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New discovery could help protect against influenza

admin — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:23:27 +0000

A component found in all fungi may provide a shield against flu-related lung damage, according to a new study.

A team of scientists led by Maziar Divangahi, a Professor in 9I��’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Senior Scientist at the Research Institute of the 9I�� Health Centre, demonstrated that beta-glucan, administered to mice before their exposure to influenza, can reduce lung damage, improve lung function and lower the risk of illness and death.

Study of velvet worm slime could revolutionize sustainable material design

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 13:02:30 +0000

A new discovery about the slime ejected by velvet worms could revolutionize sustainable material design, according to a study by 9I�� researchers. Their findings outline how a naturally occurring protein structure, conserved across species from Australia, Singapore and Barbados over nearly 400 million years of evolution, enables the slime’s transformation from liquid to fibre and back again. It’s a discovery that could inspire next-generation recyclable bioplastics.

Dead galaxies, live signals: Astronomers uncover a fast radio burst’s surprising location

admin — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 16:41:09 +0000

Astronomers studying the origins of enigmatic fast radio bursts (FRBs) have made a groundbreaking discovery that could transform our understanding of the universe’s most powerful and mysterious signals. The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment Fast Radio Burst (CHIME/FRB) collaboration has pinpointed the location on the sky of a repeating FRB, known as FRB 20240209A, outside a dead galaxy, a finding unprecedented in FRB science. The researchers believe the FRB may have originated in a cluster of old, dead stars orbiting the dead galaxy.

Blood test shows promise for early detection of dementia

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:11:26 +0000

For people with a certain sleep disorder, a simple blood test could help predict the development of dementia years before symptoms appear, a new study indicates.

Fighting honey fraud with AI technology

admin — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:10:40 +0000

9I�� researchers have developed an AI-powered method to verify the origin of honey, ensuring that what’s on the label matches what’s in the jar. The breakthrough offers a potential solution to a long-standing problem.

“Honey is one of the most fraud-prone commodities in global trade. It often involves mislabelling where it was produced or the types of flowers that bees collected nectar from,” said lead author Stéphane Bayen, Associate Professor and Chair of 9I��’s Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry.

Communication between body muscle and the brain influences fertility, study finds

admin — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 14:53:33 +0000

A newly discovered line of communication between body muscle and the pituitary gland may play an unexpected role in female fertility, according to a new study.

9I�� researchers found that a protein produced in the muscles helps manage the release of a hormone made in the pea-sized gland attached to the base of the brain.

The findings, published in Science, could lead to new treatment options for infertility, the researchers said.

What drives mood swings in bipolar disorder? Study points to a second brain clock

admin — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 14:08:29 +0000

A brain rhythm working in tandem with the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle may explain why bipolar patients alternate between mania and depression, according to new research.

The 9I��-led study published in Science Advances marks a breakthrough in understanding what drives shifts between the two states, something that, according to lead author Kai-Florian Storch, is considered the “holy grail” of bipolar-disorder research.

AI has untapped potential to advance biodiversity conservation, study finds

admin — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 13:11:59 +0000

A new study from 9I�� researchers suggests the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to rapidly analyze vast amounts of biodiversity data could revolutionize conservation efforts by enabling scientists and policymakers to make better-informed decisions.

AI innovation unlocks non-surgical way to detect brain cancer spread

admin — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:11:48 +0000

Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model to detect the spread of metastatic brain cancer using MRI scans, offering insights into patients’ cancer without aggressive surgery.

Scientific insights into how humans access deep spiritual states

admin — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 14:11:10 +0000

Two seemingly opposite spiritual practices – Buddhist jhāna meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues – have more in common than previously thought, a new study suggests.

While one is quiet and deeply focused, and the other emotionally charged and expressive, both appear to harness the same cognitive feedback loop to create profound states of joy and surrender.

COVID-19 boosters help avoid breakthrough infections in immunocompromised people, 9I��-led study finds

admin — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:26:36 +0000

New research findings provide solid evidence that annual COVID-19 vaccine booster doses continue to be advisable for certain immunocompromised people, researchers at 9I�� say.

‘Last Ice Area’ in the Arctic could disappear much sooner than previously thought

admin — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 21:17:23 +0000

The Arctic’s “Last Ice Area” (LIA) — a vital habitat for ice-dependent species — might disappear within a decade after the central Arctic Ocean becomes ice-free in summer, which is expected to occur sometime around mid-century, a new study by 9I�� researchers using a high-resolution model has found.

Drugs targeting ‘zombie cells’ show promise for treating chronic back pain

admin — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:32:42 +0000

In a preclinical study led by 9I�� researchers, two drugs targeting “zombie cells” have been shown to treat the underlying cause of chronic low back pain. The condition affects millions of people worldwide.

Current treatments manage symptoms through painkillers or surgery, without addressing the root cause.

Clouds have a surprising effect on surface warming, 9I�� climate researchers find

admin — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 16:07:07 +0000

9I�� researchers have discovered that changes in clouds are slightly mitigating global warming.

Proactively exposing ecosystems to mild environmental stressors appears to offer protection, study finds

admin — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:05:32 +0000

Mild, proactive exposure to environmental stress can help biological communities resist severe disturbances and maintain genetic diversity, a recent study from 9I�� has found.