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Everyday household items elevated as 'threat to humanity'
Plastic is found in human breast milk, brains, lungs, and male genitals, but are everyday household items like containers, toys and clothing actually bad for our health? One of the world's oldest peer-reviewed medical journals is concerned enough to label it a 'threat to humanity'. Overnight, The Lancet launched the Countdown on Health and Plastic scheme to collate independent data to help inform decision-makers on these four topics: Health impacts Exposures Production and emissions Interventions and engagement The announcement was made late on Monday (Australian time), advancing the crisis to the same level as climate change. It came as delegates from around the world gather in Switzerland for the fifth session of negotiations on a Global Plastics Treaty. Related: What happens when you put plastic in your dishwasher? Funding for the program is principally funded by Australia's Minderoo Foundation, a philanthropic organisation set up by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest and his then-wife Nicola. The Foundation's head of plastics and human health, Professor Sarah Dunlop, said there is 'overwhelming' evidence highlighting the dangers associated with plastic use. 'Toxic chemicals in everyday plastic items leach into our bodies, and harm human health at every stage of our lives,' she said. As the treaty negotiations offered an opportunity to increase regulation around its use, she said the launch of the Countdown is something that 'negotiators in Geneva cannot ignore'. Grim studies point to worrying impacts of plastic use Until now, collating disparate research and making sure it reached decision-makers has been a challenge for scientists. Studies on the impact of plastic are frequently published, but they are quickly forgotten and don't often result in a direct impact on its manufacture or use. A French study published in July estimated humans are breathing in 68,000 tiny plastic particles a day. But it's not just in human bodies where plastic is found — the substance litters some of the deepest parts of the ocean and the most remote corners of Antarctica. There is growing evidence that it's causing harm to wildlife, and it's been linked to a respiratory disease in birds. Emerging research from the Plymouth Marine Laboratory has linked its use to antimicrobial resistance. As new types of plastic are created, researchers say their impact on humans is unknown as they're rolled out to market. Most contain a cocktail of chemicals, and a study, published in the prestigious journal Nature in July, argued 4,200 should be banned from use. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
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10 hours ago
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How Aussie farmers are turning the tide on $4.43 billion weed problem
Determined Aussie farmers are turning the tide on a pesky problem that is plaguing their crops and costing growers an estimated $4.43 billion every year. From council reserves to backyard gardens, weeds have received a lot of attention in recent years due to their ability to spread rapidly, strangle native plants and harm wildlife. Now, grain and cotton growers across the country are fighting back — and winning. According to a new report released by the CSIRO on Monday night, on average, weeds cost grain producers $4.3 billion a year — a seven per cent increase in costs compared to 10 years ago — but they are reaping the rewards of their investment. Grain producers drastically reduce impact of weeds on crop yield By focusing on 'smarter, long-term management strategies', farmers have been able to drastically reduce the impact of weeds on crop yield from 2.8 million tonnes in 2016 to 1.2 million tonnes in 2025. Their efforts, including harvest weed seed control, crop rotation and using new technologies such as camera-guided herbicide spraying, have led to higher production and therefore a higher income. 'Weed control remains one of the biggest annual costs for growers, but the investment is paying off,' said Dr Rick Llewellyn, a CSIRO research scientist who co-authored the report led by Jackie Ouzman. 'By staying ahead of the weed seed bank, resistance and adopting smarter, more targeted practices, growers are protecting long-term profitability and enabling flexibility in their system.' Improved summer fallow weed control — the removal of weeds that grow when a field is intentionally left uncultivated between cropping seasons — has helped tremendously, CSIRO reports. The method conserves moisture in the soil to better support crops in the drier seasons, and is a 'critical part of climate adaption', Dr Llewellyn said. 'With increasingly variable rainfall and larger cropping programs, growers need to sow crops when conditions are right without delays for weed control,' he said. 🌸 Warning not to touch invasive weed 'growing everywhere' in Aussie suburb 🚙 Alert issued to residents, travellers after dangerous find on side of roads 🌱 Common roadside plant wreaking havoc in Australia: 'Shocking way to die' Cotton industry forks out $145 million annually on weeds The cotton industry is also forking out $145 million annually on weeds, with growers shown to invest heavily in keeping densities exceptionally low, the study, which was funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), states. While new threats continue to emerge locally, across the country the most costly weeds remain the same: ryegrass, brome grass, sow thistle, wild radish and wild oats. The costliest weeds that emerge between cropping seasons are melons, heliotrope and fleabane. Dr Llewellyn said while Aussie farmers are leading the way for weed management globally, there needs to be continued research into how to 'stay ahead' while also reducing the costs for both industries. 'The only reason we're not seeing widespread yield losses from weeds today is because of years of sustained research and grower innovation,' he said. 'This is a quiet success story, but it's a battle where you can't pause — the weed challenge keeps evolving and demanding new solutions.' To do so, the GRDC is reinvesting in a five-year, $47 million Weed Management Initiative, which will support more than 20 weed research scientists, as well as 12 new PhD student scholarships. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
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12 hours ago
