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