Resources for Journalists

AI-based wastewater sampling predicts COVID-19 pressure on hospitals

Publicly released: Tue 1 Aug 2023 at 1230 AEST | 1430 NZST

Nature Communications

My PhD focused on sewer design to reduce concrete corrosion, however I graduated right around the time of COVID-19 and saw an opportunity to monitor and study the pandemic,” said ... I’m grateful for Read more about AI-based wastewater sampling predicts COVID-19 pressure on hospitals

Activewear angst: Why shopping for workout clothes can be harmful to women

Publicly released: Tue 1 Aug 2023 at 0700 AEST | 0900 NZST

International Journal of Consumer Studies & Body Image

Sales of “Athleisure” —a hybrid style of athletic clothing typically worn as everyday wear — have risen rapidly following the onset of COVID-19 and are expected to be worth more than Read more about Activewear angst: Why shopping for workout clothes can be harmful to women

Swine flu strain has passed from humans to pigs nearly 400 times since 2009

Publicly released: Fri 28 Jul 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS Pathogens

2020, when human pdm09  infection rates dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic. ... In 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, pdm09 circulation among humans dropped, but pdm09 circulation persisted Read more about Swine flu strain has passed from humans to pigs nearly 400 times since 2009

Republicans were more likely to die from COVID-19 than Democrats once vaccines became available

Publicly released: Tue 25 Jul 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

A study which examined over 500,000 deaths in Florida and Ohio during the pandemic has found that death rates were significantly higher for Republican voters than Democratic voters after ... in Read more about Republicans were more likely to die from COVID-19 than Democrats once vaccines became available

Food insecurity linked to higher risk of mental health problems in children and teens

Publicly released: Mon 24 Jul 2023 at 1401 AEST | 1601 NZST

Canadian Medical Association Journal

0%) in marginally food-insecure, 2348 (7. 3%) in moderately food-insecure and 916 (2. ... The data are also almost a decade old, and food insecurity has increased in recent years, especially during the Read more about Food insecurity linked to higher risk of mental health problems in children and teens

HIV transmission virtually eliminated in Inner Sydney, Australia

Publicly released: Mon 24 Jul 2023 at 0837 AEST | 1037 NZST

IAS 2023

While Australia achieved the 90-90-90 targets in 2020 and saw declines in new HIV diagnoses during the COVID-19 crisis, achieving the more ambitious 95-95-95 targets will ... 8% vs. 46. 5%). The study Read more about HIV transmission virtually eliminated in Inner Sydney, Australia

Antioxidant ‘bee glue’ creates buzz for new Australian industry

Publicly released: Fri 21 Jul 2023 at 0600 AEST | 0800 NZST

Nature Scientific Reports among others

It usually contains beeswax, bee saliva and resin from the native and non-native plants that bees pollinate. ... the possibility of adjunct treatments for cancers and COVID-19. Read more about Antioxidant ‘bee glue’ creates buzz for new Australian industry

Harnessing mRNA technology to develop powerful malaria vaccines

Publicly released: Fri 21 Jul 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Immunology

Trans-Tasman research collaborators from Te Herenga Waka— Victoria University of Wellington’s Ferrier Research Institute and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in New Zealand, and the Read more about Harnessing mRNA technology to develop powerful malaria vaccines

IAS 2023 highlights advances in HIV prevention, treatment and cure research

Publicly released: Thu 20 Jul 2023 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

IAS 2023

The science presented at this conference will guide rollout of game-changing prevention tools like long-acting PrEP, shed light on how to reduce the impact of mpox and COVID-19 ... Abstract and session: Read more about IAS 2023 highlights advances in HIV prevention, treatment and cure research

Gene variant common among COVID-19 patients who don't have symptoms

Publicly released: Thu 20 Jul 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature

fight infection, had a strong immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal coronaviruses in those people with the HLA-B15 gene. ... The fact that people who carry the HLA-B15 gene have high levels of Read more about Gene variant common among COVID-19 patients who don't have symptoms

New markers could help predict how severely individuals will react to COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 19 Jul 2023 at 1644 AEST | 1844 NZST

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

COVID-19 is one of the most complex systemic diseases that we have ever studied and it keeps throwing up new surprises,” Professor Nicholson said. ... Importantly, there are many connections between the Read more about New markers could help predict how severely individuals will react to COVID-19

Fishing grew as a hobby during the pandemic

Publicly released: Wed 19 Jul 2023 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

