> Blood type link to pancreatic cancer risk (11/03/2009)
People with type O blood have a lower risk of developing pancreatic cancer, say US researchers. |
> Vitamin C wards off gout: study (10/03/2009)
Men with a higher intake of vitamin C from food or supplements have a lower risk of developing gout, say researchers. |
> We are more microbe than man (10/03/2009)
GREAT MOMENTS IN SCIENCE: It is said 'you are what you eat'. But Dr Karl says that when you eat you are feeding more than your appetite. |
> Study suggests baby is 'better out than in' (09/03/2009)
A study that shows the use of drugs to delay preterm labour may be harmful, challenges the current view that "keeping the baby inside longer must be a good thing", say Australian experts. |
> Bad memories erased with a pill (17/02/2009)
A drug commonly used to treat blood pressure may help people erase bad memories and even treat phobias, a team of Dutch scientists say. |
> Soldiers keep cool in a crisis naturally (17/02/2009)
Soldiers who perform best under extreme stress might truly be natural born heroes, a study of US military shows. |
> Study finds high blood pressure genes (16/02/2009)
Scientists have identified the first common gene variants associated with an elevated risk of hypertension, a disease that affects around a billion people worldwide and can cause stroke, heart attack and kidney failure. |
> Babies who gesture have big vocabularies (13/02/2009)
Babies who use gestures to communicate when they are 14 months-old have much larger vocabularies when they start school than those who don't, say US researchers. |
> Can love change the way you smell? (13/02/2009)
ASK AN EXPERT: Can your unique 'smell' - what your body smells like - change naturally? And when would this happen? Would it change if you were in love? |
> Cold's 'family tree' reveals mutant nature (13/02/2009)
Researchers have mapped the DNA of 99 different rhinoviruses, which could lead to better treatments for the common cold. |
> 'Fat-fighting' lemons have sour twist (12/02/2009)
GREAT MOMENTS IN SCIENCE: You know fruit is good for you, but does a lemon really have incredible fat-fighting potential? Dr Karl has been putting the squeeze on the facts. |
> Fluid lens to give back youthful vision (12/02/2009)
People with failing eyes could one day have their old lenses removed and new plastic ones injected to restore their original sight, say researchers. |
> Laser printer debate heats up (12/02/2009)
How a laser printer heats up will determine just how many tiny toxic particles it emits, Australian researchers have found. |
> Scientists capture birth of blood cells (12/02/2009)
German scientists have developed a new imaging technology that allows them to watch the transformation of a single cell into a blood cell, bolstering our understanding of stem cells. |
> The evolution of sex (12/02/2009)
SCIENCE FEATURE: Are modern relationships shaped by the romantic notion of love and fidelity or much greater evolutionary urges? |
> Australia declared measles free (11/02/2009)
High take-up rates of the infant measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has led to the elimination of the endemic measles virus in Australia, immunisation experts say. |
> Moist air could stave off the flu (10/02/2009)
Outbreaks of the flu during winter may be due to dry air, according to a US study, which contradicts the notion that the virus needs a moist environment. |
> Asylum-seeker language test under scrutiny (09/02/2009)
A method used by some of the world's immigration authorities to decide whether or not asylum seekers are genuine refugees is unscientific, says one Australian linguist. |
> Red boosts attention, blue creativity (09/02/2009)
The colour red boosts attention to detail in tasks such as memorisation, while blue encourages creativity, according to a new study. |
> Bacteria, not flu, cause of 1918 pandemic (06/02/2009)
Strep infections and not influenza may have killed most people during the 1918 influenza pandemic, which suggests predictions about a new pandemic may be exaggerated, say US researchers. |
> Lack of sunshine triggers 'faulty' MS gene (05/02/2009)
A link between vitamin D and a gene known to cause multiple sclerosis has been identified, say researchers. |
> 'Nutcracker Man' built for foraging (04/02/2009)
An early human who lived between two and three million years ago had teeth and jaws that functioned like a nutcracker, allowing them to bite through nutshells with ease, according to a new study. |
> Osteoporotic fractures up mortality risk (04/02/2009)
Older people who have had a fracture because of reduced bone density, or osteoporosis, face a higher risk of death over the next 10 years, an Australian study has found. |
> TV, games increases teen depression risk (03/02/2009)
Spending more hours watching television or playing video games as a teenager may lead to depression in young adults, according to a new study. |
> Zinc may cut alcohol's effect on babies (03/02/2009)
The use of dietary zinc supplements during pregnancy could reduce some alcohol-related birth defects, an animal study shows. |
> Serotonin turns locusts into party animals (30/01/2009)
A chemical compound known to control mood in humans is also responsible for transforming solitary locusts into a ravenous swarm, according to a team of British and Australian researchers. |
