https://www.scimex.org/rss Latest publicly released Scimex stories https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/what-were-getting-wrong-about-breastfeeding Common beliefs surrounding early breastfeeding are not supported by evidence and may be hindering new mums rather than helping them, according to an international review of research on the topic. The researchers examined 78 previous studies addressing three breastfeeding practices/beliefs relating to the first 48-72 hours after birth: whether early milk production is sufficient for a newborn's needs, whether dummies/pacifiers can be used and whether electric breast pumps should be introduced early. The researchers say the evidence from these studies contradicts common beliefs across the three topics. The nutrient-rich colostrum a mother produces after birth is generally sufficient for the baby's needs, and early formula introduction to supplement low supply is often unnecessary, the researchers say. They say there is no evidence that early use of dummies interferes with breastfeeding, and electric breast pumps are not likely to help stimulate milk supply and may even worsen breastfeeding outcomes. The researchers say improving knowledge of evidence-based breastfeeding practices is important for increasing the practice around the world. 2026-08-01T14:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/what-were-getting-wrong-about-breastfeeding Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/the-world-meteorological-organization-says-prepare-for-a-strong-el-nino A strong El Niño is developing, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with above-normal temperatures expected worldwide. The WMO's monthly Global Seasonal Climate Update indicates that El Niño will continue to intensify during August-October 2026, with Australia expected to experience drier-than-normal conditions, as well as above-average temperatures across most land areas globally. 2026-08-01T02:15:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/the-world-meteorological-organization-says-prepare-for-a-strong-el-nino Environment / Climate / Energy Australia International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/designing-an-electric-tent-that-can-power-itself International researchers are developing a tent that can supply electricity it harnesses from the environment around it, in a project they hope could one day provide a more liveable environment for people without homes. The tent uses a phenomenon called magnetoelasticity to convert movement in the tent material caused by outside influences - including human movement, wind and rain - into energy. The researchers say this process can harness enough energy to power small electronic devices, which could allow people living off-grid or in tents as a form of temporary shelter to have a higher quality of life without relying on external power sources. 2026-08-01T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/designing-an-electric-tent-that-can-power-itself Society / Lifestyle Tech / Engineering / Space International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/waste-not-want-not-farming-insects-for-human-food They’re wriggly black grubs more commonly tossed to backyard hens than served at the dinner table, but black soldier fly larvae could soon play a key role in building a more sustainable food system, according to new research from Adelaide University. 2026-07-31T11:04:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/waste-not-want-not-farming-insects-for-human-food Health / Medical Rural / Agricultural Other Science Australia QLD SA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/combination-of-extreme-heat-and-bushfire-smoke-linked-to-heart-disease-deaths-especially-in-australia International scientists say being exposed to extreme heat and bushfire smoke at the same time may increase your risk of dying from heart disease, especially heart failure, more than being exposed to either alone. Looking at the link in six countries - Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, and Thailand - they found it was strongest in Australia, where they also found a link between the combined exposure and an increased risk of stroke. These findings suggest that by treating heatwaves and bushfire smoke separately, we may be underestimating the risk of death from heart disease, the authors conclude. 2026-07-31T11:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/combination-of-extreme-heat-and-bushfire-smoke-linked-to-heart-disease-deaths-especially-in-australia Health / Medical Environment / Climate / Energy Society / Lifestyle Rural / Agricultural Australia VIC https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/people-with-frailty-explain-what-they-really-want-from-digital-health-tools Digital tools can help older adults with pre-frailty and frailty obtain nutrition education that will help their conditions – but Flinders University researchers say these tools need to be co-designed by the people who use them. 2026-07-31T10:52:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/people-with-frailty-explain-what-they-really-want-from-digital-health-tools Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Australia SA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/jcu-study-exposes-hidden-toll-of-litigation A James Cook University study is challenging the belief that the greatest cost of going to court is losing a case, arguing the legal process itself can leave lasting psychological scars. The research, led by JCU PhD student Rebecca Ward and Macquarie University Emeritus Professor John S. Croucher AM, suggests Australia's civil litigation system can reward behaviours associated with the "Dark Tetrad" personality traits – narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy and sadism. 