Baby bugs have been snorkelling in their food

Publicly released: Tue 12 Feb 2019 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Journal of Experimental Biology

Baby froghoppers - known as spittlebugs - go snorkelling in little clouds of foamy sap, according to international researchers. ‘Cuckoo spit’is a foamy cloud made by the bugs that turn up on plants around the world, including in Australia. Read more about Baby bugs have been snorkelling in their food - Scimex

Unfit teen boys more likely to be disabled later, regardless of BMI

Publicly released: Tue 12 Feb 2019 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Annals of Internal Medicine

A study of more than one million men has found low physical fitness, obesity or a combination of the two when you're a teen are strongly associated with chronic disability later in life. International researchers looked at heart and lung fitness and Read more about Unfit teen boys more likely to be disabled later, regardless of BMI - Scimex

Facebook is watching out for suicidal tendencies... but should it be?

Publicly released: Tue 12 Feb 2019 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Annals of Internal Medicine

Facebook has recently rolled out a specialised algorithm to try and catch users who are at risk of self-harm, but researchers are questioning the ethics of Big Brother using our data in this way. Around 3, 500 cases have been reported to local Read more about Facebook is watching out for suicidal tendencies... but should it be? - Scimex

Recruitment method may influence anxiety drug trial results

Publicly released: Tue 12 Feb 2019 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Journal of Psychopharmacology

Drug trials for anxiety may not be producing accurate results as they may not be using appropriate patients, say Otago University researchers. The team reviewed studies of the efficiency of anxiety medication on different participants between 1977 Read more about Recruitment method may influence anxiety drug trial results - Scimex

Bach or bust? Perfect pitch may be down to genetics

Publicly released: Tue 12 Feb 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

JNeurosci

If you’re not a musical prodigy like Mozart or Bach, your pesky genes might be to blame. Absolute Pitch (also known as AP, or Perfect Pitch) is the ability to identify or recreate musical notes without a reference. It’s rare even among musicians, Read more about Bach or bust? Perfect pitch may be down to genetics - Scimex

Kids suffer from the 'cocktail party problem' too

Publicly released: Tue 12 Feb 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

JNeurosci

If your kid won’t listen to you in a crowded place, new research suggests they probably just can’t hear you. International researchers wanted to explore the 'cocktail party effect' – the inability to hear an individual speaking in a noisy Read more about Kids suffer from the 'cocktail party problem' too - Scimex

Apartment, Bungalow, Cottage: House-based visual alphabet shows written language is more flexible than we thought

Publicly released: Tue 12 Feb 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

eNeuro

US researchers taught uni students how to read an invented 'alternative' alphabet in which different sounds in English (called phonemes) were represented by pictures of different types of houses. The aim was to show that the parts of the brain that Read more about Apartment, Bungalow, Cottage: House-based visual alphabet shows written language is more flexible than we thought - Scimex

AI doctor knows when you're being a hypochondriac

Publicly released: Tue 12 Feb 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Medicine

Artificial intelligence could help paediatricians sort out the seriously ill kids from the ones with non-urgent conditions, like a common cold. International researchers developed an AI model using 101.6 million data points from electronic health Read more about AI doctor knows when you're being a hypochondriac - Scimex

Winter rains could return, but we might need to wait another 100 years

Publicly released: Tue 12 Feb 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Climate Change

A lack of winter rain across the Southern Hemisphere sub-tropics, which includes drought stricken parts of Australia, is likely to continue as temperatures go up, but the effect might just be temporary, according to Australian research. They found Read more about Winter rains could return, but we might need to wait another 100 years - Scimex

Inattentive kindergarteners earn less as adults

Publicly released: Tue 12 Feb 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Pediatrics

Behavioural attributes of five- and six-year-old boys have been linked to later life earnings in a Canadian study spanning 30 years. The researchers found those who were easily distracted (as rated by kindergarten teachers) were more likely to Read more about Inattentive kindergarteners earn less as adults - Scimex

