Latest research news
A new study of secular societies explores the influence that religion has on non-believers. Co-author Dr Robert Ross explains this deep-seated ‘belief in belief’.
Australia’s exposure to extreme heat continues to grow while the country has emerged as a global hotspot for climate change litigation, according to the latest MJA–Lancet Countdown report published this week.
Psychotropic medicines that are commonly prescribed for older people in aged care homes to treat mental health conditions need to be reviewed because they may cause loss of balance and lead to unnecessary falls and injuries, according to Macquarie University researcher Narjis Batool.
Researchers have made a breakthrough discovery that changes our understanding of Earth’s early geological history, challenging beliefs about how our continents formed and when plate tectonics began.
Health and Medicine
A new map has begun to build a picture of motor neuron disease (MND) in NSW, with the team at Australia’s first MND surveillance centre aiming to collect patient data to pinpoint the causes of the deadly neurodegenerative disease.
A new clinical trial is testing whether a molecular therapy already in use to treat eye disease could help patients with frozen shoulder, a debilitating condition that mostly affects active women aged 40 to 60.
A new study of Australians living with chronic physical health conditions has found family members and doctors who dismiss their experiences cause significant mental distress.
Visits to the doctor could be improved with the use of AI to record a patient’s medical history provided concerns about accuracy, reliability and privacy are addressed. A study led by Macquarie University researchers tested the performance of models such as ChatGPT to find out which form of AI took the best clinical notes.
Please Explain
Falling asleep might look simple, but in fact it’s an elaborate interplay of hormones, circadian rhythms and light cues. Now, as sleep researcher Dr Aurore Perrault explains, studies are showing another big influence on the quality of your slumber is whether you’re a man or a woman.
More than a century after Tutankhamun's tomb was uncovered, a British-Egyptian team has discovered the tomb of another pharaoh, King Thutmose II. Archaeologist Dr Karin Sowada explains why the discovery of a royal tomb – even one largely bereft of artifacts – is big news.
Science and Technology
Video: New research has tracked Australia’s peacock spiders making the fastest-known jumps in a spider, experiencing forces higher than fighter pilots while leaping distances 15 times their body length.
Scientists have found prized Siamese fighting fish are typically being kept in conditions a quarter of the size they need to thrive, challenging decades of retail practice in the multi-million dollar ornamental fish industry worldwide.
Relationship dynamics among birds can be just as complex as they are in humans. While some bird species stick with one partner for life, new research has shown others might switch partners after just one breeding season.
Scientists have used bacterial DNA to track sewage pollution in 18 global harbours, revealing widespread contamination that current testing methods fail to detect.
Arts and Society
A new movie, The Correspondent, tells the story of Macquarie University journalism Professor Peter Greste's 400-day ordeal in an Eygptian jail. Here he reflects on the experience of seeing himself portrayed by actor Richard Roxburgh as well as his ongoing fight for a Media Freedom Act in Australia.
The epic tale of a Trojan hero is given an acrobatic twist in Opera Queensland’s production of Dido & Aeneas, writes Macquarie University Professor of Ancient History Ray Laurence.
In her new book, social anthropologist Dr Ceridwen Dovey explores the imaginary tales of human-made objects adrift in outer space, using real events as her inspiration. Here Dr Dovey unveils the motive behind her 'characters' which include the International Space Station and the Voyager 1 space probe.
More than a century after Tutankhamun's tomb was uncovered, a British-Egyptian team has discovered the tomb of another pharaoh, King Thutmose II. Archaeologist Dr Karin Sowada explains why the discovery of a royal tomb – even one largely bereft of artifacts – is big news.
Business and The Economy
Macquarie University has teamed with tech giant Tata Consultancy Services to produce a business white paper through its research and innovation centre, the TCS GoZero Hub, to help Australian organisations in their quest to reach net zero carbon emissions.
Many air passengers are open to paying extra for flights with reduced emissions, according to a new study of consumer preferences by Macquarie University researchers.
Opinion: Faith-based voters represent a significant proportion of the U.S. electorate - and they overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump.
Opinion: New research led by Macquarie Business School suggests government programs to subsidise the cost of solar panels for low-income households may not be the best way to boost the uptake of solar energy.