News briefs: July 27, 2021

News briefs: July 27, 2021.

Screen surprise

The more touch screens are used, the less likely they are to spread infection, according to international researchers.

The team used computer simulations to investigate the spread of disease via touch screens used at airport self check-ins and bag drops.

They speculated that the surprising result might be because once a virus was left on the screen, it was picked up by the next person, who effectively wiped it clean for subsequent users.

Of course, the most effective way of reducing disease transmission remains cleaning the screens regularly.

“The simulation model developed provides a foundation for future advances in more sophisticated fomite disease-transmission modelling,” the researchers said.

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Obese risk

Harmful body fat not only expands waistlines but can also increase risk of dementia and stroke, researchers say.

World-first University of South Australia research examining the grey brain matter of about 28,000 people showed increased body fat incrementally led to increased atrophy of the brain’s grey matter.

It is an essential part of the brain responsible for muscular and sensory activity, learning, attention and memory.

More than 1.9 billion adults are overweight, with 650 million being obese.

Obesity is also commonly linked to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

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Unqualified influencers

Many Australians follow influencers online without having any clue if they know what they’re talking about, a new survey has found.

Influencers are people who use their extensive social media followings to market ideas and products, often in exchange for payments from businesses.

Using influencers has become a popular way for brands to reach new audiences.

But there is often no way to know if the person doing the influencing has any qualifications to back up what they are saying.

The new survey by Endeavour College of Natural Health shows a third of Australians don’t know if the influencers they follow have any real expertise in the subjects they post about.

“Whether it’s Instagram, TikTok or Facebook, there are too many incidences of so-called experts making inaccurate health claims,” Endeavour College nutrition trainer Sophie Scott said.

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Pain on the brain

Chronic pain likely impacts the brain’s ability to process emotions correctly, a new study has found.

Chronic pain not only impacts a person’s body; almost half of people with chronic pain also experience major anxiety and depression disorders.

A study led by the University of New South Wales shows people with chronic pain have an imbalance of neurotransmitters (GABA) in the section of the brain responsible for regulating emotions.

“A decrease in GABA means that the brain cells can no longer communicate to each other properly,” study leader professor Sylvia Gustin said.

“When there’s a decrease in this neurotransmitter, our actions, emotions and thoughts get amplified.”

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Rare Holden

A rare, limited-edition Holden HSV VN SS Group A going under the hammer on Saturday is set to surpass its previous six-figure auction record.

It was the second of only 302 built in Australia and has only done 36,000km.

The car has only ever had two owners and was the last of the Group A Holdens.

“We think this car might just break (the record) again based on the amount of inquiry we have had already,” Lloyds Auctions chief operating officer Lee Hames said.

There will also be a range of other classic cars on auction, including Kerry Packer’s 1977 Jaguar XJS and Glenn Seton’s 1997 championship-winning Ford Credit Falcon EL.

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Aussie whale families discovered

The DNA of killer whales has revealed three populations with distinct ties in Australasian waters, scientists say.

Flinders University researchers say understanding the whales’ ecology will contribute significantly to both their persistence and ecosystem viability as an important indicator of overall ocean health.

“We have found three populations of killer whales within Australasian waters, one in tropical and a second in temperate Western Australia and a third in New Zealand,” lead author Isabella Reeves said.

“These populations appear to have little movement between them and a low number of breeders.”

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Age key to winning big

Forget luck of the draw, recent data from Australian operator The Lottery Office has found age may be the secret to hitting the jackpot.

According to winner data, Generation X is the luckiest generation, collecting a massive 40.82 per cent of all wins.

While Baby Boomers make up 31.29 per cent of winners, lotteries are also gaining popularity among younger generations, with a quarter of winners millennial and Gen Z players.

“This data demonstrates a continual shift in the industry with online and mobile apps making the lotto more accessible, which Generation X has definitely taken advantage of,” chief executive Jaclyn Wood said.

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Breaks key to kids’ learning

Short and active breaks in the classroom can improve children’s brain functioning and impulse control, according to new research.

Deakin University researchers recruited children in grades 1 and 2 at three Melbourne primary schools where they undertook either simple or complex active breaks over a six-week period.

Simple active breaks included running on the spot, and complex active breaks involved decision making, such as games like “Simon says”.

The researchers found children who had active breaks had better impulse control than children who had no active breaks.

Originally published as News briefs: July 27, 2021