Is space life nice for astro-mice?

Publicly released: Thu 11 Apr 2019 at 2300 AEST | Fri 12 Apr 2019 at 0100 NZST

Scientific Reports

The behaviour of 20 mice on the International Space Station has shed some light on how humans might adapt to living in space. The female mice were flown out on the International Space Station and spent up to 37 days floating in NASA's Rodent Habitat. Read more about Is space life nice for astro-mice? - Scimex

R-E-S-P-E-C-T the key to vocal employees

Publicly released: Thu 11 Apr 2019 at 1234 AEST | 1434 NZST

Journal of Management

Professional employees are more likely to have the confidence to speak up at work if they feel motivated and respected by their colleagues, new research involving Curtin University has found. Media Release. From:Curtin University. Professional Read more about R-E-S-P-E-C-T the key to vocal employees - Scimex

Call for diversity education to improve LGBTIQ+ physio care

Publicly released: Thu 11 Apr 2019 at 1208 AEST | 1408 NZST

Journal of Physiotherapy

Diversity training for physiotherapists could help overcome care concerns among LGBTIQ+ clients, a University of Queensland study has found. Media Release. From:The University of Queensland. Diversity training for physiotherapists could help Read more about Call for diversity education to improve LGBTIQ+ physio care - Scimex

QUT researchers charge ahead on battery storage

Publicly released: Thu 11 Apr 2019 at 1101 AEST | 1301 NZST

QUT researchers will lead key research projects in expanding Australia’s battery industry from mining to manufacturing, with the announcement of the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre. Media Release. From:Queensland University Read more about QUT researchers charge ahead on battery storage - Scimex

Stress from traumatic events could be linked to heart attacks

Publicly released: Thu 11 Apr 2019 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

BMJ Open Access

Stress caused by significant traumatic life events may increase the risk of heart attack, especially within the first twelve months after such an event, according to international researchers. They compared people diagnosed with a stress disorder Read more about Stress from traumatic events could be linked to heart attacks - Scimex

Mars' false fart: claims of methane fail to follow through

Publicly released: Thu 11 Apr 2019 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

In an obvious attempt to spoil all of our fun about alien life on Mars, international researchers say the findings of methane earlier this month were incorrect. They say that the Martian gas-sniffing orbiter didn't detect any methane, and the upper Read more about Mars' false fart: claims of methane fail to follow through - Scimex

Giving Parkinson’s the BiRD—a device to diagnose Parkinson’s disease

Publicly released: Thu 11 Apr 2019 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Researchers from Melbourne’s Bionics Institute have developed a small, palm-worn device to help diagnose Parkinson’s disease— a condition which is otherwise difficult to identify. Media Briefing/Press Conference. From:Bionics Institute. Media Read more about Giving Parkinson’s the BiRD—a device to diagnose Parkinson’s disease - Scimex

Griffith dates bones of new human species found in Philippines

Publicly released: Thu 11 Apr 2019 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Nature

A Griffith University researcher has played a key role in the international multidisciplinary team that has discovered a new human species in a Philippines cave. Professor Rainer Grün, Director of Griffith’s Australian Research Centre for Human Read more about Griffith dates bones of new human species found in Philippines - Scimex

Doctors need to keep an eye on leukemia patients' skin

Publicly released: Thu 11 Apr 2019 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Dermatology

Leukemia cutis, a kind of skin lesion that presents in some leukemia patients, may indicate a need for more intensive treatment, according to a study of 1, 683 people with leukemia. International researchers found those patients with leukemia cutis Read more about Doctors need to keep an eye on leukemia patients' skin - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Astronomers capture first ever image of a black hole

Publicly released: Wed 10 Apr 2019 at 2330 AEST | Thu 11 Apr 2019 at 0130 NZST

The Astrophysical Journal Letters

Researchers have connected a global network of radio dishes to capture the first-ever image of a black hole. The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project and the National Science Foundation (NSF) held a press conference on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, 9 a Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Astronomers capture first ever image of a black hole - Scimex

