Mulberry helps trace Oceania settlement

Publicly released: Thu 20 Jun 2019 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS One

Paper mulberry is culturally-important across Oceania for its use in textiles, which means prehistoric settlers carried the plant with them as they travelled the Pacific. Researchers examining the plant's genetics have been able to paint a picture Read more about Mulberry helps trace Oceania settlement - Scimex

Spendthrift? Getting married won't help you save

Publicly released: Thu 20 Jun 2019 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

A study of 134 Vietnamese married couples found that spouses who love to splurge their cash don't get better at saving money once they're married. Some people overvalue immediate rewards, which makes it a struggle to save, and getting hitched won't Read more about Spendthrift? Getting married won't help you save - Scimex

Robot fish with battery-powered 'blood'

Publicly released: Thu 20 Jun 2019 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

US engineers have created a soft and squidgy robotic lionfish that has synthetic liquid 'blood' made of battery fluid coursing through it, and say it is capable of swimming upstream and fanning its fins. As robots tend to have both a battery and Read more about Robot fish with battery-powered 'blood' - Scimex

Diverse crops provide more stable yields

Publicly released: Thu 20 Jun 2019 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

Moving away from monocultures may help stabilise food supplies, according to US researchers. Over the past decade, drought and extreme heat have caused declines in grain yield in some of the world's largest agricultural regions, including Australia. Read more about Diverse crops provide more stable yields - Scimex

Bird 'aliens' are better at invading when the climate feels like home

Publicly released: Thu 20 Jun 2019 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

Invading 'alien' bird species have the best chance of survival if their new habitat has a similar environment to their home, according to Australian and International research. The research used data from over 4000 invasions by 700 species of birds, Read more about Bird 'aliens' are better at invading when the climate feels like home - Scimex

Taking Vitamin D is unlikely to help your heart

Publicly released: Thu 20 Jun 2019 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Cardiology

Taking vitamin D supplements probably won't lower your risk of heart attack or stroke, according to an analysis of 21 clinical trials looking at over 80, 000 patients. The study, which included three Australian trials, found taking vitamin D Read more about Taking Vitamin D is unlikely to help your heart - Scimex

Kindy kids who struggle to pay attention may earn less as adults

Publicly released: Thu 20 Jun 2019 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Psychiatry

Kindergarten kids who struggle to concentrate and are easily distracted are more likely to be on lower incomes as adults, according to Canadian research. The study followed 5- and 6-year-old kids for 30 years to see if there were any links between Read more about Kindy kids who struggle to pay attention may earn less as adults - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Labelling autistic kids as 'high functioning' may stop them from getting the help they need

Publicly released: Thu 20 Jun 2019 at 0030 AEST | 0230 NZST

Autism

‘High functioning autism’is a term used for people with autism spectrum disorder without an intellectual disability (as measured through IQ tests), and it has become synonymous with expectations of greater functional skills and better long-term Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Labelling autistic kids as 'high functioning' may stop them from getting the help they need - Scimex

56 new species of arachnids found in WA's North West

Publicly released: Wed 19 Jun 2019 at 1544 AEST | 1744 NZST

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

Researchers at The University of Western Australia and the Western Australian Museum have discovered 56 new species of arachnids, known as schizomids, in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The research, published in Molecular Phylogenetics and Read more about 56 new species of arachnids found in WA's North West - Scimex

Wind farm noise ‘possible annoyance’ at 3.5km

Publicly released: Wed 19 Jun 2019 at 1412 AEST | 1612 NZST

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Audible and potentially annoying indoor low-frequency noise from a wind farm is present for about 16 per cent of the time at distances up to 3.5km, field data recorded in South Australia shows. The noise described as ‘thumping’or Read more about Wind farm noise ‘possible annoyance’ at 3.5km - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Vaccine mishap in Sydney

Publicly released: Wed 19 Jun 2019 at 1400 AEST | 1600 NZST

It has just been reported that authorities are trying to contact thousands of patients vaccinated by two Sydney GPs after vaccines were found to have expired or not been stored properly. The vaccines administered by the two GPs included measles Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Vaccine mishap in Sydney - Scimex

Using next generation genetic testing to give growers a competitive boost

Publicly released: Wed 19 Jun 2019 at 1328 AEST | 1528 NZST

QUT has partnered with Hort Innovation under the Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative to advance the use of next-generation genetic sequencing technologies to provide growers more rapid, safe access to new genetic plant stocks, helping them to Read more about Using next generation genetic testing to give growers a competitive boost - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Victorian euthanasia law

Publicly released: Wed 19 Jun 2019 at 1136 AEST | 1336 NZST

With Victoria's Voluntary Assisted Dying law coming into effect today, Australian experts respond to the new legislation. Expert Reaction. These comments have been collated by the Science Media Centre to provide a variety of expert perspectives on Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Victorian euthanasia law  - Scimex

Irregular heart beat linked to increased dementia risk

Publicly released: Wed 19 Jun 2019 at 0905 AEST | 1105 NZST

European Heart Journal

Atrial fibrillation (AF) – an irregular and often abnormally fast heartbeat – is associated with a 50 per cent increased risk of dementia, according to international researchers. The study looked at over 260, 000 people over age 60 in Korea over Read more about Irregular heart beat linked to increased dementia risk - Scimex

Workplaces helped spread Zika

Publicly released: Wed 19 Jun 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

Within several weeks of Zika first being found in Singapore, the virus had spread across multiple parts of the island, with about 100 confirmed cases a week over the following month. Because Zika is a legally notifiable disease in Singapore, Read more about Workplaces helped spread Zika - Scimex

'Loot boxes' in video games linked to problem gambling

Publicly released: Wed 19 Jun 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

Video game 'loot boxes', which can be bought with real-world money, bear a striking resemblance to gambling as the contents of the boxes are randomised and their value can vary dramatically. Because many of these games are played by adolescents, Read more about 'Loot boxes' in video games linked to problem gambling - Scimex

Eating yoghurt may help men avoid bowel cancer

Publicly released: Wed 19 Jun 2019 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

Gut

Eating two or more weekly servings of yoghurt may help to lower the risk of developing the abnormal growths (adenomas) which precede the development of bowel cancer, at least in men, according to US and Chinese scientists. The researchers looked at Read more about Eating yoghurt may help men avoid bowel cancer - Scimex

Fitter middle-aged men may breathe easier later

Publicly released: Wed 19 Jun 2019 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

Thorax

Good heart and lung fitness in middle age is associated with a lower long term risk of developing the lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), suggests Danish research which tracked 4, 730 men over 46 years. They found the Read more about Fitter middle-aged men may breathe easier later - Scimex

Many women unaware of the risks of alcohol and developing breast cancer

Publicly released: Wed 19 Jun 2019 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

BMJ Open

Only one in five women attending a breast scan in the UK are aware that alcohol increases your risk of breast cancer, say British researchers, who add that only half of the staff of a National Health Service centre knew about the risks. As breast Read more about Many women unaware of the risks of alcohol and developing breast cancer - Scimex

Smoking dope while pregnant increases risk of preterm birth, other complications

Publicly released: Wed 19 Jun 2019 at 0545 AEST | 0745 NZST

JAMA

A Canadian study of 661, 617 women, 9, 427 of whom were cannabis users, found using the drug while pregnant doubled the risk of preterm birth, from 6 per cent in non-users to 12 per cent in users. Cannabis users also had an increased risk of Read more about Smoking dope while pregnant increases risk of preterm birth, other complications - Scimex