Only young Canterbury mudfish survive drought

Publicly released: Mon 11 Feb 2019 at 1801 AEDT | 2001 NZDT

Austral Ecology

The embattled Canterbury mudfish lives only in drying-prone waterways on the Canterbury Plains, and new research suggests that when drought hits, only the young survive. Wet years boast mostly adult mudfish, but researchers found during drought Read more about Only young Canterbury mudfish survive drought - Scimex

Sitting in front of the TV puts kids in the obesity hotseat

Publicly released: Mon 11 Feb 2019 at 1330 AEDT | 1530 NZDT

Obesity Research & Clinical Practice

The simple act of switching on the TV for some downtime could be making a bigger contribution to childhood obesity than we realise, according to new research from the University of South Australia. Funder: The authors report a grant from the Read more about Sitting in front of the TV puts kids in the obesity hotseat - Scimex

After-work hobbies key to proactivity in the workplace

Publicly released: Mon 11 Feb 2019 at 1330 AEDT | 1530 NZDT

Journal of Applied Psychology

Employees who engage in sporting, learning and volunteering activities outside work are more likely to get a better night’s sleep and be more proactive in their job, new research involving Curtin University researchers has found. Media Release. Read more about After-work hobbies key to proactivity in the workplace - Scimex

Say ‘no’ to that golden glow: Social media helps stop unhealthy tanning

Publicly released: Mon 11 Feb 2019 at 1300 AEDT | 1500 NZDT

Computers in Human Behavior

There’s no such thing as a healthy tan. Yet despite the known risks of skin cancer, summer always sees thousands of sun lovers heading to the beach in the search of that perfect golden glow and challenging the ‘tanned ideal’is an uphill battle. Read more about Say ‘no’ to that golden glow: Social media helps stop unhealthy tanning - Scimex

Wave energy - researchers examine influence of wave climate variability in conversion

Publicly released: Mon 11 Feb 2019 at 1201 AEDT | 1401 NZDT

Energy

Wave energy advocates argue that consistency is an advantage in the mix of renewable energy technologies, particularly in a future low-emission society. New research by Griffith University reveals seasonal and inter-annual variations in wave energy Read more about Wave energy - researchers examine influence of wave climate variability in conversion - Scimex

New heated tobacco device causes same damage to lung cells as e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes

Publicly released: Mon 11 Feb 2019 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

ERJ Open Research

A new study that directly compares new heated tobacco devices with vaping and traditional cigarettes shows that all three are toxic to human lung cells. Funder: This study was supported by the Rebecca L Cooper Foundation, Sydney, New South Wales, Read more about New heated tobacco device causes same damage to lung cells as e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes - Scimex

For best quality of life, treat cerebral palsy early

Publicly released: Mon 11 Feb 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

MJA

Early identification of cerebral palsy in kids is key to improving their quality of life, according to Aussie researchers. Cerebral palsy is a movement disorder and is the most common cause of childhood physical disability. The authors looked at Read more about For best quality of life, treat cerebral palsy early - Scimex

Longest-ever eDNA study offers important insights into ocean health

Publicly released: Sat 9 Feb 2019 at 1801 AEDT | 2001 NZDT

PLOS Genetics

Tiny genetic ‘breadcrumbs’left behind by marine organisms offer unprecedented insights into ocean biodiversity and how it changes over time and in response to our changing climate, new research at Curtin University, in collaboration with CSIRO, Read more about Longest-ever eDNA study offers important insights into ocean health - Scimex

The grass is only greener when the rain falls in spring

Publicly released: Sat 9 Feb 2019 at 0301 AEDT | 0501 NZDT

Nature Plants

For a planet beset by the negative impacts of climate change, it has long been assumed there would be at least one significant benefit: rising carbon dioxide levels would lead to huge growth in the world’s grasslands. Media Release. Read more about The grass is only greener when the rain falls in spring - Scimex

Advancing women in science and medicine

Publicly released: Fri 8 Feb 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The Lancet

Medical journal The Lancet has dedicated an entire issue to advancing gender equity in science, medicine and global health. Research papers in the special issue include highlighting bias against women in peer-review processes, debunking myths about Read more about Advancing women in science and medicine - Scimex