Latest news with #FlindersUniversity
United News of India
7 hours ago
- Science
- United News of India
Australian scientists explore if relocating its endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard to new areas will aid preservation
Canberra, June 21 (UNI) Climate change and shrinking habitats are threatening reptile species globally, including South Australia's endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard, a new study by researchers revealed. Scientists are now exploring whether relocating these burrow-dwelling skinks to cooler, greener environments could secure their future as their traditional northern habitats become hotter and drier, according to a release from Flinders University in South Australia. The study compared how three separate pygmy bluetongue populations adapt to different microclimates across South Australia. Originally native to the northern Flinders Ranges near Jamestown, the lizards have been relocated about 150 km south to the Mid North region near Burra, as well as to more southerly sites around Tarlee and Kapunda in South Australia. The research published in Biology highlighted the challenges of translocation, as lizards must adjust to new temperatures, humidity and water availability, factors crucial for their survival. Reptiles like the pygmy bluetongue depend heavily on maintaining specific body temperatures for basic bodily functions, but higher temperatures increase their risk of dehydration, said Deanne Trewartha, a PhD candidate at Flinders University's Lab of Evolutionary Genetics and Sociality. "We need to understand how this species, which are highly dependent on body temperature, adapt to cooler and often wetter seasons in these new environments," said Trewartha. Initial results showed acclimatization may take over two years and vary by origin, but translocation still appears a promising long-term strategy to reduce extinction risk, she said. With Australia home to the world's highest reptile diversity, translocation is growing ever more urgent to safeguard small burrow-dwelling reptiles and other ectotherms, relying on their surroundings to regulate body temperature, from biodiversity loss, the researchers said. UNI/XINHUA ANV ARN
NDTV
21 hours ago
- Health
- NDTV
Casino Lighting May Be Secretly Pushing You To Gamble More, Reveals Study
A new study by researchers from Flinders University and Monash University in Australia suggests that casino lighting may play a surprising role in encouraging risky gambling behaviour. The research found that blue-enriched lighting, commonly used in casino decor and LED screens, may influence brain responses, making individuals less sensitive to financial losses. The study published in Nature's Scientific Reports journal examined participants' economic decisions using a series of casino scenarios under blue-enriched and blue-depleted light to assess the impact of light wavelengths on risk preferences. "We found that light with more blue wavelengths in it, which is frequently emitted by LED screens and casino lighting, could subtly influence how people perceive losses and gains," says lead author, Dr Alicia Lander from FHMRI Sleep Health. "This raises questions about the role of lighting in environments like casinos or online gambling platforms." According to the news release by Flinders University, the study investigated whether circadian photoreception affects risk-taking behaviour during gambling by manipulating the 'melanopic' brightness of light, which targets the body's internal clock, while keeping visual brightness constant. The results showed that participants exposed to blue-enriched light became less sensitive to losses, making them more likely to choose risky financial options over safer alternatives. "Typically, people have a strong tendency to avoid losses, often outweighing potential gains in their decision-making," says Dr Lander. "However, under blue-enriched light, which stimulates non-visual circadian photoreceptors, they demonstrated a reduced sensitivity to financial losses that may influence gambling tendencies, potentially encouraging riskier behaviours. "Under conditions where the lighting emitted less blue, people tended to feel a $100 loss much more strongly than a $100 gain - the loss just feels worse. "But under bright, blue-heavy light such as that seen in casino machines, the $100 loss didn't appear to feel as bad, so people were more willing to take the risk." The study suggests that blue light alters neural processing in brain regions tied to reward and decision-making, such as the amygdala and habenula, possibly dampening negative emotions associated with losses. "Interestingly, we found that women displayed greater loss aversion than men, showing more reluctance to take risks under both light conditions," says Dr Lander. "This aligns with previous research indicating that women often experience stronger emotional responses to financial uncertainty, while men may have a greater tolerance for risk."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Sleep apnoea cases may double this century due to global warming, researchers warn