2026-07-31T09:13:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/jcu-study-exposes-hidden-toll-of-litigation Society / Lifestyle Australia QLD https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/mutations-attracted-to-the-x-chromosome-amplify-risk-of-haemophilia-and-muscular-dystrophy In a significant finding published in the world-leading journal Science researchers in Queensland and the United States have discovered that the human X chromosome attracts an unusual kind of DNA mutation, potentially doubling the associated risk of certain genetic disorders, including haemophilia and muscular dystrophy. 2026-07-31T04:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/mutations-attracted-to-the-x-chromosome-amplify-risk-of-haemophilia-and-muscular-dystrophy Health / Medical Australia QLD https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/likelihood-of-wildfires-in-southern-europe-doubled-since-the-80s Despite there being fewer fires in the region, Southern Europe - including the Iberian Peninsula, France, Italy and Greece - has been experiencing more than twice as many summer days with conditions perfect for wildfires to ignite since 1981, say international researchers. The team looked at national wildfire records from across Southern Europe, and compared them to weather and climate data from 1981 to 2025. They say parts of France and Spain had up to 50% more fire-promoting weather - hot, dry, and windy conditions - between 2016 and 2025, compared with 1981 to 2010. Additionally, the days that had highly fire-promoting conditions also rose, from under ten days each summer in 1981-2010 to around 25 days over the past decade, they say. Interestingly, the team also found the annual number of fires over the last decade was around 40% lower than the 1981-2010 period; however, this might be due to improvements in management around wildfires. 2026-07-31T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/likelihood-of-wildfires-in-southern-europe-doubled-since-the-80s Environment / Climate / Energy International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/mining-a-threat-to-over-12-000-species-globally Australian and UK scientists have worked out that mining is a threat to over 12,000 species across the globe, which includes close to 6,000 that are already listed as 'threatened'. The researchers overlaid the space where mining occurs across the globe and noted that 28% of the ranges of threatened species overlap with areas that are being mined. Further to this, the team say over 100 species have at least 75% of their range overlapping these areas, despite mining not being recognised as a threat by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The team also found that future planned mining sites could expose over 3,000 threatened species to the risks involved around mining sites, 83% of which do not have a mining-related threat designation from the IUCN. 2026-07-31T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/mining-a-threat-to-over-12-000-species-globally Environment / Climate / Energy Tech / Engineering / Space Rural / Agricultural Business / Politics Australia International NSW VIC WA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/addressing-the-shockingly-low-use-of-defibrillators-in-nz Defibrillators should be as common as smoke alarms and CPR should be taught in schools, says the Deputy Chief Executive of Hato Hone St John in a viewpoint article. Only about 1 in 10 people survive a heart attack outside of hospital in NZ, he says. Even though bystanders usually step in to do CPR, only 6-7% of patients get shocked with a defibrillator in time. As most heart attacks happen at home, having defibrillators in every home and community centre would help more people survive. Equitable access is important, he argues, as women are less than half as likely to receive defibrillation and have poorer survival, along with Māori, Pacific peoples, and people in more rural or deprived areas. 2026-07-31T00:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/addressing-the-shockingly-low-use-of-defibrillators-in-nz Health / Medical New Zealand https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/the-invisibility-of-intellectual-disabilities-in-nzs-mental-health-roadmap People with intellectual disabilities are not being recognised in the NZ Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission's roadmap, mental health professionals argue. The map described how mental health, addiction and wellbeing services should improve, but the authors say mental health problems can be overlooked or mistaken for their disabilities, even though people with intellectual disabilities are more likely to experience mental illness. This leaves responsibility for the care of these people spread across a fragmented system. The researchers say that a population that is not named is less likely to be measured and prioritised in the mental health system. 