Belinda Smith
ABC.net.au
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Past articles by Belinda:
Mosquito bites: Why they itch so much and how to stop scratching them (according to science)
When it comes to alleviating the annoying itchiness of a mosquito bite, there are all sorts of remedies people swear by. But what does science say? → Read More
Nobel laureates Peter Doherty and Rolf Zinkernagel on life beyond the COVID-19 pandemic
In 1996, Peter Doherty and Rolf Zinkernagel won a Nobel for virus research, but their 25-year anniversary was thwarted by COVID-19. They spoke to the ABC about how we prepare for the next pandemic, and how the infamous "Dan Murphy opening hours" tweet changed Professor Doherty's drinking habits. → Read More
How to stay cool at home in a heatwave while saving money and reducing carbon emissions
As power prices rise alongside the mercury, and the world continues to pump carbon emissions into the atmosphere, what can we do to stay cool at home? → Read More
Snakes have a clitoris too, and scientists have just found it in nine species
Humans have one. So do ostriches. Dolphins have a really big one. And now we know snakes have a clitoris too. → Read More
How does the SARS-CoV-2 virus cause long COVID? Here are some leading theories
It's a question that's tantalised researchers since the first reports of "long haulers" back in 2020: what causes long COVID? → Read More
COVID-19's impact on the immune system, and how this may affect subsequent infections
Infections soon after getting over COVID-19 — whether it be another stint with the SARS-CoV-2 virus or a different pathogen altogether — are commonplace. So why are some people more susceptible? → Read More
What is epigenetic ageing, and can we control it — or even reverse it — with diet and exercise?
"Project Blueprint" involves eating the same two meals every day, a regimented exercise routine and a structured sleep schedule. But can it really slow or reverse the ageing process? → Read More
Long COVID: How clusters of symptoms have emerged and changed over the pandemic
Under the broad "long COVID" umbrella, clusters of symptoms have emerged, and as the pandemic's worn on, those symptoms have changed. → Read More
Vapes, e-cigarettes linked to higher risk of tooth decay and cavities, study finds
Each fruity plume of vapour from an e-cigarette may have not-so-sweet repercussions for your pearly whites, according to a study into tooth decay risk. → Read More
What do we know about new COVID-19 Omicron subvariants XBB and BQ.1 spreading in Australia?
Australia's COVID-19 case numbers are on the rise again, with health officials signalling the arrival of new Omicron subvariants to our shores as another wave begins. So what do we know about XBB and BQ.1? → Read More
Hay fever: Why seasonal allergies are peaking, and why climate change will make them worse
For people with allergic asthma, pollen season is potentially danger season, more so if thunderstorms are on the horizon — not to mention climate change. → Read More
Most 'home-compostable' plastic doesn't fully break down in compost bins, UK study finds
Most certified "home-compostable" plastics do not fully break down in home compost bins, a citizen science project finds. → Read More
Australia is unprepared for the health consequences of climate change: report
Australia's lack of a national climate change and health adaptation plan is putting lives at risk and our transition to renewables is "unacceptably slow", according to a report. → Read More
Australian Museum curator Gerard Krefft's ill-fated fight against the creationist establishment
When two burly blokes hustled the director of the Australian Museum down the front steps and out onto the street in 1874, it marked the end of a particularly spicy chapter of the institution's history. → Read More
Neanderthal DNA reveals social organisation and family relationships in cave-dwelling clan
A Neanderthal clan's family tree — the product of the largest single genetic study of Neanderthals to date — also reveals insights into their social behaviour. → Read More
Masters athletes: How to take up a new sport as an adult without injuring yourself
Joining a Masters sports team brings a wealth of benefits, but without proper prep, you can quickly end up injured. So how can you play without sidelining yourself for the season? → Read More
Australian adults can now get Moderna's Omicron COVID-19 booster. Here's what we know
How can we get the new two-in-one COVID booster, what's in it, and how much protection does it provide? → Read More
How Yackandandah reached 60 per cent clean energy use, and its plans to be totally renewable
Nestled in the foothills of the Australian Alps is Yackandandah, a small town with huge energy ambitions: to be totally renewable by 2024. Here's how they're doing it. → Read More
Why crustaceans keep evolving to look like crabs, and how to tell 'true' crabs from 'false' ones
Why do crab-like creatures keep turning up on the evolutionary tree, and how can you tell a "true crab" from a false one? → Read More
Clever cockatoos thwart human efforts to stop wheelie bin rubbish raids — to a point
The weekly battle for the contents of wheelie bins has escalated in recent years, with clever cockies and householders locked in an "arms race" over rubbish raids. → Read More