EXPERT REACTION: Federal Government report on the Murray Darling fish deaths

Publicly released: Wed 10 Apr 2019 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

It has just been reported that the government commissioned report on the Murray Darling Basin fish kills has been released. The federal government has committed to buy back 'A class' water licenses issued under the controversial Barwon Darling water Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Federal Government report on the Murray Darling fish deaths - Scimex

WA home to national battery research hub

Publicly released: Wed 10 Apr 2019 at 1151 AEST | 1351 NZST

Western Australia will host a national consortium to position Australia as a global leader in the manufacture and supply of batteries after a $135 million industry-backed research hub was supported by the Federal Government. Media Release. Read more about WA home to national battery research hub - Scimex

Underwhelming Cthulhu - Ancient sea cucumber was a soft, leggy creature

Publicly released: Wed 10 Apr 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Scientists have found a new species of fossil in 430-million-year-old rocks in England's West Midlands, and named it after H.P Lovecraft's mythical, tentacled sea demon, Cthulhu. The Herefordian Cthulhu looks like a sea urchin but is linked more Read more about Underwhelming Cthulhu - Ancient sea cucumber was a soft, leggy creature - Scimex

The Antarctic cold breeds ginormous sea spiders

Publicly released: Wed 10 Apr 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

The icy Southern Ocean is one of the most temperature-stable places on Earth and home to fauna that grow unusually large - known as polar gigantism. To help understand this phenomenon, researchers in the US looked at sea spiders with leg spans of Read more about The Antarctic cold breeds ginormous sea spiders - Scimex

'Bee-safe' pesticide slated to replace neonicotinoids may also harm bees

Publicly released: Wed 10 Apr 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Flupyradifurone is a new insecticide that works in a similar way to neonicotinoids but is still considered “bee safe”. However European researchers bring the approval process of pesticides into question as tests they've done suggest that Read more about 'Bee-safe' pesticide slated to replace neonicotinoids may also harm bees - Scimex

At crowded pedestrian crossings, we walk like insects

Publicly released: Wed 10 Apr 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

When we're in a crowd faced with navigating another crowd heading towards us, at a big pedestrian crossing for example, we adopt the same strategy used by insects, sharks, tuna and many other animals when they're looking for food, according to Read more about At crowded pedestrian crossings, we walk like insects - Scimex

Sensitive sea snake scales super for sourcing snacks

Publicly released: Wed 10 Apr 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

Sea snakes have tiny scale organs - called sensilla - which may allow them to sense the underwater vibrations of predators and prey, according to Australian research. The sensilla are touch-sensitive and are present in land-based snakes as well as Read more about Sensitive sea snake scales super for sourcing snacks - Scimex

Nananananananana - Bat-span! Flying mammals live longer than any other

Publicly released: Wed 10 Apr 2019 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Biology Letters

Did you know many bats are incredibly long-lived? The upside-down critters live longer than any other mammal, given their size, according to US scientists - up to four times as long as similarly-sized mammals. And this incredible ability didn't just Read more about Nananananananana - Bat-span! Flying mammals live longer than any other - Scimex

9 out of 10 abortions done in first trimester

Publicly released: Wed 10 Apr 2019 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health

Although abortion may be carried out well into the second trimester in many cases, it's usually being performed before 12 weeks in high income countries, including New Zealand. Using official data from 24 high-income countries, US researchers found Read more about 9 out of 10 abortions done in first trimester - Scimex

61% of soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder benefit from transcendental meditation

Publicly released: Wed 10 Apr 2019 at 0804 AEST | 1004 NZST

The Lancet Psychiatry

New research has found that transcendental meditation can help reduce the use of psychotropic medications and control the debilitating symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A US Department of Defence-funded study, published in The Read more about 61% of soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder benefit from transcendental meditation - Scimex