“Finish your dinner or there’ll be no dessert for you!” — it’s a cry heard at dinner tables around the world, as mothers battle to convince their sons about the importance of eating properly. Sorry lads: mum’s right on this one. More »
We’ve told you before about the effects of sugar on your brain and body. A controversial paper in Nature argues that the impact of sugar on global health is such that it should be subject to similar restrictions as alcohol. Australian medical experts aren’t particularly convinced we should go that far, but agree that sugar represents a major health threat and we need to moderate our consumption. More »
The old anecdotal saying that you should never go to sleep angry just got backed up by science, thanks to UMass Amherst neuroscientists. Their study concludes that if you have a negative emotional response — their examples were for viewing an unsettling picture or experiencing a traumatic event — the response is reduced if you stay awake afterwards. More »
What’s better than launching a high-altitude balloon into space from Adelaide 20 times? Doing it live from Linux.conf.au in Ballarat. Check out our exclusive video and learn more about the Project Horus team after the jump, including their plans to launch an Internode Node Pony into space. More »
Think there’s no risk involved in knocking back a Red Bull or a V when you need to stay alert for a big project (or an all-night gaming session)? A new study published in the Medical Journal of Australia highlights a massive rise in calls to poison information lines as a result of caffeine toxicity from energy drinks. More »
Hair grows back thicker when you shave it! Reading in dim light turns you blind! Peeing on a jellyfish sting will soothe the pain! The way our bodies work is a bit of a mystery, and our desire to unlock its secrets has led to a vast amount of misinformation. Many of these false notions are more widely believed than the truth. We took our healthy scepticism and a bunch of research to find the truth behind some of the most common myths about our bodies and our health. Here’s what we learned. More »
We tend to take for granted that we’ll lose mental agility and memory as we age, but when does that process kick in? A recent study suggests that it might happen as early as 45. Yikes! More »
Drug laws are always controversial. Some reform advocates argue prohibition primarily benefits criminals; some health professionals argue that we can’t repeat the mistakes of widespread tobacco and alcohol availability with other substances. But whatever side you take, you’ll find it hard to argue your case convincingly because we lack clear evidence on the impact of current policies surrounding illegal drugs. More »
Almost half of all Americans set new year’s resolutions every year, yet only 10 per cent of them are successful. Why is it so difficult to achieve personal goals, and how can you optimise your chances for success this year? We dug deeper and found some scientifically-supported techniques you can use to increase your chances for success in 2012. More »
In 1992, 94.1 per cent of Australian high school students studied a science subject. In 2010, that proportion had dropped dramatically, with just 51.4 per cent doing science. What happened, and how can we make science a more appealing subject? More »