2026-07-31T00:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/the-invisibility-of-intellectual-disabilities-in-nzs-mental-health-roadmap Health / Medical New Zealand https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/ethical-frameworks-must-evolve-alongside-advancements-in-legged-robots Legged robots have recently transitioned from science fiction to engineering fact, with modern humanoid and quadrupedal machines now capable of delivering parcels to front doors and taking on dangerous military missions. With a massive surge in financial investment in the offing, a new study describes the technical advances that have made legged robots a reality and explores the critical ethical considerations, economic potential, and policy implications of the "intelligent machines" that are increasingly walking among us. 2026-07-30T14:53:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/ethical-frameworks-must-evolve-alongside-advancements-in-legged-robots Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Tech / Engineering / Space Australia VIC https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/the-lightbulb-moment-behind-a-potential-antiviral-breakthrough An unexpected observation by a University of Queensland researcher could lead to a new treatment for deadly infectious diseases including COVID‑19, pneumonia in infants and children, or viral infections caused by Ebola and hantavirus. UQ neuroscientist and biochemist Dr Merja Joensuu, said the idea came while working on unrelated research. 2026-07-30T13:17:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/the-lightbulb-moment-behind-a-potential-antiviral-breakthrough Health / Medical Australia QLD https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/new-research-aims-to-help-more-chronic-myeloid-leukaemia-patients-live-free-from-lifelong-treatment SAHMRI’s Professor Tim Hughes is leading a major new research program to shape the future of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) therapy, aiming to take patients beyond lifelong treatment, into sustained treatment‑free remission. 2026-07-30T13:02:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/new-research-aims-to-help-more-chronic-myeloid-leukaemia-patients-live-free-from-lifelong-treatment Health / Medical Australia International SA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/muscle-radar-unlocks-potential-for-future-robotic-limbs New non-invasive sensors that measure muscle forces have been developed by University of Queensland researchers, unlocking new possibilities for wearable robotic mobility devices. Ultra-wideband radar sensors measure the electromagnetic changes in muscles as they contract, allowing researchers to collect data in a way that’s never been done before. 2026-07-30T13:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/muscle-radar-unlocks-potential-for-future-robotic-limbs Health / Medical Tech / Engineering / Space Australia QLD https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/meet-wombatlite-the-model-helping-researchers-follow-the-oceans-carbon A new ocean carbon cycle model, built to help researchers understand how carbon moves through the ocean, features on two new configurations of the ACCESS ocean models, ACCESS-OM2 and ACCESS-OM3. As the ocean absorbs roughly a quarter of humanity's carbon dioxide emissions each year, understanding the biological and chemical processes that move carbon through the water is essential for predicting our climate's future. 2026-07-30T12:38:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/meet-wombatlite-the-model-helping-researchers-follow-the-oceans-carbon Environment / Climate / Energy Australia https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/poo-testing-finds-gut-bacteria-changes-in-kiwi-kids-with-coeliac-disease NZ researchers tested the poo of 21 children in Canterbury, finding that those with coeliac disease mostly had the same gut bacteria as other kids, except for a few consistent changes. 9 of the children with coeliac disease were tested again after 6 months on a gluten-free diet. The bacteria in their guts only partly recovered back to what was seen in the non-coeliac kids. However, being on the gluten-free diet actually made additional changes to their gut bacteria that could potentially promote inflammation. The researchers say that in the future, doctors may be able to use poo testing to help them treat gut bacteria problems in kids with coeliac disease. 2026-07-30T12:25:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/poo-testing-finds-gut-bacteria-changes-in-kiwi-kids-with-coeliac-disease Health / Medical New Zealand https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/stardust-from-before-our-solar-system-found-in-meteorite2 Inside an ancient meteorite, NZ and American researchers have found stardust (mineral particles made by stars) that formed long before the birth of our Sun. They say that this challenges the assumption that everything was vaporised by the extreme heat when our Sun was born. Instead, they suggest that the stardust acted as an anchor for the first minerals of our Solar System to solidify around. As everything in the Solar System is made from those first building blocks, the authors say that our planets and moons likely contain intact stardust made by ancient, long-dead stars. 2026-07-30T11:23:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/stardust-from-before-our-solar-system-found-in-meteorite2 Tech / Engineering / Space New Zealand International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/demystifying-the-brains-defence-against-dementia New South Australian research will seek to uncover how the brain’s defence systems identify and remove damaged proteins, paving the way for new approaches to preventing and treating dementia. 