freelance science journalist and author
From Fish magazine, September 2013: The journey of a prawn from the trawler to the table is long and complex: a story of boats, boxes, containers, planes and trucks, of fisheries, factories and supermarkets, and of fishermen, distributors and consumers. For the most part, the steps along this journey are unimportant, as long as they … Continue reading Keeping track
From ABC Health and Wellbeing, 21 August 2013: Argentine tango, tai chi and Pilates are activities you’d expect to find on offer in adult education classes, but emerging research shows these and other exercise therapies may also provide a range of benefits for people with Parkinson’s disease. Exercise therapy is emerging as a new and … Continue reading Exercise therapy for Parkinson’s disease
From ABC News in Science, 2o August 2013: Researchers have paired up a fungus and a bacteria to produce high-quality biofuel from agricultural waste materials such as corn stalks and leaves. Using the fungus Trichoderma reesei and the common bacteria Escherichia coli, US researchers were able to produce 1.88 grams of the biofuel isobutanol, per … Continue reading Microbial duo boost biofuel production
From Clinical Neurology News, 2 August 2013: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – An iPod-based program using music as reward and behavioral reinforcement can lead to significant improvements in stride length and walking speed, according to data presented at the international congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders. The AmbuloSono system, developed by researchers from the University of … Continue reading Musical incentive program improves stride length in Parkinson’s
From Clinical Neurology News, 7 August 2013: Mild traumatic brain injury with intracranial hemorrhage can be safely managed by an acute care surgeon without the need for an inpatient neurosurgical consultation, a retrospective analysis has found. A study of 270 patients with mild traumatic brain injury and positive CT scan findings of intracranial hemorrhage – … Continue reading Neurosurgery consult not necessary for mild traumatic brain injury
From ACS Surgery News, 26 July 2013: Postoperative postural hypotension or adrenal insufficiency in patients with inflammatory bowel disease can be effectively prevented with low-dose rather than high-dose steroids, according to data published in the June 14 online issue of Annals of Surgery [doi: 10.1097/SLA.b013e318297adca]. “Corticosteroid-treated patients undergoing major colorectal surgery are commonly prescribed high-dose steroids … Continue reading Low-dose perioperative steroids effective in IBD patients
From Ecos magazine, 15 July 2013: Five years ago, the federal government took what many felt was the visionary step of investing $50 million dollars in the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF). Despite its considerable achievements – which have been hailed globally – NCCARF last month failed to secure continued funding. The initiative … Continue reading Adaptation and race against climate change
From ABC News in Science, 5 August 2013: A study on monkeys has called into question the fundamental assumption that an active neuron is a hungry one; an assumption that underlies brain imaging techniques such as fMRI. Researchers compared levels of neuron activity and the amount of glucose uptake in the primary motor cortex of … Continue reading Trained brains become more efficient
From Ecos magazine, 15 July 2013: Five years ago, the federal government took what many felt was the visionary step of investing $50 million dollars in the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF). Despite its considerable achievements – which have been hailed globally – NCCARF last month failed to secure continued funding. The initiative … Continue reading Adaptation and the race against climate change
From Clinical Neurology News, 19 July 2013: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was associated with an increased risk of cerebral microbleeds – a marker of cerebral small vessel disease – independent of factors such as age, sex, smoking status, and cholesterol levels, according to a prospective, population-based cohort study. “Depression, postural instability, cognitive and functional impairment … Continue reading COPD may boost risk of cerebral microbleeds
Bianca Nogrady 