How courts, banks, and Centrelink can facilitate financial abuse

Publicly released: Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

Australian Journal of Social Issues

A web of financial systems in Australia could be inadvertently helping perpetrators of intimate partner financial abuse hide their actions, according to Australian research. The team studied submissions to the Australian Parliamentary Joint... Read more about How courts, banks, and Centrelink can facilitate financial abuse

Bonobos that hear laughter are more likely to try to get rewards

Publicly released: Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Scientific Reports

Bonobos are more likely to try to get rewards from boxes when they hear laughter, according to international researchers. The team trained four bonobos to interact with or ignore boxes depending on whether they might contain food – with some more... Read more about Bonobos that hear laughter are more likely to try to get rewards

NZers are consulting with nurses more

Publicly released: Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Journal of Primary Health Care

A look at 15 years of data finds that average GP consults per patient haven’t budged much in Aotearoa, while nurse consultations have steadily risen from 2008 to 2023. Consultation rates with both GPs and nurses were higher for females and... Read more about NZers are consulting with nurses more

The 'double jeopardy' behind pay gaps for Asian women academics

Publicly released: Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

University of Auckland academics have sounded alarm over persistent pay gaps and barriers for Asian women in academia, particularly in medicine and health sciences. In a Viewpoint piece in the New Zealand Medical Journal, they say the gender pay gap... Read more about The 'double jeopardy' behind pay gaps for Asian women academics

'We witness the aftermath' - NZ trauma experts call to end ‘Run It Straight’

Publicly released: Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Three trauma clinicians call for urgent action to end the practice of “Run It Straight” events in an editorial for the New Zealand Medical Journal. They’re particularly concerned about traumatic brain injury and neurodegeneration as even a... Read more about 'We witness the aftermath' - NZ trauma experts call to end ‘Run It Straight’

Lab-grown ‘tiny hearts’ bring hope for children and adults with genetic heart disease

Publicly released: Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Nature Cardiovascular Research

A collaboration between QIMR Berghofer, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), and The Royal Children’s Hospital is bringing us closer to understanding and treating devastating heart diseases - especially those affecting children.... Read more about Lab-grown ‘tiny hearts’ bring hope for children and adults with genetic heart disease

Device study in rats finds improvement for spinal cord injuries

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 1900 AEST, 2100 NZST

Nature Communications

A new trial led by NZ and Swedish researchers aims to find an effective treatment for people with spinal cord injuries. The team developed an ultra-thin implant designed to sit directly on the spinal cord of rats, with the aim to stimulate healing.... Read more about Device study in rats finds improvement for spinal cord injuries

NANOSPRESSO device could make personalised medicines on-demand

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 1900 AEST, 2100 NZST

Frontiers in Science

A new gene therapy delivery device called NANOSPRESSO could let hospital pharmacies make personalised nanomedicines to order, according to international researchers, who named the device because it resembles an espresso capsule. The device can be... Read more about NANOSPRESSO device could make personalised medicines on-demand

Jackpot! Gold from e-waste opens a rich vein for miners and the environment

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 1900 AEST, 2100 NZST

Nature Sustainability

An interdisciplinary team of experts in green chemistry, engineering and physics at Flinders University has developed a safer and more sustainable approach to extract and recover gold from ore and electronic waste. Explained in the leading journal... Read more about Jackpot! Gold from e-waste opens a rich vein for miners and the environment

Australian data experts to support world’s largest sky survey

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 1607 AEST, 1807 NZST

Australian Astronomical Optics at Macquarie University and the Centre for Astrophysics & Supercomputing at Swinburne University of Technology have partnered to process a cosmic data deluge from Chile's new Rubin Observatory, supporting the world's... Read more about Australian data experts to support world’s largest sky survey

Coral-eating starfish’s scent could help protect coral on Great Barrier Reef

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 1330 AEST, 1530 NZST

iScience

Researchers have found a new, naturally derived technology that could help control outbreaks of the coral-munching crown-of-thorns starfish – by mimicking one of its own scents. It is based on a discovery that the starfish uses its characteristic... Read more about Coral-eating starfish’s scent could help protect coral on Great Barrier Reef

Supporting researchers facing online harassment – New resources for institutions

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 1105 AEST, 1305 NZST

New resources to help universities protect researchers from online harm are now available from the New Zealand Science Media Centre, thanks to support from Universities New Zealand. The NZ SMC will be launching these new resources with a webinar on... Read more about Supporting researchers facing online harassment – New resources for institutions

EXPERT REACTION: NHMRC releases updated guidelines for PFAS in drinking water

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

The National Health and Medical Research Council has released updated guidelines around PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water following a period of public consultation that began in October last year. PFAS are widely used human... Read more about EXPERT REACTION: NHMRC releases updated guidelines for PFAS in drinking water

New insights into seasonal shifts in sleep

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 1053 AEST, 1253 NZST

Sleep

A new international study drawing on 73 million nights of data reveals that our sleep patterns are seriously shaped by the day of the week, the season, and where we live. Working with sleep data from more than 116,000 adults across the globe,... Read more about New insights into seasonal shifts in sleep

Targeting newly-identified brain protein brings hope of new treatment for Parkinson’s disease

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 1000 AEST, 1200 NZST

Acta Neuropathologica Communications

Groundbreaking research by the University of Sydney has identified a new brain protein involved in the development of Parkinson’s disease and a way to modify it, paving the way for future treatments for the disease. Groundbreaking research by the... Read more about Targeting newly-identified brain protein brings hope of new treatment for Parkinson’s disease

Newborns require better care to improve survival and long-term health

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

More effective platforms for drug and medical device development and better cross sector engagement are urgently required to prevent the ‘unacceptably high’ newborn death rate, according to a global report. Newborns require better care to... Read more about Newborns require better care to improve survival and long-term health

AI best suited to catch liars, according to the new science of deception detection

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 0719 AEST, 0919 NZST

Expert Systems with Applications

Detecting lies and deception has always challenged scientists and authorities, but artificial intelligence (AI)-based lie detection devices may have the potential to rise to the challenge. Scientists have revealed that Convolutional Neural Networks... Read more about AI best suited to catch liars, according to the new science of deception detection

Improving patient safety: Australia a step closer to radiation dose benchmarks in breast imaging

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences

For the first time, researchers have published mammogram radiation dose benchmarks based on human data. Radiation dose benchmarks reduce unnecessary radiation exposure for patients during medical imaging - this research could be a stepping stone... Read more about Improving patient safety: Australia a step closer to radiation dose benchmarks in breast imaging

Public housing can help level the playing field for children

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

Motu Working Paper

A new working paper from Motu Research shows starting life in public housing can set children up for a brighter future. The study followed nearly 6,000 children from birth to age 12 and found while children in public housing had more behavioural... Read more about Public housing can help level the playing field for children

Could hair track the toxic metal exposure of quolls living near mines?

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS One

Hair of the endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) could be used to monitor their exposure to toxic metals such as manganese and aluminium from mines, according to Australian research. Toxic metal exposure around mining sites, such as the... Read more about Could hair track the toxic metal exposure of quolls living near mines?