Universe may face a fiery end thanks to ‘dark energy’
Earth may not end up a frozen wasteland but encounter a reverse Big Bang. Scientists now talk of a coming Fiery Crunch. But don’t wait up.
Science
Museum restructure to curb Indigenous repatriations
Scientists at the South Australian Museum have been ‘gagged’ from speaking publicly about the planned restructure, says a University of Adelaide professor.
Difference in genes an adult obesity risk
Scientists have discovered rare gene differences that can cause a sixfold increase in the risk of obesity.
‘Doping Games’: is this the dystopian future of sport?
Could the ‘off-label’ drugs Olympic gold medallist James Magnussen puts into his body hurt him, kill him or land him in prison?
Scuba do: tourists flock to dive in and swim with seals
Move over whale sharks, sea turtles, manta rays – seals are the kids on the block everybody wants to go diving with.
Meet the teenager who forgets nothing … ever
Emily Nash is one of about 100 people on earth known to have what is called Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory. She is able to remember every day of her life in extreme detail and recall precise moments from years ago perfectly.
New science on what ultra-processed food does to our brains
Studies are finding links between these foods and changes in the way we learn, remember and feel, Indeed, they describe them as almost addictive.
Flu crisis fears amid ‘vaccination fatigue’ and disinformation
Flu cases continued to hit new peaks as the sick season was arriving sooner and could hit harder than ever amid ‘vaccination fatigue’ and ‘disinformation campaigns’.
Heatwaves are slowing, prolonging the misery
The changes, attributed mostly to human-caused climate change, have sped up since 1997, a newly published paper says.
Meta under the microscope on eating disorders
Varsha Yajman can tell if she’s on the brink of an eating disorder relapse just from her Instagram feed. Experts fear a rise in online communities devoted to unhealthy dieting.
Songs ‘angrier, gloomier, simpler’ than 50 years ago
Music has become simpler and more repetitive since the Seventies, while also taking a darker, more cynical turn, a scientific study has found.
Breast cancer drug hope for women with ‘Jolie gene’
Scientists hail immunotherapy treatment which may provide alternative to mastectomies.
Major breakthroughs bring us closer to ending Parkinson’s
Australia has joined a worldwide project led by the Michael J Fox Foundation to radically accelerate the prevention of the condition affecting 220,000 Aussies.
‘It won’t wake-up’: lunar lander can’t phone home
An uncrewed American lander that became the first private spaceship on the moon has met its end after failing to ‘wake up’.
Wanderlust of salties turns out to be a croc
The genetics of Queensland’s crocodiles have been studied and scientists are surprised by the results.
‘Wild west up there’: space looms as world’s next battleground
Australian experts are nervous – ‘who controls space will control Earth’ they say – so, why is the world so slow to respond to the threat China and Russia pose in orbit?
Medicine’s missing link key to lifting Indigenous ‘life sentence’
Ray Kelly has been able to curb type 2 diabetes in 85 per cent of his patients, but a lack of technology access is holding back essential care.
DNA scandal risks thousands of criminal cases
Colorado investigators say star analyst Yvonne ‘Missy’ Woods altered data. Now people she helped send to prison want their convictions re-examined.
Respiratory virus protection for infants
WA is leading the country in tackling respiratory syncytial virus with a state-wide immunisation rollout following TGA approval
Scientists fret as Antarctic sea ice dwindles
The southernmost continent has registered historic lows for three consecutive years, yet alerts about the grave consequences continue to be perceived as ‘alarmist’.
Treatment hope for kidney cancer
A high-powered form of radiotherapy has shown unprecedented results in treating patients with inoperable kidney tumours.
Drug drastically cuts danger from food allergens: study
A drug long used to treat asthma can help protect people from dangerous – even fatal – food allergies.
Cardio vs weights: Do you have to do both?
It’s a question that confuses many devotees of strength training who watch their heart rate climb during weightlifting: if my heart rate is hitting the aerobic zone, do I really need to do cardio at all?
Spaceship on side after dramatic Moon touchdown
The latest news about Odysseus took some shine off the accomplishment – the first lunar landing by a private company – which was widely hailed as a historic achievement.
Waking up to Australia’s sleep crisis
Medico and long-time insomniac Michael Mosley was offered a good night’s sleep as part of a groundbreaking Flinders University trial. His results have ramifications for us all.
Migraine meds shortage crushing for chronic pain patients
For the millions of Australians who struggle with migraines, two of the best treatments have become almost impossible to find – and sufferers are terrified of returning to a life of chronic pain.
Patients despair amid price war over ‘radical’ cancer therapy
Australia risks ‘being pushed to the back of the queue’ of countries in gaining access to a revolutionary cancer treatment that can put those facing imminent death into remission.
E. coli study key to kill ‘superbugs’
New research links an E. coli bacterium’s ability to produce cellulose with non-inflammatory properties that prevent drug-resistant infection in the body.
Weight-loss drugs may help addicts kick fentanyl habit
A weight-loss treatment could be a powerful weapon against drug addiction, with a study suggesting it can reduce cravings as much as staying at a rehab clinic.
Japan’s wooden satellite goes against the grain
Japanese scientists are building the world’s first wooden satellite in an attempt to reduce the pollution of space with metal junk.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/science/page/7