Smoking increases your risk of severe COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Internal Medicine

The more packets of cigarettes you smoke over your lifetime, the higher your risk may be of being hospitalised or dying from COVID-19, according to US research. Previously evidence to link smoking to COVID-19 risk had been limited and often Read more about Smoking increases your risk of severe COVID-19

Social immunity in a social insect

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Honey bees are able to combat the parasitic Varroa mite through social immunity. This is a collective behavioural defence strategy that involves Varroa-infected brood releasing chemicals than stimulate worker bees to remove the parasitised larvae. Read more about Social immunity in a social insect

Kakadu food scraps provide ancient rainfall clues

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Ecology and Evolution

Archaeologists are generating a 65,000-year-old rainfall record from ancient food scraps found at Australia’s earliest-known site of human occupation. University of Queensland researcher Dr Anna Florin said the research was giving a glimpse into Read more about Kakadu food scraps provide ancient rainfall clues

Veterans exposed to Agent Orange have almost double the dementia risk

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Neurology

Veterans exposed to Agent Orange are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with dementia, according to a US study. Additional studies are needed to examine potential mechanisms underlying the association between Agent Orange exposure and dementia. Read more about Veterans exposed to Agent Orange have almost double the dementia risk

Pre-Incan gold – guano created agricultural oases in the Atacama desert

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Plants

Parts of Chile’s Atacama desert became an unlikely food bowl thanks to bird poo. Analysis of plant and food remains found that around 1,100 years ago their nitrogen isotope content rose substantially, particularly for maize. Similar patterns of Read more about Pre-Incan gold – guano created agricultural oases in the Atacama desert

EXPERT REACTION: TGA approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

Publicly released: Mon 25 Jan 2021 at 1232 AEDT | 1432 NZDT

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) today announced that it has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in Australia. It is the first COVID-19 vaccine to be approved in Australia. Australian experts comment below. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: TGA approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

Providing insight into how the brain may have evolved

Publicly released: Mon 25 Jan 2021 at 1204 AEDT | 1404 NZDT

Nature Ecology & Evolution

Researchers from The University of Western Australia have uncovered evidence of an important genetic step in the evolution of the brain. The finding highlights how genetic events that took place in our fish-like ancestors play crucial roles in human Read more about Providing insight into how the brain may have evolved

Global demand for cancer surgery set to surge

Publicly released: Mon 25 Jan 2021 at 1046 AEDT | 1246 NZDT

The Lancet Oncology

A new modelling study led by UNSW predicts demand for cancer surgery will rise by 52 per cent within two decades, with low-income countries bearing the greatest burden. Public health researchers, led by UNSW Sydney, have estimated the number of Read more about Global demand for cancer surgery set to surge

What you need to know about hydrogen energy

Publicly released: Mon 25 Jan 2021 at 0959 AEDT | 1159 NZDT

N/A

Several announcements were made last week regarding hydrogen research and development in Australia, including the development of an Australian hydrogen battery. Andrew Forrest of Fortescue Metals last week said “green” hydrogen will give Read more about What you need to know about hydrogen energy

Need for school children to return to sport

Publicly released: Mon 25 Jan 2021 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

As the school year begins, the call for more children to participate in organised sport has never been louder - but problems that sports organisers face are compounded by indifference from parents, in addition to worries about COVID-19 restrictions. Read more about Need for school children to return to sport

Scientists use a novel ink to 3D print ‘bone’ with living cells

Publicly released: Mon 25 Jan 2021 at 0730 AEDT | 0930 NZDT

Advanced Functional Materials

3D printers may one day become a permanent fixture of the operating theatre after UNSW scientists showed they could print bone-like structures containing living cells. Using a 3D-printer that deploys a special ink made up of calcium phosphate, the Read more about Scientists use a novel ink to 3D print ‘bone’ with living cells

CSIRO's circular economy roadmap charts path to triple job creation

Publicly released: Mon 25 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

A new roadmap released today by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has developed key strategies for creating jobs and reclaiming billions in economic value from plastic, glass, paper and tyres currently going into landfill. The National Read more about CSIRO's circular economy roadmap charts path to triple job creation

Do you actually know how drunk you are?

Publicly released: Mon 25 Jan 2021 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Drug and Alcohol Review

Aussie researchers have found that if you've only had one or two drinks you are probably reasonably accurate at guessing if you'd be over the limit, but once your blood alcohol levels get to around 2-3 times the legal drinking limit, you and your Read more about Do you actually know how drunk you are?

Sport may fast-track numeracy skills for Indigenous children

Publicly released: Mon 25 Jan 2021 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Australian Journal of Education

Greater sports participation among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is linked with better academic performance, according to new research from the University of South Australia. Greater sports participation among Aboriginal and Torres Read more about Sport may fast-track numeracy skills for Indigenous children

Aussie GPs need to better screen for harmful alcohol use

Publicly released: Mon 25 Jan 2021 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

MJA

Aussies don’t see a need for major changes in regard to alcohol use, and support for policies which reduce alcohol-related harms that are based on the strongest evidence is declining, according to an Aussie expert. In a Perspective article, he Read more about Aussie GPs need to better screen for harmful alcohol use

Heart disease risk is higher in cancer survivors

Publicly released: Mon 25 Jan 2021 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

MJA

Death among people with cancer who survive at least 5 years after diagnosis is higher than for the general population, particularly in terms of heart disease, according to Aussie researchers. They analysed SA Cancer Registry data for all people Read more about Heart disease risk is higher in cancer survivors

Continuous monitoring of proteins a game-changer for patients with rapidly deteriorating conditions

Publicly released: Sun 24 Jan 2021 at 1533 AEDT | 1733 NZDT

ACS Sensors

A world-first discovery by Australian researchers could become a game-changer for patients at risk of rapid health deterioration, such as heart complications, stroke, sepsis and cancer. Traditional diagnostic tests involve sampling tissue, blood or Read more about Continuous monitoring of proteins a game-changer for patients with rapidly deteriorating conditions

Electric avenues: AI suggests where to put electric car chargers

Publicly released: Sat 23 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Patterns

An artificial intelligence system has been trained to read reviews of more than 12,000 US electric vehicle charging stations, to identify where there are too few or non-functioning stations and other issues. The program was able to assess reviews Read more about Electric avenues: AI suggests where to put electric car chargers

Tweets show the good, the bad, and the ugly of lockdown

Publicly released: Sat 23 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

PLoS ONE

In South Africa the Covid-19 lockdown had a significant negative impact on happiness. This was measured using sentiment analysis of Twitter posts (between January and June), with every tweet labelled as having either a positive, neutral or Read more about Tweets show the good, the bad, and the ugly of lockdown

Bee gone? A quarter of bee species haven’t been seen in 30 years

Publicly released: Sat 23 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

One Earth

While reports and records of animal species have increased dramatically over the last few decades, the number of bee species being reported has declined, down 25% since 1990. Argentinian researchers used the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Read more about Bee gone? A quarter of bee species haven’t been seen in 30 years