-
Fish out of water: The genetics of evolving onto land
The transition of creatures from sea to land life is still poorly understood, so European researchers sequenced the genome of a "living fossil", the Australian lungfish. to learn more about this important evolutionary step. They found genetic Read more about Fish out of water: The genetics of evolving onto land
Australia; InternationalUniversity of Konstanz, Germany -
Online cognitive behavioural therapy could help people with depression, even without a therapist
JAMA Psychiatry
Online cognitive behavioural therapy can help people with depression, and for those with mild depression, they may not even need to be guided by a therapist, according to Australian and international research. The analysis of previous research found Read more about Online cognitive behavioural therapy could help people with depression, even without a therapist
Australia; International; NSW; VIC; ACTThe University of New South Wales|The University of Melbourne... -
In hotter water: Climate change prolongs lake heatwaves
Nature
Climate change may have more prolonged effects on heat waves in lakes than on dry land. A research team led by the European Space Agency used satellite observations and modelling to investigate changes in lake heatwaves for hundreds of lakes Read more about In hotter water: Climate change prolongs lake heatwaves
InternationalEuropean Space Agency, UK -
How dolphin airways could help save endangered whales
BMC Microbiology
A UNSW study shows airway bacteria can indicate the health of dolphins and whales – a finding that could benefit endangered species like the northern right and blue whales. A UNSW researcher has found promising evidence that airway samples Read more about How dolphin airways could help save endangered whales
Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales -
New eco-friendly way to make ammonia could be boon for agriculture, hydrogen economy
Energy and Environmental Science
Ammonia has sustained humanity since the early 20th century, but its production leaves a huge carbon footprint. Now researchers have found a way to make it 100 per cent renewable. Chemical engineers at UNSW Sydney have found a way to make Read more about New eco-friendly way to make ammonia could be boon for agriculture, hydrogen economy
Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales|The University of Sydney -
Did hot girls start as boys? Heat may override genetics when it comes to the sex of our Jacky dragon
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
In many reptiles, sex is determined by incubation temperature, but Australian researchers say for one Aussie lizard, the Jacky dragon, there may be a previously unrecognised role for genes too. The Jacky dragon tends to have female babies when Read more about Did hot girls start as boys? Heat may override genetics when it comes to the sex of our Jacky dragon
Australia; NSW; SA; ACTUniversity of Canberra|CSIRO|Flinders University|The University of New South Wales -
Mantis males must wrestle if they don't want to lose their heads
Biology Letters
The praying mantis has a reputation for cannibalism because females often eat males before they get a chance to mate, but it turns out that for one species, the Springbok mantis, the boys may have a way to escape this deadly love. Australian Read more about Mantis males must wrestle if they don't want to lose their heads
Australia; New Zealand; NSWUniversity of Auckland|The University of New South Wales -
Is COVID-19 affecting male fertility?
Royal Society Open Biology
International scientists warn that COVID-19 may affect fertility in men, and may even be passed on through sex. The researchers reviewed existing studies, and say there is some preliminary evidence that the male reproductive system may be targeted Read more about Is COVID-19 affecting male fertility?