Hotter nights caused by climate crisis could make sleep apnoea much more common and more dangerous by the end of the century, a new study has found. Rising temperatures are likely to worsen obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) – a sleep disorder already affecting nearly a billion people worldwide and linked to heart disease, dementia and early death, researchers said. The study, led by researchers at Flinders University and published in Nature Communications, is the first to model how climate change may intensify the severity and health impact of OSA. 'This study helps us to understand how environmental factors like climate might affect health by investigating whether ambient temperatures influence the severity of OSA,' said lead author Dr Bastien Lechat of Flinders University's FHMRI Sleep Health. Researchers analysed more than 58 million nights of sleep data from over 116,000 people across 29 countries, recorded via an under-mattress sensor that tracked breathing disturbances during sleep. The data, collected over several years, was then matched with hourly climate data from global climate models to simulate changes in OSA severity under different warming scenarios. 'Overall, we were surprised by the magnitude of the association between ambient temperature and OSA severity,' said Dr Lechat. 'Higher temperatures were associated with a 45 per cent increased likelihood of a sleeper experiencing OSA on a given night.' The study found that the temperature-related increase in OSA severity was particularly pronounced in European countries compared to Australia or the US, which researchers suggest may be linked to differing access to air conditioning. Researchers used disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) to estimate the health and economic burden of climate-exacerbated sleep apnoea. They found that in 2023 alone, rising temperatures were linked to the loss of approximately 800,000 healthy life years across the 29 countries studied. 'This number is similar to other medical conditions, such as bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease or chronic kidney diseases,' said Dr Lechat. The total estimated economic loss was around $98bn, with $68bn attributed to wellbeing loss and $30bn to reduced workplace productivity. Senior researcher Professor Danny Eckert said the sample may under-represent the real-world burden of OSA in lower-income countries, as the data primarily came from individuals in high-income regions with better access to cooling and healthcare. 'This may have biased our estimates and led to an under-estimation of the true health and economic cost,' he said. In Australia alone, the cost of sleep-related health issues including OSA has previously been estimated at AU$66bn a year. The team now plans to investigate potential interventions, including how access to cooling or behavioural adaptations might reduce sleep apnoea severity under warming conditions. 'Going forward, we want to design intervention studies that explore strategies to reduce the impact of ambient temperatures on sleep apnoea severity as well as investigate the underlying physiological mechanisms,' Professor Eckert said. Without stronger global climate action, the burden of sleep apnoea is likely to rise sharply, the study warns, exacerbating public health challenges and straining economies.
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Sleep apnea is on the rise — new study finds climate change might be to blame
As summer sets in you might notice the impact hot temperatures have on your sleep, with many of us struggling to drift off when stuffy or overheated. But rising temperatures might impact our sleep in ways we don't immediately realize, with a new study drawing a link between climate change-induced global warming and increased levels of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea, characterized by disrupted breathing at night, is already among the most common sleep disorders, with an estimated 936 million people worldwide thought to experience OSA (obstructive sleep apnea.) And this study indicates that this prevalence could continue to rise alongside global temperatures, increasing the burden of OSA on both our sleep and the healthcare system. Recently published in leading journal Nature Communications, the study from Flinders University investigates the impact of higher temperatures on sleep apnea episodes in 116,620 participants over the course of three years. Using under the mattress sleep trackers, the study found that on a given night, higher temperatures were associated with a 45% increase in the probability of experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea. 'This study helps us to understand how environmental factors like climate might affect health by investigating whether ambient temperatures influence the severity of OSA,' explains Dr. Bastien Lechat, lead author. 