Oceanic sharks and rays have declined by over 70 per cent

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

The number of oceanic sharks and rays worldwide has fallen by 71 per cent since 1970 according to Australian and international research, which found that more than three-quarters of those species are now threatened with extinction, including the Read more about Oceanic sharks and rays have declined by over 70 per cent

Global ocean temperatures have been rising for the past 12,000 years

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Global sea surface temperatures have been rising for the past 12,000 years, suggests a US-led study, which brings the ocean temperatures in line with climate models for the same period. Previous research suggested a warm peak around 6,000 years ago, Read more about Global ocean temperatures have been rising for the past 12,000 years

New method shows promise in identifying disease-fighting drug targets

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 2101 AEDT | 2301 NZDT

Scientific Reports

A new method of identifying molecular targets to fight disease could help accelerate future drug development new Griffith University research published in Scientific Reports has found. Professor Ron Quinn and Dr Miaomiao Liu from the Griffith Read more about New method shows promise in identifying disease-fighting drug targets

Call to schools to provide healthy lunches

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1400 AEDT | 1600 NZDT

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Packing a lunchbox with fruit, sandwiches, and snacks is common practice for most Australian school children. But what if there was another way? Flinders University researchers investigating the pros and cons of school-provided lunches say uniform Read more about Call to schools to provide healthy lunches

Talking with your hands helps listeners separate an obJECT from an OBject

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Talking with your hands, or specifically what is known as 'beat gestures', can influence what speech sounds we perceive and can help people pick up stresses on different parts of a word, for example distinguishing OBject from obJECT. Beat gestures Read more about Talking with your hands helps listeners separate an obJECT from an OBject

Variety is the spice of life, at least for sparrows

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

For the last 2,000 years there has been debate about whether a more varied social group benefits the individuals in it. Experiments with house sparrows suggest that groups containing different personality types (in terms of exploratory behaviour) Read more about Variety is the spice of life, at least for sparrows

Being transparent about COVID testing benefits the workplace

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

A simulation model for small workplaces shows that workers who are open about testing for COVID-19 and their test results translate into improved workplace productivity and minimised infections, compared to those employees who keep such information Read more about Being transparent about COVID testing benefits the workplace

Even very young kids can socially distance at school

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Measures to reduce COVID-19 spread in English primary schools reduced close in-person contacts by 50-80 per cent, according to UK research. Researchers surveyed teachers from 34 UK primary schools on close contacts before and after distancing Read more about Even very young kids can socially distance at school

Sorry, but you are probably fatter than an elephant

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Journal of Experimental Biology

Do you think elephants are fat? Well, they're probably less podgy than you, according to international scientists. They measured fat levels in 35 female and nine male captive Asian elephants, and say they carry less body fat than the average person. Read more about Sorry, but you are probably fatter than an elephant

NT alcohol policies reduce ICU admissions

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

Anaestesia and Intensive Care

The introduction of alcohol harm limitation policies in Central Australia from 2018 have had a marked effect on critical health figures, with a 38% relative reduction in Hospital Intensive Care Unit admissions associated with alcohol misuse, as well Read more about NT alcohol policies reduce ICU admissions