Low vitamin D may increase your risk of being hospitalised with COVID-19

Publicly released: Sat 19 Jul 2025 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS One

UK and Australian scientists say having low levels of vitamin D may increase the risk of hospitalisation with COVID-19, but low levels of the vitamin are only weakly linked with the risk of contracting COVID-19. The team looked at health records for... Read more about Low vitamin D may increase your risk of being hospitalised with COVID-19

How do the new diabetes drugs stack up against the old for cancer patients?

Publicly released: Sat 19 Jul 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

New diabetes drugs including Ozempic and Mounjaro are linked to similar or improved survival benefits for cancer patients compared to older diabetes drugs, according to international research. Some diabetes drugs have outperformed others in previous... Read more about How do the new diabetes drugs stack up against the old for cancer patients?

Hungry bugs and disappearing bioplastics hold key to ending plastic waste crisis

Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 1234 AEST, 1434 NZST

Scientists are working with microbes found in Australia's unique ecosystem to create bioplastics which break down in land, soil and water. The research aims to tackle one of the most pressing global issues - single-use plastic food packaging: a... Read more about Hungry bugs and disappearing bioplastics hold key to ending plastic waste crisis

‘AI is not intelligent at all’: Why our dignity is at risk

Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 1051 AEST, 1251 NZST

Australian Journal of Human Rights

The age of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed our interactions, but threatens human dignity on a worldwide scale, according to a study led by Charles Darwin University (CDU). The age of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed our... Read more about ‘AI is not intelligent at all’: Why our dignity is at risk

Recycled tyre tech boosts railway resilience and cuts waste

Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 0953 AEST, 1153 NZST

Canadian Geotechnical Journal

New research has shown that a system of rubber shock absorbers made from recycled tyres can significantly protect railway tracks from damage, addressing the dual challenges of high maintenance costs and national tyre waste. New research has shown... Read more about Recycled tyre tech boosts railway resilience and cuts waste

New COVID-19 vaccine candidate shows strong protection against multiple variants in mouse study

Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 0939 AEST, 1139 NZST

npj Vaccines

A promising new COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by researchers at the Centenary Institute and the University of Sydney has shown strong potential to protect against both current and emerging coronavirus variants in a mouse study. By targeting... Read more about New COVID-19 vaccine candidate shows strong protection against multiple variants in mouse study

Decades of surveys show whale migration shift

Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 0935 AEST, 1135 NZST

Nature Scientific Reports

Surveys reveal the peak of the southern migration of humpback whales down the east Australian coast is now three weeks earlier than it was 21 years ago, and a warming Southern Ocean may be the reason. University of Queensland surveys reveal the peak... Read more about Decades of surveys show whale migration shift

Android's quake detection provides early warning for a third of users

Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 0914 AEST, 1114 NZST

Science

Since the Android Earthquake Alerts system first rolled out in New Zealand and Greece in 2021, it has become available in 98 countries and sent over 1200 alerts. In a survey conducted by researchers from Google (which created the alert system), 36%... Read more about Android's quake detection provides early warning for a third of users

EXPERT REACTION: Is gene editing the next frontier of conservation?

Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Nature Reviews Biodiversity

Genome engineering can be used to help conserve endangered species, according to a group of researchers, including some from Colossal Biosciences – the startup behind controversial "de-extinction" announcements. The researchers argue in a... Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Is gene editing the next frontier of conservation?

Could we use global smartphone networks to predict earthquakes?

Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

Science

The world's love of smartphones has spread the handheld data collectors all over the world, and now Google researchers say they could be key to improving our ability to predict earthquakes. The researchers spent three years trialling a system where... Read more about Could we use global smartphone networks to predict earthquakes?

Cancer patients who received a COVID-19 booster vaccine were less likely to be hospitalised with the virus

Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Oncology

Cancer patients were less likely to end up in hospital due to COVID-19 if they received a booster vaccine, according to a US study. Because people with cancer are especially at risk of severe COVID-19, the researchers investigated how receiving a... Read more about Cancer patients who received a COVID-19 booster vaccine were less likely to be hospitalised with the virus

Can we predict a bird flu outbreak?

Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Scientific Reports

Bird flu outbreaks could be predicted by measuring autumn temperatures and checking for swans, new research suggests. The study looked at where highly pathogenic avian influenza emerged in Europe over nearly 20 years. They found that the coldest... Read more about Can we predict a bird flu outbreak?

Dogs might have TV preferences based on their personality

Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Scientific Reports

Dogs are more likely to react to on-screen animals than anything else TV shows have to offer, US research of 450 pups shows. The dogs reported as "excitable" by their owners were more likely to follow on-screen objects as if they were real, while... Read more about Dogs might have TV preferences based on their personality

Neanderthals at two nearby caves butchered the same prey in different ways

Publicly released: Thu 17 Jul 2025 at 1400 AEST, 1600 NZST

Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology

Neanderthals at two nearby caves butchered the same prey in different ways, suggesting local food traditions, according to international researchers. The Neanderthals, who lived between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago, used the same tools and hunted the... Read more about Neanderthals at two nearby caves butchered the same prey in different ways

New dual-drug strategy shows promise against aggressive leukaemia

Publicly released: Thu 17 Jul 2025 at 1311 AEST, 1511 NZST

Cancer Discovery

Peter Mac researchers have discovered a powerful new drug combination that could offer hope to children and adults with certain subtypes of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The treatment works by using a combination of two agents, a Menin inhibitor,... Read more about New dual-drug strategy shows promise against aggressive leukaemia

‘Ultimate dinner party guests’: Dispersed communities attending feast in ancient Iran gifted boars sourced from distant lands

Publicly released: Thu 17 Jul 2025 at 1026 AEST, 1226 NZST

Nature Communications Earth and Environment

Magnets and shot glasses serve as fun holiday souvenirs, but certain foods synonymous with a country’s identity can make for extra meaningful gifts for friends and loved ones; think French cheese, Dutch Stroopwafels and Canadian maple syrup.... Read more about ‘Ultimate dinner party guests’: Dispersed communities attending feast in ancient Iran gifted boars sourced from distant lands

Australia’s future science and technology leaders land in Melbourne to kickstart their future

Publicly released: Thu 17 Jul 2025 at 1000 AEST, 1200 NZST

The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) is proud to deliver Australia’s National Youth STEM Summit for the first time in Melbourne, Victoria, from 19 to 21 July 2025. A not-for-profit charity, the NYSF has over 40 years of experience in connecting... Read more about Australia’s future science and technology leaders land in Melbourne to kickstart their future

Spinal cord stimulators: ineffective treatment found to be costly and risky

Publicly released: Thu 17 Jul 2025 at 0911 AEST, 1111 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

New research from the University of Sydney reveals surgically implanted spinal cord stimulators – a common treatment for lower back pain which aims to disrupt pain signals travelling to the brain – are costly and putting patients at risk of... Read more about Spinal cord stimulators: ineffective treatment found to be costly and risky

EXPERT REACTION and MEDIA BRIEFING: First babies born in the UK through mitochondrial donation

Publicly released: Thu 17 Jul 2025 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

Eight children in the UK have been born following a pioneering licensed IVF technique to reduce the risk of mitochondrial diseases, known as mitochondrial donation, according to a world-first report by Australian and UK researchers. The technique is... Read more about EXPERT REACTION and MEDIA BRIEFING: First babies born in the UK through mitochondrial donation

Reanimating a heart after death for organ transplant

Publicly released: Thu 17 Jul 2025 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

Two US studies describe two different methods of preserving donated hearts, which might increase the availability of heart transplants. In one study, researchers 'reanimated' a heart on the operating table, getting it to beat again after it was... Read more about Reanimating a heart after death for organ transplant