Rethinking plastics in Aotearoa

Publicly released: Sun 8 Dec 2019 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

When it comes to reducing the environmental impact of plastic, there is no silver bullet – we need to pull every lever, write the authors of a new wide-ranging report. The 'Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand' report lays out a number of Read more about Rethinking plastics in Aotearoa - Scimex

Peace of mind for expectant parents

Publicly released: Sat 7 Dec 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS

A team led by Adelaide-based researchers has taken an important step towards validating the safety of intravenous magnesium sulphate as a treatment during pregnancy. Funder: Research Foundation of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Australia. Media Release Read more about Peace of mind for expectant parents - Scimex

Hire more LGBTQ and disabled astronomers or risk falling behind, review finds

Publicly released: Sat 7 Dec 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Astronomy

Analysis finds gender equity among star scientists improving, but big challenges remain. Ensuring research opportunities for indigenous, disabled and LGBTQ astronomers is essential if Australian research is to succeed in the new era of Read more about Hire more LGBTQ and disabled astronomers or risk falling behind, review finds - Scimex

Saving the ozone layer in 1987 slowed global warming

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 2300 AEDT | Sat 7 Dec 2019 at 0100 NZDT

Environmental Research Letters

It may have been an accidental side effect but new research shows that when the world's nations signed the Montreal Protocol in 1987 to ban CFCs and save the ozone layer they also signed an agreement that has already done more to slow global warming Read more about Saving the ozone layer in 1987 slowed global warming - Scimex

Symposium focuses on hot cities

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 1500 AEDT | 1700 NZDT

Adelaide – and cities around the world – are facing similar challenges: higher population density, reduced open spaces, rising urban heat, increasing need for cooling to combat the heat, and urban pollution. The Heat and Habitat in Cities Read more about Symposium focuses on hot cities - Scimex

Reducing chronic disease: we have the tools, but we're not using them

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The Lancet Global Health

There are plenty of evidence-based policy options for reducing chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease (like tobacco taxes or banning alcohol advertising). However, we are not doing a great job of using them, warns a new WHO Read more about Reducing chronic disease: we have the tools, but we're not using them - Scimex

Peanut allergy vaccine may help rewrite the immune system

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Peanut allergies could become a thing of the past as a new vaccine which has proved successful in human blood samples gets a boost towards human trials. The vaccine uniquely uses a virus-based platform to rewrite the body’s natural response to Read more about Peanut allergy vaccine may help rewrite the immune system - Scimex

Seahorse breeding project aims to recover endangered species from near extinction

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

To help recover declining populations of White’s seahorse, also known as the Sydney seahorse, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is implementing a breeding and conservation project in collaboration with organisations including the NSW Department of Primary Read more about Seahorse breeding project aims to recover endangered species from near extinction - Scimex

Changing eating behaviour may be as effective as drugs for reducing the nibbles, at least for rats

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Biology

Want to do less nibbling? Changing your diet and eating behaviour between meals could be as effective as drugs designed to reduce appetite, at least if you are a rat, according to researchers from the UK. The team investigated the effect of appetite Read more about Changing eating behaviour may be as effective as drugs for reducing the nibbles, at least for rats - Scimex

Measles deaths surged worldwide in 2018

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Worldwide more than 140, 000 people died from measles in 2018, according to new estimates from the World Health Organization. These deaths–mostly children–occurred as measles cases surged globally, amidst devastating outbreaks in all regions. Read more about Measles deaths surged worldwide in 2018 - Scimex

Gene network sparks future autism treatment

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0400 AEDT | 0600 NZDT

Neuron

A mutated gene found in people with intellectual disabilities that could be targeted for treatment has been identified by an international team including University of Queensland researchers. Funder: This work was supported by R01MH107182 to P.P. We Read more about Gene network sparks future autism treatment - Scimex

Burnt forests benefit bats

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Some California bats thrive after wildfires, according to researchers who monitored bat populations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains for three years. Of the 17 bat species in the area, six species flourished after forest fires, which the researchers Read more about Burnt forests benefit bats - Scimex

Not eating for 14 hours a day may come with many benefits

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Cell Metabolism

Time restricted eating (TRE) has been known to help reduce weight and blood pressure in mice, but now researchers in America have done a trial in humans that shows that TRE can have many other benefits for those with an increased risk of developing Read more about Not eating for 14 hours a day may come with many benefits - Scimex

Smartphone zombies: Distracted phone users rack up the head and neck injuries

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

The number of head and neck injuries has increased over the last 20 years with many cases resulting from distraction, especially after smartphones came into use around 2007, according to US research. The study of phone-related injuries found that Read more about Smartphone zombies: Distracted phone users rack up the head and neck injuries - Scimex

SCINEMA International Science Film Festival 2020 Entries Now Open!

Publicly released: Thu 5 Dec 2019 at 1530 AEDT | 1730 NZDT

Do you have an awesome science film to share with the world? SCINEMA, the largest science film festival in the southern hemisphere, is calling for entries for its 2020 festival. Media Release. From:RiAus. Now in its 20th year, SCINEMA (pronounced sci Read more about SCINEMA International Science Film Festival 2020 Entries Now Open! - Scimex

Call for disaster-specific pharmacy legislation

Publicly released: Thu 5 Dec 2019 at 1500 AEDT | 1700 NZDT

Australian Health Review

Pharmacists caught up in the Australian bushfire crisis are being hampered from providing timely and effective treatment to displaced people due to outdated laws, according to QUT researchers. Funder: N/A. Media Release. From:Queensland University Read more about Call for disaster-specific pharmacy legislation - Scimex

Mobile devices blur work and personal privacy raising cyber risks

Publicly released: Thu 5 Dec 2019 at 1500 AEDT | 1700 NZDT

International Conference on Information Systems

Organisations aren’t moving quickly enough on cyber security threats linked to the drive toward using personal mobile devices in the workplace, warns a QUT privacy researcher. Dr Kenan Degirmenci from QUT’s Science and Engineering Faculty’s Read more about Mobile devices blur work and personal privacy raising cyber risks - Scimex

Car crash speed and severity not a good predictor of whiplash injury

Publicly released: Thu 5 Dec 2019 at 1259 AEDT | 1459 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Whether you will get whiplash after a car crash may come down to more than just the severity of the crash and the speed involved, according to a small Australian, Canadian and US study. The study used collision data, repair invoices, and crash Read more about Car crash speed and severity not a good predictor of whiplash injury - Scimex

Vaper’s lung scarring likened to metal damage

Publicly released: Thu 5 Dec 2019 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

European Respiratory Journal

A rare form of lung scarring may be caused by vaping, say US physicians. In a one-off case study, doctors describe a patient with a distinctive pattern of damage typically seen in people who work with 'hard metals', such as cobalt or tungsten. The Read more about Vaper’s lung scarring likened to metal damage - Scimex

Rural decline not driven by water recovery

Publicly released: Thu 5 Dec 2019 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

Climatic Change

New research from the University of Adelaide has shown that climate and economic factors are the main drivers of farmers leaving their properties in the Murray-Darling Basin, not reduced water for irrigation as commonly claimed. Media Release. Read more about Rural decline not driven by water recovery - Scimex