Satellite tracking supports whale conservation

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 1629 AEDT | 1829 NZDT

Scientific Reports

Extensive satellite tracking has revealed important new knowledge about the little known pygmy blue whale population of Southern Australia. Marine scientists from Flinders University, Australian Marine Mammal Centre, Blue Planet Marine and Macquarie Read more about Satellite tracking supports whale conservation

COVID-19 escalated armed conflicts in several war-torn countries

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

World Development

Of the nine countries that were studied, four had reduced armed conflict activities while five had escalations. India, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan and the Philippines all saw an escalation of civil wars because conflict parties exploited either state Read more about COVID-19 escalated armed conflicts in several war-torn countries

Clowns may help kids in hospital cope with pain and anxiety

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

The BMJ

Hospital clowns, the stuff of nightmares for some, may help improve physical symptoms and psychological wellbeing in children and adolescents having treatment for acute or chronic conditions, according to Brazilian and Canadian scientists. They Read more about Clowns may help kids in hospital cope with pain and anxiety

Pregnant women excluded from 3 in 4 COVID-19 treatment trials

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

The Lancet Global Health

Pregnant women are among those most in need of safe and effective therapies against COVID-19, but they are routinely excluded from the majority of clinical treatment trials, according to the US and Swiss authors of an opinion piece based on a review Read more about Pregnant women excluded from 3 in 4 COVID-19 treatment trials

Incredible footage reveals flatback sea turtle defending itself against shark attack

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 1501 AEDT | 1701 NZDT

Ecology

Researchers from Murdoch University’s Harry Butler Institute and Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions (DBCA) have captured fascinating video footage of a shark attacking a sea turtle from the turtle’s Read more about Incredible footage reveals flatback sea turtle defending itself against shark attack

The Sleigh team - leadership lessons from Santa

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 1500 AEDT | 1700 NZDT

The BMJ

As Father Christmas gears up for the busiest 24 hours of his year, two doctors reflect on the skills he uses to get a seemingly impossible job done effectively and safely - and whether they can be applied to medicine. What lessons can medicine learn Read more about The Sleigh team - leadership lessons from Santa

Is Christmas naughty, or nice?

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 1430 AEDT | 1630 NZDT

The BMJ

With tongues firmly in cheeks, UK experts highlight the dangers of Christmas by looking up cautionary tales from the past, and pose the question 'is Christmas worth it?'. Almost nothing about Christmas is safe, these Grinches conclude. Painting Read more about Is Christmas naughty, or nice?

New therapeutic target pinpointed for stomach cancer

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 1423 AEDT | 1623 NZDT

Gastroenterology

WEHI researchers have identified a key molecular regulator involved in the progression and spread of stomach cancer, suggesting a potential new approach to treat this devastating disease. The team discovered that removing the inflammatory signalling Read more about New therapeutic target pinpointed for stomach cancer

Dolphin populations likely to be impacted by climate change and extreme weather events

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 1416 AEDT | 1616 NZDT

Nature Scientific Reports

Freshwater Skin Disease is an emerging disease of cetaceans which we are likely to see increasing in frequency in vulnerable estuarine and coastal habitats globally that continue to be affected by worsening climate change, threatening the Read more about Dolphin populations likely to be impacted by climate change and extreme weather events

Exercise for low back pain beneficial but no one agrees on why

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 1241 AEDT | 1441 NZDT

Musculoskeletal Science and Practice

A new UNSW evidence review has found there is still no consensus between researchers about why exercise works for low back pain patients – despite decades of studies on the topic. Exercise is scientifically proven to provide relief from chronic Read more about Exercise for low back pain beneficial but no one agrees on why

Polariton interactions: light matters

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 1240 AEDT | 1440 NZDT

Physical Review Research

Why do 2D exciton-polaritons interact? This intriguing quasiparticle, which is part light (photon), and part matter (exciton), doesn’t behave as predicted: continuing to interact with other particles when confined to two dimensions in extremely Read more about Polariton interactions: light matters

COVID‑19 vaccines – are we there yet?

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

Australian Prescriber

Australian and New Zealand experts summarise the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Australia. As of mid-December 2020, more than 200 COVID‑19 vaccine candidates are in development and 11 have entered phase III clinical trials globally. All generate Read more about COVID‑19 vaccines – are we there yet?

Alcohol industry submissions to Australian policy consultations distort scientific evidence

Publicly released: Thu 17 Dec 2020 at 0928 AEDT | 1128 NZDT

Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs

Almost all alcohol industry submissions to policy consultations in Australia over a five year period presented a distorted view of the scientific evidence, according to a new study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. The study Read more about Alcohol industry submissions to Australian policy consultations distort scientific evidence

Coral can acquire their algae partners from giant clam poo

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

PLOS ONE

Japanese scientists say algae expelled in giant clams' poo are capable of colonising corals. They dropped clam poo on corals (Acropora tenuis) in the lab, and found the algae from the poo had partnered with the corals within three days. They then Read more about Coral can acquire their algae partners from giant clam poo

Dogs less stressed when trained with TLC - treats, love and care

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

PLoS ONE

Research shows that training dogs using punishments stresses them out. A study of 92 dogs undergoing training in Portugal found that those trained exclusively or mostly using positive reinforcements were less stressed. They showed fewer Read more about Dogs less stressed when trained with TLC - treats, love and care

Truth can be obscured by bodycam footage

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

PLOS ONE

Reviewing police body-worn (‘bodycam’) videos can both enhance and detract from an individual’s recollections of crimes, according to new Australian research. In most instances, this practice enhanced the completeness and accuracy of a Read more about Truth can be obscured by bodycam footage

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