Researchers have released a new online tool to help schools, hospitals and residents understand and reduce the impact of traffic-related air pollution. The Hedge Design for the Abatement of Traffic Emissions (HedgeDATE) — online tool allows users to describe their environment — such as a road with buildings on one side — and then recommends…

Impressive athleticism was on display during the Winter Olympics, but being at the top of one’s game doesn’t necessarily protect against digestive distress resulting from exercise. Surprisingly, some people are adding cocoa to their diets to reduce these symptoms. Now, researchers report that long-term daily consumption of cocoa doesn’t appear to improve exercise-related digestive issues…

Researchers have discovered most pet owners have inadequate plans for their pets if a natural disaster strikes — but disaster response planners may be able to turn this into a positive. Dr Yetta Gurtner from JCU’s Centre for Disaster Studies said it’s well known that human-animal relationships can inhibit effective emergency responses and evacuations, and…

Pet dogs are highly receptive to commands from their owners. But is this due to their training or do dogs have an innate ability to understand human signals? A new study finds that 80% of untrained stray dogs successfully followed pointing directions from people to a specific location. The results suggest that dogs can understand…

Whether it’s a dollop on your morning cereal or a simple snack on the go, a daily dose of yogurt could be the next go-to food for people with high blood pressure, according to new research. Conducted in partnership with the University of Maine, the study examined the associations between yoghurt intake, blood pressure and…

A new study that has important implications for the understanding of sex differences in alcohol consumption has shown that stress alone leads to excessive drinking in women but not men. The study used a simulated bar environment to test how stress affected whether participants drank more than intended. Men who experienced the same stress only…

Eating meat five times or less per week is associated with a lower overall cancer risk, according to two studies. Cody Watling and colleagues from the University of Oxford, UK investigated the relationship between diet and cancer risk by analysing data collected from 472,377 British adults who were recruited to the UK Biobank between 2006…

Swapping out red meat for certain plant-based meat alternatives can improve some cardiovascular risk factors, according to a new study. The small study was funded by an unrestricted gift from Beyond Meat, which makes plant-based meat alternatives, and used products from the company in comparing the health effects of meat with plant-based alternatives. Beyond Meat…

Owners of bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs are highly likely to want to own their breed again in the future, and to recommend their breed to other owners, according to a new study. The development of breed loyalty toward these so-called brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs may lead to their continued proliferation and popularity, despite their substantial…

Animal owners frequently report concerns and worries relating to caring for their animal during the pandemic, new research suggests. The study also revealed owners had increased their appreciation of their animals during the first lockdown phase. The notion that people ‘could not live without’ their animals and that they were a ‘godsend’ or a ‘lifeline’…