Developing rapid genomics strategies to trace coronavirus

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Nature Communications

A team of leading Sydney researchers is pioneering the use of a fast genomic sequencing technology to help determine the source of hard-to-trace coronavirus cases. Read more about Developing rapid genomics strategies to trace coronavirus

Sick Tassie devils may go into iso

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Tasmanian devils with Devil Facial Tumour Disease became increasingly socially isolated as their sickness gets worse, interacting with other devils at a far lower frequency, according to Australian research. The researchers say this suggests Read more about Sick Tassie devils may go into iso

Climate change creates plankton winners and losers

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society Proceedings B

Climate change is predicted to cause significant changes to plankton communities in coastal waters, based on a study near Seattle, USA. Researchers identified 222 planktonic species from DNA in seawater and related their community diversity to Read more about Climate change creates plankton winners and losers

Charles Darwin was right about why insects are losing the ability to fly

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of Royal Society B

Most insects can fly. Yet scores of species have lost that extraordinary ability, particularly on islands. On the small islands that lie halfway between Antarctica and continents like Australia, almost all the insects have done so. Darwin’s Read more about Charles Darwin was right about why insects are losing the ability to fly

Dogs don't understand you as much as you think

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Dogs can tell a nonsense word from a familiar one, but only if they don't sound too similar. Hungarian researchers used non-invasive electroencephalography to determine how well companion dogs could distinguish nonsense words from real commands. Read more about Dogs don't understand you as much as you think

Orica to take the reins on Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) digital technology

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

An Australian-developed simulation software platform for improving the efficiency of mineral processing operations is set to take on the world. Developed by the Brisbane-based Cooperative Research Centre for Optimising Resource Extraction (CRC ORE), Read more about Orica to take the reins on Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) digital technology

Oh Snap! A new turtle has been described

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

Batagur Monographs

It’s a case of a mistaken identity for a population of snapping turtles in northwestern Queensland which have now been officially identified as a new species thanks to the help of Queensland Museum scientists. It’s a case of a mistaken identity Read more about Oh Snap! A new turtle has been described

Focus on human factor in designing systems

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

IEEE Control Systems

A new study has found one of the challenges in designing systems that involve people interacting with technology is to tackle the human trait of overconfidence. A new study has found one of the challenges in designing systems that involve people Read more about Focus on human factor in designing systems

Index reveals integrity issues for many of the world's forests

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

Nature Communications

Only 40 per cent of forests are considered to have high ecological integrity, according to a new global measure, the Forest Landscape Integrity Index. The Index was created by 47 forest and conservation experts from across the world, Read more about Index reveals integrity issues for many of the world's forests

More years of obesity means higher risk of disease

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Medicine

Being obese for longer periods of time is associated with worse risk of disease, according to international researchers. The team used data from three UK studies which collected information on the BMI of over 20,000 people from ages 10 to 40, as Read more about More years of obesity means higher risk of disease

Genomes 'pin the tail' on donkey domestication

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

Although donkeys have played a major role in many human cultures, exactly where they were first domesticated has been hard to establish, partly because they feature less prominently than horses and camels in archaeological and historical records Read more about Genomes 'pin the tail' on donkey domestication

Some corals may recover from bleaching, if humans don't disturb them

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

When oceans warm, corals eject the symbiotic algae living inside them, which can result in bleaching, starvation, and disease. However, some corals may be able to recover from bleaching, as long as they aren't disturbed by human activities, say Read more about Some corals may recover from bleaching, if humans don't disturb them

Less than half of the world's forests are in their natural state, all thanks to us

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

International scientists, including Australians, say only 40. 5 per cent of the world's forests are still functioning as they naturally should, and only 56 per cent of 'protected' forests are functioning naturally, and that's all down to human Read more about Less than half of the world's forests are in their natural state, all thanks to us

Booming mosquito populations and biblical bat deaths: what to expect for Australia’s increasingly hot summers

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Public Health Research & Practice

Increasingly frequent extreme weather events due to climate change are throwing up some unexpected health challenges, exemplified by two papers published in a new issue of the journal Public Health Research & Practice. Read more about Booming mosquito populations and biblical bat deaths: what to expect for Australia’s increasingly hot summers

ROSA is delivering research to help older Australians make the best decisions about their health

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1545 AEDT | 1745 NZDT

The Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA) is extending its efforts to deliver research with impact, by working closely with the community of older Australians it serves. The Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA) is extending its efforts to deliver Read more about ROSA is delivering research to help older Australians make the best decisions about their health

A world first for ethical AI addresses equity in HR hire

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1530 AEDT | 1730 NZDT

The University of Technology Sydney and industry partner Reejig deliver a world first process where algorithms within an Artificial Intelligence-driven intelligence platform have been independently assessed against key ethical criteria of Read more about A world first for ethical AI addresses equity in HR hire

Protecting soil biodiversity essential in adapting to climate change

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1201 AEDT | 1401 NZDT

Efforts to adapt to a rapidly changing climate are entirely dependent on protecting the life in our soils. These are among findings compiled by more than 300 researchers for the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Lead author Read more about Protecting soil biodiversity essential in adapting to climate change

Satellite tracking finds turtle foraging areas in north-west

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

Diversity and Distributions

Marine scientists have mapped previously unknown foraging grounds and migratory routes of Western Australia’s green turtles to support conservation of the iconic threatened species. The Australian Institute of Marine Science-led study also Read more about Satellite tracking finds turtle foraging areas in north-west

Do international travel restrictions actually slow the spread of COVID?

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

The Lancet Public Health

International travel restrictions may only be effective at controlling the spread of COVID-19 when applied in a targeted way, say UK researchers, and they were most effective at limiting local transmission of the virus during earlier stages of the Read more about Do international travel restrictions actually slow the spread of COVID?

EXPERT REACTION: NHMRC Alcohol Guidelines - No more than 10 a week and 4 a day

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

National Health and Medical Research Council has released new national guidelines for reducing the health risks from drinking alcohol. The guidelines say healthy men and women should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 Read more about EXPERT REACTION: NHMRC Alcohol Guidelines - No more than 10 a week and 4 a day