> Spring trigger for lovebirds found (30/01/2009)
The molecular answer to a thirty-year puzzle over what triggers birds to breed in spring has been solved by UK researchers. |
> English manners cost Titanic lives (28/01/2009)
Many British victims of the Titanic disaster in 1912 may have sunk with the ship because of their gentlemanly behaviour, according to Swiss and Australian researchers. |
> Regular sprints boosts metabolism (28/01/2009)
Rigorous workouts lasting as little as three minutes boosts metabolism and may help control blood sugar levels, say British researchers. |
> Newborn babies feel the beat (27/01/2009)
Music appreciation begins in the womb, suggests new research that found newborns can feel the beat, even in their sleep. |
> Sequencing shows extreme genes of head lice (27/01/2009)
Genetic research has confirmed what parents struggling to rid their school children of head lice already suspected - the little louse truly is a super bug. |
> Water storage may spread dengue fever (27/01/2009)
Climate change will "dramatically" expand the range of dengue fever in Australia, but according to new research it has little do with the weather. |
> Australia Day honour for brain researcher (26/01/2009)
A zoologist whose research underpins exercise rehabilitation programs for people with damaged brains and spinal cords has been honoured on Australia Day. |
> Smokes 'still too cheap': health expert (26/01/2009)
Governments should increase the price of cigarettes, says a behavioural scientist who helped establish Australia's first comprehensive national anti-smoking campaign. |
> Home fires feed Asia's brown cloud (23/01/2009)
Fuel burned for home heating and cooking makes up the majority of a huge brown cloud of pollution that hangs over South Asia during the winter months, say researchers. |
> Nano-pill may give insulin jab the flick (23/01/2009)
People with diabetes could soon take a pill of insulin-loaded nanoparticles instead of having to give themselves painful injections, Indian researchers say. |
> Bush medicine could make safer implants (22/01/2009)
An extract from a flowering desert plant, used as traditional medicine by Indigenous Australians, could one day be used to coat hip transplants and other biomedical devices, say researchers. |
> Study doubts worth of heart gene test (21/01/2009)
A US study has cast doubt on the value of testing for a certain genetic trait linked to heart disease to predict one's chances of illness. |
> Nature's curvy secrets revealed (20/01/2009)
Inorganic crystals can form voluptuous curves to match any created by living organisms, according to a new study, which casts doubt on current dating methods for the earliest life forms. |
> Social lifestyle cuts dementia risk: study (20/01/2009)
Keeping a full social calendar may reduce your risk of developing dementia, say researchers. |
> Leukaemia sirens seduce healthy cells (19/12/2008)
Leukaemia cells use powerful chemical signals to lure healthy blood-forming stem cells into their cancerous lairs, where they lose their power to make healthy blood cells, say US researchers. |
> Scientist calls for robot ethics rules (19/12/2008)
Ethics guidelines are urgently needed to control the growing use of robots in caring for children and the elderly, says one UK robotics expert. |
> Head-banging hammers the brain (18/12/2008)
Led Zeppelin's immortal song 'Dazed and Confused' might well have been a clinical observation on the state of their audience's brains, say Australian researchers who have found over-enthusiastic head-banging can cause mild brain injury. |
> Yawning cools the brain (16/12/2008)
If your head is overheated, there's a good chance you'll yawn, according to a new study that found the primary purpose of yawning is to control brain temperature. |
> Fingerprints reveal more than identity (15/12/2008)
A careless touch could be all police or insurance companies need to determine not only your identity, but also your criminal history and certain medical conditions. |
> Pregnancy loss affects young women: study (15/12/2008)
Young women who have lost a pregnancy through abortion or miscarriage have an increased risk for substance abuse or developing a mood disorder in later life, according to an Australian study. |
> Brain swelling causes most Everest deaths (12/12/2008)
A brain swelling condition related to low oxygen levels in the air may be the cause of most Mount Everest deaths, say researchers. |
> Study identifies diabetes, coeliac link (11/12/2008)
Type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease, also known as gluten intolerance, share some genetic roots, according to US researchers. |
> Why do cold roast potatoes cause hiccups? (11/12/2008)
ASK AN EXPERT: One of the downsides of scoffing traditional leftover fare like cold roast potatoes is hiccups. So what causes these vexatious spasms? |
> Midwives urge delay in cutting the cord (09/12/2008)
A three-minute delay in the clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord of indigenous babies is needed to overturn high rates of infancy anaemia in newborns from remote Australian communities, experts say. |
> Gene switch may prevent sickle cell disease (08/12/2008)
