Doctors can help parents talk to their teens about sex and alcohol

Publicly released: Sat 17 Aug 2019 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

There's little that makes parents and teens squirm more than a chat about 'the birds and the bees', but having this chat guided by a doctor may help to reduce the awkwardness and increase its effectiveness, according to research from the US. Talking Read more about Doctors can help parents talk to their teens about sex and alcohol - Scimex

A new global research agenda to advance primary health care and achieve Universal Health Care

Publicly released: Fri 16 Aug 2019 at 2000 AEST | 2200 NZST

BMJ Global Health

More than 75 policymakers, implementers, and researchers map the gaps in global knowledge and prioritize key questions in new BMJ Global Health special issue. Globally, primary health care is finally getting the attention it deserves. With the Read more about A new global research agenda to advance primary health care and achieve Universal Health Care - Scimex

Discovery of a bottleneck relief in photosynthesis may have a major impact on food crops

Publicly released: Fri 16 Aug 2019 at 1901 AEST | 2101 NZST

Communications Biology

Scientists have found how to relieve a bottleneck in the process by which plants transform sunlight into food, which may lead to an increase in crop production. They discovered that producing more of a protein that controls the rate in which Read more about Discovery of a bottleneck relief in photosynthesis may have a major impact on food crops - Scimex

Numbers count in the genetics of moles and melanomas

Publicly released: Fri 16 Aug 2019 at 1030 AEST | 1230 NZST

Journal of Investigative Dermatology

University of Queensland scientists have identified a way to help dermatologists determine a patient’s risk of developing melanoma. The team uncovered the specific gene variations affecting the number and types of moles on the body and their role Read more about Numbers count in the genetics of moles and melanomas - Scimex

US-Russia nuclear war would plunge the world into 10 years of darkness

Publicly released: Fri 16 Aug 2019 at 1000 AEST | 1200 NZST

Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres

If the US and Russia used up their current nuclear arsenals in war, the fires ignited by nuclear explosions could inject 150 Tg of soot into the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, triggering a global nuclear winter. These soot aerosols would Read more about US-Russia nuclear war would plunge the world into 10 years of darkness - Scimex

Homes and offices can cut most of their carbon emissions with a few simple changes

Publicly released: Fri 16 Aug 2019 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Joule

Upgrading the walls, windows, roofs and insulation of our homes and buildings and using smart software to control heating, cooling, lighting, and ventilation are just some of the ways we could see carbon emissions from buildings slashed, according Read more about Homes and offices can cut most of their carbon emissions with a few simple changes - Scimex

Youth cannabis use declining

Publicly released: Fri 16 Aug 2019 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Cannabis use among Kiwi youths declined between 2001 and 2012, according to a nationwide survey of secondary school students. The Youth 2000 surveys held in 2001, 2007 and 2012 recorded a decrease in the number of students who said they had used Read more about Youth cannabis use declining - Scimex

Consider car seats for older kids

Publicly released: Fri 16 Aug 2019 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

The numbers of kids aged 5-7 riding in car seats improved after legislation introduced in 2013 changed the age to which a child must be in an “appropriate approved child restraint”from the child's fifth to their seventh birthday. But researchers Read more about Consider car seats for older kids - Scimex

Call to ministry to support heart health

Publicly released: Fri 16 Aug 2019 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

We have a much better idea of what the risk factors are for cardiovascular disease, and the next step is to have a national tool that GPs can easily use to screen their patients, say New Zealand researchers. Data from a cohort study of 500, 000 New Read more about Call to ministry to support heart health - Scimex

Cannabis legislation outpacing medical profession

Publicly released: Fri 16 Aug 2019 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

The legislative changes to allow medicinal cannabis in New Zealand are outpacing the medical and legal frameworks doctors work in, according to researchers writing in the New Zealand Medical Journal. They say most cannabis-based products do not have Read more about Cannabis legislation outpacing medical profession - Scimex

Investigating the cause of stuttering

Publicly released: Fri 16 Aug 2019 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Researchers need 3, 000 Australian stutterers for an international study that is searching for the genes in human DNA which cause stuttering. The largest study of its kind into stuttering aims to help develop treatments that target the speech Read more about Investigating the cause of stuttering - Scimex

Many girls start their periods before high school

Publicly released: Fri 16 Aug 2019 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Nearly 50 per cent of Kiwi girls start their periods before they reach high school, according to researchers who say more education and resources are needed in these earlier years. National-level data on the age at first period hasn't been collected Read more about Many girls start their periods before high school - Scimex

Parents pleased with procedure to fix tongue-tied babies

Publicly released: Fri 16 Aug 2019 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Some babies are born with their tongues anchored to the bottom of their mouths which makes it difficult for them to feed properly, so a common procedure to fix this snips the tether of skin holding the tongue down. Doctors at a general practice in Read more about Parents pleased with procedure to fix tongue-tied babies - Scimex

Hunting and human expansion hastened cave bear extinction

Publicly released: Thu 15 Aug 2019 at 2300 AEST | Fri 16 Aug 2019 at 0100 NZST

Scientific Reports

Cave bears were already in decline 10, 000 years before the last ice age began, about the same time modern humans spread throughout Europe, suggesting humans had a part to play in the bears' extinction. As the ice age took hold, cooling temperatures Read more about Hunting and human expansion hastened cave bear extinction - Scimex

Time and tide – how the Moon and other factors affect our oceans

Publicly released: Thu 15 Aug 2019 at 1600 AEST | 1800 NZST

We all know that tides are influenced by the Moon, but how does that connection work and how can we predict the tides more than a year in advance? They are just two of many questions the Bureau of Meteorology is answering this National Science Week Read more about Time and tide – how the Moon and other factors affect our oceans - Scimex

Wiggling it beats a path for a better performance at school

Publicly released: Thu 15 Aug 2019 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

Psychology of Music

Marching, wiggling and tapping a beat aids young children to develop their self-regulation skills and improve school readiness, as shown in newly-published QUT early childhood research. Funder: No funding to acknowledge. Media Release. Read more about Wiggling it beats a path for a better performance at school - Scimex

New genetic testing tool for alpacas

Publicly released: Thu 15 Aug 2019 at 1000 AEST | 1200 NZST

Animal Genetics

A new genetic test that can help identify the genetic colour pattern found in an alpaca’s coat has been developed by Curtin University researchers. Media Release. From:Curtin University. A new genetic test that can help identify the genetic colour Read more about New genetic testing tool for alpacas - Scimex

Short bursts of high intensity exercise good for the brain

Publicly released: Thu 15 Aug 2019 at 0800 AEST | 1000 NZST

Perspectives on Psychological Science

You can't use the excuse that you don't have time to exercise anymore as a new study suggests even short bursts of exercise are good for your brain. Researchers from the University of Auckland pooled all the available data on the subject and found Read more about Short bursts of high intensity exercise good for the brain - Scimex

Ocean and air temperatures melted Antarctica's largest ice shelf

Publicly released: Thu 15 Aug 2019 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Science Advances

Both and ocean and air temperatures played a role in the melting of ice sheet in the Ross embayment during the last period of glacial retreat, but melting from underneath due to ocean warming became more important over time. New Zealand researchers Read more about Ocean and air temperatures melted Antarctica's largest ice shelf - Scimex

Multitasking is just as hard for women as it is for men

Publicly released: Thu 15 Aug 2019 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS One

Women are not better than men at multitasking, according to German researchers who may have just put an end to the age-old argument. The study compared the abilities of 48 men and 48 women performing tasks that involved paying attention to a single Read more about Multitasking is just as hard for women as it is for men - Scimex