https://www.scimex.org/rss Latest publicly released Scimex stories https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/what-increases-the-risk-of-early-onset-colorectal-cancer Your birthweight, sex, ethnicity, and father’s age may all affect your risk of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer at a young age, according to US scientists. They looked at 1,221 people with early-onset colorectal cancer - a diagnosis before age 50 - and compared them with 61,050 people without cancer. They found men are 34% more likely than women to develop this type of cancer, and Hispanic people are 43% more likely than white people. They also found that having a foreign-born mum was linked with a 15% reduced risk. Among women, every 500g increase in birthweight was linked with a 10% increase in early-onset colorectal cancer risk and having a father aged 35 years or older was linked with a 56% higher risk. Exactly how these factors alter the risk of early-onset colorectal cancer should be the subject of future research, the authors say. 2026-06-22T17:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/what-increases-the-risk-of-early-onset-colorectal-cancer Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/newly-released-records-include-238-year-old-aussie-weather-observations-and-records-from-aussie-antarctic-expeditioner An archive of over 1,600 sets of meteorological, magnetic and tidal observations taken from 1706-1915 from across the globe has been digitised for the first time. The treasure trove of historic weather data and imagery is now available for scientists across the globe to study on the Royal Society’s Science in the Making portal. The records include handwritten notes, illustrations and observations made by Tasmanian physicist and astronomer Louis Bernacchi in Antarctica during the famous Discovery expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton from 1901-1904. Bernacchi was the first Australian to set foot on the Antarctic continent during a previous expedition and was the only Australian member of this British National Antarctic Expedition, co-organised by the Royal Society. The archives also include over 50 sets of meteorological observations taken in and around Australia, with the oldest records from 1788. 2026-06-22T15:52:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/newly-released-records-include-238-year-old-aussie-weather-observations-and-records-from-aussie-antarctic-expeditioner Environment / Climate / Energy Society / Lifestyle Other Science Australia International TAS https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/understand-phishing-think-again-why-cybersecurity-language-is-failing-us Cyberattacks now cost the global economy trillions, yet most people still struggle to understand what actually happens when a breach occurs. 2026-06-22T12:41:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/understand-phishing-think-again-why-cybersecurity-language-is-failing-us Society / Lifestyle Tech / Engineering / Space Business / Politics Australia SA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/e-scooter-injuries-a-growing-toll-on-hospitals-new-study A four-fold increase in injuries among children across four years is one of the most troubling consequences of Australia's e-scooter boom, as UNSW researchers warn parents not to underestimate the risks of privately owned devices to young riders. 2026-06-22T09:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/e-scooter-injuries-a-growing-toll-on-hospitals-new-study Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Australia NSW VIC https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/ai-supported-locally-driven-screening-strategies-enable-earlier-cancer-detection-and-targeted-therapy Researchers urge oncologists to apply locally driven strategies, supported by stronger regional evidence, to improve early cancer detection and precise care. Cancer treatment and therapy, they say, should concentrate on how diagnostics, biomarkers and artificial intelligence can be tailored to meet local needs of specific populations 2026-06-22T07:59:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/ai-supported-locally-driven-screening-strategies-enable-earlier-cancer-detection-and-targeted-therapy Health / Medical International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/are-australias-short-beaked-echidna-subspecies-real Short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) are currently divided into five subspecies by biologists, mostly based on where they live, but a new genetic analysis that looked at mitochondrial DNA (which codes for a cell's 'batteries' and is inherited from the mother only) suggests they are basically all very genetically similar. However, the study author says other differences between the subspecies, including hibernation habits, duration of lactation, mating behaviour, and maternal care, all suggest the subspecies are distinct and should be maintained. Most of the differences are likely to be related directly or indirectly to local differences in climate, he says, and the similarity in mitochondrial DNA is probably the result of relatively recent dispersal from New Guinea, and from there, around Australia. 2026-06-22T00:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/are-australias-short-beaked-echidna-subspecies-real Environment / Climate / Energy Rural / Agricultural Other Science TAS https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/expert-reaction-first-detection-of-highly-pathogenic-h5n1-bird-flu-confirmed-in-australia The federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins has confirmed Australia's first case of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu has been detected in Western Australia. The infected bird was found on a remote beach at the Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance, about 700 kilometres south-east of Perth. Initial tests were confirmed overnight by the CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness. Authorities are urging people not to interact with sick or dead birds and to report them to the Emergency Animal Disease hotline. Below, Australian experts comment on what this means for Australia. 