Scientists shine light on ‘bright spots’ to restore coastal ecosystems

Publicly released: Tue 22 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Current Biology

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has identified coastal ‘bright spots’ to repair marine ecosystems globally, paving the way to boost biodiversity, local economies and human wellbeing. Read more about Scientists shine light on ‘bright spots’ to restore coastal ecosystems

Crikey! Massive prehistoric croc emerges from South East Queensland

Publicly released: Mon 21 Dec 2020 at 2000 AEDT | 2200 NZDT

PeerJ

A prehistoric croc measuring more than five metres long – dubbed the ‘swamp king’ – ruled south eastern Queensland waterways only a few million years ago. University of Queensland researchers identified the new species of prehistoric croc Read more about Crikey! Massive prehistoric croc emerges from South East Queensland

Research busts mental health coping myth

Publicly released: Mon 21 Dec 2020 at 1500 AEDT | 1700 NZDT

Journal of Affective Disorders Reports

People with extreme psychological distress have exceeded the limits of their own resources, and need support from others to cope, according to new research led by USC Australia. Read more about Research busts mental health coping myth

Climate change demands same leadership as COVID-19, and Australia is failing

Publicly released: Mon 21 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Medical Journal of Australia

Leading Australian medical clinicians and researchers have called on the Federal Government and the health sector to commit to showing the same leadership on climate change as was shown during the COVID-19 public health crisis. The authors say our Read more about Climate change demands same leadership as COVID-19, and Australia is failing

Goldilocks and the three quantum dots: This one’s just right for peak solar panel performance

Publicly released: Mon 21 Dec 2020 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

Nanoscale

Maximising the efficiency of renewable energy technology is dependent on creating nanoparticles with ideal dimensions and density, new simulations have shown. Scientists in Australia have developed a process for calculating the perfect size and Read more about Goldilocks and the three quantum dots: This one’s just right for peak solar panel performance

Tube fishway technology will get fish up and over those dam walls

Publicly released: Mon 21 Dec 2020 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

New technology that allows fish to glide past dam walls, weirs and other river barriers has the potential to revitalise Australia’s ailing freshwater fish stocks. Read more about Tube fishway technology will get fish up and over those dam walls

Seeking answers in ferroelectric patterning

Publicly released: Sat 19 Dec 2020 at 1122 AEDT | 1322 NZDT

Why do some ferroelectric materials display ‘bubble’-shaped patterning, while others display complex, labyrinthine patterns? A FLEET/UNSW study finds the changing patterns in ferroelectric films are driven by non-equilibrium dynamics, with Read more about Seeking answers in ferroelectric patterning

Does low self-esteem in teens predict depression?

Publicly released: Sat 19 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Australian researchers looked at the link between low self-esteem and self-criticism in 243 Aussie teens and the development of depression. They found no effect of self-criticism, but having low self-esteem meant teens were more likely to suffer Read more about Does low self-esteem in teens predict depression?

How modelling helped our COVID response

Publicly released: Fri 18 Dec 2020 at 1220 AEDT | 1420 NZDT

Multiple models helped achieve the successful pandemic management strategies implemented in Australia at both state and national level, yesterday’s first Cosmos Briefing was told. Professor Jodie McVernon, form Doherty Epidemiology, and Read more about How modelling helped our COVID response

Cocktail of antibodies can cut COVID-19 viral load

Publicly released: Fri 18 Dec 2020 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

NEJM

A study carried out and funded by pharmaceutical company Regeneron tested the firm's cocktail of antibodies known as REGN-COV2 on 275 COVID-19 patients with mild disease, and found administering the cocktail reduced the amount of virus circulating Read more about Cocktail of antibodies can cut COVID-19 viral load