Plants don’t like touch: green thumb myth dispelled

Publicly released: Sun 16 Dec 2018 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

The Plant Journal

La Trobe University-led research has found that plants are extremely sensitive to touch and that repeated touching can significantly retard growth. Funder: This work was supported by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Read more about Plants don’t like touch: green thumb myth dispelled - Scimex

Get thee to a physio if you want to avoid opioids

Publicly released: Sat 15 Dec 2018 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

Getting physical therapy for sore joints and muscles quickly could help you cut back on your need for painkilling drugs or even help you avoid them altogether, according to US research. The study found that patients with shoulder, neck, knee, or low Read more about Get thee to a physio if you want to avoid opioids - Scimex

Being born even just a bit early might put you back in life

Publicly released: Sat 15 Dec 2018 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

Being born early, before the full 40 week term, has been linked to a higher chance of having poorer socioeconomic outcomes in adulthood, according to Danish research. The study found that people born before the full 40 weeks had an increased Read more about Being born even just a bit early might put you back in life - Scimex

Melbourne geneticists make new discovery about how a baby’s sex is determined

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Nature Communications

Medical researchers at Melbourne’ s Murdoch Children’ s Research Institute have made a new discovery about how a baby’ s sex is determined – it’ s not just about the X-Y chromosomes, but involves a ’ regulator’ that increases or Read more about Melbourne geneticists make new discovery about how a baby’s sex is determined - Scimex

Yes please to yoghurt and cheese: The new improved Mediterranean diet

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Thousands of Australians can take heart as new research from the University of South Australia shows a dairy-enhanced Mediterranean diet will significantly increase health outcomes for those at risk of cardiovascular disease – and it’s even more Read more about Yes please to yoghurt and cheese: The new improved Mediterranean diet - Scimex

Fighting obesity – could it be as plain as dirt? UniSA research digs up the fat-fighting power of clays

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

Pharmaceutical Research

It costs the global economy an estimated US$2 trillion annually and has been dubbed a modern day health epidemic, but new research from the University of South Australia has unearthed a possible cure for obesity – and it is as plain as dirt! Media Read more about Fighting obesity – could it be as plain as dirt? UniSA research digs up the fat-fighting power of clays - Scimex

Cannabis can help relieve the seize of motor neuron disease

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 1102 AEDT | 1302 NZDT

The Lancet Neurology

An oral spray filled with two compounds derived from cannabis was able to help reduce spasticity - when muscles tighten or lock up uncontrollably - when used in combination with existing meds, say Italian scientists. The spray combined with standard Read more about Cannabis can help relieve the seize of motor neuron disease - Scimex

Metabolic syndrome increases risk of pregnancy complications

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 1010 AEDT | 1210 NZDT

PLOS Medicine

Research led by the University of Adelaide shows that metabolic syndrome in pregnant women increases their risk for pregnancy complications including pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes by two to four times. Funder: National Health and Medical Read more about Metabolic syndrome increases risk of pregnancy complications - Scimex

Over 55 with diabetes? You might find yourself lost for words

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 1001 AEDT | 1201 NZDT

Diabetologica

Australians over 55 with type 2 diabetes might find themselves becoming lost for words after new research found links between the disease and declines in verbal memory and verbal fluency. The study scanned the brains of over 55s with and without Read more about Over 55 with diabetes? You might find yourself lost for words - Scimex

Why good wine goes 'bad'

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Its wine o'clock and you crack open your favourite bottle only to be confronted by the smell of rotten eggs. Why oh why does good wine sometimes end up smelling bad? Australian researchers have traced this common wine fault back to a specific family Read more about Why good wine goes 'bad' - Scimex

Centipede toxin sheds light on the evolution of proteins dating back to near the dawn of cellular life

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 0931 AEDT | 1131 NZDT

Structure

An ancient class of peptides which likely originated near the dawn of cellular life has been discovered by University of Queensland researchers. Venom researchers from the Centre for Advanced Imaging and Institute for Molecular Bioscience have found Read more about Centipede toxin sheds light on the evolution of proteins dating back to near the dawn of cellular life - Scimex

Emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scientists recognised

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 0835 AEDT | 1035 NZDT

Bradley Moggridge, Tui Nolan, and Amy Searle are the inaugural recipients of the Australian Academy of Science Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Travelling Research Award. Media Release. From:Australian Academy of Science. Bradley Read more about Emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scientists recognised - Scimex

A diverse bacteria that causes reoccurring UTIs

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Pathogens

Reoccurring urinary tract infections (UTI) come from the same strain of bacteria, Escherichia coli, that can be extremely difficult for people to develop an immune response against, say international researchers. UTIs are very common, over 50 per Read more about A diverse bacteria that causes reoccurring UTIs - Scimex

Pigs protected from swine flu through gene editing

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Pathogens

Genetically modified pigs may be the new solution to the classical swine fever virus (CSFV) which is damaging pig populations and industries, international researchers say. Despite efforts to stamp it out, swine flu remains a constant threat and Read more about Pigs protected from swine flu through gene editing - Scimex

Are you thinking what I'm thinking, kid?

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Biology

An international study has found when mothers join in playtime with their babies, their brain activity follows their baby's attention patterns, showing how humans influence each other during social interaction. The researchers tracked mother and Read more about Are you thinking what I'm thinking, kid? - Scimex

How much is a new, more attractive nose worth?

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery

How much would you pay to have a more attractive nose? $2000, $6000, $9000? Researchers in the US have tried to put a dollar value on the appeal of a schnoz by asking strangers to rate before and after shots of nose jobs and say what the Read more about How much is a new, more attractive nose worth? - Scimex

How the brain tells you to scratch that itch

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Neuron

It's a maddening cycle that has affected us all: it starts with an itch that triggers scratching, but scratching only makes the itchiness worse. Now, researchers have revealed the brain mechanism driving this uncontrollable itch-scratching feedback Read more about How the brain tells you to scratch that itch - Scimex

Bike helmets protect your head more than your face

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery

Helmets more than halve the rate of head fractures follow a bike crash but they only reduce facial fractures by between 21 and 35 per cent, according to US research. The study looked at 85, 000 head and facial injuries in cyclists with and without a Read more about Bike helmets protect your head more than your face - Scimex

Can the amyloid found in some Alzheimer’s brains be transferred by contaminated injections?

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

It is possible that amyloid beta pathology, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, can be transmitted through contaminated human growth hormone, according to UK research. The study found that specific batches of contaminated human growth hormone, linked Read more about Can the amyloid found in some Alzheimer’s brains be transferred by contaminated injections? - Scimex

Your skull's shape may reveal just how Neanderthal you are

Publicly released: Fri 14 Dec 2018 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Current Biology

Think your mate's a bit of a caveman? Then pop out those Victorian-era calipers and measure their skull, because German researchers have discovered that those of us who carry particular fragments of Neanderthal DNA have slightly less rounded heads Read more about Your skull's shape may reveal just how Neanderthal you are - Scimex