Surface runoff on farms up to 5 times higher when hill soils are poorly drained

Publicly released: Tue 21 Jun 2022 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

Hill country farms cover more than 60% of NZ's farm landmass, but the sloping landscapes they're on means that when it rains, the surface runoff can move sediment and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus into streams and lakes, too much of which Read more about Surface runoff on farms up to 5 times higher when hill soils are poorly drained

Coating fruit and veg in this biodegradable material could keep them fresher and safer for longer

Publicly released: Tue 21 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Food

Coating fruit and vegetables in an antimicrobial food film can help keep them fresher for longer and free of contamination, but currently these films can be expensive or reliant on potentially harmful substances. A team of international researchers Read more about Coating fruit and veg in this biodegradable material could keep them fresher and safer for longer

UN Sustainable Development Goals are influencing narrative, not policy

Publicly released: Tue 21 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Sustainability

The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals - including such aims as no poverty, zero hunger and gender equality - have influenced different governments' narratives around sustainability, but have not led to any substantial changes in legislature or Read more about UN Sustainable Development Goals are influencing narrative, not policy

Nanoparticles control flow of light like road signs direct traffic

Publicly released: Tue 21 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Photonics

Physicists at The Australian National University (ANU) have developed tiny translucent slides capable of producing two very different images by manipulating the direction in which light travels through them. As light passes through the slide, an Read more about Nanoparticles control flow of light like road signs direct traffic

Eat local: Food miles account for almost 20% of all food emissions

Publicly released: Tue 21 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Food

Global food-miles account for around 19% of all the emissions generated to get food on your plate, and the emissions from transporting fruit and veg are almost double the amount released during their production, according to Australian research. The Read more about Eat local: Food miles account for almost 20% of all food emissions

Little penguins’ food struggles

Publicly released: Mon 20 Jun 2022 at 1645 AEST | 1845 NZST

Frontiers in Marine Science

The latest floods have drowned out memories of drought in many parts of Australia, but ecosystems and native species are still battling with the effects of drought and bushfire. Now a new Flinders University study has found a strong link between the Read more about Little penguins’ food struggles

5-minute record for diagnosis

Publicly released: Mon 20 Jun 2022 at 1600 AEST | 1800 NZST

Angewandte Chemie

An accessible universal solution to offer on-the-spot personalised bedside testing for infectious diseases including flu and COVID-19 – or diagnosis and delivery of targeted treatments for other diseases even in remote areas – has so far been Read more about 5-minute record for diagnosis

Eyes a haven for Ebola and other viruses

Publicly released: Mon 20 Jun 2022 at 1245 AEST | 1445 NZST

Frontiers in Virology

A specific cell within our retina, the light-sensitive part of our eyes responsible for sending visual information to our brain, appears to be particularly good at housing Ebola and other viruses, new research has found. The authors say the study Read more about Eyes a haven for Ebola and other viruses

How does long-term anti-anxiety drug use affect the brain?

Publicly released: Mon 20 Jun 2022 at 1230 AEST | 1430 NZST

Nature Neuroscience

International and Aussie research has found that anti-anxiety drugs act on microglial cells and not only on nerve cells in the brain. The anti-anxiety drugs interacted with a key protein known as TSPO expressed in microglia and revealed an Read more about How does long-term anti-anxiety drug use affect the brain?

Aussie COVID-19 cases higher than reported

Publicly released: Mon 20 Jun 2022 at 0600 AEST | 0800 NZST

It is estimated that by the end of February 2022 at least 17% of the Australian adult population had recently been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to results released today from Australia’s most recent Read more about Aussie COVID-19 cases higher than reported

Deadly snakes could save your life

Publicly released: Mon 20 Jun 2022 at 0500 AEST | 0700 NZST

Advanced Health Care Materials

Some of the world’s deadliest snakes could soon be saving lives, with research from The University of Queensland showing venom could be used to stop uncontrolled bleeding. Some of the world’s deadliest snakes could soon be saving lives, with Read more about Deadly snakes could save your life

Comfort should be considered when choosing N95 masks for healthcare workers

Publicly released: Mon 20 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

The comfort and usability of N95 respirator masks for healthcare workers should be part of the decision making process when deciding which ones to buy, say Australian researchers. The researchers compared four N95 respirator types for both their Read more about Comfort should be considered when choosing N95 masks for healthcare workers

The gap is closing for Indigenous Aussies in the NT

Publicly released: Mon 20 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

MJA

Australian researchers say that the life expectancy for Indigenous people in the NT has increased more rapidly than it has for non-Indigenous people between 1999 and 2018, however, the gap remains considerable. They say the life expectancy for Read more about The gap is closing for Indigenous Aussies in the NT

How do we better prepare our health system for times of disaster?

Publicly released: Mon 20 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

When disasters like floods and fires hit, the health ramifications go well beyond initial injuries as people struggle to access services for existing health concerns while managing the stress and disruption of the disaster. In a perspective piece, a Read more about How do we better prepare our health system for times of disaster?

Were the bones of fallen soldiers at Waterloo stolen and sold as fertiliser?

Publicly released: Sat 18 Jun 2022 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Journal of Conflict Archaeology

The surprising lack of human remains found from the Battle of Waterloo is probably because the soldiers' bones were taken and sold as fertiliser in the early 1800s, according to international researchers. The team has compiled letters and memoirs Read more about Were the bones of fallen soldiers at Waterloo stolen and sold as fertiliser?

Biogas, biomethane still comes with a hidden climate cost

Publicly released: Sat 18 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

One Earth

Touted as a more climate-friendly alternative to natural gas, biomethane and biogas created from organic waste still may emit significantly more methane than previously thought, according to international research. The team collated existing data to Read more about Biogas, biomethane still comes with a hidden climate cost

When it comes to ADHD and ASD, the eyes could reveal all

Publicly released: Fri 17 Jun 2022 at 1631 AEST | 1831 NZST

Frontiers in Neuroscience

In the first study of its kind, researchers found that recordings from the retina could identify distinct signals for both Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) providing a potential biomarker for each Read more about When it comes to ADHD and ASD, the eyes could reveal all

Rural communities under-resourced to take on refugees

Publicly released: Fri 17 Jun 2022 at 1457 AEST | 1657 NZST

International Journal of Inclusive Education

As Australia continues to take on refugees from Ukraine, education experts are calling for essential supports as new research from the University of South Australia shows that rural and regional schools can be under-resourced and ill-prepared to Read more about Rural communities under-resourced to take on refugees

End-of-life plan needed for tens of thousands of wind turbine blades

Publicly released: Fri 17 Jun 2022 at 1240 AEST | 1440 NZST

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

A new study led by The University of South Australia indicates tens of thousands of wind turbine blades will end up in landfill by the end of the decade unless end-of-life programs are established soon. A new study led by The University of South Read more about End-of-life plan needed for tens of thousands of wind turbine blades

Are new corals in Sydney dangerous invaders or harmless refugees?

Publicly released: Fri 17 Jun 2022 at 1205 AEST | 1405 NZST

Coral Reefs

A new study has found that invading subtropical corals will survive and thrive in coastal Sydney, which could spell trouble for existing Sydney coral species. Worsening environmental pressures, such as higher sea temperatures, are causing the Read more about Are new corals in Sydney dangerous invaders or harmless refugees?