A major clinical trial found that two new simplified HIV treatment options are at least as effective as current approaches in achieving viral suppression. These new regimens offer potential benefits in terms of cost, tolerability, and simplification, making them suitable for low- and middle-income countries.
Researchers have demonstrated a new type of quantum bit, called 'flip-flop' qubit, which combines the properties of single atoms with easy controllability using electric signals. The qubit is made up of two spins belonging to the same atom and can be programmed by displacing an electron with respect to the nucleus.
Researchers at UNSW Sydney have successfully induced a gastrulation-like event in human pluripotent stem cells, mimicking the early stages of embryonic development. This breakthrough could lead to new approaches for studying human development and creating personalized body tissue or organs using hydrogel materials.
A team of quantum engineers at UNSW Sydney has developed a method to reset a quantum computer using a fast digital voltmeter to watch the temperature of an electron, reducing preparation errors from 20% to 1%. This innovation represents a modern twist on Maxwell's demon, a thought experiment that dates back to 1867.
Researchers have detected intra-group light, a faint glow between distant galaxies, and studied its properties. The stars in this light are younger and less metal-rich than surrounding galaxies, suggesting they were stripped from their home galaxies by massive satellite galaxies.
A team of scientists has estimated the weight of a prehistoric salamander using five living animal analogues and 19 body mass estimation techniques. The study found that the large-bodied Eryops was around 160 kilograms, while the Paracyclotosaurus was roughly 260 kilograms.
A new study found that large river dams are significant barriers to platypus movements, leading to increased genetic differentiation and vulnerability to threats. This restriction of movement limits gene flow between groups, making separate populations more susceptible to inbreeding depression and loss of adaptive genetic variation.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have developed optrodes that can measure neural activity using light, potentially revolutionizing medical technologies like nerve-operated prosthetics. The new approach addresses long-standing issues with impedance mismatch and crosstalk, paving the way for more complex neural networks.
A comprehensive classification of world's ecosystems across land, rivers, and wetlands enables effective biodiversity conservation and informed policy decisions. The typology helps policymakers and industry plan initiatives in full context, informing decisions on ecosystem protection and restoration efforts.
A global study found that early-stage mucinous ovarian cancer patients with an infiltrative pattern of invasion have poorer survival chances. This discovery could lead to more targeted treatment strategies for these patients. Researchers hope to develop targeted drugs and align treatment guidelines worldwide.
Researchers found that machine learning models outperformed traditional risk prediction models in predicting suicide-related outcomes. These models can identify patterns associated with suicide risk and have been shown to correctly predict 66% of people who would experience a suicide outcome.
A team of researchers at UNSW Sydney has broken new ground by proving that 'spin qubits' can hold information for up to two milliseconds, a significant improvement over previous benchmarks. By extending the coherence time, they enable more efficient quantum operations and better maintain information during calculations.
Researchers at UNSW Sydney discovered that T cells use mechanical forces to propel lytic granules towards cancer cell membranes. The study found that the shape of the target membrane plays a crucial role in T cell-mediated cancer cell killing, with a bias towards outwardly curved membranes.
Researchers at UNSW Sydney have made significant discoveries about embryonic blood stem cell creation that could one day eliminate the need for blood stem cell donors. Two studies have emerged from UNSW researchers in this area that shine new light on how precursors to blood stem cells occur in animals and humans, and how they may be i...
The Southern Ocean dominates ocean heat uptake due to its unique wind-driven circulation. Rising temperatures could lead to devastating impacts on the food web and ice shelves around Antarctica, with urgent calls for reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Research suggests that super recognizers divide new faces into parts, storing them in the brain as composite images. This allows them to recognize faces better than others even when only seeing smaller regions at a time.
Researchers developed a single-molecule technique to investigate how bacterial proteins form pores in mammalian cells. They tracked the assembly of perfringolysin O protein and found that it forms pores even before complete ring formation is completed.
Researchers at UNSW Sydney have found a transposable element that regulates the immune response to virus infection in mice, leading to exaggerated immune responses and tissue damage. Reintroducing the element restores survival, suggesting its potential as a target for treatment.
A new treatment has shown clinically meaningful effects on pain intensity and disability, with participants reporting improved quality of life and long-term benefits. The sensorimotor retraining approach alters how people think about their body in pain and normalizes communication between the back and brain.
Researchers at UNSW Medicine & Health unveil a simple mathematical model predicting DNA hybridization rates based on nucleating interactions. The discovery has the potential to improve understanding of biological systems and refine nanotechnologies.
Researchers used a new tool to capture hundreds of undiscovered mechanisms of gene regulation in MRSA, revealing a previously unknown layer of gene regulation. The study identified a regulatory RNA that promotes an enzyme involved in cell wall thickening, potentially identifying new targets for antibiotic treatment.
A study from UNSW Sydney and NeuRA found that off-road motorcycles cause a far higher rate of injuries among children than quad bikes, with 78% of hospitalisations involving motorcycles. Quad-bikes result in more severe injuries, but less frequent hospitalisations.
Scientists analyzed nearly two decades of underwater recordings to find that the distinctive songs of Chagos pygmy blue whales have increased in frequency over time. This suggests that stocks of the sub-species may be on the rebound after being hunted to near-extinction in the 20th century.
A new study found that road fatalities and injuries kill more young people than communicable and non-communicable diseases or self-harm. The number of deaths attributed to road fatalities for adolescents has increased in some countries, particularly in low and low-middle income countries.
Academics argue AI systems like DABUS need new IP laws as existing ones are inadequate to deal with cases where machines are named sole inventors. The authors recommend introducing a new 'AI-IP' form of law that would be specifically tailored to AI-generated inventiveness, addressing ownership and novelty issues.
