The National Youth Science Forum 2021 Year 12 Program closing event: Meet the Chiefs

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1300 AEDT | 1500 NZDT

Today nearly 600 young people from all over Australia will gather online to celebrate the end of the National Youth Science Forum’s (NYSF) 2021 Year 12 Program and inform them of the opportunities to come. Part of the celebrations will include a Read more about The National Youth Science Forum 2021 Year 12 Program closing event: Meet the Chiefs

Could COVID quarantine be reduced to a week?

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1130 AEDT | 1330 NZDT

The Lancet Public Health

Quarantine time after contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case could potentially be reduced to seven days, according to a modelling study. The study looked at infected people’s potential viral load and the sensitivity of COVID-19 tests, and Read more about Could COVID quarantine be reduced to a week?

Severe allergic reaction extremely rare with Pfizer COVID vaccine

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

JAMA Insights

Severe allergic reactions, or anaphylaxis, to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine are rare, with around 11 cases for every million doses administered, say US scientists. During December 14 to 23, 2020, there were 1,893,360 first doses of Read more about Severe allergic reaction extremely rare with Pfizer COVID vaccine

Evidence of the virus behind COVID-19 found in the cornea

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

JAMA Ophthalmology

Genetic material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 has been found in the cornea of patients with COVID-19, according to German research. But despite this, the authors say the risk of COVID-19 infection via corneal transplant is low Read more about Evidence of the virus behind COVID-19 found in the cornea

EXPERT Q&A: Answering your questions about COVID-19 variants

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

With reports of new COVID-19 strains emerging in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil, an Australian expert answers key questions about the new strains and how they might impact the current COVID-19 vaccines. Read more about EXPERT Q&A: Answering your questions about COVID-19 variants

Social pressure vs doing the right thing - what matters more for social distancing?

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

British Journal of Psychology

Social pressure may be more influential than personal belief when it comes to following COVID-19 guidelines, according to an international study of over 6,500 people in 114 countries. The study found that people followed social distancing guidelines Read more about Social pressure vs doing the right thing - what matters more for social distancing?

Watch those sanitiser squirts! Reports of hand sanitiser in the eye up 7 fold

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

JAMA Ophthalmology

French researchers report a 7 fold increase in eye exposures to alcohol-based hand sanitisers in 2020 compared to 2019, with one hospital reporting 13 per cent of patients required surgery for severe lesions. The authors warn about the positioning Read more about Watch those sanitiser squirts! Reports of hand sanitiser in the eye up 7 fold

Human pancreatic cancer model offers new opportunities for testing drugs

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

Scientific Reports

UNSW scientists have grown human pancreatic cancer tumours in the lab – their model is the first of its kind, with important future clinical implications. Crucially, the team’s model stays intact for 12 days and offers a complete view of the Read more about Human pancreatic cancer model offers new opportunities for testing drugs

Sliding life expectancy poses gender, inequity questions

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Life expectancy gain is slowing in Australia – and figures show these figures are already sliding backwards in both the US and UK – yet little is being done by policy makers to understand specific gender and inequity reasons why this slip is Read more about Sliding life expectancy poses gender, inequity questions

Squid-inspired robot is a good swimmer

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0738 AEDT | 0938 NZDT

Engineers are increasingly looking to nature when designing robots and other machines. Traditional mechanical approaches to designing swimming robots are usually inefficient. Using the pulse-jet mode that squid and jellyfish use to propel themselves, Read more about Squid-inspired robot is a good swimmer