2026-07-30T09:46:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/demystifying-the-brains-defence-against-dementia Health / Medical Australia SA https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/tread-softly-a-new-light-touch-way-to-detect-kauri-dieback The microbe that causes kauri dieback disease can be detected with much less digging, NZ researchers say. Current methods require taking 1 kg of soil from 20 centimetres down, which risks disturbing the kauri’s delicate roots. In new research, scientists used a DNA test to detect the microbe in 10-15 grams of soil taken from the top 10 centimetres around diseased kauri trees. The method could also detect early warning signs, as they found lower levels of the microbe around healthy trees and potentially diseased trees. This ‘light touch’ method could be an easier, less damaging way to find infected trees early and to protect healthy trees, the researchers said. 2026-07-30T08:43:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/tread-softly-a-new-light-touch-way-to-detect-kauri-dieback Environment / Climate / Energy New Zealand https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/suffer-from-eczema-antihistamines-might-not-help-as-much-as-we-thought If you suffer from eczema, antihistamines might not help that much, according to international researchers, who have found they might actually do more harm than good. The team reviewed the evidence around antihistamine use. Their analysis included 47 trials involving over 6,000 children and adults with moderate to severe eczema, and included data from Australia. The results broadly indicated that compared with placebo, H1 antihistamines (such as those found in Zyrtec and Claritin) likely result in a small but clinically unimportant reduction in eczema severity and itchiness, and may not reduce sleep disturbances or flare-ups. They found first generation antihistamines with sedatives also probably affect people mentally by making them drowsy, which may increase the risk of stopping treatment due to the side effects. 2026-07-30T08:30:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/suffer-from-eczema-antihistamines-might-not-help-as-much-as-we-thought Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Australia International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/a-weekly-hiv-drug-could-offer-more-options-for-patients A weekly HIV drug could help patients stick to their treatment regimen, according to international researchers. The team ran a randomised controlled trial with 607 HIV patients across 12 countries, and the once-weekly oral drug was not found to be worse than the once-daily tablet at maintaining suppression of the HIV viral load. The team says the new drug could offer more options for people with HIV, particularly as daily medications sometimes can be easier to forget. 2026-07-30T04:35:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/a-weekly-hiv-drug-could-offer-more-options-for-patients Health / Medical International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/live-longer-or-better-healthcare-preferences-vary-by-sex-and-age-study-finds Women are more likely than men to prioritise quality of life over length, but are less likely to leave treatment decisions to doctors, finds an English survey of 6000 people over 50. Women were also less likely to want to take risks in healthcare, or to try experimental treatments. Being over 75 years old or having lower education levels were also linked with wanting to avoid risks. However, these same groups were more likely to leave decisions to doctors, compared to those under 65 years old or more educated, respectively. While these findings could be useful to healthcare professionals, the researchers say its always important to ask about individual preferences. 2026-07-30T04:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/live-longer-or-better-healthcare-preferences-vary-by-sex-and-age-study-finds Health / Medical International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/cant-stop-scrolling-excessive-internet-use-linked-to-worse-moods People who spend an excessive amount of time online tend be more stressed, have worse moods and to neglect other parts of life, a new study finds. Every evening for two weeks, researchers sent 900 German adults a survey about their internet use that day. Temptation was the biggest thing pushing those with problematic use to go online, and the resulting pleasure and relief reinforced continued use. However, the researchers pointed out that although excessive internet users had worse moods, spending time online did not improve how they felt. They said that interventions should focus on controlling temptations to reduce problematic internet use. 2026-07-30T04:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/cant-stop-scrolling-excessive-internet-use-linked-to-worse-moods Society / Lifestyle International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/pet-ownership-may-not-guarantee-health-and-wellness Simply owning a pet does not guarantee better health or wellbeing, according to Swiss researchers. The team analysed survey data from 2,328 Swiss adults, which explored whether factors such as pet ownership, regular animal contact, and attachment to an animal were statistically linked to aspects of wellbeing such as physical health, social support, and loneliness. The team found no overarching link between health and pet ownership or regular animal contact. In fact, the results