In a world first, a dog has tested positive to the lethal Hendra virus, prompting the CSIRO to call for fresh research into the risk it could spread from canines to humans. Hendra virus, which is usually…
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Health – Research and News
Displaying 401 - 425 of 435 articles
Only 50% to 60% of Australian children are eating enough omega-3 fatty acids, which are commonly found in fish and crucial for brain development, a University of Wollongong study has found. Researchers…
Combining a new anti-cancer agent with chemotherapy has shown promise in the treatment of some of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of breast cancer, scientists have found. Around 20% of…
Hypoallergenic infant formula is no more effective than regular cow’s milk at reducing the risk a baby will develop allergies, a new study has found. Partially hydrolysed whey formulas (pHWFs), which contain…
Scientists have discovered similarities in the brain activity patterns of autistic teens and their non-autistic siblings, hinting at a new ‘biomarker’ for autism risk within families. In a paper published…
At last, some good news for allergy sufferers: certain allergies have been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, according to new research from Denmark. Previous studies have examined the possible links…
The alcohol industry’s move to attach warning labels to booze bottles will have limited impact because the messages selected are so weak they “sound like a greeting card”, an expert on alcohol-related…
Living near fast food outlets leads to higher consumption of junk foods but living close to supermarkets stocked with fruit and vegetables doesn’t mean a healthier diet, a U.S. study has found. However…
Human embryo stem cell research should be allowed to continue in accordance with existing rules, a legislative review committee has recommended, drawing praise from Australia’s science community. Since…
Anxious parents take note: a toddler who develops speaking skills later than his or her peers is no more likely to develop lasting behavioural problems than any other child, a study has found. Two-year-olds…
A new wearable device that predicts which people are more at risk of falls could help prolong the number of years elderly people can spend living independently at home. A third of over-65s take a tumble…
Early intervention mental health policies may be gaining favour in Australia, Europe and the U.S. but there is limited evidence to show they help sufferers of psychosis in the longer term, a major literature…
Queensland authorities have confirmed a horse on a farm south of Brisbane has died of Hendra virus, which can spread from horses to humans and has killed four of the seven people ever known to have been…
Scientists have created a glucose-powered biofuel cell that is five to 10 times more powerful than existing cells and lasts weeks longer, paving the way for implanted medical devices that run on the body’s…
Malaria parasites are able to adapt their growth rate to render anti-malarial drugs useless, according to new research by Australian scientists. More than 200 million people are infected annually with…
As if any further proof were needed that traffic jams and overcrowding make us anxious, scientists have concluded that city-dwellers are more sensitive to stress than country folk. Urban environments have…
More than 40% of Australian adult diabetics also experience mental health problems, according to a report released by the government’s Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). More than 800,000…
Women who smoke while pregnant may raise the resulting child’s risk of developing heart disease by as much as 15%, a new study has found. Smoking during pregnancy has previously been linked to fetal health…
Over 60% of Australian adults are now overweight or obese, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The report, Key indicators of progress for chronic disease…
Scientists have developed tiny particles capable of taking large doses of anti-cancer drugs right to a tumour’s doorstep, opening the way to a new generation of more effective treatments. Nanotechnology…
Australian researchers have shown for the first time that the number of girls presenting with pre-cancer cells on the cervix has dropped following the introduction of a wide ranging vaccination program…
Women who sleep on their left side on their final night of pregnancy could halve the risk of their baby being stillborn compared to women who do not, a new study has found. Sleeping on the left allows…
A nasal spray vaccine may prevent type 1 diabetes from developing in humans, early trial results show. Type 1 diabetics usually rely on daily insulin injections to normalise their ability to break down…
A relatively new medication called olaparib can help extend remission times for ovarian cancer patients to around eight months, almost four months longer than patients on a placebo, according to clinical…
Scientists have unlocked the mechanism that helps kill the blood vessels that supply hard tumours, such as those found in lung, bowel and breast cancer patients. A special molecule, called Bim, is programmed…