High-resolution app data reveal sustained increases in recreational fishing effort in Europe during and after COVID-19 lockdownsCOVID-19 pandemic slowed down human activity and, occasionally, allowed Read more about Fishing grew as a hobby during the pandemic

Good leadership needed to solve professional civil engineer shortage

Publicly released: Tue 18 Jul 2023 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

Journal of Management in Engineering

It’s a worldwide problem and Australia, until recently, was able to rely upon migrant engineers to fill labour market shortages but recent global challenges – namely the COVID 19 Pandemic - have Read more about Good leadership needed to solve professional civil engineer shortage

Wind and solar remain the lowest cost new build electricity generation sources despite inflationary pressures

Publicly released: Tue 18 Jul 2023 at 0600 AEST | 0800 NZST

GenCost is an annual collaboration between CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) that actively consults industry stakeholders to revise domestic electricity generation and storage, Read more about Wind and solar remain the lowest cost new build electricity generation sources despite inflationary pressures

Discovery could lead to more treatments to prevent cancer and infectious diseases

Publicly released: Mon 17 Jul 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Science Immunology

cells better, they could be harnessed to help prevent cancer and highly infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Strep A and tuberculosis Researchers have cracked how a particular type of immune Read more about Discovery could lead to more treatments to prevent cancer and infectious diseases

Childhood obesity increased during and after COVID-19 restrictions

Publicly released: Sat 15 Jul 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Childhood obesity, especially among US children aged 5 to 11 years, was significantly higher after COVID-19 restrictions were imposed, new research suggests. ... The study also found the obesity levels Read more about Childhood obesity increased during and after COVID-19 restrictions

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy could help protect bub in their first 6 months of life

Publicly released: Sat 15 Jul 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Getting an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy could help protect your baby in their first 6 months of life. ... The study of 76 women who were vaccinated with either Read more about Getting a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy could help protect bub in their first 6 months of life

COVID-19-era payments show increasing income support reduces demand for charity

Publicly released: Thu 13 Jul 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

The increases in income support that people in Australia received during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced their reliance on charity, with new research showing that an $18-a-day increase is ... Army in Read more about COVID-19-era payments show increasing income support reduces demand for charity

COVID-19 cases continue to feel symptoms long-term

Publicly released: Fri 7 Jul 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

NZMJ

This study looked at the presence of ongoing symptoms and abnormalities in blood samples in confirmed cases of COVID-19 from the first wave within the Greater Wellington Region. ... 7 years after first Read more about COVID-19 cases continue to feel symptoms long-term

Wastewater monitoring could act as pandemic early warning system

Publicly released: Fri 7 Jul 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

The Lancet Global Health

For the study, samples from treatment plants, rivers, wetlands and open drains were reported from 43 nations, spanning six continents, during a year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. ... The research, Read more about Wastewater monitoring could act as pandemic early warning system

Tweens use screens for a third of their after-school time

Publicly released: Fri 7 Jul 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

NZMJ

The screen use was mostly dominated by television and computers, with tablets and phones being a lower proportion. ... Screen use rose rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and children in 2023 are Read more about Tweens use screens for a third of their after-school time

Women from refugee backgrounds at higher risk of mental distress due to COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 6 Jul 2023 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

PLOS Global Public Health

They've lost everything,” Ms Nadar says. Ms Nadar saw that for this group of women, the COVID-19 pandemic resurfaced trauma and exacerbated existing mental health issues. ... Rees says. “We need to be Read more about Women from refugee backgrounds at higher risk of mental distress due to COVID-19

More than half of new drugs add little to existing treatments

Publicly released: Thu 6 Jul 2023 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The BMJ

The system’s current performance does not meet the expectations of patients and the public, clinicians, or policy makers,” she writes. ... Having experienced the potential of a coordinated drug Read more about More than half of new drugs add little to existing treatments

Global efforts to reduce infectious diseases must extend beyond early childhood

Publicly released: Wed 5 Jul 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

The Lancet

The COVID-19 pandemic and recent epidemics of Zika virus, Ebola and severe acute respiratory syndrome underscore the urgent need to take stock of infectious disease control,” he said. ... The unfinished Read more about Global efforts to reduce infectious diseases must extend beyond early childhood

Escaping exploitation with nowhere to go: Barriers in accommodating survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery

Publicly released: Tue 4 Jul 2023 at 1220 AEST | 1420 NZST

The Anti-Trafficking Review

We know we are in the middle of a severe housing crisis, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected housing affordability and the availability of rental properties and accommodation Read more about Escaping exploitation with nowhere to go: Barriers in accommodating survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery

Coronavirus inflammatory marker testing could save lives

Publicly released: Tue 4 Jul 2023 at 1123 AEST | 1323 NZST

Frontiers in Immunology

With vaccinations leading to high levels of population immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the World Health Organization recently highlighted the decreasing trend in COVID-19 deaths, the decline in COVID-19 Read more about Coronavirus inflammatory marker testing could save lives

Voluntourism still a 'neo-colonial practice' despite new focus on cultural exchange

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jun 2023 at 1010 AEST | 1210 NZST

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management

Voluntourism is a controversial mix of overseas volunteer work and more traditional tourist experiences that before the Covid-19 pandemic some estimated to be a US$2 billion industry annually. Read more about Voluntourism still a 'neo-colonial practice' despite new focus on cultural exchange

Rising monkey and pig populations pose human disease risk

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jun 2023 at 0938 AEST | 1138 NZST

Biological Reviews

The wildlife origins of the COVID-19 pandemic show that mammals in human-modified ecosystems often host high pathogen loads and pose serious zoonotic disease risks,” he said. ... The research is Read more about Rising monkey and pig populations pose human disease risk

How COVID-19 affected dental services in Fiji

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jun 2023 at 0800 AEST | 1000 NZST

PLOS ONE

COVID-19 has had a big impact on how dental clinics practice, given how the virus spreads, but no research has been done until now about how the pandemic affected services ... They report that most Fijian Read more about How COVID-19 affected dental services in Fiji

New drug could one day treat long COVID and prevent re-infection

Publicly released: Tue 27 Jun 2023 at 1900 AEST | 2100 NZST

Nature Communications

A new drug developed by QIMR Berghofer could transform the treatment of COVID-19 by potentially protecting against infection by any SARS-CoV-2 variant and reversing the persistent inflammation that Read more about New drug could one day treat long COVID and prevent re-infection

Customising the fit of respirator facepieces proves a good measure

Publicly released: Tue 27 Jun 2023 at 1136 AEST | 1336 NZST

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

Working with public hospital workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Chapman with clinician and cardiac electrophysiology scientist at Flinders, Professor Anand Ganesan, led the project to compare Read more about Customising the fit of respirator facepieces proves a good measure

Even a mild COVID-19 infection may reduce sperm quality months later

Publicly released: Mon 26 Jun 2023 at 1915 AEST | 2115 NZST

European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Núñez-Calonge. It is known that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can affect the testicles and sperm, but the mechanism is still unknown. ... It should be mentioned that impairment of semen parameters may not be due Read more about Even a mild COVID-19 infection may reduce sperm quality months later

Yeast dust makes a cheap, fast virus test

Publicly released: Mon 26 Jun 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Nature Nanotechnology

Researchers from The University of Queensland have made a dust from baker’s yeast that can detect COVID-19 and could safeguard communities against future pandemics. ... AIBN research fellow Dr Read more about Yeast dust makes a cheap, fast virus test

1.3 billion people will be living with diabetes by 2050, and the gap is widening for First Nations Aussies

Publicly released: Fri 23 Jun 2023 at 1030 AEST | 1230 NZST

The Lancet and The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified diabetes inequity globally, with people with diabetes 50% more likely to develop severe infection and twice as likely to die compared to those without diabetes, Read more about 1.3 billion people will be living with diabetes by 2050, and the gap is widening for First Nations Aussies

Bee disease offers rare insights into RNA virus origins

Publicly released: Thu 22 Jun 2023 at 1600 AEST | 1800 NZST

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)

The study offers a rare insight in the origins of an RNA virus which, as we’ve seen through the COVID-19 pandemic, can be notoriously tricky to isolate,” Professor Mikheyev ... These mites carry the Read more about Bee disease offers rare insights into RNA virus origins

Tackling viruses with pandemic potential

Publicly released: Thu 22 Jun 2023 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

Nature Communications

Dr Isaacs said the virus caused fever and severe respiratory symptoms and was from the same class of viruses as the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses. ... We saw with COVID-19 how unprepared the world was Read more about Tackling viruses with pandemic potential

Urgent action needed to further improve child survival in Ethiopia

Publicly released: Thu 22 Jun 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS Global Public Health

With Ethiopia’s mortality rates two and three times those figures, the country is unlikely to reach those targets. ... Given the study uses data prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent civil war Read more about Urgent action needed to further improve child survival in Ethiopia