indicated pet owners tended to report being less healthy, and smoking cigarettes more often than non-owners, and those who felt more supported by an animal reported lower psychological wellbeing and loneliness. However, the team did find that women, participants who spent more time with an animal, and those interacting with dogs tended to feel more attached to the animal and more emotionally supported by it. 2026-07-30T04:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/pet-ownership-may-not-guarantee-health-and-wellness Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Other Science International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/rewilded-elephants-develop-coping-strategies-when-returning-to-their-natural-habitat-from-human-care Captive elephants that are returned to the wild develop successful coping strategies to deal with their rewilding, according to international research, which notes that the coping strategies varied across individuals and may reflect their personalities. The team followed eleven formerly captive elephants that had been released onto reserves in South Africa, monitoring them for three weeks at a time once per year for five years. They looked for behavioural indicators that the elephants might be uncomfortable in their wild surroundings, such as increased wariness, and for behaviours that might be hold-overs from their time in captivity, such as conflict and confrontation, as well as increased self-directed touching. They also monitored metabolic stress using collected poo samples. They found that the elephants behaved similarly to their wild friends, but had adopted unique mechanisms to deal with their new surroundings. They also showed higher stress levels, but not outside the normal range for wild elephants. 2026-07-30T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/rewilded-elephants-develop-coping-strategies-when-returning-to-their-natural-habitat-from-human-care Environment / Climate / Energy Other Science International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/could-laser-beams-charge-up-drones-mid-flight Wireless charging for drones could be achieved using lasers, show a group of Chinese researchers. Currently, drones run on batteries and have to land to be re-charged. The researchers designed a piece of tech like a solar cell and put it onto the wings of a drone. When they shone a laser beam onto it, the tech converted the laser's energy into electricity, making the propeller spin. The researchers used heat-blocking tech and airflow to keep the device cool, overcoming heat build-up from the laser’s energy. They will have to address many more challenges before the wirelessly charged drone can take flight, the researchers say, but this is the first step towards “refuelling aircraft with light”. 2026-07-30T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/could-laser-beams-charge-up-drones-mid-flight Tech / Engineering / Space International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/the-oceans-near-australia-may-be-the-best-places-to-fertilise-to-remove-carbon-dioxide The Southern Ocean and parts of the Pacific near the equator may be the best places to fertilise if we want to remove the most carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while minimising the impact on the environment, according to international research. Fertilising the ocean involves adding iron to stimulate phytoplankton to grow, which in turn removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The team compared the likely amount of carbon dioxide that could be removed by fertilising different parts of the oceans around the world, and also looked at the environmental impact the fertilisation would have. The team found that the Southern Ocean offers the best balance between ecological disturbance and carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere. 2026-07-30T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/the-oceans-near-australia-may-be-the-best-places-to-fertilise-to-remove-carbon-dioxide Environment / Climate / Energy Australia International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/as-vapes-evolve-teens-could-be-exposed-to-higher-and-higher-nicotine-concentrations Teens who vaped nicotine saw an abrupt spike in cotinine concentration – a broken-down form of nicotine – in their urine, according to international researchers who tested teens undergoing substance use disorder treatment in the US between 2023 and 2025. The team says their findings suggest these patients were exposed to newer products with higher nicotine concentrations, or additives that either make nicotine more available for the body to use, or could make teens use them more or inhale the vapes deeper. The team says e-cigarette products have evolved rapidly from low-concentration e-liquids to pod-based systems with higher concentrations of nicotine, larger-capacity tanks, cooling flavours that reduce harshness and more. The team says that while this study only looked at one group of teens in the US, their findings indicate nicotine exposure is increasing, and further regulation is needed. 