Almost 50 million Americans may have had COVID - but herd immunity is still a long way off

Publicly released: Wed 6 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

As of November 2020, an estimated 46. 9 million Americans, or more than 14 per cent of the US population, are likely to have had SARS-CoV-2 infections, with only around 28. 1 million of those being symptomatic, according to US research. The study Read more about Almost 50 million Americans may have had COVID - but herd immunity is still a long way off

Australia’s flagship STEM youth experience reinvented for 2021

Publicly released: Tue 5 Jan 2021 at 1630 AEDT | 1830 NZDT

A new-look National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) Year 12 Program kicks off today with a stellar line-up of speakers and an expanded program unlike ever before. The 2021 NYSF Year 12 Program features two Nobel Prize winners, over 20 top experts in Read more about Australia’s flagship STEM youth experience reinvented for 2021

Single dose of the vaccine may be better than nothing at all

Publicly released: Tue 5 Jan 2021 at 1046 AEDT | 1246 NZDT

Annals of Internal Medicine

International researchers suggest, in three different papers, that the speed-versus-efficacy trade-off of administering a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine may overrule the need for a double dose in the short-term. While the double-dose is more Read more about Single dose of the vaccine may be better than nothing at all

An insight into asthma attacks points the way to potential treatments

Publicly released: Tue 5 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

PNAS

Australian researchers have studied the lung immune response during an asthma attack in a mouse model of the disease and found that a protein involved in inflammation called Interleukin-13 (IL-13) may play a key role in asthma attacks. The authors Read more about An insight into asthma attacks points the way to potential treatments

Cities could warm by more than 4°C by the end of the century

Publicly released: Tue 5 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Climate Change

Cities across the globe could warm more than 4°C under a high-emissions climate change scenario, and experience a relative humidity decrease by 2100, according to international research. Cities tend to warm more than other areas because built Read more about Cities could warm by more than 4°C by the end of the century

Fish sex organs boosted under high-CO2

Publicly released: Wed 30 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Biology

Research from the University of Adelaide has found that some species of fish will have higher reproductive capacity because of larger sex organs, under the more acidic oceans of the future. Published in PLOS Biology, the researchers say that far Read more about Fish sex organs boosted under high-CO2

Weedy Seadragon genomics reveal highly distinct populations

Publicly released: Thu 24 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

To describe weedy seadragons as unique is an understatement. With a fused, elongated jaw, body armour, leafy appendages and no pelvic fins, these fish are like no other. Found only along Australia’s temperate coast, numbers have been declining. Read more about Weedy Seadragon genomics reveal highly distinct populations

Focus on seasonal, not yearly, changes when considering impacts of climate change

Publicly released: Thu 24 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Results from a 40-year study of a Montana prairie say may be better to look at local and seasonal changes -- compared to yearly climate changes -- when forecasting how climate change affects ecosystems. Over the four decades, temperature increased Read more about Focus on seasonal, not yearly, changes when considering impacts of climate change

Youth workers: care for yourself in order to help others

Publicly released: Thu 24 Dec 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Drug and Alcohol Review

Youth workers need to be kind to themselves in order to be better at their jobs, say Aussie researchers who surveyed 258 Aussie youth alcohol and other drug workers. They found that burnout and secondary traumatic stress was associated with less Read more about Youth workers: care for yourself in order to help others

Wear a mask and step back: Masks could block almost all those COVID droplets

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Masks can block 99. 9 per cent of COVID-linked droplets, say international researchers who measured droplets spread by coughs and speaking, with and without surgical or handmade cotton face masks. They estimate a person standing 2m from someone Read more about Wear a mask and step back: Masks could block almost all those COVID droplets

Tasmania may help save the rock wallaby

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Maria Island, off Tasmania's eastern coast, could be a suitable spot to move an insurance population of endangered brush-tailed rock wallabies to help stop them becoming extinct, according to Australian research. The recent Australian mega-fires Read more about Tasmania may help save the rock wallaby

Aged care residents experience a different kind of reality

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 1009 AEDT | 1209 NZDT

Journal of Medical Internet Research

Cutting-edge technology is normally associated with youth, but a group of aged care residents in Adelaide are learning how useful (and how much fun) virtual reality can be. Read more about Aged care residents experience a different kind of reality

How COVID-19 polarised politics: #IStandWithDan versus #DictatorDan

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 0926 AEDT | 1126 NZDT

Media International Australia

A QUT study of two interrelated Twitter hashtag campaigns in relation to the Victorian Premier Dan Andrews’ handling of the COVID-19 second wave found the activity was driven by a “small, hyper-partisan core of highly active participants” and Read more about How COVID-19 polarised politics: #IStandWithDan versus #DictatorDan

New mammogram measures of breast cancer risk could revolutionise screening

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 0826 AEDT | 1026 NZDT

International Journal of Cancer

New techniques for predicting breast cancer risk from mammograms that were developed in Melbourne could revolutionise breast screening by allowing it to be tailored to women at minimal extra cost. World-first techniques for predicting breast cancer Read more about New mammogram measures of breast cancer risk could revolutionise screening

Keeping up appearances: male fairy-wrens show looks can be deceiving

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 0700 AEDT | 0900 NZDT

Behavioural Ecology

By choosing these high-quality males, females may ensure a good father or good genes for their offspring. But do high quality males that are preferred by females invest more in their appearance? Read more about Keeping up appearances: male fairy-wrens show looks can be deceiving

Carbon-neutral jet fuels?

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

Flying produces large amounts of carbon emissions, but a more sustainable fuel option could eventually make flying carbon neutral. Researchers at Oxford and Cambridge created a cheap method that uses iron, manganese and potassium to convert carbon Read more about Carbon-neutral jet fuels?

Investing in a frontline response to elder abuse

Publicly released: Wed 23 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

University of Queensland researchers are working with a team of 50 social workers across south east Queensland to create a uniform, national approach to identifying abuse in elderly people who present to hospitals. Read more about Investing in a frontline response to elder abuse

New definition of sustainability reflects the interdependence of all life

Publicly released: Tue 22 Dec 2020 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

Global Sustainability

An international collaboration reveals a new definition of sustainability that expands the concept to non-human species and their needs. Published in Global Sustainability, the research led by Dr Christoph Rupprecht, a Griffith University alumnus Read more about New definition of sustainability reflects the interdependence of all life

Substances found in cooked meat linked to kid's wheeze

Publicly released: Tue 22 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Thorax

Inflammatory compounds found in cooked meat have been linked to a heightened risk of childhood wheeze by US researchers. The compounds, known as advanced glycation end products, or AGEs for short, are by-products of high-temperature cooking, such as Read more about Substances found in cooked meat linked to kid's wheeze

Looking to get more active? Fitbits may help a little bit

Publicly released: Tue 22 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

British Journal of Sports Medicine

Smartphone fitness apps and wearable activity trackers do help boost physical activity levels, according to an Australian-led review and pooled data analysis of the available evidence. The researchers looked at 35 previous studies, involving a total Read more about Looking to get more active? Fitbits may help a little bit