Wildcard

Australians are feeling the pressure of rising grocery prices. At the same time, we throw away huge amounts of perfectly edible food every year. Some food spoils before we can use it. But we waste plenty of food by throwing away parts of ingredients we simply don’t think to use. Many of these leftovers are…

Many Australian children struggle with their mental health. Recent data shows around one in seven children (13.9%) aged 4–17 experiences a diagnosable mental illness. So what can actually help? Our research shows the most powerful influences on children’s wellbeing begin at home. We analysed data from 5,501 children tracking their mental health over a decade…

The human brain is remarkably complex, with trillions of connections that control how you move, think and feel. Yet it’s still vulnerable to debilitating conditions such as paralysis, stroke, epilepsy and various neurodegenerative diseases. Scientists are investigating if a kind of technology, known as the brain-computer interface, could help patients move and communicate better. So…

Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions worldwide, has a long preclinical stage. It potentially begins decades before clinical symptoms become apparent. But as our new research suggests, blood biomarkers in combination with self-reported memory concerns could offer an early clue to how Alzheimer’s disease develops across the life course. This means midlife…

Winter is coming, and with the cold weather comes respiratory viral infections, including influenza. So now’s a good time to protect yourself and others with the flu vaccine. It’s effective, free and widely available for many high-risk groups. Even if you don’t qualify for a free vaccine, it’s still recommended for you and your family….

Six passengers from the hantavirus cruise ship have started their quarantine at Australia’s purpose-built facility in Western Australia. Over the next three weeks, the Australians and one New Zealander will be housed at the 500-bed Bullsbrook facility north-east of Perth, one of three purpose-built “centres for national resilience” around the country. There, staff from the…

Manicures and pedicures are big business, with the global nail care market estimated to be worth US$23.5 billion. But sometimes clients visiting nail salons come away with more than beautiful nails. Several women from Perth recently told the ABC they contracted severe infections after visiting nail salons for manicures and pedicures. Western Australia Consumer Protection…

The heady scent of tea tree is one of the iconic smells of the Australian bush. And the essential oils derived from tea trees have been used as medicines, first by Indigenous people, then by colonists. Today, many of us have a bottle of tea tree oil at home, or use shampoo or creams containing…

After weeks (or months) of putting it off, you book a longer appointment with your GP to talk about your mental health. You explain that you’ve been feeling low, anxious and overwhelmed. They suggest seeing a psychologist. But how do you know if this psychologist is the right person for you? It’s a fair question,…

Since 2020, Australia has had an ongoing shortage of oestrogen patches, which are usually prescribed to help ease menopause symptoms. In March, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) confirmed shortages of several brands and doses of patches will last until at least the end of this year. But this estimate has already been pushed back many…

You are “coming down with something”. Maybe you have a scratchy throat and body aches. You have an old, combination flu/COVID rapid antigen test in the cupboard. Should you use it to see if you have the flu? Will it detect the “super-K” flu you’ve heard about? Or is it worth seeing a doctor for…