Climate change creates plankton winners and losers

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society Proceedings B

Climate change is predicted to cause significant changes to plankton communities in coastal waters, based on a study near Seattle, USA. Researchers identified 222 planktonic species from DNA in seawater and related their community diversity to Read more about Climate change creates plankton winners and losers

Charles Darwin was right about why insects are losing the ability to fly

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of Royal Society B

Most insects can fly. Yet scores of species have lost that extraordinary ability, particularly on islands. On the small islands that lie halfway between Antarctica and continents like Australia, almost all the insects have done so. Darwin’s Read more about Charles Darwin was right about why insects are losing the ability to fly

Dogs don't understand you as much as you think

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Dogs can tell a nonsense word from a familiar one, but only if they don't sound too similar. Hungarian researchers used non-invasive electroencephalography to determine how well companion dogs could distinguish nonsense words from real commands. Read more about Dogs don't understand you as much as you think

Orica to take the reins on Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) digital technology

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

An Australian-developed simulation software platform for improving the efficiency of mineral processing operations is set to take on the world. Developed by the Brisbane-based Cooperative Research Centre for Optimising Resource Extraction (CRC ORE), Read more about Orica to take the reins on Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) digital technology

Oh Snap! A new turtle has been described

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

Batagur Monographs

It’s a case of a mistaken identity for a population of snapping turtles in northwestern Queensland which have now been officially identified as a new species thanks to the help of Queensland Museum scientists. It’s a case of a mistaken identity Read more about Oh Snap! A new turtle has been described

Focus on human factor in designing systems

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

IEEE Control Systems

A new study has found one of the challenges in designing systems that involve people interacting with technology is to tackle the human trait of overconfidence. A new study has found one of the challenges in designing systems that involve people Read more about Focus on human factor in designing systems

Index reveals integrity issues for many of the world's forests

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

Nature Communications

Only 40 per cent of forests are considered to have high ecological integrity, according to a new global measure, the Forest Landscape Integrity Index. The Index was created by 47 forest and conservation experts from across the world, Read more about Index reveals integrity issues for many of the world's forests

More years of obesity means higher risk of disease

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Medicine

Being obese for longer periods of time is associated with worse risk of disease, according to international researchers. The team used data from three UK studies which collected information on the BMI of over 20,000 people from ages 10 to 40, as Read more about More years of obesity means higher risk of disease

Genomes 'pin the tail' on donkey domestication

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

Although donkeys have played a major role in many human cultures, exactly where they were first domesticated has been hard to establish, partly because they feature less prominently than horses and camels in archaeological and historical records Read more about Genomes 'pin the tail' on donkey domestication

Some corals may recover from bleaching, if humans don't disturb them

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

When oceans warm, corals eject the symbiotic algae living inside them, which can result in bleaching, starvation, and disease. However, some corals may be able to recover from bleaching, as long as they aren't disturbed by human activities, say Read more about Some corals may recover from bleaching, if humans don't disturb them

Less than half of the world's forests are in their natural state, all thanks to us

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

International scientists, including Australians, say only 40. 5 per cent of the world's forests are still functioning as they naturally should, and only 56 per cent of 'protected' forests are functioning naturally, and that's all down to human Read more about Less than half of the world's forests are in their natural state, all thanks to us

Booming mosquito populations and biblical bat deaths: what to expect for Australia’s increasingly hot summers

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Public Health Research & Practice

Increasingly frequent extreme weather events due to climate change are throwing up some unexpected health challenges, exemplified by two papers published in a new issue of the journal Public Health Research & Practice. Read more about Booming mosquito populations and biblical bat deaths: what to expect for Australia’s increasingly hot summers

ROSA is delivering research to help older Australians make the best decisions about their health

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1545 AEDT | 1745 NZDT

The Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA) is extending its efforts to deliver research with impact, by working closely with the community of older Australians it serves. The Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA) is extending its efforts to deliver Read more about ROSA is delivering research to help older Australians make the best decisions about their health

