What’s up Skip? Kangaroos really can ‘talk’ to us

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Biology Letters

New study shows kangaroos stare at humans to ‘ask’ for help. Animals that have never been domesticated, such as kangaroos, can intentionally communicate with humans, challenging the notion that this behaviour is usually restricted to Read more about What’s up Skip? Kangaroos really can ‘talk’ to us

Are we a vaccine hog? Nearly 1/4 of the world may miss out on COVID-19 vaccines until 2022

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

Nearly a quarter of the world’s population may not have access to a COVID-19 vaccine until at least 2022, warns an international study. The research highlights that Japan, Australia, and Canada have collectively reserved more than 1 billion Read more about Are we a vaccine hog? Nearly 1/4 of the world may miss out on COVID-19 vaccines until 2022

Testosterone can help prevent type 2 diabetes in men

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology

The largest investigation of testosterone treatment ever undertaken has shown that, over and above the effect of a lifestyle program, treatment with testosterone prevents or reverses newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in men. The study, known as T4DM Read more about Testosterone can help prevent type 2 diabetes in men

Researchers expose power of enzyme on key immune cells

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 1018 AEDT | 1218 NZDT

Cell Reports

Communication, serendipity and an enzyme called DOT1L have all combined to produce some exciting findings into the immune system’s B cells and T cells by two groups of Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) scientists. These could result in Read more about Researchers expose power of enzyme on key immune cells

Covid 'traffic light' for NZ’s maritime borders might mean smoother sailing ahead

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Research has set sail to predict what kind of COVID-19 risk each international vessel might pose when it nears New Zealand’s borders. Currently, all ships arriving at our maritime border and their crew are treated as high risk, regardless of the Read more about Covid 'traffic light' for NZ’s maritime borders might mean smoother sailing ahead

Christmas and holiday entertaining – how to be food-safe and COVID-smart

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 0615 AEDT | 0815 NZDT

The Food Safety Information Council today launched their Christmas and Summer entertaining food safety advice. This Summer and Christmas time is going to be a particular challenge as we also have to be aware of COVID-19 safety requirements as well Read more about Christmas and holiday entertaining – how to be food-safe and COVID-smart

Look after your heart in midlife and your brain will thank you later

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Medicine

Good cardiovascular health when you’re middle aged may lower the risk of dementia later on, a Finnish study has shown. Heart health was assessed among 1,449 middle-aged people enrolled in a study in the 1970’s, who were then followed for about Read more about Look after your heart in midlife and your brain will thank you later

Even mild depression may be bad for your heart

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA

International scientists, including Australians, brought together the data from 563,255 people and say they found depression may be linked to poorer heart health. Even at levels lower than are typically seen in clinical depression, depressive Read more about Even mild depression may be bad for your heart

Should meat be 2.5 times as pricey to reflect costs to the climate?

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

German scientists say the prices we pay for meat and dairy products are too low as they fail to account for costs to society and the climate in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. The biggest polluter is conventionally-produced meat, they say, which Read more about Should meat be 2.5 times as pricey to reflect costs to the climate?

Nature’s 10 people who helped shape the science stories of 2020

Publicly released: Wed 16 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Nature has released its annual list of 10 people who played a big part in the science stories of the year. The list focuses on COVID-19, highlighting the roles of: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization; Read more about Nature’s 10 people who helped shape the science stories of 2020

Combined probiotics use may help reduce pre-term infant mortality

Publicly released: Tue 15 Dec 2020 at 1601 AEDT | 1801 NZDT

Pediatrics

The combined use of probiotic and prebiotic supplementation may reduce the mortality rate of preterm infants if given in their first few months of life, a Griffith University study has found. Using advanced big data analysis to identify specific Read more about Combined probiotics use may help reduce pre-term infant mortality

Bacteria in the mouth linked to risk of non-smokers getting lung cancer

Publicly released: Tue 15 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Thorax

Fewer types of bacteria and high numbers of particular types in the mouth may make non-smokers more likely to develop lung cancer, according to US and Chinese scientists. The researchers compared the mouth bacteria of 114 non-smokers with lung Read more about Bacteria in the mouth linked to risk of non-smokers getting lung cancer

Study of 1.3 million people reveals the devastating impact and hidden danger of type 2 diabetes diagnosis in younger adults

Publicly released: Tue 15 Dec 2020 at 1001 AEDT | 1201 NZDT

Diabetologia

Type 2 diabetes is often thought of as a problem that is part of getting older, but new Aussie led research shows that being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at a younger, rather than older, age is linked to a higher risk of mortality and Read more about Study of 1.3 million people reveals the devastating impact and hidden danger of type 2 diabetes diagnosis in younger adults

Survivors of child abuse twice as likely to die young

Publicly released: Tue 15 Dec 2020 at 0842 AEDT | 1042 NZDT

Pediatrics

A study by the University of South Australia has found that survivors of child abuse are more than twice as likely to die young than children who have never come to the attention of child protection services. Globally the statistics are daunting. Read more about Survivors of child abuse twice as likely to die young

Hallucinations induced in lab could be key to better understanding and treatment

Publicly released: Tue 15 Dec 2020 at 0717 AEDT | 0917 NZDT

Philosophical Transactions B

Neuroscientists say the best way to study hallucinations is via lab models where they can be induced in anyone, anytime. Inducing hallucinations in the general population using visual stimulation procedures works similarly to illusions, and enables Read more about Hallucinations induced in lab could be key to better understanding and treatment

Climate change threatens sustainability of Tītī

Publicly released: Tue 15 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLoS ONE

New NZ research has aimed to identify why Tītī populations (also known as the Sooty shearwater or mutton bird) have been in decline since the 1960s. Researchers looked at data from 1976 until 2005, finding that no single factor appeared to Read more about Climate change threatens sustainability of Tītī

Young Right-Wingers don't like to play by the COVID rules

Publicly released: Tue 15 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Internal Medicine

Republican-oriented young adults in the US have a tendency to not obey social-distancing rules, and were more likely to participate in social recreational activities than their Centre- or Left-leaning peers, say US researchers. The team surveyed Read more about Young Right-Wingers don't like to play by the COVID rules

Isolating at home risks spreading COVID-19 to your family

Publicly released: Tue 15 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

US scientists say there's a high risk of spreading COVID-19 to others in your household while isolating at home following a diagnosis, especially if you're showing symptoms of the disease. They brought together the data from 54 previous studies, Read more about Isolating at home risks spreading COVID-19 to your family

Digital solutions may aid athletes’ mental health

Publicly released: Tue 15 Dec 2020 at 0245 AEDT | 0445 NZDT

JMIR Formative Research

Elite athletes are an at-risk population for mental health problems but Griffith University researchers found they display a resilience which helps them to positively adjust after a period of overwhelming stress. After analysing available literature Read more about Digital solutions may aid athletes’ mental health

Vaccines alone won’t keep Australia COVID-safe

Publicly released: Tue 15 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences urges multi-pronged response for 2021. High levels of testing, efficient vaccine distribution and addressing pandemic mental health impacts are critical if Australia is to maintain control over Read more about Vaccines alone won’t keep Australia COVID-safe