Researchers find ‘sweet spot’ for kiwifruit pollination

Publicly released: Sat 24 Oct 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

PLOS One

Upping the proportion of female flowers in a kiwifruit orchard may boost production, according to new research. Scientists used 30 years of historical records from New Zealand kiwifruit farms to model the optimal crop orchard for pollination. Their Read more about Researchers find ‘sweet spot’ for kiwifruit pollination

Universal face masking could save almost 130,000 lives in US

Publicly released: Sat 24 Oct 2020 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

Nature Medicine

New modelling suggests that more than half a million U. S lives could be lost to COVID-19 by the end of February 2021, but that number could be significantly reduced if 95 per cent of Americans always wore a face mask in public. The researchers Read more about Universal face masking could save almost 130,000 lives in US

Call to restore Indigenous names for plants and animals

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 1900 AEDT | 2100 NZDT

Communications Biology

It’s time for biologists to re-evaluate the scientific names for some species in order to reflect the pre-existing names that Indigenous Peoples have for them, argue two New Zealand researchers. In some cases, like the mataī tree, it’s the Read more about Call to restore Indigenous names for plants and animals

COVID-19 a double blow for chronic disease patients

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 1500 AEDT | 1700 NZDT

Frontiers in Public Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated into a ‘syndemic’ for people with chronic illnesses, a new UNSW study analysing data from low and middle-income countries shows. There has never been a more dangerous time than the COVID-19 pandemic for people Read more about COVID-19 a double blow for chronic disease patients

Producing less costly, greener hydrogen peroxide

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 1330 AEDT | 1530 NZDT

Nature Communications

Progress has been made on a less costly, environmentally-friendly way to produce hydrogen peroxide using an advanced catalytic material— carbon nanotubes doped with cobalt and nitrogen. Read more about Producing less costly, greener hydrogen peroxide

New study first to link plastic ingestion and dietary metals in seabirds

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 1300 AEDT | 1500 NZDT

Scientific Reports

A new study by scientists from the University of Tasmania, CSIRO and the University of South Australia is the first to find a relationship between plastic debris ingested by seabirds and liver concentrations of  mineral metals, with potential links Read more about New study first to link plastic ingestion and dietary metals in seabirds

Around 3 in 4 Americans report hearing conflicting information about COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Almost 75 per cent of US adults surveyed in April say they have heard conflicting information about the COVID-19 pandemic, according to US research. Overall, participants noticed more disagreement among politicians than health  experts - and people Read more about Around 3 in 4 Americans report hearing conflicting information about COVID-19

Matildas must score first if they want to win the World Cup

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

PLOS ONE

An analysis of women's professional soccer matches has found that scoring first is the most important contributor in predicting who will win matches. The study found that other key elements of success are intentional assists relative to the opponent Read more about Matildas must score first if they want to win the World Cup

'Uncrushable' beetle offers construction tips

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 1047 AEDT | 1247 NZDT

Nature

The diabolical ironclad beetle (Phloeodes diabolicus) has an exoskeleton that is so tough, the insect can survive being run over by a car. A team of engineers have mimicked some of the jigsaw-shaped joints found in the beetle’s anatomy with Read more about 'Uncrushable' beetle offers construction tips

Diet linked to bone health in postmenopausal Kiwis

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 0931 AEDT | 1131 NZDT

Frontiers in Nutrition

Kiwi researchers looked at the diets of 125 postmenopausal women to see if any patterns were linked to better bone health. Their findings showed a positive link between consuming milk, even with coffee, and bone health. The authors write that a diet Read more about Diet linked to bone health in postmenopausal Kiwis

Voters unlikely to decide whether to pick Trump, Boris or Modi based on their pandemic performance

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

BMJ Global Health

Despite viewing their governments as responsible for the spread of COVID-19, voters in the US, UK and India are unlikely to punish or reward their leaders at the polls for their actions during the pandemic, researchers have found. The authors Read more about Voters unlikely to decide whether to pick Trump, Boris or Modi based on their pandemic performance

Spread of disinformation linked to vaccine avoidance

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

BMJ Global Health

Deliberate ‘disinformation’ campaigns on social media appear are linked to drops in vaccination, according to new research. US and South African researchers examined over 250,000 vaccination-related tweets from around the world alongside survey Read more about Spread of disinformation linked to vaccine avoidance

Combination of physical distancing measures can keep COVID at bay

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

UK researchers have analysed 131 countries, including Australia and New Zealand, to determine the impact of physical distancing measures - such as work closures, caps on gatherings and public event bans - on the spread of COVID-19, finding the more Read more about Combination of physical distancing measures can keep COVID at bay

Pump down the volume: study finds noise-cancelling formula

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 0851 AEDT | 1051 NZDT

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

Noisy open plan offices full of workers hunched over desks while wearing noise cancelling headphones could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to new research from The Australian National University (ANU). The ANU researchers have developed Read more about Pump down the volume: study finds noise-cancelling formula

Some school anti-bullying programs may do more harm than good

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 0730 AEDT | 0930 NZDT

Child Development Perspectives

International research into the effectiveness of school bullying prevention programs shows that a high proportion of programs either do not reduce bullying or can even increase bullying. New QIMR Berghofer research suggests reasons why some Read more about Some school anti-bullying programs may do more harm than good

New genome reveals why cats need nine lives

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

PLOS Genetics

Feline biomedical research has been given a boost with the development of a new and improved cat genome. The genome, based on Cinnamon the cat, can be used to identify genes which cause diseases in felines, leading to earlier disease detection, and Read more about New genome reveals why cats need nine lives

Long-acting reversible contraceptive use has doubled over the past decade

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

ANZJOG

The use of long-acting reversible contraceptives, such as the IUD and contraceptive implant, have doubled over the past decade according to Australian researchers who looked at uptake in Aussie women between 2006 and 2018. They found increases for Read more about Long-acting reversible contraceptive use has doubled over the past decade

Struggle with sums? Blame your DNA

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

PLOS Biology

The genes we inherit could impact our maths ability by shaping our young brain's development, according to new research. An international team of scientists found a link between different variants a certain gene and the volume of grey matter in the Read more about Struggle with sums? Blame your DNA

Some antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy could increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders

Publicly released: Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

Scientific Reports

Children born to mothers who took the antiepileptic drug sodium valproate during pregnancy may be four- to five-times more at risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders in early childhood, according to researchers who analysed anonymous medical Read more about Some antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy could increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders

Reviewing multiferroics for future, low-energy data storage

Publicly released: Thu 22 Oct 2020 at 2200 AEDT | Fri 23 Oct 2020 at 0000 NZDT

Advanced Materials

Big data and exponential demands for computations are driving an unsustainable rise in global ICT energy use. A new UNSW study reviews the use of the ‘multiferroic’ material bismuth-ferrite, which allows for low-energy switching in data storage Read more about Reviewing multiferroics for future, low-energy data storage