freelance science journalist and author
From ABC News in Science, 23 October 2014: People handling shopping receipts on a regular basis may want to avoid using hand sanitiser. New research suggests the combination can increase absorption of the hormone-mimicking chemical BPA. The study found that bisphenol A — or BPA — on shopping receipts printed on thermal paper was easily … Continue reading Hand sanitisers boost BPA absorption from receipts
From Ecos magazine, 7 October 2014: Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a land of diversity, home to hundreds of ethnic groups who between them speak 848 different languages. Its geography ranges from extensive coral reefs, to dense lowland rainforest, to snow-capped peaks more than 4 kilometres above sea level. It is one of the world’s … Continue reading Knowledge a key ingredient for PNG food security
From ABC News in Science, 25 September 2014: The eyeless, cave-dwelling form of the Mexican tetra fish (Astyanax mexicanus) has surrendered its circadian rhythm for the sake of saving energy in its pitch-black habitat. The absence of a day/night cycle in the cave-dweller’s metabolism has resulted in a 27 per cent saving in energy use, … Continue reading Blind cavefish ditches circadian rhythm to save energy
From ABC Health, 18 September 2014: For a condition as complex, poorly understood and stigmatised as depression, it should come as no surprise that one of the major treatments – antidepressants – suffers the same problems. Those who are most likely to benefit are often reluctant to take antidepressants, while those less likely to benefit … Continue reading Are antidepressants overprescribed?
From ABC News in Science, 23 September 2014: The evolution of fire may have had major social impacts, as well as transforming our diet, according to new research. Research among the Bushmen of the Kalahari has found sitting around a campfire at night enables conversations, storytelling, and social bonding that rarely happens during daylight. Study … Continue reading Campfire chat a chance for social bonding
From ABC Environment, 10 September 2014: Sparkles in your toothpaste. Exfoliating body scrub. Deep facial cleansers. When reading through the ingredients on your bathroom items, one item you wouldn’t expect to see is plastic. However, a significant number of personal care and cosmetic products contain tiny particles of plastic, called microbeads. Sometimes they’re added as an … Continue reading Microplastic beads: how your exfoliating scrub might be harming the ocean
From ABC News in Science, 11 September 2014: The ultimate guide to pain-free sexual positions for men with lower back pain has been developed by Canadian researchers using motion-capture technology. A lack of evidence-based guidelines on how to avoid triggering back pain during sex prompted the research, says co-author Professor Stuart McGill, professor of spine … Continue reading Best sexual positions for a bad back
From Nature Outlook, 11 September 2014: The immune system has evolved over millions of years to protect the human body against microbes, pathogens and parasites. Which makes it all the more puzzling to immunologists as to why, when it comes to helping the body defend itself against cancer, immunotherapy treatments designed to enhance the immune … Continue reading Lung cancer immunotherapy: chemical tricks
Most days, I’m writing about fairly serious—albeit very interesting—stuff. Like this week, for example, there are stories about nanomedicine, bilateral mastectomy, the development of strategic thinking in children, and the environmental hazards of microplastics. But every once in a while, an absolute gem comes along that makes it into my Tales For Dinner Parties folder. … Continue reading Weird, wacky, and wonderful
From ABC News in Science, 2 September 2014: We are not born with the ability to lie and distrust, but appear to acquire these ‘skills’ at around seven years of age, researchers have found. The team of child psychologists and game theorists published their results today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. … Continue reading Lies and distrust a part of life at seven
Bianca Nogrady 