Our Stories
Falls prevention: call for review of antidepressant medication use in aged care homes
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.
Climate and health litigation mounting in Australia as exposure to extreme heat grows
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.
Hitchhikers or health must-haves? Five surprising things about your gut microbes
Trillions of microbes live in our digestive systems, impacting everything from our immune response to our brain health. Microbiologist Dr Hasinika Gamage explains how you can get better acquainted with your gut microbiome.
My words, my clothes, my nightmare: journalist Peter Greste relives his arrest on the big screen
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.
Dido & Aeneas, an opera and circus in one: a review
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.
Please explain: Do women sleep differently to men?
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.
Could Australia be left behind in the AI revolution?
Australia is at risk of being left behind in AI development without urgent investment, warns Macquarie University Professor of Data Science, Amin Beheshti.
COVID-19 antivirals mostly prescribed to over-70s: new data
Five years on from the start of the pandemic, with its worldwide lockdowns and border closures, data has revealed a new way of tracking waves of COVID-19, and suggests one staple of pandemic life is still very much needed.
Hope for frozen shoulder treatment: new trial
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.
From Mozart's sister to Madame Clicquot - the sisterhood’s hidden treasures
For millennia, sisters, mothers, wives and daughters have been sacrificed at the altar of male greatness. On International Woman’s Day, Dr Rebecca Sheehan, Senior Lecturer in History and Gender Studies, reminds us of a work in progress.
Lymphoedema: Fact vs Fiction
Advances in lymphoedema research have resulted in significant improvements in managing the condition, but some of the old myths persist. Professor John Boyages AM and Associate Professor Louise Koelmeyer explain the latest evidence-based advice.
Listen up: We need to talk about hearing
Social stigma and misconceptions are roadblocks to people with hearing loss receiving help that could improve their quality of life. To mark World Hearing Day, Professor Bamini Gopinath explains what we can do to change our thinking.