Australian researchers advocate for open source software principles to be applied to clinical trials, aiming to reduce biases and self-interest. They propose that clinical trial data could be re-analyzed and pooled, leading to more efficient and trustworthy evidence for pressing health problems.
Researchers develop a new method of polymer synthesis based on segregation and templating to achieve precise control over polymer structure. This approach enables tailored polymers with specific properties for applications in nanomedicine, nanotechnology, and materials chemistry.
A new study found that only 6% of breast cancer survivors experience persistent and debilitating fatigue a year after treatment, contradicting previous reports. The researchers suggest that factors unrelated to the cancer or its treatment may have contributed to the high rates of reported fatigue.
A new genotype of the Bordetella pertussis bacterium has been identified as responsible for a sharp rise in whooping cough cases in Australia. The strain is believed to be evading the current acellular vaccine's protective effects, leading to an increase in life-threatening respiratory illness.
The discovery of fossils from two caves in south-west China reveals a previously unknown Stone Age people with unusual anatomical features. Dated to 14,500-11,500 years old, these individuals may represent a previously unknown species or early migration of modern humans out of Africa.
Coral reefs face a global warming threat, but some species may be able to adapt. A study found that corals in Singapore and Malaysia survived severe bleaching despite high sea temperatures, suggesting they have adapted to thermal stress.
A proposed new time-keeping system based on a neutron's orbit around an atomic nucleus could achieve unprecedented accuracy. This approach would allow scientists to test fundamental physical theories at higher precision and explore diverse applications.
A major Australian study of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has found up to half of depressed participants experienced substantial improvements after receiving the treatment. The largest randomized controlled trial to date confirms previous reports of significant antidepressant effects, with results showing improved atte...
Researchers at University of New South Wales create perfect single-atom transistor for unparalleled computational efficiency, marking significant step towards quantum computer development. The device's precise accuracy and electronic characteristics match theoretical predictions, paving the way for future technological innovations.
A study from the University of New South Wales found that exercise alone can almost completely reverse the adverse metabolic effects passed on to offspring by their overweight mothers. The reversal was most pronounced in juveniles who exercised and consumed a low-fat diet.
Researchers have observed a new class of electron interactions that play a major role in the orbital nature of electrons in nanostructures. By tuning a specific effect, they eliminated spin-spin interactions while preserving orbital-orbital interactions. This discovery opens doors to new quantum electronic schemes.
A new landmark study confirms that diverse ecosystems perform more ecological functions and are vital for carbon sequestration and soil health. Dryland ecosystems covering 40% of the Earth's land surface support 40% of its people, making them particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.
Researchers successfully created the narrowest conducting wires in silicon with a diameter of just one atom, exhibiting excellent electrical properties and beating out copper. This breakthrough could pave the way for atomic-scale components in future quantum computers.
A recent study found that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels plummeted by 40% before and during the formation of Antarctica's ice sheet 34 million years ago. This confirms the power of CO2 to dramatically alter global climate, with significant falls in the greenhouse gas resulting in global cooling.
A health supplement commonly used by bodybuilders, L-tyrosine, has shown rapid and dramatic improvement in muscle wasting disease Nemaline Myopathy (NM) in laboratory tests on mice. Trials suggest it could also be effective for a range of other muscle-wasting diseases, offering new hope for treating children affected by the condition.
A new study of over 26,000 stroke patients found that those with Atrial Fibrillation have a mortality rate almost twice that of other stroke patients. The study highlights the need for better use of existing anticoagulant medication to prevent fatal and disabling strokes.
A new study found that humor therapy reduces agitation in dementia patients by 20%, comparable to widely used antipsychotic drugs. This approach also improves happiness and positive behaviors, but effects are short-lived once the program ends.
A large international study confirms that 11 genetic regions contribute to both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, with many variations affecting both conditions. The research found strong associations between specific genes and the development of these severe brain disorders.
Researchers have identified two weak points in the hepatitis C virus that could be targeted by a new vaccine. The discovery uses next-generation deep sequencing and computer analytics to track changes in the virus after infection, revealing opportunities for effective vaccine development.
The Pacific leaping blenny, a marine fish living on land, has a complex social life that thrives during the brief mid-tide period. The study found males use visual displays to warn off rivals and attract mates, while females defend feeding territories.
Tiny alterations in genes can act as magnets for biochemical tags, switching off anti-cancer genes and increasing cancer susceptibility. The study found subtle changes near the start of genes attract methylation, causing cancer development in families without spelling mistakes.
A new study found that marine microbes form communities based on shared genes, rather than species identity, leading to high diversity within each community despite similarities in core functions.
New research shows that Australian women who experience gender-based violence have a higher lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders, dysfunction, and disability. Around 15% of women report sexual assault, with those experiencing multiple types of violence facing even higher rates of mental illness.
A national study in Australia found that most people would radically change their behavior if they knew they had a genetic susceptibility to depression. The survey suggests there would be widespread community support for genetic screening as a valuable tool for early intervention in high-risk groups.
Research reveals a significant decline of up to 29% in bicycle-related head injuries immediately after NSW mandated helmet use. The study supports the maintenance of mandatory helmet laws, but cautions against seeing helmets as a panacea for bike safety.
