) will Read more about WA universities to help shape the future of space technology - Scimex

Rabbits more destructive to dunes than climate change

Publicly released: Tue 19 Feb 2019 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

Earth Surface Processes and Landforms

Rabbits have been identified as the culprit behind historical damage to the vast dune system that flanks South Australia’s Coorong. A long-term study of vegetation cover on Younghusband Peninsula’s transgressive dunes by Flinders University Read more about Rabbits more destructive to dunes than climate change - Scimex

Fifty experts warn looming renewable energy bottlenecks may put emissions targets at risk

Publicly released: Tue 19 Feb 2019 at 1148 AEDT | 1348 NZDT

Electricity transmission, storage and market reform are required now to achieve emissions targets, according to 50 Australian energy experts, who have signed a joint statement following a renewable energy symposium at ANU. The statement says that Read more about Fifty experts warn looming renewable energy bottlenecks may put emissions targets at risk - Scimex

Bipartisan support by the Coalition and Labor will help our resource sector dig deeper for Australiaʼs secure future

Publicly released: Tue 19 Feb 2019 at 1001 AEDT | 1201 NZDT

The peak body for Australiaʼs 8, 000 geoscientists — the Australian Geoscience Council (AGC) — has strongly welcomed commitments from the Coalition Government and Australian Labor Party to boost support for the exploration of ʻnext Read more about Bipartisan support by the Coalition and Labor will help our resource sector dig deeper for Australiaʼs secure future - Scimex

Sink or swim? Great white sharks do both

Publicly released: Tue 19 Feb 2019 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

The Journal of Experimental Biology

Great white sharks repeatedly deep-dive and swim to the surface to save energy when hunting, according to Aussie and international researchers. 'Cold-blooded' animals such as fish and reptiles generally live life in the slow lane to save energy, but Read more about Sink or swim? Great white sharks do both - Scimex

Gut bacteria adapting to Kiwis' love of fruit and veg

Publicly released: Tue 19 Feb 2019 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

The ISMC Journal

Discovery of new gut bacteria that feasts on pectin from the cell walls of fruit and veg may have evolved to help us break down dietary fibre, say Plant &Food Research scientists. The team analysed faecal samples and dietary intakes of almost 50 New Read more about Gut bacteria adapting to Kiwis' love of fruit and veg - Scimex

A polariton filter turns ordinary laser light into quantum light

Publicly released: Tue 19 Feb 2019 at 0927 AEDT | 1127 NZDT

Nature Materials

An international team of researchers led out of Macquarie University has demonstrated a new approach for converting ordinary laser light into genuine quantum light. Their approach uses nanometre-thick films made of gallium arsenide, which is a Read more about A polariton filter turns ordinary laser light into quantum light - Scimex

New take on animal evolution's Big Bang theory

Publicly released: Tue 19 Feb 2019 at 0700 AEDT | 0900 NZDT

PNAS

Animal life's evolutionary ‘Big Bang’ended much sooner than previously thought, a new study has found. The new research by experts in Australia and the UK indicates that animal evolution's Big Bang was over a lot earlier than expected: 521 Read more about New take on animal evolution's Big Bang theory - Scimex

Revealed: how the ‘Iron Man’ of immune cells helps T cells fight infection

Publicly released: Tue 19 Feb 2019 at 0700 AEDT | 0900 NZDT

PNAS

The immune system’s killer T cells are crucial in fighting viral infections. A fraction of them – memory cells – live on once infection is controlled in order to fight re-infection by the same virus. They are of great interest as the basis of Read more about Revealed: how the ‘Iron Man’ of immune cells helps T cells fight infection - Scimex

Optical illusion appears like delayed reality to your brain

Publicly released: Tue 19 Feb 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

JNeurosci

An optical illusion that makes stationary shapes appear to rotate as you move closer or further away from it activates the same part of your brain as real movement, but with a short delay, according to Chinese research. The researchers found the Read more about Optical illusion appears like delayed reality to your brain - Scimex

Fish oil supplements could help cut preterm birth for 25 cents a day

Publicly released: Tue 19 Feb 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Supplements containing omega-3, such as fish oil tablets, could be used to help prevent pre-term birth for less than 25 cents a day and could be added to the PBS, according to an Australian expert. She says omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to Read more about Fish oil supplements could help cut preterm birth for 25 cents a day - Scimex

Extinguishing fear memories relies on an unusual change to DNA

Publicly released: Tue 19 Feb 2019 at 0301 AEDT | 0501 NZDT

Nature Neuroscience

Researchers at The University of Queensland have discovered a DNA modification that enhances our ability to extinguish fear. The findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, could help guide the development of new treatments for fear-related anxiety Read more about Extinguishing fear memories relies on an unusual change to DNA - Scimex