Monash scientists expose fascinating ‘compartments’ in bacteria

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jul 2020 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

Nature Reviews Microbiology

A review paper by Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI), published in the high-impact journal Nature Reviews Microbiology, casts light on organelles, the internal compartments in bacterial cells that house and support functions essential for Read more about Monash scientists expose fascinating ‘compartments’ in bacteria

Keep safe and cool in the pool: novel chip sensor makes swimming pools safer

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jul 2020 at 1130 AEST | 1330 NZST

Sensors

A new microchip that enables continuous monitoring of pH and chlorine levels in swimming pools will vastly improve water safety and hygiene for more than 2. 7 million Australians, as new research shows it can deliver consistent and accurate pool Read more about Keep safe and cool in the pool: novel chip sensor makes swimming pools safer

Whale ‘snot’ reveals likely poor health during migration

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jul 2020 at 1130 AEST | 1330 NZST

Scientific Reports

UNSW researchers have linked the burden of humpback whales’ annual migration to depleted microbial diversity in their airways – an indicator of overall health. Read more about Whale ‘snot’ reveals likely poor health during migration

Convalescent plasma treatment added to Australian COVID-19 trials

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jul 2020 at 1030 AEST | 1230 NZST

Convalescent plasma has been introduced to the AustralaSian COVID-19 Trial (ASCOT) and Randomised, Embedded, Multi-factorial, Adaptive Platform Trial for Community-Acquired Pneumonia (REMAP-CAP) clinical trials in a bid to identify the best strategy Read more about Convalescent plasma treatment added to Australian COVID-19 trials

Two trials show promise against common baby respiratory virus

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jul 2020 at 0700 AEST | 0900 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

Vaccinating pregnant women against Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the virus that causes most of the respiratory infections in babies, shows some benefit, according to an international trial that included Australians. The trial showed that the Read more about Two trials show promise against common baby respiratory virus

People with COVID-19 could test positive for up to 35 days

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jul 2020 at 0500 AEST | 0700 NZST

Clinical & Translational Immunology

A study of around 200 people with COVID-19 has found that the viruses genetic material, known as RNA, is shed for 14 days on average, but may still be detectable in tests for up to 35 days after symptoms start. Like the COVID-19 tests being used in Read more about People with COVID-19 could test positive for up to 35 days

How many Aussie kids would try cannabis if it was legal?

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jul 2020 at 0500 AEST | 0700 NZST

Drug and Alcohol Review

Australian scientists say that a substantial minority of young Aussies may try cannabis for the first time if it is legalised Down-Under. Their national survey of more than 3,000 young people suggested that around one-in-five adolescents (aged 12-17) Read more about How many Aussie kids would try cannabis if it was legal?

Nobel Prizes unequally awarded across scientific fields

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jul 2020 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS One

Only five scientific fields account for more than half of Nobel Prizes awarded, according to Stanford University researchers. The team looked at all of the prestigious prize-related papers from the last 20 years, and found that out of 114 scientific Read more about Nobel Prizes unequally awarded across scientific fields

Rock stars – Curtin scientists find two meteorites in two weeks

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jul 2020 at 0201 AEST | 0401 NZST

Curtin University researchers have discovered two meteorites in a two week period on the Nullarbor Plain – one freshly fallen and the other from November 2019. Read more about Rock stars – Curtin scientists find two meteorites in two weeks

The stars that time forgot

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jul 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature

Scientists led by astronomers at the University of Sydney have found the remnant of a strange, dismembered globular cluster at the edge of the Milky Way, upending theories about how heavy elements formed in early stars. Read more about The stars that time forgot