EXPERT REACTION: Scientists call for pause to AstraZeneca vaccine rollout

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 1009 AEDT | 1209 NZDT

The Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology says the federal government should immediately pause the planned rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine because it may not be effective enough to generate herd immunity. Below, Aussie scientists Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Scientists call for pause to AstraZeneca vaccine rollout

More women are temporarily conscious during surgery than we thought, despite general anaesthesia

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 1001 AEDT | 1201 NZDT

Anaesthesia

A UK study of awareness during pregnancy-related surgery under general anaesthesia shows around 1 in 250 women may be temporarily conscious during the surgery, and some may experience long-term psychological harm. Some women temporarily regain Read more about More women are temporarily conscious during surgery than we thought, despite general anaesthesia

Impact of COVID lockdown on aeromedical retrievals

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 0944 AEDT | 1144 NZDT

Internal Medicine Journal

New data released this week by Australian researchers reveals the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown period on aeromedical retrievals in rural and remote regions. New data released this week by Australian researchers reveals the impact of the COVID-19 Read more about Impact of COVID lockdown on aeromedical retrievals

Exploring the reasons why some women use force

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 0854 AEDT | 1054 NZDT

In the context of family relationships, women who use force generally do so because they want power rather than because they have power, according to new research. Women who use force commonly also see themselves as responsible for their actions, Read more about Exploring the reasons why some women use force

There may be no limits to heart health benefits of exercise

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Medicine

Get your joggers back on, folks! International and Australian researchers suggest there is no limit to how much physical activity can benefit your heart. The team collected data on over 90,000 participants' physical activity, and say that the people Read more about There may be no limits to heart health benefits of exercise

The pen is mightier for barking geckos

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

New Zealand Journal of Ecology

Establishing new populations of geckos could be more successful if the geckos are initially forced to stay in a confined space, according to new research from the University of Otago and the Department of Conservation. Nineteen barking geckos spent Read more about The pen is mightier for barking geckos

Bias in genetic studies may explain beneficial effects of alcohol on health

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

Genetic studies that rely on self-reported drinking may be biased by misreporting and changes in behaviour, according to Australian research, which may explain conflicting reports about links between alcohol and health. Drinking too much has long Read more about Bias in genetic studies may explain beneficial effects of alcohol on health

People with autism are more than 3 times as likely to attempt suicide

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

Australian-led research looked at rates of suicide attempts and suicide among autistic and non-autistic individuals in more than 6 million Danish people over the age of 10, and say those with a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder had more than Read more about People with autism are more than 3 times as likely to attempt suicide

Most microplastics in the Arctic are polyester fibres from textiles

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

Synthetic fibres make up around 92 per cent of microplastic pollution in near-surface seawater across the Arctic, and around 73 per cent of this is polyester, resembling fibres used in textiles, according to Canadian scientists. The team looked at Read more about Most microplastics in the Arctic are polyester fibres from textiles

New study of Earth’s crust shows global growth spurt three billion years ago

Publicly released: Tue 12 Jan 2021 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Nature Communications

Curtin University researchers have used ancient crystals from eroded rocks found in stream sediments in Greenland to successfully test the theory that portions of Earth’s ancient crust acted as ‘seeds’ from which later generations of crust grew Read more about New study of Earth’s crust shows global growth spurt three billion years ago

EXPERT REACTION: Has there been a global insect apocalypse?

Publicly released: Tue 12 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

PNAS

Many insect populations around the world are decreasing by 1-2 per cent every year, but this may not be as simple as an insect 'apocalypse' across the board, according to a series of 12 research papers being published in PNAS. For example, in the Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Has there been a global insect apocalypse?

Slave labour is being used to meet our demand for PPE in the pandemic

Publicly released: Tue 12 Jan 2021 at 1045 AEDT | 1245 NZDT

Annals of Internal Medicine

COVID-19-related increases in supply and demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) are likely to have exacerbated the prevalence of forced labour in global PPE supply chains, according to international scientists. They cite the example of a New Read more about Slave labour is being used to meet our demand for PPE in the pandemic

That extra cup of coffee might cut prostate cancer risk

Publicly released: Tue 12 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

BMJ Open

Drinking several cups of coffee every day may be linked to a lower risk of developing prostate cancer, suggests a pooled data analysis of the available evidence. Each additional daily cup of the brew was associated with a reduction in risk of nearly Read more about That extra cup of coffee might cut prostate cancer risk

Gut bugs could influence COVID-19 severity

Publicly released: Tue 12 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Gut

The variety and volume of bacteria in the gut, known as the microbiome, may influence the severity of COVID-19, as well as the magnitude of the immune system response to the infection, suggests Chinese research. The researchers analysed poo samples Read more about Gut bugs could influence COVID-19 severity

Saliva-based COVID-19 testing is as effective and cheaper than uncomfortable nasal swabs

Publicly released: Tue 12 Jan 2021 at 1029 AEDT | 1229 NZDT

Annals of Internal Medicine

Saliva-based sampling for detecting COVID-19 is similarly sensitive and less costly than nasal swabs, according to a review of the available evidence by Canadian and Brazilian researchers. As well as being uncomfortable for the recipient, nasal Read more about Saliva-based COVID-19 testing is as effective and cheaper than uncomfortable nasal swabs

Stick to supportive shoes if you have knee pain

Publicly released: Tue 12 Jan 2021 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Annals of Internal Medicine

Though they may look daggier than flat-bottomed hipster shoes, a supportive shoe might help alleviate that niggling knee pain, say Aussie scientists. Recently, it has been argued that a flat and flexible shoe might allow more of a 'barefoot' Read more about Stick to supportive shoes if you have knee pain

COVID-19 pandemic disrupted heart disease diagnosis and treatment

Publicly released: Tue 12 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

The COVID-19 pandemic delayed and disrupted heart disease diagnosis and timely treatment across the world, according to Australian and international researchers. They found that cardiac diagnostic procedure volumes decreased 42 per cent from March Read more about COVID-19 pandemic disrupted heart disease diagnosis and treatment

Working against antibiotic-resistance

Publicly released: Tue 12 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Microbiology

New research published today in the prestigious journal Nature Microbiology has discovered how to revert antibiotic-resistance in one of the most dangerous superbugs. A major risk of being hospitalised is catching a bacterial infection. Hospitals, Read more about Working against antibiotic-resistance

Extreme drought area expected to double by the end of the century

Publicly released: Tue 12 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Climate Change

By the end of this century, the global land area and population in extreme-to-exceptional drought could more than double, according to international research. The study looked at the water available globally in lakes and reservoirs, rivers, wetlands Read more about Extreme drought area expected to double by the end of the century

Unlocking the secrets of star formation

Publicly released: Tue 12 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Astronomy

A new study by an international team of researchers has used computer power to map the so-called sonic scale, showing the key role turbulence plays in star formation. A new study by an international team of researchers has used computer power to Read more about Unlocking the secrets of star formation