Genetics indicate why some people get more severe COVID

Publicly released: Sat 12 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Genetic variants that are linked to the development of life-threatening illness in patients with COVID-19 have been identified and several are involved in inflammatory processes and the body’s response to invading viruses. The researchers looked Read more about Genetics indicate why some people get more severe COVID

A different kind of 27 club - Mass extinctions seem to follow a 27-million-year-cycle

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1601 AEDT | 1801 NZDT

Historical Biology

Mass extinctions of land-dwelling animals—including amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds— seem to follow a cycle of about 27 million years, according to researchers from the US, who found that major asteroid impacts and devastating volcanic Read more about A different kind of 27 club - Mass extinctions seem to follow a 27-million-year-cycle

On a "road to hell" at the current pace of action on climate change, say ex-UN climate leaders

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1300 AEDT | 1500 NZDT

Climate Policy

Four former senior members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat, say that the global response to climate change is completely insufficient and leaves the world on a “road to hell”. In reviewing 30 Read more about On a "road to hell" at the current pace of action on climate change, say ex-UN climate leaders

Changes in breathing rate could signal COVID before symptoms start

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1255 AEDT | 1455 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Changes in peoples breathing rate overnight may help detect COVID-19 before sysmptoms start, say Australian researchers. They developed a model based on respiratory rate that was able to identify 20 per cent of COVID-19 positive individuals prior to Read more about Changes in breathing rate could signal COVID before symptoms start

Vitamin D the clue to more autism spectrum disorder in boys

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1230 AEDT | 1430 NZDT

Molecular Autism

A deficiency in Vitamin D on the mother’s side could explain why autism spectrum disorder is three times more common in boys, say researchers from The University of Queensland. In their latest study, Professor Darryl Eyles and Dr Asad Ali from Read more about Vitamin D the clue to more autism spectrum disorder in boys

EXPERT REACTION: UQ COVID vaccine abandoned after HIV antibody positives

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

UQ and CSL have this morning confirmed they are abandoning their trials of an Australian COVID-19 vaccine after recipients generated HIV antibodies during phase 1 tests. This means the antibodies produced by the vaccine can interfere with HIV Read more about EXPERT REACTION: UQ COVID vaccine abandoned after HIV antibody positives

The AusSMC's Top 10 WEIRD Science Stories 2020

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1130 AEDT | 1330 NZDT

2020 was certainly a weird year, so perhaps it's not surprising that it produced a bumper crop of weird and wonderful science yarns. We heard an unenthusiastic voice from beyond the grave when researchers recreated the vocal tract of an ancient Read more about The AusSMC's Top 10 WEIRD Science Stories 2020

Detecting SARS-CoV-2 with a smartphone camera

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1130 AEDT | 1330 NZDT

Cell

International researchers, including an Aussie, have developed a device that can, with the help of a smartphone camera, detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in a nasal swab. The test makes use of the gene-splicing CRISPR-Cas technology to be able to Read more about Detecting SARS-CoV-2 with a smartphone camera

EXPERT REACTION: Global Carbon Budget - unprecedented emissions slowdown thanks to COVID

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Earth System Science Data

Global emission could decline by around 7 per cent in 2020, according to the latest Global Carbon Budget. The report has found the decrease in emissions in 2020 appears more pronounced in the US, EU and India, partly due to pre-existing downward Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Global Carbon Budget - unprecedented emissions slowdown thanks to COVID

Music may help soothe post-op pain

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The British Medical Journal

Listening to soothing music and words while under general anaesthetic may lead to less pain following surgery. A trial conducted in Germany found that 191 patients who listened to background music and positive suggestions during their surgery had Read more about Music may help soothe post-op pain

Do not try to make George’s Marvellous Medicine at home

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

Do not try to make George’s Marvellous Medicine yourselves at home, it could be toxic and potentially dangerous say literature loving researchers from the UK. Two researchers and their five children read Roald Dahl's George’s Marvellous Read more about Do not try to make George’s Marvellous Medicine at home

Patient death rates higher on surgeons’ birthdays

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

Elderly patients going under the knife on their surgeon’s birthday appear to have a higher death rate than if they had the surgery on another day. US researchers looked at more than 980,000 common emergency procedures on over-65s. Of the 2,000 Read more about Patient death rates higher on surgeons’ birthdays

Too many treats? Dogs and owners share diabetes risk

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

You might have heard of dogs that look like their owners - now Swedish research has shown some owners eat and exercise like their dogs. The study found people who had a dog with diabetes were 38 per cent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes Read more about Too many treats? Dogs and owners share diabetes risk

Scientists call for robust goal for species in Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Conservation Letters

Scientists urge that a clear, unambiguous goal for preventing human-induced species extinctions and stabilising populations must be front and centre in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework – currently formulated draft iterations carry a Read more about Scientists call for robust goal for species in Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

Sleep, food, or exercise: which has the biggest impact on mental health?

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0743 AEDT | 0943 NZDT

Frontiers in Psychology

University of Otago researchers have identified sleep quality as the biggest predictor of depressive symptoms and wellbeing among young adults, compared to diet and physical activity. The research team surveyed 1100 young adults in New Zealand and Read more about Sleep, food, or exercise: which has the biggest impact on mental health?

The vicious cycle of poverty and mental health

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

People who live in poverty are often disproportionately affected by mental illness, with those on the lowest incomes typically 1. 5 to 3 times more likely than the well-off to experience depression or anxiety. This review looks at ways in which Read more about The vicious cycle of poverty and mental health

Faecal transplants may help immunotherapy for cancer patients

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

New early-stage research shows faecal transplants may show some promise in making cancer immunotherapy more effective. This phase 1 clinical trial transplanted the faecal matter  of two melanoma patients who had responded well to earlier Read more about Faecal transplants may help immunotherapy for cancer patients

Tasmanian devils may survive their own pandemic

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

Amid the global COVID-19 crisis, a study released this week has some good news about a wildlife pandemic, which may help scientists better understand how other emerging diseases evolve. Griffith University researchers were part of an international Read more about Tasmanian devils may survive their own pandemic

Detection dogs show promising ability to sniff out COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS One

Detection dogs could also be able to be trained to smell COVID-19 in infected people, according to early research. French and Lebanese researchers trained six working detection dogs -- who were already pros in other fields like explosives detection Read more about Detection dogs show promising ability to sniff out COVID-19

How common are mental heath issues in our incarcerated Indigenous Aussies?

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Australian Journal of Social Issues

Aussie and US researchers say that young Indigenous Australians were overrepresented in both the mental health and prison systems from their examination of 23- and 24-year-olds born in Queensland in 1990. The team looked at population data from Read more about How common are mental heath issues in our incarcerated Indigenous Aussies?