Resources for Journalists

Deep sea dive from a desk uncovers three new species

Publicly released: Fri 16 Jun 2023 at 1615 AEST | 1815 NZST

Zootaxa

The Schmidt Ocean Institute voyage ‘Seamounts, Canyons & Reefs of the Coral SeaCruise’ was in 2020 and there was a lot of uncertainty with regards to travelling during the COVID epandemic,” Dr Read more about Deep sea dive from a desk uncovers three new species

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

Chinese Daigou shoppers a new type of entrepreneur

Publicly released: Thu 15 Jun 2023 at 1345 AEST | 1545 NZST

Journal of Business Venturing Insights

Even with restrictions on international travel caused by the global COVID pandemic, Daigou has flourished and remains a vital and lucrative channel, with an estimated trade of between US$40bn to Read more about Chinese Daigou shoppers a new type of entrepreneur

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

Addressing challenges to social cohesion in Aotearoa

Publicly released: Tue 13 Jun 2023 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Covid was an interesting test case of both disengagement and engagement. ... Older alliances, collaborations and ways of working together (such as the King Movement and the Māori Churches), have declined. Read more about Addressing challenges to social cohesion in Aotearoa

Astronomers find new multi-planet system that resembles the fictional desert Star Wars planet, Tatooine

Publicly released: Tue 13 Jun 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Astronomy

Dr Rosemary Mardling, from the Monash University School of Physics and Astronomy, is a co-author of the study. ... This was a challenging system to confirm because telescopes in Chile were closed for six Read more about Astronomers find new multi-planet system that resembles the fictional desert Star Wars planet, Tatooine

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

Lockdown really made us lose our sense of time

Publicly released: Thu 1 Jun 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

The social isolation resulting from COVID-19 lockdowns significantly impacted people’s activities and emotions, and prior research has shown that the pandemic triggered distortions in people’s Read more about Lockdown really made us lose our sense of time

Fish were the most widely used animals in New Zealand research in 2021

Publicly released: Wed 31 May 2023 at 1650 AEST | 1850 NZST

The figures show that 309,872 animals were used in 2021, an increase from 245,522 used in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020. ... This is an increase from 245,522 used in the first year of the Read more about Fish were the most widely used animals in New Zealand research in 2021

Social networks the key to water management & sanitation in the Pacific

Publicly released: Wed 31 May 2023 at 1337 AEST | 1537 NZST

Water Policy

lead author Dr Mark Love, a research fellow at the International WaterCentre and the Australian Rivers Institute. ... For example, Facebook ‘live’ information discussions have been proactively used Read more about Social networks the key to water management & sanitation in the Pacific

Sourdough or #sourfaux?

Publicly released: Wed 31 May 2023 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition

Sourdough has had a renaissance in Australia in recent years. This has been partly driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown baking; from March to April 2020, Google searches for ... Grafenauer says. Read more about Sourdough or #sourfaux?

Has the pandemic changed our drinking habits?

Publicly released: Wed 31 May 2023 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Drug and Alcohol Review

Adult men and those aged 35 or over were most likely to increase their alcohol consumption during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Australian and international researchers Read more about Has the pandemic changed our drinking habits?

Sleeping well linked to a lower risk of long COVID

Publicly released: Wed 31 May 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

The team looked at 1,979 women who reported testing positive for COVID-19, and gave them a pre-pandemic sleep score of 0-5 based on a number of factors ... They found those with a pre-pandemic sleep score Read more about Sleeping well linked to a lower risk of long COVID

Over 250,000 COVID-19-related hospitalisations recorded across 2021-2022

Publicly released: Wed 31 May 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

3% required ventilation and 2% died in hospital. The report says about 1 in five COVID-19-related hospitalisations were in patients with at least one other chronic health condition. ... 3% required Read more about Over 250,000 COVID-19-related hospitalisations recorded across 2021-2022

COVID-19 vaccine builds powerful immune response in First Nations peoples

Publicly released: Tue 30 May 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Immunology

An Australian study has shown that vaccination against COVID-19 elicits an effective immune response in First Nations peoples, who are at higher risk of respiratory virus infections. ... We found Read more about COVID-19 vaccine builds powerful immune response in First Nations peoples

