A new measure of disaster resilience for Australian communities

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 1201 AEST | 1401 NZST

Research has developed the first national snapshot of disaster resilience to help governments, local organisations and emergency services improve their communities’ resilience to natural hazards. Read more about A new measure of disaster resilience for Australian communities

Solutions to northern Australia’s mammal decline crisis

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

Northern Australia’s mammals have suffered catastrophic declines over the last 30 years. A major new study has found that protecting and recovering habitat by improving fire management and reducing feral cattle, horses and buffaloes is the best Read more about Solutions to northern Australia’s mammal decline crisis

SARS-CoV-2 may have diverged from bat viruses approximately 40–70 years ago

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 1015 AEST | 1215 NZST

Nature Microbiology

SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, is likely to have diverged from the most closely related bat viruses approximately 40–70 years ago, reports international research. The authors suggest RaTG13 (the bat virus identified as the most closely Read more about SARS-CoV-2 may have diverged from bat viruses approximately 40–70 years ago

Learning an instrument does not bring other brain boosts

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 1000 AEST | 1200 NZST

Memory and Cognition

Learning to play a musical instrument may not boost cognitive skills or academic achievement, as is commonly believed. Researchers have re-analysed data from 54 previous studies, covering almost 7000 children, and found that music training did not Read more about Learning an instrument does not bring other brain boosts

First African carder bees to reach Western Australia found

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 0936 AEST | 1136 NZST

Pacific Conservation Biology

Curtin research has recorded the first known appearance of Pseudoanthidium (Immanthidium) repetitum, the African carder bee, in Western Australia and has highlighted the need to closely monitor the impacts of such introduced species on the ecosystem. Read more about First African carder bees to reach Western Australia found

Using protons to tune interlayer forces in van-der-Waals materials

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 0930 AEST | 1130 NZST

APS Physical Review Letters

A Chinese-Australian collaboration has demonstrated for the first time that interlayer coupling in a van der Waals (vdW) material can be largely modulated by a protonic gate, ‘injecting’ protons into the device. The same weak interlayer forces Read more about Using protons to tune interlayer forces in van-der-Waals materials

Research collaboration pushes the boundaries of low-carbon concrete technology

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 0930 AEST | 1130 NZST

A new manufacturing research project brings together industry technology and engineering experts to develop advanced technology for manufacturing, placing and curing novel ultra-sustainable concrete in Australia. Read more about Research collaboration pushes the boundaries of low-carbon concrete technology

Boosting the immune system with other vaccines could mitigate COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Biology

Researchers are proposing a new way to mitigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection by giving the body’s immune system a “head start” with another, unrelated vaccine (e. g. measles, flu, or polio). They suggest that these vaccines would Read more about Boosting the immune system with other vaccines could mitigate COVID-19

Bee pollination valued at more than $1.5b a year

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Declining bee numbers could translate directly into decreased yields for common crops, according to new US research. Researchers looked at seven common crops cultivated in 131 North American farms, and found that five of those crops showed evidence Read more about Bee pollination valued at more than $1.5b a year

Cannabis extract may help with dope addiction

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The Lancet Psychiatry

The cannabis extract CBD may help people cut back their use of the drug, according to the first clinical trial of its kind. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of 80 chemicals present in cannabis. While it’s been reported to help promote feelings of Read more about Cannabis extract may help with dope addiction

Vitamin B3 shows promise for glaucoma patients in clinical trial

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 0811 AEST | 1011 NZST

Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology

A clinical trial led by the Centre for Eye Research Australia has shown that vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) could play an important role in protecting against nerve cell damage that leads to blindness in glaucoma. Read more about Vitamin B3 shows promise for glaucoma patients in clinical trial

Deadpool fly among new species named by CSIRO

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 0600 AEST | 0800 NZST

During the past year CSIRO scientists have given scientific names to 165 new species, including tributes to Marvel characters Deadpool, Thor, Loki, and Black Widow along the way. Paying homage to another name creator, they also named a fly after Read more about Deadpool fly among new species named by CSIRO

Having kids might actually benefit your brain

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Women who have had more kids tend to have better memory function later in life, according to Australian research, which also found that both mums and dads over 70 had thicker cortical brain regions than people who had never had kids. Generally, the Read more about Having kids might actually benefit your brain

Depression, stress and anxiety climb for Aussies during COVID-19 pandemic

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

More than three-quarters of Aussies claim their mental health has worsened since the outbreak of COVID-19, a NSW study has found. The study surveyed more than 5,000 people in late March to early April and asked them about their anxiety levels and Read more about Depression, stress and anxiety climb for Aussies during COVID-19 pandemic

EXPERT REACTION: A step towards a blood test for Alzheimer's

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 0230 AEST | 0430 NZST

Journal of Experimental Medicine/JAMA

A blood test for Alzheimer's looks to be one step closer, with promising results from two new studies which looked at levels of a modified protein in people's blood. The first study found that blood levels of the protein, known as p-tau-217, are Read more about EXPERT REACTION: A step towards a blood test for Alzheimer's

Leading scientists to give evidence to Senate inquiry into Australia’s unprecedented bushfires

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2020 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

A Senate committee examining Australia’s bushfires will today hear how Australia must deal with extreme weather events more effectively than is currently the case. Read more about Leading scientists to give evidence to Senate inquiry into Australia’s unprecedented bushfires

Pessimistic outlook on life linked to life expectancy

Publicly released: Tue 28 Jul 2020 at 1901 AEST | 2101 NZST

Scientific Reports

People who are strongly pessimistic about the future are at greater risk of dying earlier than those who are not pessimists, new QIMR Berghofer-led research has found. The study also found, however, that being an optimist did not extend life Read more about Pessimistic outlook on life linked to life expectancy

Paramedics also need care

Publicly released: Tue 28 Jul 2020 at 1630 AEST | 1830 NZST

BMC Psychiatry

As COVID-19 dominates the health system, paramedics and other health workers’ own health and wellbeing is in the spotlight. A new Flinders University publication highlights the interaction between workplace culture and the demands of the Read more about Paramedics also need care

Business interests prioritised in US climate change news

Publicly released: Tue 28 Jul 2020 at 0907 AEST | 1107 NZST

PNAS

Whose voices are most likely to receive news coverage in the debate about climate change? A researcher used plagiarism-detection software to track how a random sample of more than 1,700 press releases from business, government, and social advocacy Read more about Business interests prioritised in US climate change news

Concussion linked to dementia and Parkinson’s

Publicly released: Tue 28 Jul 2020 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

Family Medicine and Community Health

Canadian researchers examined 25 years of health data and over 47,000 concussion cases for a link between concussions and psychological or neurological disorders like ADHD or dementia. The team found a link with increased risk of conditions like ADHD Read more about Concussion linked to dementia and Parkinson’s