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Silent killer: Coming to grips with an emerging epidemic of viral hepatitis
By Andi Horvath
Infectious diseases expert and epidemiologist Dr Ben Cowie explains why viral hepatitis is fast becoming a hidden epidemic with significant public health consequences. Most people with chronic hepatitis types B and C aren't even aware they have the diseases as they show no obvious symptoms or signs, yet they risk severe illness or liver damage. So how is the global health community targeting hepatitis, and how to grow awareness in a largely unsuspecting public?
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
The baby makers: The science behind healthier embryos and better IVF
By Andi Horvath
Reproductive biologist Professor David Gardner explains what we're still learning about healthy embryo development, how it's being applied to improve IVF technologies, and the unexpected insights it may offer into how cells implant themselves and proliferate, including how cancers take hold.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
What's killing women? Sex disparity and the shifting landscape of age-related disease
By Andi Horvath
Population health researcher Professor Cassandra Szoeke outlines what ails women as they grow older, how men differ from women in age-related diseases, and how public awareness and personal lifestyle change have been shown to have a positive impact on women's quality of life in their later years.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Antagonise your ageing: The science behind living healthier for longer
By Andi Horvath
Geriatrician Professor Andrea Maier describes what happens to our cells as we age, and explains the causes of age-related diseases. She also discusses how positive lifestyle choices and preventive medical interventions can help us live healthier for longer.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Feeding the 9 billion: Inconvenient truths about global food security
By Andi Horvath
Sustainable agriculture expert Prof Tim Reeves discusses the profound changes required in agricultural practice, public policy and consumer behavior if we are to feed earth’s ever-growing human population that is projected to exceed 9 billion in 2050. Business as usual won’t pass muster anymore.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Genetic find and replace with CRISPR: Technology that will revolutionize medicine and agriculture
By Andi Horvath
Molecular biologist Prof Jacob Corn describes how gene editing is carried out with CRISPR-Cas9. He explains why this technology has the potential of revolutionizing the treatment of diseases such as sickle cell anemia and malaria. Besides human health, CRISPR-Cas9 can also contribute to improving agriculture and, consequently, food security. Jacob also discusses the possible ethical challenges posed by the widespread application of gene editing.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Going viral: Global food security under threat from crop and livestock diseases
By Andi Horvath
Virologist and infectious diseases expert Prof John Fazakerley details the myriad threats to the global food supply from pathogen infestations in crops and livestock, and how new genetic and surveillance technologies are lending hope to keeping them in check.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Recovery from stroke: Harnessing the brain's capacity to overcome disability
By Andi Horvath
Stroke rehabilitation researcher Prof. Julie Bernhardt discusses the state of the science in stroke recovery. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, Prof Bernhardt and her team develop and test new exercises and rehabilitation measures that aim not only to reduce disability but promote recovery. This includes renewed attention to precise timing of therapeutic interventions, and to environmental enrichment of clinical spaces.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Show me the data: Sifting pseudoscience from the real thing
By Andi Horvath
In a world with a bewildering mix of fact and fiction, and in which social and mainstream media only add to the confusion, how do we separate out false or dubious claims from the well-founded and evidence-based? Research and clinical psychologist Prof Scott Lilienfeld joins science host Dr Andi Horvath to help us distinguish pseudoscience from the real thing by exploring popular myths that too often make fools of us.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Ear to the ground: Preparing for and recovering from earthquakes
By Andi Horvath
Earthquake researcher Assoc Prof Mark Quigley explains the lessons learned from recent major earthquakes into how to better prepare regions at risk, the value of strong science communication to affected populations during crisis, and the importance of developing appropriate building codes in anticipation of the Next Big One.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