2026-06-20T10:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/expert-reaction-first-detection-of-highly-pathogenic-h5n1-bird-flu-confirmed-in-australia Health / Medical Environment / Climate / Energy Rural / Agricultural Australia https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/twisting-quantum-potential-into-reality UTS researchers have discovered a new way to control tiny quantum light sources by twisting atomically thin layers of hexagonal boron nitride. This is one of the key elements needed before quantum technologies can be used reliably in real-world systems. 2026-06-20T04:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/twisting-quantum-potential-into-reality Tech / Engineering / Space Other Science Australia VIC https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/expert-reaction-suspected-h5n1-bird-flu-case-in-australia The first suspected case of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu has been detected in Australia. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced that a migratory bird in south-west WA has died, and the initial test was positive for H5N1. Samples have been sent to CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness to confirm the finding. Below, Australian experts comment on what the case will mean if confirmed. 2026-06-19T16:37:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/expert-reaction-suspected-h5n1-bird-flu-case-in-australia Health / Medical Environment / Climate / Energy Society / Lifestyle Rural / Agricultural Business / Politics Australia VIC QLD https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/2026-australian-geographic-nature-photographer-of-the-year-shortlist-unveiled 100 incredible images have been shortlisted by the South Australian Museum as part of this year’s Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year (AGNPOTY) competition. 2026-06-19T11:33:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/2026-australian-geographic-nature-photographer-of-the-year-shortlist-unveiled Other Science Australia SA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/walking-and-bending-forward-at-work-may-raise-miscarriage-risk-in-early-pregnancy Bending forwards and, to a lesser extent, walking a lot, at work in early pregnancy may raise the risk of miscarriage, according to Danish scientists. They looked at workplace activity among 475,312 Danish women, with 803,829 pregnancies between them, and found each additional hour of bending forwards, particularly at a 30° angle, was linked with a 36% higher risk of miscarriage, while each additional hour of walking was linked with an 18% higher risk, and each additional hour of standing was linked with a 3% higher risk, although the pattern was only consistent for bending forwards. The normal risk of miscarriage is 15%. Although further studies are needed to confirm the findings, the authors say formal guidelines on standing, walking or bending forward at work within the first four months of pregnancy should be developed. 2026-06-19T08:30:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/walking-and-bending-forward-at-work-may-raise-miscarriage-risk-in-early-pregnancy Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Business / Politics International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/keep-massage-guns-away-from-your-eyes-to-avoid-potentially-blinding-injuries Using a massage gun on or around your eyes risks major tearing and bruising to the retina - the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye - which could potentially lead to vision loss, according to UK doctors. They report the case of a young man who used a percussive massage gun around and on both his eyes for several minutes at a time, every week for three months, to relieve tiredness. He started seeing floaters (small dark specks in the field of vision) and flashing lights, so he visited the doctor. Checking him out, they found multiple retinal tears and bruising in both his eyes, and retinal dialysis - where the retina becomes unstuck, potentially causing permanent blindness - in his right eye. He was successfully treated with laser therapy, with no lasting impact on his sight - probably because treatment was pretty prompt, the authors say. The case underscores the need for these devices to be used carefully, and manufacturers should include warnings about improper use, the authors conclude. 2026-06-19T08:30:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/keep-massage-guns-away-from-your-eyes-to-avoid-potentially-blinding-injuries Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Tech / Engineering / Space Business / Politics International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/sharing-misinformation-about-sunscreen-gets-you-more-engagement-on-tiktok The majority of TikTok content about sunscreen promotes it, but videos that rely on misinformation to discourage its use get more engagement, according to international research. The team looked through sunscreen-related tags to find 971 of the most-viewed videos on the topic, then analysed their content and tracked their engagement. 86.8% of the videos promoted sunscreen use, the researchers say, though most focused on cosmetic benefits rather than reducing skin cancer risk. 6% of the videos contained health-related critique of sunscreen, and the researchers say these videos saw a disproportionately high number of likes, shares and comments. They say this means health misinformation around sunscreen is not necessarily dominating the site, but the tendency of contrarian, shock-generating content to get disproportionate attention means a small number of videos can make a big difference. 