US researchers have discovered a gene switch that they believe could lead to better treatments for sickle cell disease and thalassemia, two inherited blood disorders that affect millions of people. |
> Oldest marijuana stash found (04/12/2008)
A kilogram of green plant material found in a 2700-year-old grave in the Gobi Desert has just been identified as the world's oldest marijuana stash, say researchers. |
> GR8 spllrs r good txtrs, says study (03/12/2008)
People proficient in reading and writing are better at communicating via text messaging, an Australian psychologist says. |
> GM beer could be good for your health (02/12/2008)
Here's a reason to raise a pint; scientists in the US are creating a beer that contains the same compound found in red wine, which has been linked to good health and longevity. |
> Invisible line 'protects Australia from bird flu' (02/12/2008)
Australia's best defence against an outbreak of avian influenza is an invisible line passing through the Indonesian archipelago between Bali and Lombok that birds are reluctant to cross, a team of zoologists says. |
> Sleep terrors may be inherited (02/12/2008)
Night terrors, which send children into sudden inconsolable screaming, are at least partially inherited, according to a Canadian study. |
> Tipple's status topples over proof (02/12/2008)
GREAT MOMENTS IN SCIENCE: Alco-pops and other pre-mixed alcoholic drinks are cause for concern in the community. A century back it was the strange absinthe that led the field in the social evil stakes. But Dr Karl reckons it's the same old problem. |
> Mobiles distract more than passengers (01/12/2008)
Using a hands-free device on a mobile phone is more distracting than sitting next to a talkative passenger, say US researchers. |
> Obese children 'chew through' antioxidants (28/11/2008)
Overweight or obese children use up antioxidants from fruit and vegetables much faster than other children, new research suggest. |
> HIV: a Nobel discovery (27/11/2008)
SCIENCE FEATURE: It's been 25 years since scientists isolated HIV. We trace the history behind this profound discovery that changed our understanding, treatment and prevention of AIDS. |
> Medical web searches can 'trigger anxiety' (26/11/2008)
Playing doctor on the web often leads people to mistakenly believe that they are suffering from rare illnesses, a new study suggests. |
> Mother's blood may reveal foetal diseases (25/11/2008)
Doctors may soon be able to diagnose inherited diseases in unborn babies by taking a blood sample from the mother. |
> Redheads' 'extinction' explanation splitting hairs (25/11/2008)
GREAT MOMENTS IN SCIENCE: As if blondes and redheads don't get enough stick, now they're apparently facing extinction! But Dr Karl isn't so sure and has gone searching for the roots of the story. |
> Learning footy could be key to active life (24/11/2008)
Learning how to kick, catch and throw a ball at the age of 10 could be the best set up for physically active life, new research suggests. |
> Lose weight, rediscover your mojo (21/11/2008)
A man's secret to maintaining a healthy sex life well into old age could be as simple as shedding a few kilograms, says an Australian obesity expert. |
> Dry skin gets the indigo treatment (20/11/2008)
A dose of the blues may help persistent sufferers of psoriasis, according to a team of Taiwanese researchers. |
> How much of hunger is hormonal? (20/11/2008)
ASK AN EXPERT: How much of hunger is hormonal and how much is linked to the nervous system? What are the receptors and how do they act? |
> Regrowth mystery reborn (18/11/2008)
GREAT MOMENTS IN SCIENCE: If you're only as old as you feel then are you as old as your body? The idea that body cells regrow every seven years should be an accurate guide, right? Wrong! Dr Karl can sense it in his bones. |
> Silk the key to rebuilding bone (18/11/2008)
Silkworms and spiders could hold the key to engineering healthy bone tissue to replace damaged bone and teeth, according to a US biomedical engineer. |
> Heat stroke? Forget the ice, says study (17/11/2008)
When it comes to cooling a heat stroke victim , forget the ice and immerse them in temperate water, new research suggests. |
> Human hair linked to ancient claws (13/11/2008)
A new study has identified a gene associated with hair production in present-day lizards and chickens, which may trace its origins back more than 300 million years ago. |
> Hysterectomies don't add weight: study (13/11/2008)
Women who have hysterectomies do not put on weight, a new study has found, but overweight women do tend to have more hysterectomies. |
> Triglycerides the fat to watch: study (12/11/2008)
For people keeping track of their blood fats, triglycerides may be the new lipid to watch, say researchers. |
> Heartbeats may power future pacemakers (11/11/2008)
Pacemakers and defibrillators of the future may generate an extra power boost from a surprising energy source - the heart. |
> Avian flu uses tubes to dupe immune system (06/11/2008)
The deadly H5N1 flu virus disarms the human immune system by hiding bits of genetic material that would normally trigger an infection alarm, says researchers. |
> Surprise migraine, breast cancer link (06/11/2008)
In a puzzling twist, women who have a history of migraine headaches are less likely to develop breast cancer than other women, say US researchers. |
