Climate change could mean the end for the world's favourite flavour

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 1400 AEST, 1600 NZST

Frontiers in Plant Science

Vanilla, known to some as the 'queen of all flavours', could be under threat according to international researchers who say climate change is driving the insects that pollinate vanilla away from the wild vanilla plants. The team modelled the habitat... Read more about Climate change could mean the end for the world's favourite flavour

NEWS BRIEFING and EXPERT REACTION: Assessing the impacts of deep sea mining - CSIRO report

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 1400 AEST, 1600 NZST

RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE A CSIRO-led research group has developed a way to assess the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining, should authorities permit it to occur. The group provide independent science-based evidence to ensure that, in the event... Read more about NEWS BRIEFING and EXPERT REACTION: Assessing the impacts of deep sea mining - CSIRO report

Finding the root of tooth decay in kids

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 1143 AEST, 1343 NZST

Child; care, health and development

A lack of oral health literacy among caregivers and access to dental services is driving tooth decay in young children, research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has confirmed, with early childhood tooth decay affecting nearly half of Australian... Read more about Finding the root of tooth decay in kids

Mental health disorders, malaria, and heart disease most affected by COVID-19 disruption

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The BMJ

Disrupted care during the COVID-19 pandemic led to sharp increases in other causes of illness and death, particularly mental health disorders, malaria in young children, and stroke and heart disease in older adults, according to Chinese researchers.... Read more about Mental health disorders, malaria, and heart disease most affected by COVID-19 disruption

Call for rethink of food nutrition labelling

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 0715 AEST, 0915 NZST

Nature Food

Food labelling is out of step with healthy diet recommendations and could be improved by including nutrient release rates, according to University of Queensland Emeritus Professor Mike Gidley. The researcher at UQ’s Queensland Alliance for... Read more about Call for rethink of food nutrition labelling

DNA sequencing led to lifesaving therapy for this Aussie baby

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

DNA sequencing while still in the womb has led to a lifesaving treatment for one Australian baby, according to an Australian case report. The pregnant mother underwent DNA sequencing after an ultrasound detected heart and skeletal anomalies in the... Read more about DNA sequencing led to lifesaving therapy for this Aussie baby

The greatest thing we'll ever learn: Expressing love makes us feel more loved in return

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS One

A message here, an embrace there, all little acts of love that will boost our feelings of being loved, at least that's what US researchers suggest. The team found everyday acts of love can boost our feelings of being loved in return, which has a... Read more about The greatest thing we'll ever learn: Expressing love makes us feel more loved in return

Cutting US military spending could save as much energy as used by a small nation

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS Climate

North American researchers suggest the US military produces the largest quantity of greenhouse gas emissions of all of the world's institutions, and that cutting their spending could result in a meaningful reduction in energy consumption comparable... Read more about Cutting US military spending could save as much energy as used by a small nation

Coral larvae travelling further makes populations stronger

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

Science Advances

Understanding how far Great Barrier Reef corals are from their parents could be key to identifying and protecting at risk populations, University of Queensland research has found. The study found well-connected coral populations have a better chance... Read more about Coral larvae travelling further makes populations stronger

Emojis could make your relationship stronger

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS One

Texting your significant other without emojis? Well, a US researcher suggests that you might want to start using a few, as they found the use of emojis in messaging improves how we feel others are responding to us, and therefore helps us feel closer... Read more about Emojis could make your relationship stronger

Underemployed young Aussies in poor quality jobs with less job security

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

Australian Journal of Social Issues

Young Australians find themselves working below their full capacity–working less, earning less and using their skills less, which also means that they are working in jobs that are of poorer quality, according to Australian research. The authors... Read more about Underemployed young Aussies in poor quality jobs with less job security

Dads seen as 'exceptional circumstance' in key documents underlying Australia's paid parental leave scheme

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

Australian Journal of Social Issues

The key legislative documents for the Australian paid parental leave (PPL) government scheme frame fatherhood as an exceptional circumstance and promote mothers as the primary caregivers, perpetuating gendered stereotypes and undermining efforts... Read more about Dads seen as 'exceptional circumstance' in key documents underlying Australia's paid parental leave scheme

Auckland workers trapped in low-paid, unstable jobs

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

KOTUITUI: NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES ONLINE

Precarious workers in Auckland face serious struggles, including low wages, unpredictable hours, lack of basic rights, and constant stress. A Slovenian researcher drew on his own experience working three jobs and interviewed 21 other precarious... Read more about Auckland workers trapped in low-paid, unstable jobs

Why are some mimics in nature more convincing than others?

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

Nature

Birds have an excellent ability to detect subtle differences in wasp-mimicking insects to find the ones that are 'safe-to-eat', according to international research, which means the mimic must be as close as possible to a perfect match for a harmful... Read more about Why are some mimics in nature more convincing than others?

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