2026-06-19T04:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/sharing-misinformation-about-sunscreen-gets-you-more-engagement-on-tiktok Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Tech / Engineering / Space International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/genetics-likely-made-some-of-us-more-vulnerable-to-obesity-as-society-changed Since obesity rates started rising, the link between genetics and body mass index (BMI) has strengthened, so people with genes linked to obesity are now heavier than they would have been before the obesity epidemic, according to UK and Norwegian scientists. To investigate this, the team compared BMIs and the presence or absence of genes linked to obesity in Brits born before or during the rise in obesity rates, in 1946, 1958, 1970 and 2001. Crunching the numbers, they found carrying obesity-linked genes was more strongly linked with having a high BMI in the two more recent groups, and this link was even more pronounced in older people and among those with a higher BMI. The researchers say their findings suggest people with a genetic predisposition to having a higher BMI are more susceptible to societal or environmental changes that encourage obesity, such as the rise of junk food and our increasingly sedentary behaviour. However, they conclude that further work is needed to pin down the specific factors responsible for strengthening the link between genetics and BMI. 2026-06-19T04:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/genetics-likely-made-some-of-us-more-vulnerable-to-obesity-as-society-changed Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Business / Politics International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/this-perfectly-preserved-pterosaur-wing-just-rewrote-the-fossil-rulebook An international study led by Curtin University has revealed new insights into how an ancient flying reptile was preserved in extraordinary detail for 113 million years – offering a rare glimpse into a vanished world. 2026-06-19T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/this-perfectly-preserved-pterosaur-wing-just-rewrote-the-fossil-rulebook Other Science Australia WA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/top-10-percent-of-consumers-cause-trillions-in-environmental-damage The world's top 10% of consumers are responsible for approximately AUD$2.2 - 7.4 trillion (in 2017 dollars) worth of environmental damage each year, say international researchers. Using the most recent available data (from 2017), the team used the Environmental Prices Handbook to work out how much and which kinds of environmental damage had taken place. They say these top spenders were responsible for an annual cost to the environment of between AUD$3,000 and $9,800 per person - which, with inflation, sits at around AUD$4,000 - 13,000. The balance was not equal across the globe, they say, with the top spenders in the US being responsible for between AUD$32,000 and 111,000 per person (in today's money), which equates to between 6-20% of the average income for this group. However, in Egypt, the estimated damages at today's prices were AUD$450 - 1,500 per person, the team add. Worryingly, the researchers say the total estimated damage bill surpasses the combined funding needed to meet the 2035 climate funding target that was agreed upon at COP30 last year. 2026-06-19T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/top-10-percent-of-consumers-cause-trillions-in-environmental-damage Environment / Climate / Energy Society / Lifestyle Business / Politics International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/is-black-er-the-new-black Chinese scientists say they've invented a new 'ultra-black' coating for cars, to meet the rising demand for deep jet black vehicles, particularly in China. The coating is made up of a composite of carbon black pigment and carbon nanotubes, and the team sprayed a model car black to test it. Older black car paints absorb light, but can only ever appear so black, whereas they say their new coating uses 'structural absorption', which can soak up about 99.90% of visible light wavelengths, creating a 'black hole' effect that gives vehicles a pronounced, dark appearance. Further testing is required, but eventually you should be able to buy an ultra-black car covered in this coating, the authors say. 2026-06-19T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/is-black-er-the-new-black Tech / Engineering / Space International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/texas-abortion-ban-hit-womens-mental-health US scientists say Texan women's mental health took a hit following the introduction of an abortion ban in 2021. The team compared the mental health of 4,323 mothers in Texas with the mental health of 152,573 mothers in 29 states that did not ban abortion. They found Texan women were more likely to report their mental health as 'fair' or 'poor' following the ban than those in the states without a ban, and women with kids with public insurance saw the biggest impact on their mental health. The findings highlight the link between abortion bans and worsening women's mental health, and the need to boost support in post-Dobbs America, the authors conclude 2026-06-19T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/texas-abortion-ban-hit-womens-mental-health Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Business / Politics International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/world-first-database-first-step-to-combatting-mnd It has been 12 years since the ice-bucket challenge went viral on social media across the world, but its impact is still front of mind for University of Queensland researchers who have developed a new database to combat Motor Neurone Disease (MND). The researchers collaborated with clinicians and researchers across Australia to establish the world’s most comprehensive unified patient data collection of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which is the most common and aggressive form of MND that usually results in death within 3-5 years. 