A world first for ethical AI addresses equity in HR hire

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1530 AEDT | 1730 NZDT

The University of Technology Sydney and industry partner Reejig deliver a world first process where algorithms within an Artificial Intelligence-driven intelligence platform have been independently assessed against key ethical criteria of Read more about A world first for ethical AI addresses equity in HR hire

Protecting soil biodiversity essential in adapting to climate change

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1201 AEDT | 1401 NZDT

Efforts to adapt to a rapidly changing climate are entirely dependent on protecting the life in our soils. These are among findings compiled by more than 300 researchers for the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Lead author Read more about Protecting soil biodiversity essential in adapting to climate change

Satellite tracking finds turtle foraging areas in north-west

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

Diversity and Distributions

Marine scientists have mapped previously unknown foraging grounds and migratory routes of Western Australia’s green turtles to support conservation of the iconic threatened species. The Australian Institute of Marine Science-led study also Read more about Satellite tracking finds turtle foraging areas in north-west

Do international travel restrictions actually slow the spread of COVID?

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

The Lancet Public Health

International travel restrictions may only be effective at controlling the spread of COVID-19 when applied in a targeted way, say UK researchers, and they were most effective at limiting local transmission of the virus during earlier stages of the Read more about Do international travel restrictions actually slow the spread of COVID?

EXPERT REACTION: NHMRC Alcohol Guidelines - No more than 10 a week and 4 a day

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

National Health and Medical Research Council has released new national guidelines for reducing the health risks from drinking alcohol. The guidelines say healthy men and women should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 Read more about EXPERT REACTION: NHMRC Alcohol Guidelines - No more than 10 a week and 4 a day

Teens who dislike their looks could be at greater risk of depression

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

Male teens who aren’t happy with their physical appearance could have up to a 285% greater risk of severe depression when they become young adults. More than 3700 English 14-year-olds were asked to rate how they felt about their physical Read more about Teens who dislike their looks could be at greater risk of depression

Suppressing testosterone for a year may not be enough to level playing field for trans athletes

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

A year of hormone therapy among transgender women athletes may not be enough to remove the competitive advantage of testosterone, according to new research. US researchers looked at the fitness abilities and medical data of 29 trans men and 46 trans Read more about Suppressing testosterone for a year may not be enough to level playing field for trans athletes

A third of NZ’s radiation therapists thinking of changing careers

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0948 AEDT | 1148 NZDT

Technical Innovations & Patient Support in Radiation Oncology

A significant portion of New Zealand’s radiation therapists are thinking of quitting their jobs or leaving the field altogether. The finding is from a survey of more than 350 radiation therapists. A third of those surveyed said they wanted to leave Read more about A third of NZ’s radiation therapists thinking of changing careers

Numbness in your foot may be a step towards the grave

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Annals of Internal Medicine

People with numbness or decreased sensation in their foot, known as peripheral neuropathy, may be at higher risk of dying over the next 13 years, according to US research. The study of over 7,000 adults found that just over one in ten experienced Read more about Numbness in your foot may be a step towards the grave

AI could help identify depression

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Biology

Machine learning has helped researchers better identify and understand what the brains of people with major depressive disorder look like. Researchers initially scanned the brains of 731 people, 149 of which had major depression. When tested on Read more about AI could help identify depression

Heart patients who live near fracking sites may be more likely to end up in hospital

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Heart failure patients who live in communities affected by fracking are more likely to end up in hospital than patients in non-fracking communities, according to US and Irish researchers. They looked at 12,330 heart failure patients from 37 Read more about Heart patients who live near fracking sites may be more likely to end up in hospital

The brain may prioritise 'facts' over uncertainties

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

eNeuro

If a statement is made as if it is a known fact, rather than uncertain, the brain boost its activity, according to researchers from the US and the UAE. They scanned the brains of people as they were exposed to short narratives, which were either Read more about The brain may prioritise 'facts' over uncertainties

Palm oil may be bad, but other oils could turn out to be worse

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Plants

The expansion of palm oil plantations continues to cause deforestation in some regions, but there is an urgent need to better study the alternatives, as demand for vegetable oils is expected to increase by 46 per cent by 2050, say Australian and Read more about Palm oil may be bad, but other oils could turn out to be worse

