NEWS BRIEFING: Revolutionary blood cancer treatment CAR T-cell therapy shows first signs of fighting solid tumours too

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature

BRIEFING at 10:00 AEST on Wed 2nd JULY ONLINE Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is an emerging immunotherapy which can cure patients with aggressive blood cancers, but it has not proven effective against solid tumours, which account for... Read more about NEWS BRIEFING: Revolutionary blood cancer treatment CAR T-cell therapy shows first signs of fighting solid tumours too

Australia should invest in new environmental monitoring systems

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Over the past 25 years, climate change has drastically altered Australia’s environment and biodiversity, with average temperatures increasing by 0. 81 degrees Celsius and the number of threatened species rising by more than 50 per cent, according... Read more about Australia should invest in new environmental monitoring systems

New hope for rare genetic condition

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jul 2025 at 1505 AEST, 1705 NZST

Nature Communications

WEHI researchers have discovered an important role of an enzyme called Microrchidia CW-type zinc finger 2 (MORC2), which modifies the structure of DNA for gene expression. Mutations in MORC2 can lead to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a severe genetic... Read more about New hope for rare genetic condition

WMO ramps up early warnings systems as extreme heat grips Europe

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jul 2025 at 1333 AEST, 1533 NZST

Extreme heat is currently impacting parts of Western Europe, parts of North America, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is ramping up action against extreme heat to protect lives from what is... Read more about WMO ramps up early warnings systems as extreme heat grips Europe

EXPERT REACTION: Qantas cyberattack puts 6 million customers' data at risk

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jul 2025 at 1102 AEST, 1302 NZST

Qantas has been hit by a cyberattack, and six million customers’ data are potentially compromised. Below, Australian researchers respond to the attack.... Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Qantas cyberattack puts 6 million customers' data at risk

New software tool could help better understand childhood cancer

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jul 2025 at 1000 AEST, 1200 NZST

Genome Biology

New cutting-edge software developed in Melbourne can help uncover how the most common heart tumour in children forms and changes. And the technology has the potential to further our understanding of other childhood diseases, according to a new study.... Read more about New software tool could help better understand childhood cancer

Key regulators of telomerase to impact aging and cancer discovered

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jul 2025 at 0930 AEST, 1130 NZST

Nature Communications

A team of Sydney scientists have discovered a new group of proteins which they hope will lead to treatments for cancer and genetic disease. Telomerase, a crucial enzyme that keeps our chromosomes intact during cell division, has long fascinated... Read more about Key regulators of telomerase to impact aging and cancer discovered

How being social around ALAN can affect bird brains

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jul 2025 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Artificial light at night (ALAN) disrupts natural rhythms in animals in a similar way to a pollutant, according to international researchers, who studied the effect of dim ALAN on social and isolated birds. They found that social birds started daily... Read more about How being social around ALAN can affect bird brains

Even the softest of veggies can wear down your teeth

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jul 2025 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Journal of The Royal Society Interface

International researchers suggest plant-based diets can have a permanent damaging effect on your teeth. The team created artificial leaves that they embedded with plant phytoliths - microscopic silica particles found in the cells of plants - and... Read more about Even the softest of veggies can wear down your teeth

Older women could still be at higher risk of HPV-related cervical cancer

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jul 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinical Medicine

Women over age 65 are still at heightened risk of cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), according to an observational study by Chinese researchers. The team looked at cervical screening data for over 2. 5 million women across Shenzhen... Read more about Older women could still be at higher risk of HPV-related cervical cancer

A healthy lifestyle helps avoid a common gut problem for over 50s

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jul 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

Gut

High fibre, low levels of red meat, no smoking, keeping a normal weight, and regular exercise; all are key to avoiding diverticulitis - when ‘pouches’ develop along the gut and become inflamed or infected in the wall of the large intestine (colon... Read more about A healthy lifestyle helps avoid a common gut problem for over 50s

'Inflammatory' diet during pregnancy linked to child diabetes risk

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jul 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health

During pregnancy, eating a diet high in foods with potential to promote low-grade inflammation – such as red meats, sugar-sweetened drinks, deep fried foods and more – could be linked to an increased risk of the child developing type 1 diabetes,... Read more about 'Inflammatory' diet during pregnancy linked to child diabetes risk

Substance use implicated in most adult bath-related drownings

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jul 2025 at 0301 AEST, 0501 NZST

Drug and Alcohol Review

Substance use was implicated in more than half of all adult drownings in baths or hot tubs in the last 10 years, according to an Australian-first study published in Drug and Alcohol Review, with sedative-hypnotics (or 'sleeping tablets') and alcohol... Read more about Substance use implicated in most adult bath-related drownings

Generation X disproportionately impacted by methamphetamine-related deaths

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jul 2025 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Addiction

Australia’s Generation X — people born between 1962 and 1982 — face the highest risk of death from methamphetamine-related causes among all age groups, according to a new Burnet Institute study. Published in the journal Addiction, the study... Read more about Generation X disproportionately impacted by methamphetamine-related deaths

NEWS BRIEFING: More icebergs, fewer penguins: What happens when we lose sea ice?

Publicly released: Tue 1 Jul 2025 at 2230 AEST, Wed 2 Jul 25 at 0030 NZST

PNAS Nexus

Recent warm summers in Antarctica have led to record lows in sea ice in the region, and Australian researchers say this gives us a window into the future impacts of climate change. The team has looked at how recent summer sea ice extremes have... Read more about NEWS BRIEFING: More icebergs, fewer penguins: What happens when we lose sea ice?

Attributing extreme weather to climate change may lead to more support for climate policies

Publicly released: Tue 1 Jul 2025 at 1900 AEST, 2100 NZST

Nature Climate Change

How much people believe extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, or heavy storms are the result of climate change may impact their support for climate change policies, according to Australian and international research. Being exposed to... Read more about Attributing extreme weather to climate change may lead to more support for climate policies

Novel modelling links sea ice loss to Antarctic ice shelf calving events

Publicly released: Tue 1 Jul 2025 at 1900 AEST, 2100 NZST

Nature Geoscience

New research has for the first time tracked ice shelf, sea ice and ocean swell wave conditions over multiple years in the lead-ups to three large-scale iceberg ‘calving’ events in Antarctica, revealing common patterns. New research has for the... Read more about Novel modelling links sea ice loss to Antarctic ice shelf calving events

Sweet dreams aren’t made of cheese

Publicly released: Tue 1 Jul 2025 at 1400 AEST, 1600 NZST

Frontiers in Psychology

Cheese dreams are real, according to international researchers, who say the delicious dairy products could give you nightmares. The team investigated links between diet, sleep problems, and cultural beliefs about diet and sleep with an online survey... Read more about Sweet dreams aren’t made of cheese

EXPERT REACTION: Severe weather warnings as 'bomb cyclone' hits NSW

Publicly released: Tue 1 Jul 2025 at 1132 AEST, 1332 NZST

A bomb cyclone off the NSW coast is bringing hazardous conditions, and the SES has issued severe weather warnings with flash flooding expected. Below, Australian experts comment.... Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Severe weather warnings as 'bomb cyclone' hits NSW

Severe COVID-19 may accelerate cognitive decline in older people

Publicly released: Tue 1 Jul 2025 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

US scientists say being hospitalised with COVID-19 may accelerate brain function decline among older people, compared with people who have not had COVID-19, but the same was not true for people with COVID-19 who were not hospitalised. The findings... Read more about Severe COVID-19 may accelerate cognitive decline in older people