Secret of Australia’s volcanoes revealed

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science Advances

Why has the east coast had hundreds of volcanoes since the dinosaur age? Previous explanations have only told part of the story but new research from the University of Sydney proposes a theory to explain not only Australia's volcanic coast, but Read more about Secret of Australia’s volcanoes revealed

Around 1 in 8 top nutrition research papers has ties to industry

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

An Aussie-led analysis of studies published by top nutrition journals in 2018 shows that 13. 4 per cent disclosed involvement from the food industry, and studies with industry involvement were more likely to report results favourable to industry Read more about Around 1 in 8 top nutrition research papers has ties to industry

Taking virus selfies with your phone

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science Advances

US researchers have developed a system for quickly identifying viruses using nanoparticles, artificial intelligence and a smartphone. The test sensitivity came out at nearly 99 per cent when used on clinical samples containing low levels of Read more about Taking virus selfies with your phone

Smile and 70 per cent of the world smiles with you

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Charles Darwin claimed that human facial expressions are a universal language. That’s just been tested by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley. They used a form of artificial intelligence to assess six million YouTube videos from Read more about Smile and 70 per cent of the world smiles with you

Scientists coax mouse stem cells into becoming an egg, almost

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Japanese and UK scientists have almost made an egg out of mouse stem cells - the cells that can go on to become any type of cell. They used a combination of eight proteins called transcription factors to nudge mouse stem cells into becoming similar Read more about Scientists coax mouse stem cells into becoming an egg, almost

How COVID-19 changed the way Australians used health services in 2019-20

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Fewer Australians presented to hospital emergency departments with injuries and less elective surgery was performed, but more people filled prescriptions and had telehealth medical consultations after COVID-19 restrictions were first implemented in Read more about How COVID-19 changed the way Australians used health services in 2019-20

Sights set on curbing gun crime

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 1354 AEDT | 1554 NZDT

Criminology & Criminal Justice

A community or sub-culture encouraging young men’s exposure and obsession with guns – as well as ready access to firearms and drugs – can make gun violence ‘all too easy’, with Flinders University experts promoting a new direction on Read more about Sights set on curbing gun crime

Hares out of place

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Seasonal camouflage is important in many alpine animals, but climate change threatens that strategy. A study in the Scottish Highlands looked at data on hare moulting and snow cover over the last 65 years. Between the 1950s and 2016 the duration of Read more about Hares out of place

Birdsong for happiness

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Hearing birdsong when out walking appears to improve feelings of well-being. Californian researchers assessed people’s well-being after they had walked one of two nature trails. Some were unknowingly played additional bird calls along the trail, Read more about Birdsong for happiness

Small male crickets amp up the volume with leaves

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Male crickets use sound to attract mates, with big males usually being louder and more successful. However, scientists in India have found that in one variety of tree cricket, small males make holes in leaves and use them to amplify their sound. Read more about Small male crickets amp up the volume with leaves