New compounds give important pandemic therapeutic option

Publicly released: Wed 24 May 2023 at 0600 AEST | 0800 NZST

Clinical & Translational Immunology

the ability of influenza virus to replicate in the lung, and protect against damaging inflammation. ... damaging. ” A/Prof Tate said. COVID-19 has shown us the damage that can be done by out-of-control Read more about New compounds give important pandemic therapeutic option

Australia is not on track to drop smoking rates to 5% by 2030

Publicly released: Tue 23 May 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Tobacco Control

New study shows smoking rate target unreachable without strong actionNew research from the Daffodil Centre, a joint venture between Cancer Council NSW and the University of Sydney, shows the Read more about Australia is not on track to drop smoking rates to 5% by 2030

Rental housing standards a threat to resident health and wellbeing

Publicly released: Mon 22 May 2023 at 1230 AEST | 1430 NZST

Regional Studies, Regional Science

Prior to COVID-19, research found an estimated one million Australians were living in poor to very poor housing. ... Dr Daniel says rising interest rates and other factors are likely to have drastically Read more about Rental housing standards a threat to resident health and wellbeing

Masks and air cleaners reduced the amount of COVID-19 in the air in classrooms

Publicly released: Fri 19 May 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS Medicine

The researchers consistently detected salivary and airborne SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in air samples and samples from students throughout the study period. ... The levels of airborne Read more about Masks and air cleaners reduced the amount of COVID-19 in the air in classrooms

Donor hearts from those who died with active COVID-19 could pose risks for recipients

Publicly released: Thu 18 May 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

York. The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for heart transplantation since transplant centers had to continuously modify their recipient and donor management protocols as the pandemic and Read more about Donor hearts from those who died with active COVID-19 could pose risks for recipients

Genetic links to severe COVID-19 could help us improve treatments

Publicly released: Thu 18 May 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature

The findings, which build on previous analyses, improve our understanding of the factors that underlie severe COVID-19 and highlight targets for drug development. ... In the latest update, Kenneth Baillie Read more about Genetic links to severe COVID-19 could help us improve treatments

Evidence update finds masks may help stop the spread on COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 16 May 2023 at 0700 AEST | 0900 NZST

Annals of Internal Medicine

The final update of an ongoing review of the evidence around masks and COVID-19 has found that masks may be linked to a small reduction in risk for ... The initial review was followed by eight brief Read more about Evidence update finds masks may help stop the spread on COVID-19

Environmental researchers could be (accidentally) capturing identifiable human DNA

Publicly released: Tue 16 May 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Ecology & Evolution

These samples can be used to monitor wild populations and invasive species, reconstruct past environments and screen wastewater samples for human pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. ... Time Authors David Duffy, Read more about Environmental researchers could be (accidentally) capturing identifiable human DNA

Youth input key to addressing pillars of the mental health crisis

Publicly released: Mon 15 May 2023 at 0430 AEST | 0630 NZST

Te Hiringa Mahara - Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission

Dr Stubbing says internationally, organisations such as the World Health Organization and the International Association of Youth Mental Health are also recognising young people’s perspectives on Read more about Youth input key to addressing pillars of the mental health crisis

Sending at-home HPV test kits to under-screened women can help boost testing rates

Publicly released: Fri 12 May 2023 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The Lancet Public Health

Cervical cancer disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic women in the USA, with the highest incidence among Hispanic women and the highest mortality among Black women. ... The trial was also Read more about Sending at-home HPV test kits to under-screened women can help boost testing rates

Your COVID immunity could wane faster if your BMI is high

Publicly released: Fri 12 May 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Medicine

The team also looked at the relationship between BMI, hospitalisation and mortality due to COVID-19 among 3. ... 6 million people in Scotland using their COVID-19 surveillance platform, and found Read more about Your COVID immunity could wane faster if your BMI is high

AI helps map the postal workers in cells

Publicly released: Fri 12 May 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Cell

University of Queensland researchers have used artificial intelligence to build a 3D map of key cell components to better understand dementia and infectious diseases including COVID-19. ... Viruses such Read more about AI helps map the postal workers in cells

Most children with COVID-19 don’t require hospital treatment

Publicly released: Fri 12 May 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

The Medical Journal of Australia

The research, led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and published in The Medical Journal of Australia, found more than half of children with COVID-19 who visited an emergency department Read more about Most children with COVID-19 don’t require hospital treatment

Over the last decade nobody has been improving the rate of preterm births

Publicly released: Wed 10 May 2023 at 1530 AEST | 1730 NZST

The researchers say regional conflict, climate change and COVID-19 are increasing the risks around preterm births as the world struggles to reduce the rates. ... The report also highlights that the Read more about Over the last decade nobody has been improving the rate of preterm births

When looking at the harms of drinking, are we neglecting what's happening in our homes?

