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