Latest news with #CurtinUniversity
ABC News
16 hours ago
- Science
- ABC News
An $8 million Mars rock and the science behind it
Sotheby's sold a meteorite from Mars for US$5.3 million last Wednesday to an undisclosed buyer. Sotheby's claims is the largest Martian meteorite in the world, at nearly 25kgs. But for planetary scientist like Professor Gretchen Benedix, the value of Martian meteorites is beyond the imaginations of most private collectors. She shares the science that has been used to analyse meteorites, and the potential discoveries that might be made from access to such a large Martian rock. Guest: Professor Gretchen Benedix, cosmic mineralogist and astrogeologist at Curtin's Space Science and Technology Centre, and Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research at Curtin University.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Greg was placed in an induced coma. The news he got on waking was a shock
It was November 2024, and Greg Bird had just woken up from an induced coma in Royal Perth Hospital after 20 days when he was given some horrific news. While he had been unconscious, his family had been told he was unlikely to survive after multiple organ failure brought on by Type 2 diabetes. Bird had no idea he even had the disease. The 60-year-old said he had gone in pain to the chemist, who called an ambulance for him. He was rushed to Midland Hospital before being transferred to Royal Perth Hospital and placed in the coma. 'The diabetes had been sitting there and building up and building up, and it led to the point where the whole system shut down,' he said. 'They didn't think I was going to make it.' Bird is one of millions of Australians living with diabetes for whom healthcare costs are, on average, double that of someone without the condition – $9677 per person with diabetes annually compared to $4669. Those figures have come from new research released by researchers from Deakin, La Trobe and Curtin University, who found the total cost of diabetes to Australia's healthcare system was $14.2 billion in 2024.
The Age
2 days ago
- Health
- The Age
Greg was placed in an induced coma. The news he got on waking was a shock
It was November 2024, and Greg Bird had just woken up from an induced coma in Royal Perth Hospital after 20 days when he was given some horrific news. While he had been unconscious, his family had been told he was unlikely to survive after multiple organ failure brought on by Type 2 diabetes. Bird had no idea he even had the disease. The 60-year-old said he had gone in pain to the chemist, who called an ambulance for him. He was rushed to Midland Hospital before being transferred to Royal Perth Hospital and placed in the coma. 'The diabetes had been sitting there and building up and building up, and it led to the point where the whole system shut down,' he said. 'They didn't think I was going to make it.' Bird is one of millions of Australians living with diabetes for whom healthcare costs are, on average, double that of someone without the condition – $9677 per person with diabetes annually compared to $4669. Those figures have come from new research released by researchers from Deakin, La Trobe and Curtin University, who found the total cost of diabetes to Australia's healthcare system was $14.2 billion in 2024.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Avocado alert as popular fruit's future in doubt warns new study
Avocados are a popular choice for healthy shoppers at Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Aldi and other supermarkets A new study has issued a warning that avocados could disappear from our plates if native vegetation doesn't survive alongside crops. Avocado trees, originally from Mexico and Central America, are now cultivated in various parts of the globe, including Australia. Australian scientists have discovered that the survival of avocado crops may hinge on preserving patches of native vegetation near farmland. The research, published in the journal Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, highlights the crucial role these habitats play in sustaining the insects vital for crop pollination and maintaining our brunch menus. The team from Curtin University found that insect communities in avocado orchards next to native remnant vegetation fed on more than double the number of plant species during periods of limited crop flowering, compared to those in orchards bordered by pasture, reports Surrey Live. Avocado future and crop pollination They explained that insects with a diverse diet are more likely to survive and pollinate crops, suggesting a potential strategy to ensure global food security. With estimates suggesting that up to 10 billion people worldwide will need access to safe and nutritious food by 2050, agricultural productivity may need to increase by as much as 75%. Lead researcher Dr Joshua Kestel, who carried out the work during his PhD studies at Curtin, described the study as "particularly compelling" since it had historically been challenging to measure the variety of pollen gathered by complete insect populations - especially across expansive farming regions. He said: "Using a novel method pioneered at Curtin University, we applied a cutting-edge biodiversity assessment technique - environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding - to pan traps to identify the diversity of pollen transported by entire insect communities collected during sampling. This approach allowed us to demonstrate that natural vegetation adjacent to orchards may enhance the resilience of insect communities, potentially contributing to greater food security." 