InternationalAssam University, India -
Time to act on autism diagnosis deficiencies
Frontiers in Neurology
Identification of autism, followed by appropriate intervention, has the potential to improve outcomes for autistic individuals – but Flinders University experts say that presently not enough qualified people can diagnose. Professor Robyn Young, a Read more about Time to act on autism diagnosis deficiencies
Australia; SAFlinders University -
Schools and parents urged to register for food safety training (plus Summer lunch box food safety tips)
With an estimated 4. 1 million cases of food poisoning in Australia each year the Food Safety Information Council is urging parents, school canteen volunteers and high school students to learn more about food safety. Young people in particular have Read more about Schools and parents urged to register for food safety training (plus Summer lunch box food safety tips)
AustraliaFood Safety Information Council -
Immunotherapy trial launched to protect children who undergo stem cell transplants
Stem cell transplants for blood cancers or inherited immune deficiencies are high-risk procedures that are required to cure otherwise life-threatening diseases, but many patients develop viral complications. Australian researchers have begun a Read more about Immunotherapy trial launched to protect children who undergo stem cell transplants
Australia; QLDQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute|Children's Health Queensland, Children's Hospital Foundation -
Higher risk of ADHD in kids if their mother has an autoimmune disease
JAMA Pediatrics
Mothers with autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, psoriasis and rheumatic fever may be more likely to have kids who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), say Aussie researchers. The study looked at over 60,000 children in Read more about Higher risk of ADHD in kids if their mother has an autoimmune disease
Australia; NSWThe University of Sydney|Royal Hospital for Women, -
Wearing a mask seems to reduce COVID-19 transmission
The Lancet Digital Health
Wearing a mask may help control COVID-19 transmission in the community, according to international research, which analysed data from 300,000 people in the US. The study found that when people reported an increase in mask-wearing of 10 per cent, the Read more about Wearing a mask seems to reduce COVID-19 transmission
InternationalBoston Children’s Hospital, USA -
Nano-thin piezoelectrics advance self-powered electronics
Materials Today
A new type of ultra-efficient, nano-thin material could advance self-powered electronics, wearable technologies and even deliver pacemakers powered by heart beats. A new type of ultra-efficient, nano-thin material could advance Read more about Nano-thin piezoelectrics advance self-powered electronics
Australia; VICRMIT University -
An antibiotic potential for cannabis molecule
Communications Biology
The main nonpsychoactive component of cannabis has been shown for the first time to kill the bacteria responsible for gonorrhoea, meningitis and legionnaires disease and could lead to the first new class of antibiotics for resistant bacteria in 60 Read more about An antibiotic potential for cannabis molecule
Australia; QLDThe University of Queensland|Institute for Molecular Bioscience... -
Using one hundred-million-year-old fossils and gravitational-wave science to predict earth’s future climate
Climate of the past
A group of international scientists, including an Australian astrophysicist, has used know-how from gravitational-wave astronomy (used to find black holes in space) to study ancient marine fossils as a predictor of climate change. The research, Read more about Using one hundred-million-year-old fossils and gravitational-wave science to predict earth’s future climate
Australia; VICARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGRav) -
Lockdown affords Aussie tennis players a unique advantage
Australian-based tennis players may have a once-in-a-lifetime court advantage at the 2021 Australian Open as many of their international counterparts endure lockdown restrictions in Melbourne hotels. Australian-based tennis players may have a once-in Read more about Lockdown affords Aussie tennis players a unique advantage
Australia; SAUniversity of South Australia -
Harvard-NZ collaboration shifts understanding of immune responses
Nature Immunology
A recent study challenges current thinking on how immune cells generate a specific immune response. Rather than one cell performing one function, some immune cells change how they respond each time they encounter a new stimulus. The researchers say Read more about Harvard-NZ collaboration shifts understanding of immune responses
New Zealand; InternationalMalaghan Institute of Medical Research|Harvard Medical School, US -
Diamonds could be the key to future communication security
Optics Express
A new device that exploits quantum physics to generate guaranteed random keys could make our communications more secure. Scientists at Macquarie University’s Photonics Research Centre are using diamonds to generate encoded light pulses that behave Read more about Diamonds could be the key to future communication security
Australia; NSWMacquarie University -
COVID-19 death rates seem to have decreased over time
Annals of Internal Medicine
Death rates have decreased over time for patients with COVID-19, according to a study of an intensive care unit in the US which found that deaths from COVID have decreased despite patient characteristics remaining the same. Researchers used patient Read more about COVID-19 death rates seem to have decreased over time
InternationalHospital of the University of Pennsylvania
EXPERT Q&A: Answering your questions about COVID-19 variants
With reports of new COVID-19 strains emerging in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil, an Australian expert a...
Mantis males must wrestle if they don't want to lose their heads
The praying mantis has a reputation for cannibalism because females often eat males before they get a cha...
Bee gone? A quarter of bee species haven’t been seen in 30 years
While reports and records of animal species have increased dramatically over the last few decades, the nu...
Resources for journalists
Links to expert comments, media briefings and the latest COVID-19 news and research here