2026-06-19T00:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/world-first-database-first-step-to-combatting-mnd Health / Medical Australia QLD https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/could-weight-loss-drugs-also-reduce-the-risk-of-violent-crime The use of GLP-1 RAs, the popular weight loss and diabetes medications, could also be linked to reduced risk of committing violent crime, according to international researchers. The team looked at a 2025 US survey involving 821 adults who had used these GLP-1 medications and found that, while impulsivity and alcohol use were strongly linked with committing violent crime, these associations were weaker among current GLP-1 users when compared with former users. The team says that even when a GLP-1 RA user does drink or act impulsively, it appears the situation is less likely to escalate into violent criminality, and more thorough analyses showed this finding was especially consistent when relating to impulsivity, but less so with alcohol use. 2026-06-18T17:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/could-weight-loss-drugs-also-reduce-the-risk-of-violent-crime Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/parents-put-down-your-phones-and-acknowledge-your-teens There is a lot of discussion about how screentime affects teenagers, but less about how their parents’ screen use affects them. A new study surveyed 600 adolescents and found that those who reported competing with caregivers’ phones for attention were more likely to have insecure attachment styles. Insecure attachment makes it harder for people to form healthy relationships and is associated with poorer mental and physical health. Because smartphones are used so much, even comparatively small effects of distraction could have a big impact. The authors say that, while parents don’t need to drop everything every time a child asks for attention, they recommend acknowledging and responding to them in some way. 2026-06-18T14:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/parents-put-down-your-phones-and-acknowledge-your-teens Society / Lifestyle International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/allowing-the-commercialisation-of-cannabis-could-contribute-to-problematic-use Countries that have legalised cannabis and allowed the commercialisation of the drug have seen higher usage and a subsequent increase in cannabis use disorder, according to a review by Australian and international researchers. The team looked at changes to cannabis policy around the world since 2000, and they say while decriminalising the drug did not appear to be linked to any increase in cannabis use or psychiatric disorders, in Canada and the USA where commercial supply is legal, there was been an increase in use, problematic use and an increase in psychosis-related hospital visits for people with cannabis use disorder. In a second review, international and Australian researchers analyse the evidence around how cannabis impacts mental health. They say the evidence shows a consistent link between regular cannabis use and a higher risk of psychosis. Evidence is less clear around anxiety, depression and specific psychotic disorders, they say, as links between the two could simply mean people are self-medicating using the drug or that people with mental health struggles are more likely to use it more often. 2026-06-18T08:30:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/allowing-the-commercialisation-of-cannabis-could-contribute-to-problematic-use Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Australia International NSW QLD https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/gut-feeling-or-good-science-how-accurate-is-chrons-disease-content-on-instagram US researchers have scrolled through Instagram reels tagged with '#crohns' and say that there's still a lot of misinformation out there, and quite a lot of it is coming from medical professionals. The team watched 78 of the most-viewed English-language reels on Crohn's disease and evaluated each one for accuracy using a harm/benefit rating system and a benchmark criteria system established by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) - a system used to evaluate the reliability, accuracy, and transparency of online health information resources. They found 17% of the reels were from medical professionals, which were significantly made up of educational content. The team couldn't find a correlation between how much engagement the reel received and how it rated on either scale, but the medical professionals scored significantly higher on the JAMA scale than non-medical users, but this difference wasn't seen on the harm/benefits scale. The videos that were offering medical advice scored lowest on the harm/benefits scale, say the team, adding that there was misinformation frequently in these reels. Most interestingly, 42% of these videos that were rated as 'harmful' were created by medical professionals. 