An antibiotic potential for cannabis molecule

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

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

Using one hundred-million-year-old fossils and gravitational-wave science to predict earth’s future climate

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 1458 AEDT | 1658 NZDT

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

Lockdown affords Aussie tennis players a unique advantage

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 1430 AEDT | 1630 NZDT

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

Harvard-NZ collaboration shifts understanding of immune responses

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 1258 AEDT | 1458 NZDT

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

Diamonds could be the key to future communication security

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 1230 AEDT | 1430 NZDT

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

COVID-19 death rates seem to have decreased over time

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

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

EXPERT REACTION: Should we pause the 5G roll out until safety is confirmed?

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health

A UK researcher has suggested that the roll out of 5G networks be halted until we are sure of its safety, in an opinion piece. He suggests that, as 5G transmitters are putting out radio frequency electromagnetic fields at levels that emerging Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Should we pause the 5G roll out until safety is confirmed?

Fried food may increase risk of cardiovascular disease

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Heart

Studies reporting a link between eating fried foods and cardiovascular disease often contradict each other, but a meta-analysis has provided evidence for such an association. Chinese researchers examined the results from six studies, involving three Read more about Fried food may increase risk of cardiovascular disease

Potential new biomarker for depression and bipolar disorder

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

Journal of Psychiatric Research

University of South Australia scientists have developed the world’s first test to accurately predict mood disorders in people, based on the levels of a specific protein found in the brain which is linked to depression and bipolar disorder. Read more about Potential new biomarker for depression and bipolar disorder

Mental health a major factor in NZ police shootings

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 0922 AEDT | 1122 NZDT

International Journal of Law and Psychiatry

A significant number of police shootings in New Zealand have involved a mental health event, an analysis of 258 Independent Police Conduct Authority reports reveal. Between 1995 and 2019 while only 18 per cent of the cases analysed involved mental Read more about Mental health a major factor in NZ police shootings