> Magnetic bubble to protect Mars explorers (05/11/2008)
Scientists believe they have found a way of protecting astronauts from a dangerous source of space radiation, thus lifting a major doubt clouding the dream to send humans to Mars. |
> Slipped disc myth sticks (05/11/2008)
GREAT MOMENTS IN SCIENCE: If you've ever experienced severe back pain you'll know that it's no laughing matter. But according to Dr Karl one common complaint associated with a 'bad back' is a misnomer. |
> Solution to insulin puzzle on track (05/11/2008)
Researchers have discovered a molecular "train carriage" that plays a key role in transporting glucose into cells, a finding that may help with developing Type-2 diabetes treatments. |
> Scientists clone mice held on ice (04/11/2008)
Japanese scientists have cloned mice whose bodies were frozen for as long 16 years, and say it may be possible to use the technique to resurrect mammoths and other extinct species. |
> Sex on TV linked to teen pregnancy (04/11/2008)
A US study claims it has established for the first time a link between TV programs with sexual content and teenage pregnancies. |
> Forensic study finds arsenic on emperor (03/11/2008)
A new scientific study has found that China's second to last emperor died of poison, in what is likely to shore up long held suspicions that he was murdered, state press reports. |
> Study reveals AFL drinking habits (03/11/2008)
An Australian study has revealed for the first time the drinking habits of elite Australian football players, showing that unlike the rest of the population, AFL players do their riskiest drinking outside the football season. |
> Maths makes counting hairs easy (31/10/2008)
New software is able to analyse exactly how many hairs there are in a patch of skin and could help in testing the effectiveness of baldness treatments and depilatory creams, say Australian researchers. |
> WHO disease spending 'skewed', say experts (31/10/2008)
The World Health Organization is not spending enough on the growing problem of cancer and heart disease in developing countries, say experts. |
> Meat can increase gastro susceptibility (30/10/2008)
Eating red meat and unpasteurised dairy products could make people more susceptible to bacteria that cause severe gastroenteritis and, in rare cases, fatal kidney failure, Australian research suggests. |
> Mussel myth an open and shut case (29/10/2008)
GREAT MOMENTS IN SCIENCE: The habits of people choosing mealtime molluscs stick as tightly as a barnacle. Dr Karl applies some muscle power of his own to wrench open the facts. |
> Scientists identify brain's 'hate circuit' (29/10/2008)
Brain scans of people shown images of individuals they hate reveal a unique pattern of brain activity, report UK researchers. |
> Timing is everything with snake antivenom (29/10/2008)
New evidence suggests antivenom should be given at least within an hour after a snake bite to be effective at reducing the blood thinning effects of venom. |
> Women in red drive men crazy, says study (28/10/2008)
Men find women in red more sexually attractive, say US psychologists, confirming it really is the colour of romance. |
> Instant porridge 8000 years old (27/10/2008)
Breakfast 8000 years ago wasn't that much different from what we enjoy today, according to a study that describes the world's oldest known cooked cereal. |
> Transsexual study reveals genetic link (27/10/2008)
The discovery of a genetic variation in male to female transsexuals adds weight to the view that transsexualism has a biological basis, the Australian researchers behind the find say. |
> Egyptian mummies trace malaria's roots (24/10/2008)
Malaria DNA has been found in two mummies from the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes, providing clear evidence for the earliest known cases of the disease, say researchers. |
> Golden oldies discover love at first byte (24/10/2008)
Cybersex is not just for the young with older adults using internet technology to liberate their libidos, an Australian researcher says. |
> Hot cuppa makes you feel good about others (24/10/2008)
Our judgement of someone's character can be influenced by something as simple as the temperature of a drink held in our hands, say US researchers. |
> Sticky tape a source of x-ray vision (23/10/2008)
Sticky tape is not only see-through, it can also help you see through objects by emitting x-rays, bemused scientists say. |
> Fast eating a fast track to obesity (22/10/2008)
Wolfing down your food and eating until your seams are straining could double your risk of becoming overweight, Japanese researchers have found. |
> Blood test better than skin at detecting TB (21/10/2008)
A new blood test will allow doctors to more accurately pinpoint patients likely to develop the symptoms of tuberculosis, say researchers. |
> Ray of sunshine for infertile males (21/10/2008)
Couples struggling to conceive should move their focus out of the bedroom and on to the beach, new fertility research suggests. |
> Brain's pleasure signals linked to obesity (17/10/2008)
Obese people may have a diminished ability to experience the pleasure of eating, prompting them to overindulge to boost their satisfaction, according to a new study. |
