Medical 3D printing breakthroughs: tomorrow's medicine

Publicly released: Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 1259 AEST | 1459 NZST

Australia’ s leadership in 3D printing in medicine and health care has leapt ahead with an ARC training centre dedicated to cutting-edge research in close collaboration with hospitals and industry to rapidly translate lab findings into practical Read more about Medical 3D printing breakthroughs: tomorrow's medicine - Scimex

Unveiling the secrets of our Milky Way galaxy

Publicly released: Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

Astronomy and Astrophysics

A multinational team of astronomers involving the University of Adelaide has catalogued over 70 sources of very high energy gamma rays, including 16 previously undiscovered ones, in a survey of the Milky Way using gamma ray telescopes. A Read more about Unveiling the secrets of our Milky Way galaxy - Scimex

The highs and lows of the Psychoactive Substances Act

Publicly released: Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

International Journal of Drug Policy

The Psychoactive Substances Act was supposed to regulate synthetic drug production in New Zealand by making manufacturers prove their products were safe – but the rushed policy hindered the original goal, finds a new study from Massey University. Read more about The highs and lows of the Psychoactive Substances Act - Scimex

New study finds medication use increases in newly diagnosed dementia patients

Publicly released: Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0501 AEST | 0701 NZST

Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences

A new international study led by University of Sydney has found that medication use increases in newly diagnosed dementia patients, particularly unnecessary or inappropriate medications. Media Release. From:The University of Sydney. A new Read more about New study finds medication use increases in newly diagnosed dementia patients - Scimex

Gene-editing and vaccines could improve HIV treatment

Publicly released: Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS Pathogens

Two new studies highlight progress in treating and preventing the spread of HIV. The first reports that gene-editing of bone marrow stem cells in monkeys infected with a variant of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) significantly reduces the number Read more about Gene-editing and vaccines could improve HIV treatment - Scimex

Mammals got smaller when humans arrived

Publicly released: Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Science

Human migration out of Africa coincided with a dramatic reduction in the size of mammals, according to researchers who say in a couple hundred years the largest terrestrial mammal could be the domestic cow. By looking at distribution and size of Read more about Mammals got smaller when humans arrived - Scimex

Plants show surprise response to more CO2

Publicly released: Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Science

Plants are split into broad categories based on how they process carbon, with the two main groups being C3 (e.g. rice, wheat, trees) and C4 (most grasses including corn and sugarcane). It was thought C3 grasses are more sensitive to carbon dioxide Read more about Plants show surprise response to more CO2 - Scimex

Great Barrier Reef coral might last another 100 years

Publicly released: Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS Genetics

A type of coral commonly found on the Great Barrier Reef could survive for at least another 100 years before it falls victim to the effects of climate change, according to US and Australian scientists. For corals to survive in the long-term, their Read more about Great Barrier Reef coral might last another 100 years - Scimex

Your grandchildren may retire before we achieve gender equality in STEMM

Publicly released: Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS Biology

New research has calculated that without further interventions, the gender gap for women working in STEMM is very likely to persist for generations, particularly in surgery, computer science, physics and maths. Media Release. From:The University of Read more about Your grandchildren may retire before we achieve gender equality in STEMM - Scimex

Coping in the face of climate change

Publicly released: Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Many communities and iwi living in coastal and flood-prone locations face an uncertain future due to climate change, but we still don't have a good understanding of how these long-term changes will affect those living in exposed locations. A new Read more about Coping in the face of climate change - Scimex

Indoor air pollution: plants to the rescue!

Publicly released: Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0200 AEST | 0400 NZST

Trends in Plant Science

Indoor plants can play a vital role in improving indoor air quality in a cost-effective and sustainable way, say a team of EU plant physiologists. Reviewing the scant literature on how plants remove common pollutants from the air, the researchers Read more about Indoor air pollution: plants to the rescue! - Scimex

Doctors who use computers seem less compassionate

Publicly released: Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Oncology

Doctors who sit tapping away on a computer during consultations are perceived as less compassionate, communicative and professional by their patients than those who meet patients face-to-face in the absence of a computer, according to small US study. Read more about Doctors who use computers seem less compassionate - Scimex

Young guys most likely to deafen themselves at outdoor parties

Publicly released: Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery

Young men who shun earplugs and hit the party drugs and booze at outdoor music festivals are the most likely revellers to lose their hearing temporarily when the fun's over, according to a small study of party-goers who attended a festival in Read more about Young guys most likely to deafen themselves at outdoor parties - Scimex

Ancient cow skull surgery

Publicly released: Thu 19 Apr 2018 at 2300 AEST | Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0100 NZST

Scientific Reports

A near-complete cow skull found in Neolithic site (aged 3, 400– 3, 000 BC) suggests it might have undergone cranial surgery. Such surgery in humans dates back as early as the Mesolithic (10, 000– 2, 700 BC), which involved drilling or cutting a Read more about Ancient cow skull surgery - Scimex

Cicadas that rarely meet but still hybridise

Publicly released: Thu 19 Apr 2018 at 2300 AEST | Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0100 NZST

Communications Biology

Cicadas are a common soundtrack to summer, but did you know species vary depending on how many years they spend underground as larvae? Researchers have found genetic evidence of hybridisation between cicadas that spend 13- and 17-years underground Read more about Cicadas that rarely meet but still hybridise - Scimex

Blow flies drink their own spit bubbles to keep cool

Publicly released: Thu 19 Apr 2018 at 2300 AEST | Fri 20 Apr 2018 at 0100 NZST

Scientific Reports

Blowflies blow from hot to cold by blowing spit bubbles and then slurping the saliva back down, according to a new study. The Brazilian researchers found that once a saliva droplet leaves a blowfly’ s mouth, it partially evaporates - cooling down - Read more about Blow flies drink their own spit bubbles to keep cool - Scimex

Scientists urge international community to act on childhood pneumonia in war zones

Publicly released: Thu 19 Apr 2018 at 1301 AEST | 1501 NZST

ISPPD Symposium

Scientists at an international pneumococcal conference in Melbourne this week, the ISPPD Symposium, urged international agencies to provide a new class of pneumococcal vaccines to children in acute humanitarian emergencies, such as war zones and Read more about Scientists urge international community to act on childhood pneumonia in war zones - Scimex

New Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of the Kimberley highlights the need to conserve these pristine waters

Publicly released: Thu 19 Apr 2018 at 1205 AEST | 1405 NZST

A new colour publication, A Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of the Kimberley, details the Kimberley's fascinating freshwater fishes, many unique to the region, and includes newly described species. Funder: The project was supported through an Read more about New Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of the Kimberley highlights the need to conserve these pristine waters - Scimex

An artificial pancreas could help smooth out blood sugar levels for type 1 diabetics

Publicly released: Thu 19 Apr 2018 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The BMJ

An artificial pancreas could help people with type 1 diabetes smooth out blood sugar peaks and troughs, according to a review of trials by Greek researchers. The researchers compared a regular treatment for type 1 diabetes – insulin pumps where Read more about An artificial pancreas could help smooth out blood sugar levels for type 1 diabetics - Scimex

Curtin research finds no vasectomy reversal link to prostate cancer

Publicly released: Thu 19 Apr 2018 at 0501 AEST | 0701 NZST

The Journal of Urology

New Curtin University research that studied almost 10, 000 men who had undergone vasectomy reversals across the globe has found no evidence of a link between the procedure and prostate cancer. Media Release. From:Curtin University. New Curtin Read more about Curtin research finds no vasectomy reversal link to prostate cancer - Scimex