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Struggling With a Tough Decision? Here's Why You Should Sleep on It, Psychologists Say
Key Takeaways A short nap that reaches the N2 stage of sleep can significantly increase your chances of having a 'eureka' moment—more so than staying awake or just lightly dozing. During sleep, your brain reorganizes information, strengthens important memories, and reduces emotional reactivity—making tough decisions easier to handle. Simple changes like avoiding caffeine late in the day, sticking to a sleep schedule, and limiting screen time before bed can help you sleep deeper and think making a major decision, you might opt to 'sleep on it' first. But this isn't just an excuse to stall: in some circumstances, it can actually lead to breakthrough 'eureka' moments, according to a new study. More specifically, the study found that getting deep sleep during a nap could help with creative problem-solving. Here's what to know about the research, and how you can justify your next nap. The Link Between Naps and Tough Decisions Good news, nappers: a study published in the journal PLOS Biology discovered a major benefit of catching a few Z's during the day. When researchers gave participants a test responding to the dots on a keyboard before and after they took a 20-minute nap, 70.6% had an 'aha' moment—figuring out a previously unmentioned trick for accomplishing the task faster—after the nap. Though all groups improved after their nap, 85.7% of participants who achieved the first deeper sleep phase—called N2 sleep—had a breakthrough, while 55.5% of those who stayed awake and 63.6% of those who achieved light, N1 sleep had a "eureka" moment. So, why does deep sleep help with creative problem-solving more than light sleep? 'We don't know exactly what happens during deeper sleep, but one theory—[called] 'synaptic downscaling'—proposes that connections are reorganized in a way that important connections are kept while less important ones are removed,' says Anika Löwe, PhD, visiting researcher at the University of Freiburg and coauthor of the study. 'This process is called regularization, and we know from simulations with neural networks that it plays a role in generating 'eureka moments.'' The ideal nap length depends on how quickly people fall asleep, Löwe says. After you fall asleep, you should reach deep N2 sleep after about five minutes. 'So depending on how quickly someone tends to fall asleep, 20 to 30 minutes should be a good length,' she notes. The study didn't account for the time of day that participants took their naps, but according to Löwe, 'generally people find it easier to nap in the afternoon.' What about sleeping on something overnight? A previous study suggests that a full night's sleep was beneficial for gaining more insight into a matter, but the research design was different from the recent PLOS Biology study, so it's not a direct comparison, Löwe says. Her research only looked at napping, rather than sleeping on something overnight. Why Does Sleeping on It Help? Simply put, a rested brain functions better, says Emerson Wickwire, PhD, section head of sleep medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center. 'Sleep is vital for a healthy body and sound mind,' he says. 'Not getting enough sleep—or not getting enough quality sleep—worsens brain performance, judgment, and creativity.' Additionally, one of sleep's primary functions is to consolidate memories. 'The brain processes information acquired during the day and integrates it into long-term memory,' says Fouzia Siddiqui, MD, neurologist and medical director of sleep medicine at Sentara RMH Medical Center. Along the same lines, synaptic connections are strengthened during sleep, Wickwire says. 'Our brains hold onto information that is most important and discard that which is least important—helping you make major decisions,' he adds. Furthermore, emotional reactivity decreases during sleep, says Seyed Hassan Fakher, MD, a physician with Invigor Medical. 'This helps individuals detach from the immediate emotional load of a decision and return with more objectivity and balanced judgment, leading to better decision making,' he explains. 'Sleeping before making a big decision or tackling a creative problem can help by improving emotional balance, reducing impulsivity, and fostering a more positive outlook on your options.' How to Get Deeper Sleep—and Achieve Breakthrough Moments Each night, our brain oscillates through deeper and shallower stages of sleep, with each stage of sleep serving a specific function, Wickwire explains. Sleeping takes place in four stages: N1 (light), N2 (light deep), N3 (deep sleep) and REM stage (when dreams and increased brain activity occur), Fakher notes. According to Fakher, N2 sleep is a stage of non-REM sleep characterized by specific brainwave patterns, playing a critical role in memory consolidation and sensory processing decoupling that allows the brain to enter a focused, introspective state essential for cognitive breakthroughs. N3 is the most restorative sleep stage, marked by slow brain waves, reduced heart rate, and minimal responsiveness to the environment. 'It is crucial for memory consolidation, learning efficiency, and physical recovery,' he says. The recent study determined that reaching N2 sleep during a nap is typically sufficient for reaching breakthroughs or coming up with creative ways to solve a problem. There are a number of things you can do to ensure that you get deeper sleep. 'To support deeper, more restorative sleep, it's important to maintain regular sleep-wake cycles that align with your natural circadian rhythm,' Fakher says. One way is to avoid stimulants like caffeine, as well as electronic screens, at least two hours before bedtime, as they can interfere with the body's ability to wind down, he explains. Engaging in relaxation rituals before bed, like reading or meditation, can help you regulate stress and signal to your brain that it's time to sleep, he notes. Limiting alcohol—which disrupts normal sleep architecture and reduces the quality of non-REM sleep—can also be helpful, according to Fakher. Plus, incorporating moderate intensity exercise during the day can also significantly enhance overall sleep depth and quality. Finally, sleeping in a cool bedroom environment can also support deep sleep, Wickwire says. All these factors work together to help bring you some peace of mind—and sometimes, even a breakthrough moment. Read the original article on Real Simple