A new study found that extreme weather events can mobilize hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of sand into beach systems, potentially offsetting shoreline retreat caused by sea level rise. Researchers used high-resolution measurements and specialized equipment to track sand movement before and after storms.
Researchers detected aphantasia through pupillary response to imagining dark and light objects. Participants without aphantasia showed a larger pupillary response when asked to imagine vividly, indicating the absence of visual imagery in those with aphantasia.
Researchers used CRISPR gene editing to understand how deletions in one area of the genome affect nearby genes. They found that deleting a small region led to increased foetal globin expression and reduced adult globin levels, suggesting a key mechanism for asymptomatic patients with sickle cell disease.
A recent brain imaging study has found evidence of weakening connections between key brain areas in adolescents at high genetic risk of developing bipolar disorder. This study suggests that early intervention strategies may be effective in preventing the progression towards major changes in the brain.
A study found that older people are more positively reactive to emotional stimuli and better at reframing negative experiences into positives. Despite a decline in basal negative affect with age, participants were able to extract more positivity from given negative situations.
Researchers have discovered a chemical record of humpback whales' dietary habits stored in their baleen, which can help understand how these large aquatic mammals may react to future climate events. The study found that changes in the whales' feeding patterns correspond with changing climate cycles.
A new UNSW-led study reveals that global warming has amplified the water cycle, with an estimated 46,000-77,000 cubic kilometers of freshwater transported from the equator to the poles since 1970. This finding suggests broader changes to the global water cycle and highlights the need for improved climate models.
A recent study found that people are equally convinced by false and true expert consensus, but provide source information can strengthen the latter. Researchers at UNSW Science's School of Psychology tested this phenomenon and developed strategies to combat misinformation. By providing context on how original sources used evidence to a...
Researchers have achieved 99% accuracy in quantum computing using silicon-based devices. The breakthrough enables the creation of large arrays of qubits capable of robust computations, overcoming a significant challenge in building reliable quantum computers.
A new study found that Tasmanian devils have picky diets and only consume their favorite foods, unlike most other scavengers. The researchers tracked the eating habits of 71 devils using whisker samples and found that most devils choose to dine on specific foods.
A new UNSW Sydney-led study has finally confirmed the mechanism behind comet tails never being green. The team recreated the galactic chemical process in a vacuum chamber and used lasers to break apart dicarbon molecules, proving physicist Gerhard Herzberg's theory correct after 90 years.
A study by University of New South Wales has found that one in five future thyroid cancers in Australia is attributable to current levels of overweight and obesity. The prevalence of obesity has doubled in the last two decades, with 75% of Australian men and 60% of women being overweight or obese.
Scientists have discovered that Tasmanian devils' whiskers can capture seasonal dietary changes over at least nine months and potentially up to a year. The long, wiry whiskers hold chemical imprints from food the devils ate in the past, offering a way to monitor the endangered native species with minimal disruptions to their habitats.
Researchers found that less than two-thirds of children living with HIV are virally suppressed, with viral suppression rates being poorer in children compared to adults. The study highlights the need for a global scale-up of viral load testing to address this issue.
A UNSW-led study analyzing 10 years of citizen science data found that almost half of marine debris can be linked to land-based sources. Plastic accounts for 84% of the rubbish found on Australian beaches, with a significant portion coming from external sources such as stormwater drains near capital cities.
Researchers at UNSW and University of Sydney develop DNA 'nanostructures' to effectively manipulate synthetic liposomes, leading to potential applications in biosensing and mRNA vaccines. The study also explores the creation of 'mini biological computers' that can sense their environment and respond to signals.
A new trial has found that vaginal laser therapy treatments claim to reduce negative vaginal symptoms of menopause – experienced by about half of all women – by up to 100 per cent. However, the study shows they might not work at all, with no difference found between the laser treatment and a placebo.
A survey of parents with children having chronic lung conditions found that while most are willing to vaccinate their child, concerns about safety and side effects were major reasons for not doing so. The majority would vaccinate their child if recommended by their pediatrician or GP.
A new UNSW Sydney-led study suggests that strength training can lead to significant weight loss, with participants losing an average of 1.4% of their total body fat after a five-month program. The study analyzed existing evidence and found that this level of fat loss is comparable to cardio-based exercise.
A new study using Argo system ocean temperature data refines climate modeling predictions by identifying models most consistent with observations. The analysis shows that land and air temperatures only tell part of the story, with oceans storing 90% of the planet's heat.
Researchers at UNSW Sydney have found the specific protein responsible for keeping cells attached to collagen, a key finding for cancer research. The discovery could lead to new directions for cancer treatment by targeting the protein tropomyosin, which is involved in forming the anchor's chain.
Researchers found that viral fossils in Australian marsupials are used to make non-coding RNAs that protect against outside infection. The study suggests that these viral fossils may be helping to immunize animals, potentially providing a mechanism similar to vaccination.
A study published in Biological Conservation enlisted the help of 80 citizen scientists to collect 1500 naturally detached Posidonia shoots washed up on the beach after storms. The 'Storm Squad' successfully rehabilitated populations of NSW's endangered Posidonia australis, with most transplanted fragments producing new shoots after on...
A UNSW psychology researcher recommends a set of neurocognitive and mental health questionnaires to harmonize the assessment of long COVID patients. These tests can be used internationally and in various cultural settings to address key questions about the problem, including brain fog and dementia risks.
A large-scale study of over 300,000 children in Australia found that those hospitalised with chronic illnesses were at a significantly higher risk of poor academic performance. The study, published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, highlights the need for additional support for these students.