Publicly released: Wed 10 May 2023 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Drug and Alcohol Review

Current methods to try and address the overconsumption of alcohol aren't focusing enough on drinking at home, according to Australian researchers. ... In an opinion piece, the researchers outline recent Read more about When looking at the harms of drinking, are we neglecting what's happening in our homes?

EXPERT REACTION: Federal Budget 2023-2024

Publicly released: Tue 9 May 2023 at 1945 AEST | 2145 NZST

The Federal Government has released their budget for 2023-2024. Below, a variety of Australian experts respond and discuss what this year's Budget means. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Federal Budget 2023-2024

A woman or baby dies every 7 seconds as global progress stalls on preventing maternal or newborn deaths

Publicly released: Tue 9 May 2023 at 1400 AEST | 1600 NZST

Pregnant women and newborns continue to die at unacceptably high rates worldwide, and the COVID-19 pandemic has created further setbacks to providing them with the healthcare they need,” said Dr Read more about A woman or baby dies every 7 seconds as global progress stalls on preventing maternal or newborn deaths

The power of peer-to-peer communication in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Publicly released: Mon 8 May 2023 at 0930 AEST | 1130 NZST

Health Expectations

During the COVID-19 pandemic, discussions with peers played a large role in people’s decisions around vaccination, new research from UNSW Sydney shows. ... Also, once the participants received the Read more about The power of peer-to-peer communication in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Problems thinking straight in 1st 4 weeks of COVID-19 may mean long COVID is more likely

Publicly released: Sat 6 May 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Perceived Cognitive Deficits in Patients With SARS-CoV-2 and Their Association With Long COVID About The Study: The findings of this study of 766 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection ... suggest that patient Read more about Problems thinking straight in 1st 4 weeks of COVID-19 may mean long COVID is more likely

Housing affordability is deteriorating, and there’s no end in sight

Publicly released: Fri 5 May 2023 at 1201 AEST | 1401 NZST

Housing Affordability in Western Australia 2023: Building for the future

stimulated by the HomeBuilder and Building Bonus COVID-19 stimulus payments had been delayed due to labour and material shortages. ... However, REIWA estimate around 19,000 homes left the rental sector in Read more about Housing affordability is deteriorating, and there’s no end in sight

EXPERT REACTION: Extreme content becoming embedded in NZ online disinformation groups

Publicly released: Fri 5 May 2023 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

A new report from The Disinformation Project looks at how disinformation and anti-transgender hate was shared online around the time of Posie Parker's visit to Auckland early in 2023. ... One of the main Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Extreme content becoming embedded in NZ online disinformation groups

No increased risk of menstrual changes after COVID-19 vaccination

Publicly released: Thu 4 May 2023 at 1230 AEST | 1430 NZST

The BMJ

To address this, researchers in Sweden drew on high quality health registry data to evaluate the risks of menstrual disturbance and bleeding after covid-19 vaccination in 2,946,448 women ... In the main Read more about No increased risk of menstrual changes after COVID-19 vaccination

Immunity from COVID-19 vaccines wanes quickly against Omicron

Publicly released: Thu 4 May 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Evaluation ofWaning of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine–Induced Immunity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysisThe findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis of secondary data from 40 studies suggest Read more about Immunity from COVID-19 vaccines wanes quickly against Omicron

More children and adolescents in mental health crisis since beginning of COVID-19 pandemic

Publicly released: Wed 3 May 2023 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

Paediatrics

The COVID-19 pandemic has had serious and lasting negative impacts on children’s and adolescents’ mental health. ... The study highlights the increasing numbers of children and adolescents presenting Read more about More children and adolescents in mental health crisis since beginning of COVID-19 pandemic