2026-06-18T04:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/gut-feeling-or-good-science-how-accurate-is-chrons-disease-content-on-instagram Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Tech / Engineering / Space International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/humans-have-faced-disease-epidemics-since-we-were-hunter-gatherers Diseases have likely spread from animals to humans across human history, say scientists who found the earliest known plague victims in 5500-year-old graves. They found ancient plague virus DNA in about half of 40 Siberian hunter-gather skeletons in 4 cemeteries, discovering that small family groups, especially children, were often affected and buried together. The researchers said the hunter-gathers likely caught the plague from marmots, which they hunted, but then probably spread it to each other by coughing. Finding plague victims among these small, mobile communities challenged the idea that epidemics only started once humans settled into large, dense communities, the researchers say. 2026-06-18T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/humans-have-faced-disease-epidemics-since-we-were-hunter-gatherers Society / Lifestyle International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/antarctica-is-giving-us-a-warning-of-sea-level-rise-decades-in-advance-now-is-our-time-to-act Scientists predict that the next three to five decades provide a critical window to anticipate and plan for Antarctic ice loss and its contribution to sea level rise. 2026-06-18T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/antarctica-is-giving-us-a-warning-of-sea-level-rise-decades-in-advance-now-is-our-time-to-act Environment / Climate / Energy Australia International VIC https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/these-medical-ais-for-diagnosis-and-treatment-decisions-are-at-least-as-good-as-doctors In a pair of papers, scientists outline two medical artificial intelligence (AI) models they say are at least as effective as doctors. Firstly, German scientists describe MIRA (Medical Intelligence for Reasoning and Action), an AI with access to patient data in an isolated electronic health record system. The team evaluated MIRA using real-world data from more than 500 emergency department cases. MIRA can choose from over 85,000 options to order diagnostic tests, interpret the results, and make treatment plans, including prescribing medication, scheduling procedures and arranging admissions. Its diagnostic accuracy was 87.8%, compared to 78.1% from a panel of six doctors. In the second study, Google scientists introduce AMIE (Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer), an AI based on the company's Gemini AI, designed for clinical management and conversations. In tests, AMIE performed as well as real doctors in management reasoning, and it beat them in preciseness of treatments and investigations, and in its alignment with clinical guidelines and grounding of management plans in those guidelines. While impressive, both AIs need further work before they could be introduced as part of clinical care, the authors conclude. 2026-06-18T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/these-medical-ais-for-diagnosis-and-treatment-decisions-are-at-least-as-good-as-doctors Health / Medical Tech / Engineering / Space International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/quantum-computer-helios-can-do-things-other-computers-cant US scientists say they've developed a 98-qubit 'trapped-ion' quantum computer that operates at high accuracy and in a way that classical computers cannot reproduce. Although quantum computers larger than 98 qubits exist, no other trapped-ion computer, which are more accurate than other quantum computers, has reached this size before, and scaling up has proved difficult, the authors say. In a trapped-ion processor, charged atoms are suspended in an electromagnetic field to act as qubits and perform logical operations known as gates. Tests showed Helios' accuracy was 99.921% for two-qubit gates, and that Helios outperformed classical computing methods in both computation speed and energy efficiency. Further testing is needed to precisely understand the power and limitations of the Helios system, the authors conclude. 2026-06-18T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/quantum-computer-helios-can-do-things-other-computers-cant Tech / Engineering / Space International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/chemical-exposure-in-pregnancy-widespread-and-linked-to-early-and-low-weight-births US scientists say exposure to 10 classes of widely used chemicals during pregnancy is widespread in the USA, and being exposed to phthalates or alternative plasticisers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is linked with babies being born earlier or at a lower weight for their age at birth. The team investigated 5,318 US mother-child pairs, measuring mum's chemical exposure by testing urine samples for the 10 chemical classes: fungicides and herbicides; insecticides; halogenated phenols; organophosphate esters; benzophenones; bisphenols; parabens; antimicrobials; phthalates or alternative plasticizers; and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). They found that 43 of the 113 chemicals they tested for were present in more than half the samples, and women with several phthalates or alternative plasticisers were more likely to give birth early or to a low-weight baby. Reducing pregnant women's exposure to chemicals, particularly phthalates or alternative plasticizers and PAHs, could increase healthy deliveries and improve outcomes for children, the authors conclude. 2026-06-18T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/chemical-exposure-in-pregnancy-widespread-and-linked-to-early-and-low-weight-births Health / Medical Environment / Climate / Energy Society / Lifestyle Rural / Agricultural International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/mens-suicide-risk-can-persist-for-years-following-relationship-breakdown Men who experienced an intimate partner relationship breakup or separation had significantly higher rates of suicidal thoughts and attempts than men who had not, even years later, according to new research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS). Drawing on data from Ten to Men, the world’s largest longitudinal study on male health, the report explores the experiences of more than 20,000 men aged 18-67. 