https://medicalxpress.com/ en-us provides the latest news from Flinders University Big Talks for Little People, an innovative child mental health support program, has helped alleviate bullying that had been reported by students in Out of School Hours Care (OSHC), according to a new study conducted by Flinders University researchers. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-mental-health-success-anti-bullying.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:00:04 EDT news700137362 The surge in caravan and camper usage within Australia could place extra pressure on regional wastewater treatment systems because of the chemicals commonly used in caravan and camper toilet systems, according to new research from Flinders University. When people using caravans empty their toilet waste at roadside dumpsites, caravan parks and regional dump stations, the wastewater—which contains concentrated detergent, deodorizer and sanitizer chemicals—is transported to local wastewater treatment plants. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-camper-wastewater-chemicals-regional.html Sat, 06 Jun 2026 09:30:02 EDT news699866884 Food waste is a nagging problem that weighs heavily on global food production, distribution and sales industries—but an emerging generation of AI sensors is providing a raft of fresh solutions. The embrace of AI in food industries has been swift, which is why Flinders University researchers have worked with an international research team to build the first comprehensive overview of AI technologies involved in the food industry. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-food-industries-embrace-ai-sensors.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:00:08 EDT news699699989 Australia is facing a growing addiction crisis with 1 in 30 people meeting the criteria for a substance use disorder, yet addiction medicine remains one of the least visible specialties with only 245 doctors and 68 trainees nationwide currently specializing in addiction medicine. A research team led by Flinders University says the solution could lie in boosting awareness, training pathways and early exposure to rapidly grow the addiction medicine workforce. With an average workforce age of around 62, many are nearing retirement, which raises urgent concerns about the future of this workforce. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-tackle-addiction-medicine-specialist-shortage.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:20:05 EDT news699615062 Amid growing concern about the widespread off-label use of sedative medications for sleep problems, Flinders University researchers have led a world-first clinical trial examining how a commonly prescribed "sleeping pill" affects sleep, breathing and next-day performance. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-commonly-medication-problems-alarm-bells.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:00:05 EDT news699524161 A new study from Flinders University researchers describes the perspectives of aged care staff on when and how they communicate with families to plan end-of-life care—and identifies that increased training and resources are needed to properly equip aged care staff for appropriate engagement with families. The work is published in the Australasian Journal on Ageing. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-aged-staff-life-conversations.html Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:15 EDT news699185161 New research published in BMC Biology helps to fill in questions about the so-called "Furongian gap" from about 497 million to 485 million years ago, when paleontologists previously thought there were far fewer fossils than periods before or after it. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-forgotten-museum-fossil-rewrite-animal.html Thu, 28 May 2026 09:00:02 EDT news699094381 Gay dating apps are exposing men to intense pressure to look sexually desirable, fueling body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem, with some users describing the experience as feeling like they are "selling their body" rather than forming genuine connections. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-culture-dating-apps-men-body.html Wed, 27 May 2026 09:00:01 EDT news699090421 Autistic Australians face a homelessness risk nearly three times higher than the general population, according to new Flinders University research that reveals how everyday systems are failing to recognize and support autistic needs before housing is lost. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-autistic-australians-homeless-reveals.html Tue, 26 May 2026 23:00:01 EDT news698993542 An international study team, led by Flinders University in collaboration with Khalifa University UAE, built the machine-learning platform to act like a "smart materials discovery engine," which is capable of dramatically reducing the time spent on complex computer or lab experiments to test and find new materials for future semiconductors. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-05-ai-discovery-gen-chips-electronic.html Mon, 25 May 2026 13:20:01 EDT news698933341 New research has uncovered how a protein strongly linked to Alzheimer's disease plays a critical role in forming long-lasting memories—opening up new directions for future dementia treatments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-alzheimer-linked-protein-term-memories.html Mon, 25 May 2026 12:20:03 EDT news698930161 Teenagers who see exercise as fun, social and good for their health are significantly fitter by late adolescence than those driven by competition, pressure or fear of judgment, new research led by Flinders University shows. Tracking more than 1,000 young people from age 14 to 17, researchers found early attitudes to physical activity strongly predict measurable aerobic fitness three years later. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-teen-attitudes-years.html Thu, 21 May 2026 10:40:06 EDT news698577421 Food insecurity—or the uncertain access to sufficient, nutritious and safe foods—is a "wicked problem" affecting 1 in 3 people worldwide. Social supermarkets are slowly emerging in Australia as a different approach to food relief, offering affordable food access with social support services which provide both dignity and social inclusion, Flinders University researchers say. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-food-relief-packages.html Tue, 19 May 2026 08:20:01 EDT news698393821 Can you imagine feeling good about your body being home to trillions of bacteria and viruses—as well as life-giving "invisible friend" microbes in the air, soil and water? Before you say yuck, this concept is a new way microbiologists are encouraging people to think about their place in the world—and the important ties between a healthy mind and body and the natural world. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-microbes-health-nature.html Mon, 18 May 2026 20:00:05 EDT news698314923 Many male hoverflies have bigger eyes than females, giving them the advantage of better optics and faster photoreceptors in high-speed pursuits to find a preferred partner to breed. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-sex-differences-hoverfly-eyes-insight.html Thu, 14 May 2026 12:16:50 EDT news697979761 Easy-to-use adaptive immersive technologies incorporating augmented reality (AR) can motivate learning, social engagement and cognitive development in early childhood, according to new research. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-ar-tech-augments-stem.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:17:36 EDT news697965422 For people living in regional and remote communities, where access to a GP or pathology services can involve long travel distances and large out-of-pocket expenses, point-of-care testing (POCT) offers a convenient way to receive timely health information closer to home. New research from Flinders University suggests these rapid, on-the-spot health tests may do more than deliver faster results—they could also help people better understand their health and feel more confident managing long-term conditions like diabetes and heart disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-rapid-health-boost-patient-confidence.html Wed, 13 May 2026 20:40:02 EDT news697886708 The first national in-depth study to examine alcohol use among Australian middle-aged men has found that more than 2 million are drinking at levels that put their health at risk of harm. The new Flinders University research, in partnership with the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF), analyzed national data from the 2019 and 2022/23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey to identify factors linked to risky drinking among midlife men aged 30–59, comparing the younger (30–44) and older (45–59) age groups. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-million-australian-middle-aged-men.html Tue, 12 May 2026 10:40:01 EDT news697799581 Climate change will increasingly stress water supply and economic and environmental systems, creating a mounting need for more ideas to reduce reliance and conserve diminishing river and groundwater resources. MAR takes surface water, such as rainwater, stormwater or treated wastewater, and stores it underground to replenish groundwater, restore ecosystems, and provide a reliable climate-independent water supply. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-aquifer-recharge-buffer-scarcity-policy.html Mon, 11 May 2026 19:20:06 EDT news697718184 A major international study led by Flinders University has identified a genetic contributor to juvenile glaucoma. Published today in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, the study marks another important step toward treating multiple forms of glaucoma with the support of genetic testing. While glaucoma typically affects older adults, many people are unaware it can affect younger people too. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-gene-duplication-juvenile-glaucoma-patients.html Thu, 07 May 2026 13:20:02 EDT news697378081 As Australia and the world face rapidly aging populations, technology is increasingly promoted as the answer to helping older people live safely, independently and well—but experts warn that innovation alone is not enough. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-aging-digital-world.html Mon, 04 May 2026 10:00:03 EDT news697106882 Under controlled conditions, Flinders University researchers are investigating third-hand contamination risk from methamphetamine use. Environmental health experts have found open windows and ventilation can reduce but not completely remove methamphetamine contamination on most hard surfaces of a car after an extended period. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-contamination-car-interiors.html Mon, 04 May 2026 09:00:03 EDT news697101662 In today's celebrity‑ and influencer‑driven culture, psychologists are increasingly interested in why people form strong emotional connections with famous figures, finding that celebrity admiration is closely linked to how clearly people understand themselves. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-celebrity-worship-worth.html Fri, 01 May 2026 07:20:18 EDT news696835682 Flinders University experts are warning that artificial intelligence (AI) must be carefully evaluated and governed before it is adopted widely in health care, saying rapid advances do not automatically translate into safe use for patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-medical-ai-faster-safety-experts.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:00:15 EDT news696679501 New research led by Flinders University argues thick tooth enamel helped kangaroos chart an unconventional evolution story, compared to the animals of other continents. A 50-million-year natural "experiment" among Australia's marsupials suggests that the outcomes of evolution are far from certain. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-kangaroos-upside-evolution.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:00:05 EDT news696757141 Nearly one-third of Australian adults are getting less than the recommended seven hours of sleep, with young adults (ages 18–34) emerging as the most sleep deprived and most affected by the consequences of poor sleep, reveals a new study by Flinders University and the Sleep Health Foundation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-young-adults.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:20:05 EDT news696759062 New Australian research has found that popular fitness and supplement videos on TikTok can leave young men feeling worse about their fitness and nutrition, and increase their interest in using muscle‑building supplements. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-tiktok-muscle-nightmare-young-men.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:40:03 EDT news696663781 Australia's platypus, one of the world's most enigmatic animals, had a more exotic origin story, according to an exciting discovery by Flinders University paleontologists. They have described rare 25-million-year-old fossils found east of the Flinders Ranges in remote outback South Australia which show ancient platypus with well-formed teeth munched on a varied diet in huge inland lakes and rivers, probably with other critters such as ancient lungfish, flamingos and freshwater dolphins. https://sciencex.com/news/2026-04-platypus-exotic-story-bigger-swimmer.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:50:02 EDT news696508857 Digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) in health care requires a range of safeguards and standards to work well, but new research from Flinders University provides support for effective AI systems to improve cardiovascular care. The study examines how Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) can transform cardiovascular disease management—a leading cause of death in Australia—by providing more accurate, timely decisions while addressing real-world barriers like workflow integration, usability and clinician adoption. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ai-heart-disease.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:40:01 EDT news696243888 Flinders University researchers have taken a revealing look inside the head of one of the first animals to crawl from the water to live on land more than 380 million years ago. Using high-tech neutron imaging, they scanned the skull and braincase of the only known specimen of Koharalepis jarviki, a large fossil fish found in freshwater rivers in the vast Lashly Mountains region of Antarctica which lived during the Devonian Period or "Age of Fishes." https://phys.org/news/2026-04-skull-devonian-fish-gondwana-revealed.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:20:07 EDT news696170303