International students embracing Brisbane's low-density lifestyle

Publicly released: Thu 16 Aug 2018 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

Australian Planner

International students from Asia prefer the low-density lifestyle they’ ve experienced in Brisbane, according to a University of Queensland study. Media Release. From:The University of Queensland. International students from Asia prefer the Read more about International students embracing Brisbane's low-density lifestyle - Scimex

Rat may hold the key to koala virus spread

Publicly released: Thu 16 Aug 2018 at 1130 AEST | 1330 NZST

Virus Genes

A Queensland rat, the grassland melomys, could be the origin of a koala retrovirus, which infects the majority of Australia’ s koalas. University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science lecturer Dr Gregory Simmons said it was well known that Read more about Rat may hold the key to koala virus spread - Scimex

New research predicts landslide boundaries two weeks before they happen

Publicly released: Thu 16 Aug 2018 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

Mechanics Research Communications

University of Melbourne researchers have developed a software tool that uses applied mathematics and big data analytics to predict the boundary of where a landslide will occur, two weeks in advance. Media Release. From:The University of Melbourne. Read more about New research predicts landslide boundaries two weeks before they happen - Scimex

NEWS BRIEFING: Origins of the Mummy: Embalmed Mummy is older than the Pharaohs

Publicly released: Thu 16 Aug 2018 at 0855 AEST | 1055 NZST

Journal of Archaeological Science

Prehistoric Egyptians were using embalming to mummify their dead well before the time of the Pharaohs, far earlier and across a wider geographical area than had been previously known, according to new Australian and international research. It is the Read more about NEWS BRIEFING: Origins of the Mummy: Embalmed Mummy is older than the Pharaohs - Scimex

Aussies are living longer unlike the Poms and the Yanks

Publicly released: Thu 16 Aug 2018 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

BMJ

Australians are living longer with women living to around 85.5 years, while men are living to 81.5 years, according to US research. The study looked at life expectancy in 18 high income countries including Australia. Australia made life expectancy Read more about Aussies are living longer unlike the Poms and the Yanks - Scimex

The Australians making science – and science writing – more accessible

Publicly released: Thu 16 Aug 2018 at 0801 AEST | 1001 NZST

Ever found science writing a bit dense? You’re not alone. It’s likely that much of the way scientific and technical research is explained has made science seem “too hard”for many Australians to grasp – and it’s a challenge that has been Read more about The Australians making science – and science writing – more accessible - Scimex

Breeding the top of the crops

Publicly released: Thu 16 Aug 2018 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

During the ‘green revolution’of the 1960s, modern breeding techniques produced crops with increased yields, and stunted growth to avoid damages from stormy weather. But by tipping the scale towards shorter wheat and rice crops, we Read more about Breeding the top of the crops - Scimex

Iron and titanium found in the atmosphere of an exoplanet

Publicly released: Thu 16 Aug 2018 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

European astronomers have found an exoplanet that has iron and titanium vapour in its atomosphere. The exoplanet, KELT-9b, is a type of ultrahot planet that is halfway between being a star and a gas giant planet. Because the planet is so hot, Read more about Iron and titanium found in the atmosphere of an exoplanet - Scimex

Look out reef, marine heatwaves look set to happen more often

Publicly released: Thu 16 Aug 2018 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

Marine heatwaves, like the one that bleached much of the Great Barrier Reef in 2016, are set to become more common, more extensive and more intense as a result of global warming, according to Swiss research. The research found that the number of of Read more about Look out reef, marine heatwaves look set to happen more often - Scimex

Booking in for Botox: Why do people want cosmetic procedures and treatments?

Publicly released: Thu 16 Aug 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Dermatology

From Botox to lip fillers, people seek out minimally invasive cosmetic procedures to please themselves, not others, according to US research. The study looked at more than 500 patients in the US and what motivated them to seek cosmetic skin Read more about Booking in for Botox: Why do people want cosmetic procedures and treatments? - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Italian bridge collapse

Publicly released: Wed 15 Aug 2018 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

A motorway bridge has collapsed in the northwest Italian city of Genoa in heavy rain, killing and injuring dozens of people. Between 30 and 35 cars and three heavy vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse, the BBC reported. We spoke Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Italian bridge collapse - Scimex

Discovery casts dark shadow on computer security

Publicly released: Wed 15 Aug 2018 at 1030 AEST | 1230 NZST

Two international teams of security researchers have uncovered Foreshadow, a new variant of the hardware vulnerability Meltdown announced earlier in the year, that can be exploited to bypass Intel Processors’ secure regions to access memory and Read more about Discovery casts dark shadow on computer security - Scimex

Diets high in vegetables and fish may lower risk of multiple sclerosis

Publicly released: Wed 15 Aug 2018 at 1030 AEST | 1230 NZST

Multiple Sclerosis Journal

People who consume a diet high in vegetables and fish may have a reduced risk of multiple sclerosis, new research led by Curtin University has found. Media Release. From:Curtin University. People who consume a diet high in vegetables and fish may Read more about Diets high in vegetables and fish may lower risk of multiple sclerosis - Scimex

Why is it always men who go to war?

Publicly released: Wed 15 Aug 2018 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

From ancient Rome to D-day, war has been almost exclusively a man's game, and now UK researchers think they have an explanation for why so few women take part. The research suggests it might ultimately come down to the fact that when it comes to Read more about Why is it always men who go to war? - Scimex

What we see is not always what we get

Publicly released: Wed 15 Aug 2018 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

Journal of Neuroscience

Researchers are helping to explain why some people anticipate and react to fast-moving objects much quicker than others. When Collingwood footballer Jeremy Howe launches into the clouds to take a “ speccy” over an AFL opponent, or Serena Read more about What we see is not always what we get - Scimex

Sleepless nights make you less sociable and it could be catching

Publicly released: Wed 15 Aug 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Communications

A restless night got you wanting to hide away from the world? You're not alone, suggest US researchers who found a complete lack of sleep to be associated with withdrawing socially, in a study on 18 participants. The team discovered that after the Read more about Sleepless nights make you less sociable and it could be catching - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: It's going to be abnormally warm till 2022

Publicly released: Wed 15 Aug 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Communications

As a heatwave persists in the northern hemisphere, a new forecast system has revealed the years 2018 till 2022 are going to anomalously warm, with greater chance of extreme temperatures. UK and Dutch researchers have developed a statistical model Read more about EXPERT REACTION: It's going to be abnormally warm till 2022 - Scimex

Elephants resist cancer by waking a zombie gene

Publicly released: Wed 15 Aug 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Cell Reports

Elephants have evolved a way to make a non-functioning, or 'zombie' gene come back to life, and it might explain why they are nearly immune to cancer. University of Chicago researchers set out to understand what elephants have such low rates of Read more about Elephants resist cancer by waking a zombie gene - Scimex

Innovative triple pill significantly lowers blood pressure

Publicly released: Wed 15 Aug 2018 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA

A new low dose three in one pill to treat hypertension could transform the way high blood pressure is treated around the world. A trial led by The George Institute for Global Health revealed that most patients – 70 per cent – reached blood Read more about Innovative triple pill significantly lowers blood pressure - Scimex

Eight and nine-year-olds experience poor body image as hormone levels rise

Publicly released: Wed 15 Aug 2018 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Journal of Adolescent Health.

Children as young as eight are vulnerable to poor body image as hormone levels rise with the onset of puberty, a new study has found. Dr Elizabeth Hughes, the lead author and a research fellow from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) Read more about Eight and nine-year-olds experience poor body image as hormone levels rise - Scimex