2026-06-18T00:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/mens-suicide-risk-can-persist-for-years-following-relationship-breakdown Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Australia https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/skipping-a-tv-show-for-a-weights-session-can-help-women-ward-off-heart-disease Regular resistance training may reduce the risk of heart disease or a heart attack in women, according to a long-term study in the US. The researchers collected activity data for over 100,000 women and followed them for an average of 14.5 years, looking at their heart health. The researchers say women who did more than two hours a week of resistance training - lifting weights or other forms of strength training - were 20% less likely to develop major heart disease and 44% less likely to have a heart attack compared to women who did no resistance training. The researchers also looked at how much aerobic exercise the women were doing and how much time they spent sitting watching TV, and they say the heart benefits of resistance training were stronger for women who were also spending less time with the big screen and more time doing additional exercise. 2026-06-18T00:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/skipping-a-tv-show-for-a-weights-session-can-help-women-ward-off-heart-disease Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Sport International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/bowel-cancer-mortality-down-for-older-aussies-after-two-decades-of-screening The bowel cancer mortality rate has nearly halved in Aussies aged 50-74 in the 20 years since the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program was launched, according to a report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The program began in 2006, and the AIHW says those who take part are more likely to have their bowel cancer detected at an earlier stage, improving their chances of survival. From January 2023 to December 2024, the report says 6.4 million Aussies aged 50-74 were invited to take part and 2.7 million participated. Four in five people who were screened participated again when they were re-invited two years later, they say, with multiple screenings more likely to pick up changes over time that need further evaluation. The AIHW says the mortality rate among this age group was 23 deaths per 100,000 last year, compared to 44 per 100,000 in 2006. 2026-06-18T00:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/bowel-cancer-mortality-down-for-older-aussies-after-two-decades-of-screening Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Australia https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/getting-plenty-of-bright-light-during-the-daytime-could-reduce-dementia-risk Enjoy a bright sunny day? Getting plenty of light during the daytime is linked to a lower risk of dementia, according to international researchers. The team measured the daytime and nighttime light exposure of over 87,000 adults, finding that getting an average daytime light dose above 1,000 lux - which is equivalent to an overcast day outdoors - was associated with a 16% reduced risk of dementia. Longer exposure to bright light, equivalent to 5,000 lux, was associated with an even further reduction in dementia risk. The study also found that having less than 0.7 hours per day of bright daytime light was a stronger indicator of dementia development than six established dementia risk factors, and nighttime light exposure did not show an association with dementia risk. 2026-06-17T17:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/getting-plenty-of-bright-light-during-the-daytime-could-reduce-dementia-risk Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/how-your-sleep-habits-team-with-your-genes-to-determine-alzheimers-risk New research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has discovered an important link between our genes and sleep habits, suggesting they work together to influence early brain and cognitive changes associated with Alzheimer’s Disease, long before symptoms appear. 2026-06-17T16:44:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/how-your-sleep-habits-team-with-your-genes-to-determine-alzheimers-risk Health / Medical Australia VIC QLD WA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/murdoch-university-research-could-transform-titanium-production New research from Murdoch University has the potential to transform the way titanium metal is produced. Murdoch’s Extractive Metallurgy Hub has been commissioned by Empire Metals to help develop an advanced process for converting titanium dioxide (TiO₂) into titanium metal using molten salt electrolysis, powered by renewable energy. This process has the potential to be a more efficient, lower-cost, and a lower-emission alternative to current methods. 2026-06-17T16:04:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/murdoch-university-research-could-transform-titanium-production Environment / Climate / Energy Tech / Engineering / Space Business / Politics Australia WA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/wmo-releases-their-state-of-the-climate-in-asia-2025-report The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released the State of the Climate in Asia 2025 report, which found that ocean heat reached a new record during the period, while dangerous heat, rainfall and flooding, and severe drought affected millions of people across Asia. The report shows Asia has warmed faster than the global average, with the mean temperature at around 0.96°C above the 1991-2020 average, and China, Korea, and Japan all recorded their hottest summers on record. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, conversely, experienced devastating flooding from monsoon and tropical cyclone-related rainfall, with over 1,000 deaths from flooding in Pakistan and 200 deaths and US$ 1.9 billion in economic losses from prolonged flooding in Vietnam. 2026-06-17T16:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/wmo-releases-their-state-of-the-climate-in-asia-2025-report Environment / Climate / Energy Rural / Agricultural International