Giving US police military weapons doesn't appear to reduce crime

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

New research appears to refute former studies that were used to justify supplying military equipment to local police in the US. Two separate analyses reveal that previous data used to justify supplying law enforcement agencies with surplus Read more about Giving US police military weapons doesn't appear to reduce crime

808s & Heartbreaks: Rapping about the blues is on the rise

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Pediatrics

References to mental health struggles, including suicide and depression, have increased significantly in popular rap music over the last 20 years, according to US research. Researchers analysed lyric sheets from the 25 most popular rap songs in the Read more about 808s & Heartbreaks: Rapping about the blues is on the rise

Rheumatic heart disease patients among those to benefit from new research funding for DHBs

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

An all-new approach for the early detection of rheumatic heart disease will be developed and tested as part of a suite of new research to be carried out by some of New Zealand’s district health boards (DHBs). With its brand new Health Sector Read more about Rheumatic heart disease patients among those to benefit from new research funding for DHBs

Humans aren’t the only species to use medicine, sparrows do too

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Current Biology

An international study has found sparrows, like humans, use medicinal herbs to defend against parasites and improve the condition of their offspring. Researchers from Griffith University, Hainan Normal University and Université Paris-Saclay Read more about Humans aren’t the only species to use medicine, sparrows do too

Discovery provides hope for early detection of serious COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Clinical and Translational Immunology

QIMR Berghofer researchers have developed a prototype blood test that can detect if a COVID-19 patient's immune system has the capacity to fight the disease. They used the blood of Queenslanders who have recovered from the disease for their research. Read more about Discovery provides hope for early detection of serious COVID-19

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health report shows mixed results

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

A report measuring the health status and outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has found mixed results, with improvements in some areas but no change or worsening in others. Improvements have included a reduction in avoidable Read more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health report shows mixed results

Can a coral reef fish help unravel how humans domesticated animals?

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Nature Communications

An international study has found the first evidence of an animal other than humans domesticating another species. The team led by researchers from Griffith and Deakin Universities found coral reef fish in Belize, Central America, domesticated the Read more about Can a coral reef fish help unravel how humans domesticated animals?

Weekly folic acid boost shows potential to halve birth defects

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 1500 AEDT | 1700 NZDT

BMJ Global Health

SAHMRI researchers have found the risk of birth defects can be greatly reduced if women significantly increase their folic acid intake. Read more about Weekly folic acid boost shows potential to halve birth defects

New findings on wind farms and sleep disruption

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 1500 AEDT | 1700 NZDT

Journal of Sleep Research

As wind power generation becomes more important, experts at Flinders University are examining whether wind ‘farm’ turbine noise in the environment can affect sleep and wellbeing of nearby residents. Read more about New findings on wind farms and sleep disruption

Aged Care policy reform crucial to attract Aussies into sector

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 1430 AEDT | 1630 NZDT

International Nursing Review

Work-related stress, lack of career progression and up-skilling opportunities are key deficiencies in Australia’s aged care sector with casual staff working across multiple homes to secure liveable pay, as part of practices attributed to high COVID Read more about Aged Care policy reform crucial to attract Aussies into sector

NZ’s wastewater systems vulnerable to climate change

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 1233 AEDT | 1433 NZDT

Climate Risk Management

Increased blockages, corrosion, and more stenches: these are some of the ways climate change will disrupt New Zealand’s wastewater infrastructure, according to new research. In New Zealand, there is a clear trend of wet areas getting wetter, and Read more about NZ’s wastewater systems vulnerable to climate change

Covid-19 antibodies provide some immunity in macaques

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 1208 AEDT | 1408 NZDT

Nature

It is often difficult to tell if specific antibodies and T cells found after infections or vaccinations provide protective immunity. US researchers extracted certain antibodies from macaque monkeys recovering from SARS-CoV-2 and gave measured doses Read more about Covid-19 antibodies provide some immunity in macaques

