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

Lots of oral sex could increase your risk of mouth and throat cancer

Publicly released: Mon 11 Jan 2021 at 1601 AEDT | 1801 NZDT

Cancer

Having more than 10 prior oral sex partners has been linked to a 4. 3-times greater likelihood of having human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer of the mouth and throat, say US researchers. The study also found that having oral sex at a younger Read more about Lots of oral sex could increase your risk of mouth and throat cancer

Sports voucher program found to encourage kids to be more active

Publicly released: Mon 11 Jan 2021 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

BMC Public Health

A Sydney-led study has found that an exercise program designed to encourage children and adolescents to be more active was successful in increasing their physical activity, with increases continuing over a 6 month period. The goal of the  study was Read more about Sports voucher program found to encourage kids to be more active

Frozen egg wastage prompts calls for women to donate unused eggs

Publicly released: Mon 11 Jan 2021 at 1106 AEDT | 1306 NZDT

BMJ Ethics

As more women postpone childbearing for social reasons and freeze their eggs, new research reveals that most don’t end up using them, leading to wastage. Current estimates suggest that less than one in five women who freeze their eggs will return Read more about Frozen egg wastage prompts calls for women to donate unused eggs

'The Meg' shark had giant babies that ate their unhatched siblings in the womb

Publicly released: Mon 11 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Historical Biology

Megalodon or megatooth sharks, which lived nearly worldwide roughly 15-3. 6 million years ago, may have given birth to the largest babies in the shark world making it almost as terrifying IRL as in the sci-fi epic 'The Meg'. Researchers from the US Read more about 'The Meg' shark had giant babies that ate their unhatched siblings in the womb

Meaningful lockdown activity is more satisfying than busyness

Publicly released: Mon 11 Jan 2021 at 1048 AEDT | 1248 NZDT

PLOS ONE

With much of the world practising varying degrees of social distancing and lockdown, researchers have been investigating the key to happiness in isolation. New research shows people who pursue meaningful activities – things they enjoy doing – Read more about Meaningful lockdown activity is more satisfying than busyness

Lingering symptoms and diminishing immunity raise long-term concerns over COVID-19

Publicly released: Sat 9 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The Lancet

More than three-quarters of COVID-19 patients have at least one ongoing symptom six months after initially becoming unwell, according to international researchers who surveyed over 1,700 patients in Wuhan, China. The most common persistent symptom Read more about Lingering symptoms and diminishing immunity raise long-term concerns over COVID-19

Tasmanian tiger pups found to be extraordinarily similar to wolf pups

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 2000 AEDT | 2200 NZDT

Communications Biology

Researchers have established that there are more similarities between the thylacine and the wolf than previously thought. Micro-CT scanning and digital reconstructions have been used to compare the skulls of the Tasmanian tiger (thylacine) and wolf Read more about Tasmanian tiger pups found to be extraordinarily similar to wolf pups

Increased trust in government and science amid pandemic

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 1824 AEDT | 2024 NZDT

Australian Journal of Public Administration

New Curtin University research has found a dramatic increase in people’s trust in government in Australia and New Zealand as a result of the COVID pandemic. New Curtin University research has found a dramatic increase in people’s trust in Read more about Increased trust in government and science amid pandemic

Call to end the 'war on drugs' and free non-violent drug users from jail

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 1601 AEDT | 1801 NZDT

The American Journal of Bioethics.

Non-violent offenders serving time for drug use or possession should be freed immediately and their convictions erased, according to more than 60 international experts, including Australians. The experts, including bioethicists, drug experts, legal Read more about Call to end the 'war on drugs' and free non-violent drug users from jail

New defence against dengue and emerging mosquito-borne viruses

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

New treatments to cut the global death rate from dengue, Zika and West Nile viruses could result from research led by The University of Queensland. Associate Professor Daniel Watterson from UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences said Read more about New defence against dengue and emerging mosquito-borne viruses

COVID-19 likely lingered longer than reported in Wuhan

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

COVID-19 likely lingered longer in Wuhan than what was reported, according to international researchers who tested more than 60,000 healthy people in China for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The researchers tested for two kinds of antibodies: IgG, which Read more about COVID-19 likely lingered longer than reported in Wuhan

If COVID vaccines just shortened the infectious period they'd save millions of lives and billions of dollars

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Computational Biology

A vaccine or medication which shortened the infectious period of COVID-19 could potentially prevent millions of cases and save billions of dollars, according to US computer modelling. The researchers created a computer model that simulates the Read more about If COVID vaccines just shortened the infectious period they'd save millions of lives and billions of dollars

NEWS BRIEFING: BOM Annual Climate Statement 2020 - Australia's 4th-warmest year on record

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

BRIEFING RECORDING AVAILABLE The Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) Annual Climate Statement summarises the previous year, providing information on temperature, rainfall and significant weather in Australia. Bureau scientists say 2020 was Australia's Read more about NEWS BRIEFING: BOM Annual Climate Statement 2020 - Australia's 4th-warmest year on record

Feeding wolves scraps may be why you have a pupper now

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Scientific Reports

Handing over leftover meat to wolves during harsh winters may have led to the early domestication of dogs around the end of the last ice age - 29,000 to 14,000 years ago - say European researchers. The team suggests that, where we would usually have Read more about Feeding wolves scraps may be why you have a pupper now

Identical twins no longer genetically identical early in development

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Genetics

Identical twins have genetic differences that begin in the early stages of embryonic development, according to international research. Identical twins come from a single sperm and egg but cell division during embryonic growth can lead to genetic Read more about Identical twins no longer genetically identical early in development

More than half of all COVID-19 is spread by people without symptoms

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

More than half of all transmission of COVID-19 is from people without COVID-19 symptoms, according to US modelling. The modelling suggests that 59 per cent of all transmission came from people without symptoms comprising 35 per cent from people Read more about More than half of all COVID-19 is spread by people without symptoms

CMRI expands gene therapy research partnership with LogicBio Therapeutics

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) is pleased to announce that its partnership with LogicBio Therapeutics to develop the next generation of viral vectors for gene therapy applications has been extended for another two years and two new Read more about CMRI expands gene therapy research partnership with LogicBio Therapeutics

Australia’s Black Summer a climate wake-up call

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jan 2021 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Communications Earth & Environment

The 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires are a “wake up call” demonstrating the extreme effects of climate change in Australia, according to a group of experts who’ve published a new study examining the factors that caused the disaster. The 2019/20 Read more about Australia’s Black Summer a climate wake-up call

Breatharian bacteria breakdown greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jan 2021 at 1630 AEDT | 1830 NZDT

Nature Microbiology

Soil bacteria play a much greater role in regulating our atmosphere than previously thought. A recent study led by Monash University has revealed diverse bacteria in soils can breakdown trace gases, such as the toxic pollutant carbon monoxide and Read more about Breatharian bacteria breakdown greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants