Bee gone? A quarter of bee species haven’t been seen in 30 years

Publicly released: Sat 23 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

One Earth

While reports and records of animal species have increased dramatically over the last few decades, the number of bee species being reported has declined, down 25% since 1990. Argentinian researchers used the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Read more about Bee gone? A quarter of bee species haven’t been seen in 30 years

Record-breaking laser link could help us test whether Einstein was right

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Nature Communications

Scientists from Western Australia have set a world record for the most stable transmission of a laser signal through the atmosphere. The team combined Aussie ‘phase stabilisation’ technology with advanced self-guiding optical terminals to Read more about Record-breaking laser link could help us test whether Einstein was right

Revealing the secrets to solar success

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1500 AEDT | 1700 NZDT

Science

A new study shows how researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) achieved a world record in solar cell efficiency. The study focused on perovskite solar cells – made using a special group of materials which are cheap and easy to Read more about Revealing the secrets to solar success

PTSD link to pandemic panic

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1439 AEDT | 1639 NZDT

PLoS ONE

Even at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, people around the world became  more fearful of what could happen to them or their family. A new Flinders University study of 1040 online participants from five western countries published in Read more about PTSD link to pandemic panic

Truth-telling vital for Australia's unity

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1430 AEDT | 1630 NZDT

Australia will not be comfortable celebrating its national day until we have greater racial understanding, based on truthful retelling of history, academics say. However, they say we can be encouraged by our multicultural cohesion and growing Read more about Truth-telling vital for Australia's unity

Making protein 'superfoods' from marine algae

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1400 AEDT | 1600 NZDT

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

Marine microalgae-based cellular agriculture is a promising new way to sustainably produce plant-based ‘meat’ and healthy ‘superfoods’ for the future. Researchers at Flinders University’s Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development (CMBD) in Read more about Making protein 'superfoods' from marine algae

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

Leadership or luck? The influence of coaches, politicians and CEOs on performance

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0706 AEDT | 0906 NZDT

Science Advances

How much influence does luck - rather than effectiveness - play in leadership? Using a statistical method to assess whether differences in performance come down to leadership (or just luck or other factors beyond the leader’s control), researchers Read more about Leadership or luck? The influence of coaches, politicians and CEOs on performance

Salmonella's judo move - turning host metabolism to its advantage

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

In an infection, there is a continual battle between the pathogen and the cells it's invading. An Israeli study finds that the bacterium Salmonella enterica can sense when cells it has infected are changing their metabolism as they prepare to Read more about Salmonella's judo move - turning host metabolism to its advantage

Spitting cobra venoms evolved to cause extreme pain

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

Venom from spitting cobras has evolved as a form of self-defence, rather than for capturing prey, and is more effective at causing pain than venom from non-spitting snakes. Spitting cobra venoms evolved to cause extreme pain Venom from spitting Read more about Spitting cobra venoms evolved to cause extreme pain

Males are often the weaker sex when it comes to infectious diseases

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

Males are more likely to have severe COVID-19 and die than females, and this difference between sexes is also seen in some other infectious diseases. While differences in behaviour may contribute, Yale researchers describe underlying physiological Read more about Males are often the weaker sex when it comes to infectious diseases