'Overall, we were surprised by the magnitude of the association between ambient temperature and OSA severity." Based on these findings, researchers predict that in the next 75 years the societal burden of OSA, including associated healthcare costs, might double. The study notes that the impact was most frequently observed in European countries, compared to Australia and the US. Dr. Lechat theorizes the difference might be due to air conditioning, more prevalent in the latter areas. Dr. Danny Eckert, senior researcher, further points out that as the study is skewed towards higher economic areas — where air conditioning is more readily available — the estimated health and financial impact might actually be an underestimate. Sleep apnea is characterized by breathing disruptions as you sleep. There is currently no cure for sleep apnea, although the symptoms can be managed. Untreated sleep apnea carries severe risks, including fatigue, a reduced quality of life and a higher danger of being involved in traffic accidents. Untreated and severe sleep apnea has also been linked to an increased risk of dementia and cardiovascular disease, as well as anxiety and depression. If higher global temperature cause cases of sleep apnea to rise, we might also see an increase in these comorbidities. 'The increase in OSA prevalence in 2023 due to global warming was associated with a loss of approximately 800,000 healthy life years across the 29 countries studied.," explains Dr. Lechat. The research team hopes this study will be the first step in developing strategies to reduce the impact of ambient temperature on sleep apnea. Sleep apnea symptoms can be hard to spot, as the most obvious signs of apnea occur when you're asleep. However, the symptoms listed below offer an indicator of sleep apnea that can help you seek a diagnosis. If you suspect you're experiencing sleep apnea, we recommend speaking to a healthcare professional. They can help you find a diagnosis and develop an effective sleep apnea treatment plan.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Sleep apnoea cases may double this century due to global warming, researchers warn
Hotter nights caused by climate crisis could make sleep apnoea much more common and more dangerous by the end of the century, a new study has found. Rising temperatures are likely to worsen obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) – a sleep disorder already affecting nearly a billion people worldwide and linked to heart disease, dementia and early death, researchers said. The study, led by researchers at Flinders University and published in Nature Communications, is the first to model how climate change may intensify the severity and health impact of OSA. 'This study helps us to understand how environmental factors like climate might affect health by investigating whether ambient temperatures influence the severity of OSA,' said lead author Dr Bastien Lechat of Flinders University's FHMRI Sleep Health. Researchers analysed more than 58 million nights of sleep data from over 116,000 people across 29 countries, recorded via an under-mattress sensor that tracked breathing disturbances during sleep. The data, collected over several years, was then matched with hourly climate data from global climate models to simulate changes in OSA severity under different warming scenarios. 'Overall, we were surprised by the magnitude of the association between ambient temperature and OSA severity,' said Dr Lechat. 'Higher temperatures were associated with a 45 per cent increased likelihood of a sleeper experiencing OSA on a given night.' The study found that the temperature-related increase in OSA severity was particularly pronounced in European countries compared to Australia or the US, which researchers suggest may be linked to differing access to air conditioning. Researchers used disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) to estimate the health and economic burden of climate-exacerbated sleep apnoea. They found that in 2023 alone, rising temperatures were linked to the loss of approximately 800,000 healthy life years across the 29 countries studied. 'This number is similar to other medical conditions, such as bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease or chronic kidney diseases,' said Dr Lechat. The total estimated economic loss was around $98bn, with $68bn attributed to wellbeing loss and $30bn to reduced workplace productivity. Senior researcher Professor Danny Eckert said the sample may under-represent the real-world burden of OSA in lower-income countries, as the data primarily came from individuals in high-income regions with better access to cooling and healthcare. 'This may have biased our estimates and led to an under-estimation of the true health and economic cost,' he said. In Australia alone, the cost of sleep-related health issues including OSA has previously been estimated at AU$66bn a year. The team now plans to investigate potential interventions, including how access to cooling or behavioural adaptations might reduce sleep apnoea severity under warming conditions. 'Going forward, we want to design intervention studies that explore strategies to reduce the impact of ambient temperatures on sleep apnoea severity as well as investigate the underlying physiological mechanisms,' Professor Eckert said. Without stronger global climate action, the burden of sleep apnoea is likely to rise sharply, the study warns, exacerbating public health challenges and straining economies.
