New cancer treatment not as toxic as others

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 1700 AEDT | 1900 NZDT

Leukemia

A QIMR Berghofer study has identified how a newly approved blood cancer drug - long-acting Interferon alpha - works and found the treatment is better than other drugs at targeting cancer stem cells while causing minimal damage to healthy cells. Read more about New cancer treatment not as toxic as others - Scimex

Immune ‘checkpoint switch-off' enables destruction of cancer cells

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 1456 AEDT | 1656 NZDT

Blood

A collaboration between the Griffith University and multiple clinical research institutes has led to an exciting discovery in cancer research. The multi-disciplinary team discovered a new mechanism in which the Epstein-Barr virus - which can cause Read more about Immune ‘checkpoint switch-off' enables destruction of cancer cells - Scimex

Crucial ‘missing link’ between breathing and cardiovascular systems found

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

The Journal of Neuroscience

A team of researchers from Macquarie University have found a crucial missing link between the parts of the brain that control breathing and those that control the cardiovascular system. The discovery provides clues to how life-threatening conditions Read more about Crucial ‘missing link’ between breathing and cardiovascular systems found - Scimex

Victoria’s new secret weapon in the war on waste – Faster and higher quality 3D printing key to improving manufacturing

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

Victoria has a new secret weapon to fight the war on waste and improve manufacturing opportunities with the arrival of Associate Professor Timothy Scott and his breakthrough 3D printing technology, developed in partnership with colleagues at the Read more about Victoria’s new secret weapon in the war on waste – Faster and higher quality 3D printing key to improving manufacturing - Scimex

Hand-building dry toilets in PNG's coastal villages to fight climate change impacts

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

Community rangers working under a joint Australian-Papua New Guinean aid development program in PNG's tiny coastal Treaty Villages have established a microbusiness for the construction of Urinary Diversion Dry Toilets, which help combat groundwater Read more about Hand-building dry toilets in PNG's coastal villages to fight climate change impacts - Scimex

Traditional broth may have antimalarial properties

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Archives of Disease in Childhood

School children have helped a new study looking at traditional soup broths and whether they have antimalarial properties. The idea for the study came about following development of an antimalarial drug derived from a traditional Chinese herbal Read more about Traditional broth may have antimalarial properties - Scimex

Feather bedding leads to more than just a tickle

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

BMJ Case Reports

Doctors have urged their colleagues to ask patients about what kind of bedding they have, following a case of a man who developed so-called 'feather duvet lung' thanks to his bedding. The 43-year-old man was referred to respiratory specialists after Read more about Feather bedding leads to more than just a tickle - Scimex

New 3D printing technique produces ‘living’ 4D materials

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

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

UNSW Sydney researchers have successfully merged 3D/4D printing with a chemical process to produce “living” resin, which has huge potential for fields as diverse as recycling and biomedicine. Funder: Australian Government Research Training Read more about New 3D printing technique produces ‘living’ 4D materials - Scimex

Uncovering the pathway to wine’s acidity

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Journal of Biological Chemistry

University of Adelaide wine researchers say their latest discovery may one day lead to winemakers being able to manipulate the acidity of wines without the costly addition of tartaric acid. Media Release. From:The University of Adelaide. University Read more about Uncovering the pathway to wine’s acidity - Scimex

Earth sings eerie magnetic song during solar storms

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Geophysical Research Letters

The Earth sings a creepy alien-like song when the Sun is having bad weather, according to recordings from the European Space Agency’s Cluster mission, which examines our planet’s magnetic environment. The song is created when Read more about Earth sings eerie magnetic song during solar storms - Scimex

Tongue-tie surgery in babies not entirely risk free

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health

Surgery to snip a piece of skin that ties a baby's tongue to the bottom of its mouth is a popular procedure to help babies breastfeed better, but University of Otago researchers warn it isn't without complications. They say that over two years, Read more about Tongue-tie surgery in babies not entirely risk free - Scimex

Some transgender kids develop gender identity at a young age

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

PNAS

A study looking at early gender development in transgender kids finds they strongly identify with their current gender and not the sex assigned at birth, regardless of how long they have lived as that gender. The study of 3- to 12-year-old Read more about Some transgender kids develop gender identity at a young age - Scimex

Shark-proof wet suit material could help save lives

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

A new wet suit material tested by Flinders marine researchers can help reduce blood loss caused by shark bites, to reduce injuries and prevent the leading cause of death from shark bites. Researchers tested two types of protective fabrics that Read more about Shark-proof wet suit material could help save lives - Scimex

No link between statins and memory loss

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Over six years, researchers evaluated the cognitive effects of statins in elderly consumers, revealing no negative impact and potential protective effects in those at risk of dementia. Funder: This research was supported by the Australian Read more about No link between statins and memory loss - Scimex

New study brings comfort for people using IVF

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

Nature Medicine

There is no statistically significant difference in abnormalities in babies conceived naturally compared with babies conceived through invitro fertilization (IVF), according to new research undertaken by academics from six countries. Funder: This Read more about New study brings comfort for people using IVF - Scimex

We've mapped Saturn's moon, Titan

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Astronomy

US and European scientists have used data from the Cassini probe to produce a detailed map of Saturn's moon, Titan. Titan is the only moon in our solar system with a dense atmosphere and a full, methane-based hydrological cycle, but its hazy Read more about We've mapped Saturn's moon, Titan - Scimex

HIV self-tests mean quicker diagnosis in men

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Internal Medicine

Providing free HIV self-tests to men who have sex with men may be a useful way to detect infections that may otherwise go unnoticed till much later. Using the internet, researchers in the US recruited 2665 men, with an average age of 30 and sent the Read more about HIV self-tests mean quicker diagnosis in men - Scimex

Were the ancestors of animals originally bisexual?

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Ecology & Evolution

The ancient ancestors of modern animals, including humans, may have been bisexual rather than heterosexual, according to a US study. Homosexual behaviour in animals is widespread, but biologists have struggled to explain its existence because time Read more about Were the ancestors of animals originally bisexual? - Scimex

New field of biology could be key to $100B agricultural target

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Plants

The emerging field of synthetic biology could transform Australia’s agricultural industry and help meet its $100b target, according to research published in Nature Plants co-authored by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, the University Read more about New field of biology could be key to $100B agricultural target - Scimex

This greenhouse gas is worse than CO2 and emissions are going up faster than we thought

Publicly released: Tue 19 Nov 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Climate Change

Global emissions of nitrous oxide, the third most important greenhouse gas from nitrogen-based fertilisers, have increased for many decades but accelerated since 2009 above what previous estimates have suggested, according to Australian and Read more about This greenhouse gas is worse than CO2 and emissions are going up faster than we thought - Scimex