Lessons learned from New Zealand's ‘genomic journey’ through the COVID-19 pandemic

Publicly released: Fri 16 Jun 2023 at 1143 AEST | 1343 NZST

BMC Medicine

New Zealand scientists at the forefront of our COVID-19 pandemic response say the lessons learned from our world-leading genomic surveillance programmes could be useful in the looming crisis of Read more about Lessons learned from New Zealand's ‘genomic journey’ through the COVID-19 pandemic

Video games spark exciting new frontier in neuroscience

Publicly released: Wed 14 Jun 2023 at 1300 AEST | 1500 NZST

Nature Communications

Dr Tristan Wallis and Professor Frederic Meunier from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute came up with the idea while in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. ... Individual proteins bounce and move in a Read more about Video games spark exciting new frontier in neuroscience

Lung and heart stem cell research paves way for new COVID-19 treatments

Publicly released: Wed 14 Jun 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Stem Cell Reports

Lung and heart stem cell research paves way for new COVID-19 treatmentsResearch at a Glance:Melbourne researchers have used heart and lung stem cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 to ... SARS-CoV-2 primarily Read more about Lung and heart stem cell research paves way for new COVID-19 treatments

Sports injury hospitalisations return to pre-COVID-19 trends

Publicly released: Wed 14 Jun 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

injury hospitalisations largely in line with pre-COVID-19 trends – according to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). ... In response to COVID-19 lockdowns and the Read more about Sports injury hospitalisations return to pre-COVID-19 trends

Diabetes drug shortly after infection cuts risk of long COVID by 40%

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jun 2023 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

Taking a two-week course of metformin, a safe and affordable diabetes medication after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 leads to 40% fewer long COVID diagnoses over the following 10 ... Previous studies Read more about Diabetes drug shortly after infection cuts risk of long COVID by 40%

Older Australians who coped better mentally during the pandemic were smarter with their money

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jun 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Among older Australians, those who coped better mentally at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to be making good financial choices, according to Australian research. ... The team Read more about Older Australians who coped better mentally during the pandemic were smarter with their money

COVID-19 can cause brain cells to 'fuse'

Publicly released: Thu 8 Jun 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Science Advances

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has been detected in the brains of people with ‘long COVID’ months after their initial infection. ... SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has been Read more about COVID-19 can cause brain cells to 'fuse'

COVID-19 transformed road safety for older Australians

Publicly released: Mon 5 Jun 2023 at 1052 AEST | 1252 NZST

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

crash data before and after COVID-19 to determine the impact of the pandemic on the frequency and location of crashes involving older people. ... Police-reported crash data for the over-65 population in Read more about COVID-19 transformed road safety for older Australians

Focus on the non-health benefits of COVID-19 vaccination to convince people to get their booster

Publicly released: Sat 3 Jun 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Focusing on the non-health benefits of getting a COVID-19 booster could make vaccine messaging more persuasive, according to Australian research. ... The team recruited about 450 people to view different Read more about Focus on the non-health benefits of COVID-19 vaccination to convince people to get their booster

Parkinson's drug could help slow motor neurone disease progression

Publicly released: Fri 2 Jun 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Cell Stem Cell

While they say many of the patients dropped out of the study - mainly due to COVID-19 - those who continued to receive the treatment saw a slower progression of the disease. ... Many patients dropped out Read more about Parkinson's drug could help slow motor neurone disease progression

EXPERT REACTION: Can garlic fight flu and COVID-19?

Publicly released: Thu 1 Jun 2023 at 1515 AEST | 1715 NZST

Media releases issued by the Australian Garlic Producers Pty Ltd and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry suggest that new research shows that garlic can kill COVID-19 and flu Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Can garlic fight flu and COVID-19?

EXPERT REACTION: Australia considers ban on ‘high-risk’ uses of AI

Publicly released: Thu 1 Jun 2023 at 1434 AEST | 1634 NZST

The Albanese government is considering a ban on “high-risk” uses of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making, warning of potential harms including the creation of deepfakes and Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Australia considers ban on ‘high-risk’ uses of AI

After two years, one in six people who had COVID-19 before vaccination still report health effects

Publicly released: Thu 1 Jun 2023 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The BMJ

The team followed a group of 1,106 people who caught the original COVID-19 variant and compared their self-reported symptoms with 628 people who hadn't had the virus ... Their findings are based on 1,106 Read more about After two years, one in six people who had COVID-19 before vaccination still report health effects