https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Flinders University An Australian-led international research collaboration has delivered a promising breakthrough in the quest to better understand and treat childhood dementia. Recently published in the journal Nature Communications, the study uncovered a fundamental mechanism underlying Sanfilippo syndrome, a common form of childhood dementia, revealing how hyperactive and dysregulated synaptic circuits emerge in the brain tissue of children impacted by this devastating disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-childhood-dementia-brain-cells.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:40:03 EDT news694798321 Snapper are central to coastal life across southern Australia, supporting fisheries, local businesses, and regional tourism. New Flinders University research has found that although snapper populations across southern Australia are highly connected, they are not fully interchangeable. The study shows that local environmental conditions help maintain important population adaptations, a finding with implications for stock recovery, fisheries management and resilience under climate change. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-born-roam-built-home-genomic.html Ecology Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:00:06 EDT news694774082 People whose sleep apnea changes dramatically from night to night are 30% more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure, reveals a new study from Flinders University. The research, published in the journal SLEEP, shows that it is not just how severe sleep apnea is that matters, but how much it fluctuates, with wide night-to-night swings in breathing problems during sleep linked to a higher risk of serious heart disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-patterns-reveal-hidden-heart.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:20:06 EDT news694776661 Chronic breathlessness affects every part of a person's life—including their sex life, with people experiencing breathlessness saying they have greatly reduced satisfaction with their overall sexual life. Flinders University researchers have found from a national survey that the often-underplayed condition of chronic breathlessness can not only affect people's physical condition but also limit their enjoyment of such intimacies as sex. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-sex-life-breathlessness.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:00:05 EDT news694342093 As Australia faces renewed strategic tension and the heightened prospect of conflict abroad, new Flinders University research warns that many veterans and their families—the very people relied upon to protect the nation—are being failed long after their service ends. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nation-prison-sentence.html Social Sciences Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:30:01 EDT news694250055 Earth has already exceeded its ability to support the global population sustainably, with new research warning of increasing pressure on food security, climate stability, and human well-being. However, slowing population growth and raising global awareness could still offer humanity some hope. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-global-human-population-earth.html Earth Sciences Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:40:07 EDT news694087261 Hair damaged by dyes, bleaching or harsh sunlight has just got special treatment. Green chemistry researchers at Flinders University are experimenting with plant-based oils to develop a promising new structural keratin-type repair application to reduce breakage and improve hair health. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-eco-friendly-hair-natural-personal.html Biochemistry Sun, 29 Mar 2026 13:00:04 EDT news693496754 Australia's new ban on social media for under-16s should be judged on much more than whether adolescents stay offline, researchers say. Experts from Flinders University say success of the policy should be measured by its impact on young people's mental health, school performance, digital literacy, and how they spend their time outside of social media. They also warn that restricting access may have limited impact unless social media platforms themselves are required to build safer environments to prevent young users from accessing harmful content. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-teen-social-media-impacts-mental.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 20:30:01 EDT news692965094 The introduction of vision-enabled artificial intelligence (AI) to medical scribes—the recording devices used by doctors to document meetings with patients in real-time—could increase the accuracy of patient notes and save valuable time for clinicians. A Flinders University study, published in npj Digital Medicine, has found that AI medical scribes already reduce some administrative work that takes time away from patients, but these devices have the capacity to do more when fitted with visual recording apparatus. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-ai-scribes-eyes-clinic.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:20:03 EDT news693071701 A new Aboriginal‑led health initiative on Ngarrindjeri Ruwe (Country)—the Lower River Murray, Lakes and Coorong region—in South Australia has recently concluded a pilot to explore outcomes from a culturally grounded approach to improving type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome in Aboriginal communities. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-aboriginal-leadership-good-foods-diabetes.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:30:06 EDT news692986861 Vaping remains prevalent among Australian adolescents and young adults, despite increasing evidence of associated health risks and evolving regulatory restrictions. While some youth acknowledge potential harms, many continue vaping, which raises serious questions about the role of uncertainty tolerance in their sustained use. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-young-vapers-dont-discuss-health.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:00:01 EDT news692873820 After years of research, international experts have confirmed the discovery of a new chemical reaction, launching new opportunities for rapid advances in a range of fields—from recycled plastics to pharmaceuticals. In the article, "Spontaneous Trisulfide Metathesis in Polar Aprotic Solvents" in Nature Chemistry, the interdisciplinary team explore how sulfur-sulfur bonds can be formed and broken rapidly and cleanly at room temperature, opening new avenues for drug development, biotech and protein science, and chemical and material science. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-plastics-pharmaceuticals-discovery-chain-reactions.html Polymers Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:00:04 EDT news692538061 Generative AI (GenAI) has significant potential to boost girls' confidence, agency, and participation in STEM subjects—but new research shows that realizing such potential depends on how teachers use GenAI in the classroom. The findings are published in the journal Education and Information Technologies. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-generative-ai-empower-girls-stem.html Education Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:20:05 EDT news692468162 Living with, or being at risk of, lymphedema after breast cancer can leave many people feeling uncertain and overwhelmed. Too often, survivors must search for information on their own, sometimes too late, and without clear guidance on what matters most for their long-term health. To help address this challenge, researchers from Flinders University have developed Lymphedema Navigation Online (LeaN On), a new evidence-based digital platform supporting breast cancer survivors across Australia who are living with, or worried about, lymphedema. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-lymphedema-breast-cancer.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 19:40:03 EDT news692353945 New research from Flinders University has revealed why many people struggle to stick to their dieting goals, particularly when their emotions fluctuate throughout the day. The study, published in the journal Food Quality and Preference, examined how emotions influence eating behavior in chronic dieters and tested whether negative moods and difficulties regulating emotions drive people toward unhealthy food choices. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-emotions-choices.html Psychology & Psychiatry Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:20:04 EST news691831081 Eye experts at Flinders University have released new global findings that reveal how a rare eye cancer first appears, offering vital insights that will help doctors diagnose the disease earlier and improve care for patients around the world. The research draws on the International Vitreoretinal B‑Cell Lymphoma Registry, the world's largest global project dedicated to understanding this aggressive eye cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-registry-major-gaps-rare-eye.html Oncology & Cancer Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:40:03 EST news691655402 A comprehensive game plan and strategic tactics are critical to winning soccer, but how much does a team's unpredictability in moving the soccer ball around the pitch matter? In a new article published in PLOS One, an international team of researchers analyzed event data from top-tier association soccer competitions to provide insights into match analysis, player tactics and game strategy. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-sports-stats-unpredictable-play-winner.html Mathematics Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:20:01 EST news691413601 There is a significant gap in South Australia's approach to children's vision screening, with hundreds of children at risk of permanent, preventable vision loss each year, new Flinders University research has found. Led by optometrist and Flinders Ph.D. candidate Cassandra Haines from Flinders' College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the study found that 17% of children in a school-based Year 3 sample had an undiagnosed vision condition, with 2.5% having amblyopia (lazy eye). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-south-australian-children-permanent-vision.html Ophthalmology Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:10:06 EST news691395654 Cleaning blood from a violent crime scene can complicate crime scene investigations, particularly when accurate evidence is required for a conviction in court. A new study led by Flinders University, published in the Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, compares evidence collected from remaining DNA and hemoglobin (red blood cells) left on cotton T-shirt material and metal knives from wet and dried blood cleaned with a variety of different common cleaning products. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-crime-scene-blood-damning.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:40:09 EST news691320577 People who prefer structured, rule-based explanations may find conspiracy theories appealing because they offer a clear, ordered explanation for events that feel chaotic. New research led by Flinders University has found that understanding how someone processes information can be a strong predictor of whether they are drawn to conspiracy beliefs that can influence vaccine uptake, trust in institutions and responses to emergencies. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-conspiracy-theories-irresistible.html Social Sciences Thu, 26 Feb 2026 07:00:05 EST news691304462 Contamination of ground, surface and drinking water by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) affects millions of people worldwide. A promising new method developed by Flinders University scientists paves the way to help remove the most difficult-to-capture variants of these persistent pollutants from water. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-nano-cage-pfas.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:00:01 EST news691247393 For many Australians working in high-risk industries, the answer is a resounding no, and that's a problem. A new study by Flinders University reveals that fear of punishment and lack of trust in management are major barriers to tackling alcohol and drug risks at work. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-comfortable-boss-problem-alcohol-drugs.html Social Sciences Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:00:06 EST news691242117 Zero-alcohol drink advertising may not be as harmless as it seems, with new Flinders University research showing it could increase teenagers' interest in drinking full-strength alcohol. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-alcohol-ads-teens.html Health Mon, 23 Feb 2026 07:20:03 EST news691051798 While killer whales (Orcinus orca) can trigger the immediate departure of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias), extended absences from their aggregation sites are also part of the sharks' natural behavior, new research reveals. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-twelve-year-tracking-killer-whales.html Ecology Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:50:42 EST news690619743 The days of dropping a thermal imaging camera and replacing an expensive lens are coming to an end with a new repairable lens developed by Flinders University scientists. The high-performance lens for infrared cameras invented by Flinders researchers is emerging as a lower cost, more sustainable option for industries which use thermal imaging cameras, including security and surveillance, medicine, electrical engineering, electronics, defense and autonomous vehicle operation. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-infrared-lens-thermal-imaging-devices.html Engineering Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:00:02 EST news690562176 A new international research paper is challenging long-held beliefs about what makes the world's fastest sprinters so quick, offering fresh insights that could transform how Australia develops its next generation of speed stars. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-sprinting-science-rewrites-rulebook.html Sports medicine & Kinesiology Mon, 16 Feb 2026 08:46:49 EST news690453961 Islands are famous for producing some of the world's strangest creatures, and now a new international study shows that the evolution of bird species on Hawaiian islands includes an ibis with unusually small eyes and limited visual capacity. The team from University of Lethbridge in Canada and Flinders University in Australia made the discovery while examining the skull of Apteribis, an extinct flightless ibis that once inhabited the Hawaiian islands. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-extinct-hawaiian-ibis-strangely-small.html Evolution Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:12:44 EST news690037922 The tide has turned on the conservation success story of the southern right whale. Once considered a global conservation success story, the species is now emerging as a warning signal of how climate change is impacting threatened marine life, according to new research led by scientists from Flinders University and Curtin University with international collaborators in the US and South Africa. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-southern-whales-climate-driven-decline.html Plants & Animals Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:00:08 EST news690004594 New research confirms the potential for police forensic investigators to carefully consider the presence of pets at crime scenes as a credible new avenue for finding and investigating DNA leads to solve the case. The Long-running research by Flinders University and Victoria Police experts demonstrates how dogs and cats can be tested for indirect DNA transfer at crime scenes from people other than householders or pet owners. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-silent-witnesses-pets-fur-ensic.html Biotechnology Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:21:51 EST news689941261 Hundreds of international experts in gambling addiction are urging a more coordinated approach to enhance interventions and therapies, while aligning research priorities to tackle the escalating problem. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-experts-countries-priorities-curb-gambling.html Addiction Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:10:01 EST news689488958