'Healthy insect communities are needed' Co-researcher Professor Paul Nevill, from Curtin's School of Molecular and Life Sciences, described the findings as crucial given that insects are responsible for pollinating 75% of all farming crops, despite many species facing extinction threats. He said: "In order to meet the food needs of the planet, diverse and healthy insect communities play a critical role in supporting essential ecosystem services such as pollination and the biological control of pests. "In Australia alone, an estimated 320,000 insect species exist, yet only 35% have been formally identified - and the plant resources many of them rely on remain largely unknown." He added: "By using sophisticated eDNA metabarcoding capable of detecting the trace of a single grain of pollen or even the footprint of a bee, we're helping to close these knowledge gaps and better understand how these insects might contribute to safeguarding global food security." The scientists gathered over 2,000 insect samples and pinpointed more than 250 plant varieties through eDNA analysis, encompassing crops, weeds and indigenous Australian vegetation. The research team suggested integrating standardised biodiversity assessments into routine agricultural monitoring, preserving ecosystems through recognising the importance of natural plant life and replanting barren areas within farming operations.
Fox News
6 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Men face double dementia risk if they have a hidden genetic mutation
A hidden genetic mutation could predict a man's likelihood of developing dementia. That's according to an Australian study led by Monash and Curtin Universities, which analyzed the medical data of thousands of Australians and Americans. Men who had a certain variant in the haemochromatosis (HFE) gene — which regulates iron levels in the body — were found to be at a higher risk of dementia, the researchers found. Previously healthy men over age 70 who have two copies of the variant, which is known as H63D, are at least twice — or up to four times — as likely to develop dementia. Having just one copy did not appear to elevate the risk. One in 36 men carry two copies of the mutation; one in three have just a single copy. "It is only men who have two copies of the variant that are at risk," study co-author Professor John Olynyk from the Curtin Medical School told Fox News Digital. "Women are not affected by the abnormality – we do not know why that is at the current point in time." The study, which was published in the journal Neurology, used data from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial, which gathered health and aging data for 19,114 healthy older adults. Those who have the genetic variant can't change it, but it's possible that the "brain pathways" it affects could be treated, Olynyk noted. "The HFE gene is routinely tested for in most Western countries … when assessing people for haemochromatosis, a disorder that causes the body to absorb too much iron," the doctor said. "Our findings suggest that perhaps this testing could be offered to men more broadly." Despite the fact that the HFE gene is responsible for controlling iron levels, the team found no direct link between iron and dementia risk. "Our findings suggest that perhaps this testing could be offered to men more broadly." "This points to other mechanisms at play, possibly involving the increased risk of brain injury from inflammation and cell damage in the body," Olynyk added. More research is needed to determine why the heightened risk wasn't seen in women. "Understanding why men with the double H63D variant are at higher risk could pave the way for more personalized approaches to prevention and treatment," added co-author Professor Paul Lacaze from Monash University in a press release. The main limitation of the study, according to Olynyk, was that the study population was largely composed of Australians. "Whether other populations exhibit the same effects is unclear," he told Fox News Digital. "Our work should be repeated in different countries to assess this." "Further research will be undertaken to try and determine the likely mechanism by which this anomaly causes dementia and what more we can do to reduce the impact of it." Beyond this specific mutation, many other genetic and environmental factors can contribute to dementia risk, Olynyk noted. "While genetic risk factors cannot be changed, the mechanisms by which these genetic abnormalities and environmental factors cause disease may well be modifiable to some extent, through adopting a healthy lifestyle and being proactive about maintaining an overall good state of health," he said. To reduce risk, the researchers recommend adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes exercising regularly, eating a nutritious diet, minimizing alcohol intake, remaining mentally active, and seeing a doctor to address any medical problem known to increase the likelihood of dementia. For more Health articles, visit The University of Melbourne, The Royal Children's Hospital, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Fiona Stanley Hospital also contributed to the study.