COVID-19 detector dog research and trials underway

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 1201 AEDT | 1401 NZDT

Fourteen dogs have begun their training at the University of Adelaide, and at the Australian Border Force’s (ABF) National Detector Dog Program Facility in Victoria, as part of a joint venture into determining the feasibility of training COVID-19 Read more about COVID-19 detector dog research and trials underway

Wind energy’s impact on electricity prices: the good and the bad

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

SSRN

Energy from wind farms is lowering electricity prices, but increasing price volatility in Australia's national energy market. Read more about Wind energy’s impact on electricity prices: the good and the bad

Aged care medication going unchecked

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association

New research from the Registry of Senior Australians at SAHMRI has shown that just one in five older Australians receives a government-funded medication review after entering an aged care facility. Read more about Aged care medication going unchecked

Chatbot may detect early dementia in time for intervention

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

IEEE Access

If Alzheimer’s dementia is identified early, at the stage of Mild Cognitive Impairment for instance, the decline in neural functioning can be stabilised or even curtailed in some cases, research has found. Read more about Chatbot may detect early dementia in time for intervention

Shining a light on the weird world of dihydrogen phosphate anions

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Journal of the American Chemical Society

UNSW scientists show that dihydrogen phosphate anions - vital inorganic ions for cellular activity - actually bind to one another when their negative charges suggest they shouldn’t. Read more about Shining a light on the weird world of dihydrogen phosphate anions

62,000 lost lambs and cysts in meat: Cats have $12m impact on Australian agriculture

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 0830 AEDT | 1030 NZDT

Wildlife Research

A national study has found that diseases carried by cats are having a $12 million impact on Australian agriculture each year with the sheep industry the worst impacted. The study was undertaken by the Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the Read more about 62,000 lost lambs and cysts in meat: Cats have $12m impact on Australian agriculture

National Bowel Cancer Screening program improves post-op outcomes

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

MJA

The Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) not only reduces the risk of death from colorectal cancer for those who get tested, but also provides short term post-operative benefits for those patients who are treated with surgery, Read more about National Bowel Cancer Screening program improves post-op outcomes

Researchers should live and work with their participants, says National Rural Health Commissioner

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

MJA

Rural health researchers should live with, work with and report back to the participants in their studies, according to the National Rural Health Commissioner in an MJA editorial. The author describes those who fly in, collect data and fly out as Read more about Researchers should live and work with their participants, says National Rural Health Commissioner

EXPERT REACTION: Hayabusa2 capsule full of space-rocks successfully lands in the outback

Publicly released: Sun 6 Dec 2020 at 1122 AEDT | 1322 NZDT

The Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2 has successfully returned a sample of space rocks from the asteroid Ryugu to the South Australian desert, after a 5. 2 billion kilometre journey over the past 6 years. While Hayabusa2 whizzes off to visit some more Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Hayabusa2 capsule full of space-rocks successfully lands in the outback

Patients cured of 2 nasty inherited blood diseases using gene editing and gene therapy

Publicly released: Sun 6 Dec 2020 at 0430 AEDT | 0630 NZDT

NEJM

US and German scientists say they've cured a pair of nasty inherited blood diseases - beta thalassemia and sickle cell disease - using the gene editing technique CRISPR-Cas9. The researchers treated two patients, one with each disease, using Read more about Patients cured of 2 nasty inherited blood diseases using gene editing and gene therapy

IVF Boost: Using acoustic waves to select high quality sperm

Publicly released: Sat 5 Dec 2020 at 1156 AEDT | 1356 NZDT

Lab on a Chip

Monash University researchers have used sound waves to develop a new approach to separate high-quality sperm for assisted reproduction. These findings can open windows for infertile couples to have a family of their own using IVF. The procedure can Read more about IVF Boost: Using acoustic waves to select high quality sperm

Iron deficiency can be managed better

Publicly released: Sat 5 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The Lancet

Publishing in The Lancet, Australian and European researchers have released updated, evidence-based guidance for managing iron deficiency, a serious worldwide health problem. Iron deficiency is a major cause of anaemia, a lack of oxygen-carrying red Read more about Iron deficiency can be managed better