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

What’s up Skip? Kangaroos really can ‘talk’ to us

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

Biology Letters

New study shows kangaroos stare at humans to ‘ask’ for help. Animals that have never been domesticated, such as kangaroos, can intentionally communicate with humans, challenging the notion that this behaviour is usually restricted to Read more about What’s up Skip? Kangaroos really can ‘talk’ to us

Are we a vaccine hog? Nearly 1/4 of the world may miss out on COVID-19 vaccines until 2022

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

Nearly a quarter of the world’s population may not have access to a COVID-19 vaccine until at least 2022, warns an international study. The research highlights that Japan, Australia, and Canada have collectively reserved more than 1 billion Read more about Are we a vaccine hog? Nearly 1/4 of the world may miss out on COVID-19 vaccines until 2022

Testosterone can help prevent type 2 diabetes in men

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology

The largest investigation of testosterone treatment ever undertaken has shown that, over and above the effect of a lifestyle program, treatment with testosterone prevents or reverses newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in men. The study, known as T4DM Read more about Testosterone can help prevent type 2 diabetes in men

Researchers expose power of enzyme on key immune cells

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 1018 AEDT | 1218 NZDT

Cell Reports

Communication, serendipity and an enzyme called DOT1L have all combined to produce some exciting findings into the immune system’s B cells and T cells by two groups of Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) scientists. These could result in Read more about Researchers expose power of enzyme on key immune cells

Covid 'traffic light' for NZ’s maritime borders might mean smoother sailing ahead

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Research has set sail to predict what kind of COVID-19 risk each international vessel might pose when it nears New Zealand’s borders. Currently, all ships arriving at our maritime border and their crew are treated as high risk, regardless of the Read more about Covid 'traffic light' for NZ’s maritime borders might mean smoother sailing ahead

Christmas and holiday entertaining – how to be food-safe and COVID-smart

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 0615 AEDT | 0815 NZDT

The Food Safety Information Council today launched their Christmas and Summer entertaining food safety advice. This Summer and Christmas time is going to be a particular challenge as we also have to be aware of COVID-19 safety requirements as well Read more about Christmas and holiday entertaining – how to be food-safe and COVID-smart

Look after your heart in midlife and your brain will thank you later

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Medicine

Good cardiovascular health when you’re middle aged may lower the risk of dementia later on, a Finnish study has shown. Heart health was assessed among 1,449 middle-aged people enrolled in a study in the 1970’s, who were then followed for about Read more about Look after your heart in midlife and your brain will thank you later

Even mild depression may be bad for your heart

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA

International scientists, including Australians, brought together the data from 563,255 people and say they found depression may be linked to poorer heart health. Even at levels lower than are typically seen in clinical depression, depressive Read more about Even mild depression may be bad for your heart

Should meat be 2.5 times as pricey to reflect costs to the climate?

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

German scientists say the prices we pay for meat and dairy products are too low as they fail to account for costs to society and the climate in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. The biggest polluter is conventionally-produced meat, they say, which Read more about Should meat be 2.5 times as pricey to reflect costs to the climate?

Nature’s 10 people who helped shape the science stories of 2020

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Nature has released its annual list of 10 people who played a big part in the science stories of the year. The list focuses on COVID-19, highlighting the roles of: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization; Read more about Nature’s 10 people who helped shape the science stories of 2020

Combined probiotics use may help reduce pre-term infant mortality

Publicly released: Tue 15 Dec 2020 at 1601 AEDT | 1801 NZDT

Pediatrics

The combined use of probiotic and prebiotic supplementation may reduce the mortality rate of preterm infants if given in their first few months of life, a Griffith University study has found. Using advanced big data analysis to identify specific Read more about Combined probiotics use may help reduce pre-term infant mortality

Bacteria in the mouth linked to risk of non-smokers getting lung cancer

Publicly released: Tue 15 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Thorax

Fewer types of bacteria and high numbers of particular types in the mouth may make non-smokers more likely to develop lung cancer, according to US and Chinese scientists. The researchers compared the mouth bacteria of 114 non-smokers with lung Read more about Bacteria in the mouth linked to risk of non-smokers getting lung cancer

Study of 1.3 million people reveals the devastating impact and hidden danger of type 2 diabetes diagnosis in younger adults

Publicly released: Tue 15 Dec 2020 at 1001 AEDT | 1201 NZDT

Diabetologia

Type 2 diabetes is often thought of as a problem that is part of getting older, but new Aussie led research shows that being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at a younger, rather than older, age is linked to a higher risk of mortality and Read more about Study of 1.3 million people reveals the devastating impact and hidden danger of type 2 diabetes diagnosis in younger adults

Survivors of child abuse twice as likely to die young

Publicly released: Tue 15 Dec 2020 at 0842 AEDT | 1042 NZDT

Pediatrics

A study by the University of South Australia has found that survivors of child abuse are more than twice as likely to die young than children who have never come to the attention of child protection services. Globally the statistics are daunting. Read more about Survivors of child abuse twice as likely to die young