Researchers have used a super-resolution fluorescence microscope to image T-cell molecules and identify the exact molecular switch that spurs T-cells into action. This breakthrough could lead to treatments for auto-immune diseases and cancer, overturning prevailing understanding of T-cell activation.
The National Centre for HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research has launched its new identity as the Kirby Institute, with a focus on broader work beyond HIV. The institute has received a $10m donation from The Atlantic Philanthropies to support new facilities and research.
A new study found that young women with breast cancer have limited knowledge about fertility issues, causing confusion and conflict when planning for a family. The researchers suggest providing targeted fertility information may reduce uncertainty and increase informed decision-making.
A team of researchers has discovered a new enzyme, squalene mono-oxygenase (SM), that plays a key role in cholesterol production. Inhibiting SM may lead to more effective treatments with fewer side effects than current medications.
A new meta-analysis of over 20,000 patients shows that cannabis use is associated with an earlier onset of psychotic illness by up to 2.7 years, with possible life-long consequences for brain development and mental health outcomes.
Researchers found that adolescent great whites struggle with capturing and killing large marine mammals due to their weak jaws. However, they can maintain high bite forces using a unique jaw muscle arrangement, a trait common among successful predators.
A 20 million-year-old fossil discovery in Australia's rainforests sheds light on the origins of marsupial moles. The find suggests that these animals evolved from a common ancestor with placental mammals, such as rats and humans, through a unique evolutionary pathway.
A new study reveals that social and genetic effects are both crucial for female dolphins' reproductive success. Female dolphins who have help from their friends and relatives tend to be more successful mothers than those without such support.
Researchers found a significant link between paternal weight, diet, and an increased risk of diabetes in offspring through epigenetic changes. The study, published in Nature, showed that high-fat diets in fathers can 'program' metabolic disease in their children.
Researchers have found that cancer cells are accompanied by growth-enabling stromal cells when they travel to new sites in the body. This discovery challenges current understanding of metastasis and has implications for effective treatments.
A team from UNSW has created a single electron reader, a crucial component needed to build a quantum computer using silicon. This breakthrough opens the path to constructing simpler and more scalable quantum computers.
Researchers found that short-snouted dog breeds have rotating brains up to 15 degrees, while the olfactory lobe has relocated, affecting smell perception. The study highlights unique plasticity in the canine genome due to human intervention through breeding.
Researchers have unearthed hundreds of fossils of the extinct Nimbadon lavarackorum at a 15-million-year-old cave site in Queensland. The discovery provides a rare glimpse into the life cycle of this ancient marsupial, from baby to elderly adult, and sheds light on the evolution of Australia's unique flora and fauna.
A new study found that early modern humans didn't need tools or cooking to process hard foods; instead, they may have lost ability to eat tough items like tubers or leaves. Modern humans have efficient bites using less-powerful jaw muscles, contrary to previous suggestions about a weaker bite in favor of a larger brain.
A diet rich in aquatic foods may have driven brain development in early humans. The discovery provides evidence that consistent amounts of fish were part of the human diet, around two million years ago.
The discovery of Australopithecus sediba, a 1.9 million-year-old human ancestor, has shed new light on human evolution. The fossilized remains, found in South Africa, exhibit features of both earlier bipedal apes and more recent Homo species.
Skull fragments of prehistoric koalas from the Riversleigh rainforests suggest they had a 'lazy' lifestyle and produced loud calls like modern koalas. However, they did not share the specialized eucalyptus leaf diet.
A comprehensive study of over 260 sub-fossil specimens reveals that moas should be grouped into three families and six genera, reducing the number of species to nine. The study also presents a new geological model suggesting that land-dwelling animals on the North and South Island were isolated for most of the past 20-30 million years.
Scientists have cracked the code of insect flight, revealing complex wing designs that defy conventional aerodynamics. By studying locusts and developing a computer model, researchers gained insights into wing deformation and its impact on flight efficiency.
Researchers discovered genetic differences between two ocean bacteria, one thriving in nutrient-rich waters and the other in poor-nutrient waters, reflecting their distinct lifestyles.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales found high-risk HPV strains in 39% of ductal carcinoma in situ and 21% of invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer specimens. The study suggests a causal role for HPV in many breast cancers, establishing the possibility of preventing some breast cancers by vaccination against HPV.
Researchers pinpointed Ridge A as the ideal location due to its extreme cold and dryness, averaging -70°C in winter, and minimal atmospheric turbulence, making it suitable for high-quality astronomical images.
Researchers have discovered that pimozide and olazapine, anti-psychotic drugs, can kill cancer cells in laboratory experiments. These findings suggest that these medications may be effective in treating certain types of cancer, such as lung and brain cancer.
A new study found that antibiotic-resistant TB strains cause longer-lasting infections but with lower transmission rates. The research team estimated the rate of evolution of drug resistance and compared the relative reproductive fitness of resistant and drug-sensitive strains.
A study reveals that the lesser short-tailed bat's walking ability evolved in an ancient Australian lineage, contradicting previous assumptions. The bat's unique adaptations, such as adhesive grooves and extra talons, have advantages only in specific circumstances, not due to competition from other mammals.