Wearing a mask seems to reduce COVID-19 transmission

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 2300 AEDT | Wed 20 Jan 2021 at 0100 NZDT

The Lancet Digital Health

Wearing a mask may help control COVID-19 transmission in the community, according to international research, which analysed data from 300,000 people in the US. The study found that when people reported an increase in mask-wearing of 10 per cent, the Read more about Wearing a mask seems to reduce COVID-19 transmission

Nano-thin piezoelectrics advance self-powered electronics

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 2200 AEDT | Wed 20 Jan 2021 at 0000 NZDT

Materials Today

A new type of ultra-efficient, nano-thin material could advance self-powered electronics, wearable technologies and even deliver pacemakers powered by heart beats. A new type of ultra-efficient, nano-thin material could advance Read more about Nano-thin piezoelectrics advance self-powered electronics

An antibiotic potential for cannabis molecule

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Communications Biology

The main nonpsychoactive component of cannabis has been shown for the first time to kill the bacteria responsible for gonorrhoea, meningitis and legionnaires disease and could lead to the first new class of antibiotics for resistant bacteria in 60 Read more about An antibiotic potential for cannabis molecule

Using one hundred-million-year-old fossils and gravitational-wave science to predict earth’s future climate

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 1458 AEDT | 1658 NZDT

Climate of the past

A group of international scientists, including an Australian astrophysicist, has used know-how from gravitational-wave astronomy (used to find black holes in space) to study ancient marine fossils as a predictor of climate change. The research, Read more about Using one hundred-million-year-old fossils and gravitational-wave science to predict earth’s future climate

Lockdown affords Aussie tennis players a unique advantage

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 1430 AEDT | 1630 NZDT

Australian-based tennis players may have a once-in-a-lifetime court advantage at the 2021 Australian Open as many of their international counterparts endure lockdown restrictions in Melbourne hotels. Australian-based tennis players may have a once-in Read more about Lockdown affords Aussie tennis players a unique advantage

Harvard-NZ collaboration shifts understanding of immune responses

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 1258 AEDT | 1458 NZDT

Nature Immunology

A recent study challenges current thinking on how immune cells generate a specific immune response. Rather than one cell performing one function, some immune cells change how they respond each time they encounter a new stimulus. The researchers say Read more about Harvard-NZ collaboration shifts understanding of immune responses

Diamonds could be the key to future communication security

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 1230 AEDT | 1430 NZDT

Optics Express

A new device that exploits quantum physics to generate guaranteed random keys could make our communications more secure. Scientists at Macquarie University’s Photonics Research Centre are using diamonds to generate encoded light pulses that behave Read more about Diamonds could be the key to future communication security

COVID-19 death rates seem to have decreased over time

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

Annals of Internal Medicine

Death rates have decreased over time for patients with COVID-19, according to a study of an intensive care unit in the US which found that deaths from COVID have decreased despite patient characteristics remaining the same. Researchers used patient Read more about COVID-19 death rates seem to have decreased over time

EXPERT REACTION: Should we pause the 5G roll out until safety is confirmed?

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health

A UK researcher has suggested that the roll out of 5G networks be halted until we are sure of its safety, in an opinion piece. He suggests that, as 5G transmitters are putting out radio frequency electromagnetic fields at levels that emerging Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Should we pause the 5G roll out until safety is confirmed?

Fried food may increase risk of cardiovascular disease

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Heart

Studies reporting a link between eating fried foods and cardiovascular disease often contradict each other, but a meta-analysis has provided evidence for such an association. Chinese researchers examined the results from six studies, involving three Read more about Fried food may increase risk of cardiovascular disease

Potential new biomarker for depression and bipolar disorder

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

Journal of Psychiatric Research

University of South Australia scientists have developed the world’s first test to accurately predict mood disorders in people, based on the levels of a specific protein found in the brain which is linked to depression and bipolar disorder. Read more about Potential new biomarker for depression and bipolar disorder

Mental health a major factor in NZ police shootings

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 0922 AEDT | 1122 NZDT

International Journal of Law and Psychiatry

A significant number of police shootings in New Zealand have involved a mental health event, an analysis of 258 Independent Police Conduct Authority reports reveal. Between 1995 and 2019 while only 18 per cent of the cases analysed involved mental Read more about Mental health a major factor in NZ police shootings

New method to assist fast-tracking of vaccines for pre-clinical tests

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 0700 AEDT | 0900 NZDT

PNAS

A tuberculosis vaccine demonstrated a strong immune response in mice; and the method can be applied to other respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. Scientists in Australia have developed a method for the rapid synthesis of safe vaccines, an Read more about New method to assist fast-tracking of vaccines for pre-clinical tests

This brain region is a bit of a narcissist

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

JNeurosci

We're great at noticing information about ourselves and remembering it thanks to a brain region called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC), which is involved in processing information about the self, according to Chinese and US scientists. Read more about This brain region is a bit of a narcissist

Climate models suggest humans have caused 0.9 - 1.3°C warming since 1850-1900

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Climate Change

International scientists, including an Australian, used computer climate simulations to estimate the human contribution to global warming, and say we've caused between 0. 9 and 1. 3°C of warming to global air temperatures when comparing 2010-2019 Read more about Climate models suggest humans have caused 0.9 - 1.3°C warming since 1850-1900

New discovery in breast cancer treatment

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Medicine

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have found new evidence about the positive role of androgens in breast cancer treatment with immediate implications for women with estrogen receptor-driven metastatic disease. Researchers at the University Read more about New discovery in breast cancer treatment

Can the lessons of the past help us build a better future?

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Ecology & Evolution

Does information from the past hold the keys to help us build a better future? Australian and international researchers suggest that we can learn from days-gone-by as we enter the Anthropocene; a new geological era in which human activity is driving Read more about Can the lessons of the past help us build a better future?

Zebra stripes, leopard spots and other patterns on the skin of frozen metal alloys defying conventional metallurgy

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Nanotechnology

“Stripy zebra, spotty leopard…” Pattern formation and pattern recognition entertains children and scientists alike. Alan Turing’s 1950s model explaining patterns in two-substance systems is used by metallurgists to explain microscopic Read more about Zebra stripes, leopard spots and other patterns on the skin of frozen metal alloys defying conventional metallurgy

Electrical stimulation may help lessen obsessive-compulsive disorders

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Medicine

Low-frequency electrical stimulation to the brain may be a potential non-invasive and personalised treatment for people with obsessive-compulsive disorders. The U. S. research team stimulated specific networks in the brain that deal with learning Read more about Electrical stimulation may help lessen obsessive-compulsive disorders

Bio-inspired: How lobsters can help make stronger 3D printed concrete

Publicly released: Mon 18 Jan 2021 at 2201 AEDT | Tue 19 Jan 2021 at 0001 NZDT

3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing

New research shows that patterns inspired by lobster shells can make 3D printed concrete stronger, to support more complex and creative architectural structures. New research shows that patterns inspired by lobster shells can make 3D printed Read more about Bio-inspired: How lobsters can help make stronger 3D printed concrete