2026-07-30T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/as-vapes-evolve-teens-could-be-exposed-to-higher-and-higher-nicotine-concentrations Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/aerial-imaging-in-the-amazon-reveals-the-giant-footprint-of-an-ancient-civilisation Aerial imaging surveys of the southwestern Amazon have revealed 432 earthwork patterns in the ground, which researchers say may be the footprint of an ancient civilisation. The earthworks were found in an area previously inhabited by the ancient Auiry civilisation, and the team extrapolated their findings with existing satellite evidence to suggest that the region may have as many as 30,000 earthworks that could have supported between 1.25 and 3 million people between AD 100 and AD 300. They say that this small area could have more earthworks than previously predicted for the entire Amazon basin. 2026-07-30T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/aerial-imaging-in-the-amazon-reveals-the-giant-footprint-of-an-ancient-civilisation Environment / Climate / Energy Tech / Engineering / Space Other Science International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/could-childhood-infections-be-linked-to-eczema International researchers have found a link between the number of infections in early childhood and the risk of developing atopic dermatitis (eczema) before age 10. They looked at data from 663 children in a Danish study, which included daily diary-registered infection episodes of colds, ear infections, tonsillitis, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, and fever until age three. They found respiratory infections were linked to atopic dermatitis in a dose-dependent manner, meaning more infections were linked to a higher likelihood of atopic dermatitis. The team says their findings suggest early exposure to nasty bugs could affect the immune system balance in a way that could assist the development of atopic dermatitis, but more research needs to be done to confirm this, as other similar studies have returned inconsistent findings, such as one that suggests hygiene might play a role. 2026-07-30T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/could-childhood-infections-be-linked-to-eczema Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle International https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/aging-and-growing-global-populations-driving-increased-disease-burden-due-to-cholesterol High cholesterol was linked to 3.6 million deaths globally in 2023, according to a large international study including Aussie researchers, which sought to identify the global disease burden of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol - also known as the 'bad' cholesterol - using data from 806 studies and 38 randomised clinical trials spanning 204 countries. The research found that population growth and aging populations drove an increase in the burden of disease by 38.5% from 1990 to 2023 despite age-standardised death rates decreasing by 45.6% over the same period. One-third of the global cholesterol burden occurred in India and China, while Australia ranks among the countries with the highest age-standardised average cholesterol alongside Russia, Norway, and Austria. 2026-07-30T01:00:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/aging-and-growing-global-populations-driving-increased-disease-burden-due-to-cholesterol Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Other Science Australia International NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS NT ACT https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/aussies-with-disability-are-30-percent-to-40-percent-less-likely-to-be-employed-and-its-not-getting-better Australians with a disability are 30% to 40% less likely to be employed, and the inequality has not improved over the last two decades, according to new research. The study found that from 2003 to 2023, people with disabilities experienced persistent and substantial inequalities in employment outcomes and were 1.4 to 2.7 times more likely to be unemployed. The greatest relative inequalities were experienced by older people with disability, people with intellectual or learning disability, brain injury or stroke and psychological disability. 2026-07-30T00:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/aussies-with-disability-are-30-percent-to-40-percent-less-likely-to-be-employed-and-its-not-getting-better Health / Medical Society / Lifestyle Business / Politics Australia VIC https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/a-cell-therapy-could-slow-muscle-decline-in-young-people-with-duchenne-muscular-dystrophy A cell therapy called deramiocel could slow muscle weakening in boys and young men with advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and may also slow heart damage in those who already have heart muscle disease, according to a phase 3 clinical trial. The trial is the first at phase 3 to use donor cells administered through the bloodstream to treat a genetic disease. The team used cells from hearts that were donated for transplant but could not be used, and involved 106 boys and young men between the ages of 10 and 22 with advanced DMD who were either given the cell therapy or a placebo. After one year, the patients given deramiocel were losing the use of their arms more slowly than those given the placebo, with overall arm movement declining 54% more slowly and elbow movement declining 65% more slowly in the treatment group. The authors say that deramiocel has the potential to help people with any type of DMD mutation, because it targets the swelling and scarring the disease causes in the muscles rather than the gene mutation itself. 2026-07-30T00:01:00+10:00 https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/a-cell-therapy-could-slow-muscle-decline-in-young-people-with-duchenne-muscular-dystrophy Health / Medical International