Talking with your hands helps listeners separate an obJECT from an OBject

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Talking with your hands, or specifically what is known as 'beat gestures', can influence what speech sounds we perceive and can help people pick up stresses on different parts of a word, for example distinguishing OBject from obJECT. Beat gestures Read more about Talking with your hands helps listeners separate an obJECT from an OBject

Variety is the spice of life, at least for sparrows

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

For the last 2,000 years there has been debate about whether a more varied social group benefits the individuals in it. Experiments with house sparrows suggest that groups containing different personality types (in terms of exploratory behaviour) Read more about Variety is the spice of life, at least for sparrows

Being transparent about COVID testing benefits the workplace

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

A simulation model for small workplaces shows that workers who are open about testing for COVID-19 and their test results translate into improved workplace productivity and minimised infections, compared to those employees who keep such information Read more about Being transparent about COVID testing benefits the workplace

Even very young kids can socially distance at school

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Measures to reduce COVID-19 spread in English primary schools reduced close in-person contacts by 50-80 per cent, according to UK research. Researchers surveyed teachers from 34 UK primary schools on close contacts before and after distancing Read more about Even very young kids can socially distance at school

Sorry, but you are probably fatter than an elephant

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Journal of Experimental Biology

Do you think elephants are fat? Well, they're probably less podgy than you, according to international scientists. They measured fat levels in 35 female and nine male captive Asian elephants, and say they carry less body fat than the average person. Read more about Sorry, but you are probably fatter than an elephant

NT alcohol policies reduce ICU admissions

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

Anaestesia and Intensive Care

The introduction of alcohol harm limitation policies in Central Australia from 2018 have had a marked effect on critical health figures, with a 38% relative reduction in Hospital Intensive Care Unit admissions associated with alcohol misuse, as well Read more about NT alcohol policies reduce ICU admissions

Why does Flu get worse as we age - and is it the same for COVID?

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Clinical & Translational Immunology

Elderly people who contract the Flu seem to produce fewer immune 'emergency' signals from infected cells, and therefore a slower immune response to infection than younger people, according to Aussie researchers. The team also found that regardless Read more about Why does Flu get worse as we age - and is it the same for COVID?

Long-term study reveals harm in regular cannabis use

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Drug and Alcohol Review

Regular cannabis use has harmful effects regardless of the age a person starts using, a University of Queensland-led study has found. The study examined people who began regular cannabis use in high school or in their early 20s, and compared both Read more about Long-term study reveals harm in regular cannabis use

Skink social network may help save species

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

New Zealand Journal of Ecology

Reptiles, apart from dinosaurs, aren’t usually thought of as particularly sociable. However, researchers from the University of Otago found that social groups of between two and eight endangered Otago skinks in Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary persisted Read more about Skink social network may help save species

Early antibiotic use could have an effect on growth

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

Exposure to antibiotics in the first few weeks of life is associated with reduced weight and height in boys up to the age of six, but not girls, according to international researchers who suggest this effect may be due to changes in the development Read more about Early antibiotic use could have an effect on growth