AI is still simple because we don't yet understand ourselves

Publicly released: Fri 15 Feb 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a long way off achieving human-like learning and perception because we know so little about how these processes work in ourselves, say international researchers. Our learning can grow without prior knowledge or Read more about AI is still simple because we don't yet understand ourselves - Scimex

Penis development in womb requires more than testosterone

Publicly released: Fri 15 Feb 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Biology

Testosterone isn't the only hormone in the game when it comes to penis development in the womb, according to research from the UK.During development of the male fetus, the testes release testosterone which needs to be converted into another hormone Read more about Penis development in womb requires more than testosterone - Scimex

Seismic waves used to map Earth's upper and lower mantle

Publicly released: Fri 15 Feb 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

Scientists using earthquakes and their seismic echoes to map the boundary of the upper and lower mantle's have revealed a previously unidentified roughness between the layers. This roughness suggests that some regions of the boundary are Read more about Seismic waves used to map Earth's upper and lower mantle - Scimex

The formula for a beautiful face

Publicly released: Fri 15 Feb 2019 at 0301 AEDT | 0501 NZDT

JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery

A US plastic surgeon has tried to come up with a formula for the most beautiful face possible by asking 419 of his patients to rank 11 sets of 43 digitally-adjusted photos and line drawings of actual faces. Factors being considered were position of Read more about The formula for a beautiful face - Scimex

Safer bone marrow transplants for blood cancer patients a step closer

Publicly released: Fri 15 Feb 2019 at 0101 AEDT | 0301 NZDT

Clinical Cancer Research

Queensland researchers have conducted Australia’s first clinical trial using genetically engineered immune cells to make bone marrow transplantation for blood cancer safer. The research was led by QIMR Berghofer scientist Dr Siok Tey and published Read more about Safer bone marrow transplants for blood cancer patients a step closer - Scimex

Researchers crack mystery of maternal mortality rates through prehistory

Publicly released: Fri 15 Feb 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Current Anthropology

Researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) have developed the first method for determining maternal mortality rates in prehistoric populations based on archaeological records. Until now there has been no way to measure how many women Read more about Researchers crack mystery of maternal mortality rates through prehistory - Scimex

Disadvantaged children get a better start to life with ongoing nurse home visits

Publicly released: Fri 15 Feb 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Official Journal of American Paediatrics

New research has found that disadvantaged children would get a better start to life if maternal and child health nurses regularly visited their homes in the first two years to help their mothers improve parenting skills. A team of Australian Read more about Disadvantaged children get a better start to life with ongoing nurse home visits - Scimex

Building better robots that can get a grip

Publicly released: Thu 14 Feb 2019 at 1400 AEDT | 1600 NZDT

Science Robotics

QUT researchers are working on how robots can be taught to grasp objects in real-world situations. Media Release. From:Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The Amazon grant coincides with the publication of a separate ground-breaking study Read more about Building better robots that can get a grip - Scimex

Pilot plant to turn sugarcane waste into biofuel and beer bottles

Publicly released: Thu 14 Feb 2019 at 1300 AEDT | 1500 NZDT

QUT researchers and Mercurius Australia have commenced work on a pilot plant to prove the economic viability of turning sugarcane waste into either jet and diesel fuel or chemicals that could be used to make plastic soft drink and beer bottles. Read more about Pilot plant to turn sugarcane waste into biofuel and beer bottles - Scimex

Native turtles face extinction in South Australia

Publicly released: Thu 14 Feb 2019 at 1130 AEDT | 1330 NZDT

Scientific Reports

Western Sydney University has contributed to new Australian research into native turtle populations in the Murray River and some of its associated waterways. The study finds that species are in decline in the lower Murray River region, and some were Read more about Native turtles face extinction in South Australia - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Childhood trigger of coeliac disease

Publicly released: Thu 14 Feb 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

A common intestinal virus may be a trigger for coeliac disease in children who have a genetic predisposition to the disease, say international researchers. One in five children with particular genes that make them more likely to become coeliac Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Childhood trigger of coeliac disease - Scimex

Queensland road trip set to test Artificial Intelligence on real Aussie roads

Publicly released: Thu 14 Feb 2019 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

QUT researchers will take an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system on a road trip of south-east Queensland to ensure the autonomous cars of the future will be smart enough to handle tough Australian road conditions. Media Release. From:Queensland Read more about Queensland road trip set to test Artificial Intelligence on real Aussie roads - Scimex

Trees remember heatwaves

Publicly released: Thu 14 Feb 2019 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Functional Ecology

An Aussie eucalypt can ‘remember’ past exposure to extreme heat, which makes the tree and its offspring better able to cope with future heatwaves, according to new research from Macquarie University. This finding could have important Read more about Trees remember heatwaves - Scimex

Canny Australia may have saved $5.42bn on hep C drugs by 2020

Publicly released: Thu 14 Feb 2019 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

Australia negotiated a deal for drugs to treat hepatitis C in 2015 that guaranteed an unlimited five year supply for $1bn. With 104, 223 patients predicted to be treated by the time the deal runs out, Australia will have saved itself a whopping Read more about Canny Australia may have saved $5.42bn on hep C drugs by 2020 - Scimex

The lizard and the egg: Liolaemus lizards break golden rule of biology

Publicly released: Thu 14 Feb 2019 at 0830 AEDT | 1030 NZDT

Evolution

Researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) have made a remarkable discovery about a group of lizards, and how they've managed to thrive in extreme conditions on one of the world's highest mountain ranges. Funder: Becas Chile‐CONICYT Read more about The lizard and the egg: Liolaemus lizards break golden rule of biology - Scimex

Treating insomnia improves back pain

Publicly released: Thu 14 Feb 2019 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Osteoarthritis and Cartilage

A new analysis from the University of Sydney shows treatment for insomnia can help to reduce back pain, further enforcing the complex link between sleep and pain. Media Release. From:The University of Sydney. A new analysis from the University of Read more about Treating insomnia improves back pain - Scimex

Link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer ignored by women most at risk, but there’s a solution

Publicly released: Thu 14 Feb 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS One

Middle aged women in Australia aren’t getting the message about the proven link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer, at a time when more are drinking while cancer rates in their age bracket are increasing, according to a new study. More Read more about Link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer ignored by women most at risk, but there’s a solution - Scimex

How poor sleep causes heart disease (in mice)

Publicly released: Thu 14 Feb 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Nature

US scientists subjected mice to long-term fragmented sleep and found they were more anxious, more prone to inflammation, and had a larger build up of atherosclerotic plaques in their arteries than well-rested rodents. They also had less of a protein Read more about How poor sleep causes heart disease (in mice) - Scimex

Reprogrammed human pancreatic cells relieve diabetes in mice

Publicly released: Thu 14 Feb 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Nature

Not all types of human pancreatic cell can produce insulin, but international scientists have reprogrammed those that don't to produce it, and say injecting the reprogrammed cells into mice with diabetes relieved their symptoms. The cells were Read more about Reprogrammed human pancreatic cells relieve diabetes in mice - Scimex

Gender and cultural bias exists against teachers at university level

Publicly released: Thu 14 Feb 2019 at 0401 AEDT | 0601 NZDT

PLOS One

Students are more likely to rate male university teachers higher than their female counterparts in some areas of STEM and Business, according to Australia’s largest review of student experience surveys. The study, published today in PLOS ONE, Read more about Gender and cultural bias exists against teachers at university level - Scimex