-
Extreme drought area expected to double by the end of the century
Nature Climate Change
By the end of this century, the global land area and population in extreme-to-exceptional drought could more than double, according to international research. The study looked at the water available globally in lakes and reservoirs, rivers, wetlands Read more about Extreme drought area expected to double by the end of the century
Australia; InternationalMichigan State University, USA -
Unlocking the secrets of star formation
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
Australia; QLD; ACTThe Australian National University|Queensland University of Technology (QUT)... -
Lots of oral sex could increase your risk of mouth and throat cancer
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
InternationalJohns Hopkins University, USA -
Sports voucher program found to encourage kids to be more active
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
Australia; NSWThe University of Sydney -
Frozen egg wastage prompts calls for women to donate unused eggs
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
Australia; VICThe University of Melbourne -
'The Meg' shark had giant babies that ate their unhatched siblings in the womb
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
InternationalDePaul University, USA -
Meaningful lockdown activity is more satisfying than busyness
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
Australia; NSWRMIT University|Charles Sturt University -
Lingering symptoms and diminishing immunity raise long-term concerns over COVID-19
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
InternationalWuhan Research Center for Communicable Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, China -
Tasmanian tiger pups found to be extraordinarily similar to wolf pups
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
Australia; VIC; TASThe University of Melbourne -
Increased trust in government and science amid pandemic
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
Australia; New ZealandCurtin University -
Call to end the 'war on drugs' and free non-violent drug users from jail
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
Australia; International; NSWThe University of Sydney|Yale University USA, Dublin City University Ireland, Columbia University USA -
New defence against dengue and emerging mosquito-borne viruses
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
Australia; QLDThe University of Queensland -
COVID-19 likely lingered longer than reported in Wuhan
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
InternationalWuhan University, China -
If COVID vaccines just shortened the infectious period they'd save millions of lives and billions of dollars
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
InternationalCity University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, USA -
NEWS BRIEFING: BOM Annual Climate Statement 2020 - Australia's 4th-warmest year on record
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
Australia; NSW; VIC; QLD; SA; WA; TAS; NT; ACTBureau of Meteorology -
Feeding wolves scraps may be why you have a pupper now
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
InternationalFinnish Food Authority, Helsinki, Finland -
Identical twins no longer genetically identical early in development
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
InternationaldeCODE genetics/Amgen, Iceland -
More than half of all COVID-19 is spread by people without symptoms
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
InternationalUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -
CMRI expands gene therapy research partnership with LogicBio Therapeutics
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; International; NSWChildren's Medical Research Institute (CMRI) -
Australia’s Black Summer a climate wake-up call
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
Australia; ACTThe Australian National University|ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes (CLEx)
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
