Ultrathin nanosheets separate ions from water

Publicly released: Sat 6 Jun 2020 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Science Advances

In a world-first, an international research team, led by Monash University and ANSTO, has created an ultrathin porous membrane to completely separate potentially harmful ions, such as lead and mercury, from water. Researchers created an ultrathin Read more about Ultrathin nanosheets separate ions from water

Earthquakes can erode NZ’s mountaintops

Publicly released: Sat 6 Jun 2020 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Science Advances

Geological movements give rise to mountain ranges like the Southern Alps, but scientists have found that earthquakes can put a dent in them too. Geologists looked at sediment in Lake Paringa on the West Coast to find that earthquakes can cause high Read more about Earthquakes can erode NZ’s mountaintops

Are e-cigarettes saviours or sin sticks?

Publicly released: Sat 6 Jun 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Adults who begin vaping flavoured e-cigarettes could be more likely to quit smoking than those who vape unflavoured, according to a JAMA Network Open study of more than 17,000 people. However, another study published in the same journal found former Read more about Are e-cigarettes saviours or sin sticks?

T-cell immunity in the elderly

Publicly released: Fri 5 Jun 2020 at 1900 AEST | 2100 NZST

Nature Communications

A study by Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) expands the understanding of the molecular pathways that control T cell function and survival and how it relates to declining T cell immunity in the elderly. The findings outline that the Read more about T-cell immunity in the elderly

UniSA nails the true value of PhD mentoring with L’Oréal Australia & New Zealand

Publicly released: Fri 5 Jun 2020 at 1437 AEST | 1637 NZST

Mentoring is often considered an essential element in a successful post-PhD career with many a savvy-starter getting sage advice from an experienced other. However, nailing down the true value of mentoring, from an industry perspective, has been Read more about UniSA nails the true value of PhD mentoring with L’Oréal Australia & New Zealand

Global COVID lockdowns may slash $30 trillion from world economy but a rapid lift could cost us dearly

Publicly released: Fri 5 Jun 2020 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

Nature Human Behaviour

International research on global supply chains has modelled the economic impact of global lockdowns from COVID-19 and found a 2 month lockdown of around 80 per cent can slash global GDP by around US$20 trillion, increasing to $30 trillion if the Read more about Global COVID lockdowns may slash $30 trillion from world economy but a rapid lift could cost us dearly

Obese kids may be more likely to develop severe COVID-19 symptoms

Publicly released: Fri 5 Jun 2020 at 1130 AEST | 1330 NZST

JAMA Pediatrics / JAMA Network Open

A study of 50 cases of kids hospitalised with COVID-19 in the US suggests being obese may put kids at risk of needing ventilation. The study found that not all kids showed respiratory symptoms, and that those needing hospitalisation often had other Read more about Obese kids may be more likely to develop severe COVID-19 symptoms

Gut research delves deeper into obesity problems

Publicly released: Fri 5 Jun 2020 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

Neurogastroenterology & Motility

Serotonin in the gut is considered a regulator of normal gut function and is an important driver of metabolism and metabolic diseases including obesity and type 2 diabetes. Flinders University researchers have found that individual cells producing Read more about Gut research delves deeper into obesity problems

Can an indigestion drug help people with milder COVID symptoms?

Publicly released: Fri 5 Jun 2020 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

Gut

A widely-available and inexpensive drug that is used to ease the symptoms of indigestion is the latest potential contender to treat COVID-19 infection, after ten people reported their symptoms improved while taking the drug. The drug, famotidine, is Read more about Can an indigestion drug help people with milder COVID symptoms?

The neurobiology of social distance reviewed

Publicly released: Fri 5 Jun 2020 at 1030 AEST | 1230 NZST

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

Humans are intensely social, and over recent years, emerging evidence suggests that loneliness may be a threat to our survival and longevity. British and Canadian researchers write in a new literature review the benefits of social bonds, the Read more about The neurobiology of social distance reviewed

How well do social-distancing strategies work?

Publicly released: Fri 5 Jun 2020 at 1000 AEST | 1200 NZST

Nature Human Behaviour

As the world starts to back down on COVID-19 lockdown procedures, UK and Swiss researchers have looked at the effectiveness of three of the social-distancing strategies in place and found that while they are all better than nothing, sticking to our Read more about How well do social-distancing strategies work?

Aussies set record for carbon dioxide capture

Publicly released: Fri 5 Jun 2020 at 0800 AEST | 1000 NZST

Cell Reports Physical Science

Researchers from Monash University and the CSIRO have set a record for carbon dioxide capture using Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs). The technology resembles a sponge filled with tiny magnets. Read more about Aussies set record for carbon dioxide capture

Revealed: how cancer develops resistance to treatment

Publicly released: Fri 5 Jun 2020 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Science

Garvan researchers reveal the tactic that cancer cells use to adapt and evade treatment. Cancer cells can turn on error-prone DNA copy pathways to adapt to cancer treatment, a study published in the journal Science has revealed. Bacteria use the Read more about Revealed: how cancer develops resistance to treatment

How rubbish sleep might increase your risk of a stroke

Publicly released: Fri 5 Jun 2020 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS Biology

If you are the type of person who tosses and turns at night and has interrupted sleep, you may also be at higher risk of a stroke, and now researchers from the US think they can explain why. They found that people with fragmented sleep tend to have Read more about How rubbish sleep might increase your risk of a stroke

Mangroves at risk if carbon emissions don’t fall by 2050

Publicly released: Fri 5 Jun 2020 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Science

Unless global carbon emissions fall by 2050, mangroves cannot survive in higher sea-levels, according to an international research team that includes Professor Neil Saintilan from Macquarie University’s Department of Earth and Environmental Read more about Mangroves at risk if carbon emissions don’t fall by 2050

Antioxidant allows flies to live without sleep

Publicly released: Fri 5 Jun 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Cell

Researchers have found a link between lack of sleep and the accumulation of 'reactive oxygen species’, chemicals produced by the body that are lethal in high quantities. They found that these chemicals accumulate in the gut of flies when they are Read more about Antioxidant allows flies to live without sleep

Australian-first model to improve maternal and childhood vaccination rates

Publicly released: Fri 5 Jun 2020 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Vaccine

An Australian-first antenatal vaccine communication model for midwives showed promise for increasing uptake of maternal and childhood vaccines, according to a pilot study. Read more about Australian-first model to improve maternal and childhood vaccination rates

Australian drug chosen for global trial to treat COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 4 Jun 2020 at 1800 AEST | 2000 NZST

A drug developed by The University of Western Australia’s spinout company Dimerix will be used in a global trial to treat patients who have Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) as a result of COVID-19. The drug, known as DMX-200, was chosen Read more about Australian drug chosen for global trial to treat COVID-19

Over half of heart attack patients have avoided going to hospital fearing COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 4 Jun 2020 at 1630 AEST | 1830 NZST

European Heart Journal – Quality of Care and Clinical Outcomes

The number of heart attack patients seeking urgent hospital care has dropped by more than 50 per cent during the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a worldwide survey of over 3,000 healthcare professionals in 141 countries. The research also found that Read more about Over half of heart attack patients have avoided going to hospital fearing COVID-19

Alien frog invasion wreaks havoc on natural habitat

Publicly released: Thu 4 Jun 2020 at 1430 AEST | 1630 NZST

Australian Journal of Zoology

Indiscriminate feeding by an alien population of the carnivorous spotted-thighed frog could severely affect the native biodiversity of southern Australia, according to a new study by the University of South Australia. This is the first study of the Read more about Alien frog invasion wreaks havoc on natural habitat