This article was written by our partners over at Swinburne University of Technology, and was originally published on their Tumblr. We've reposted it with their permission.
There's plenty to celebrate when it comes to Australian science - for a relatively small population, we've made some big contributions to the world, from wi-fi to the bionic ear. But this National Science Week, Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne is looking back at some of their quirkier research.
1. Chew more, stress less
A Swinburne study found that chewing sugar-free gum reduces anxiety by more than 17 percent during stressful situations. The study also showed that chewing gum increases alertness and improves performance while multi-tasking.
2. How lunch – not aliens – explained mystery signals at The Dish
Swinburne researchers discovered that mystery radio signals detected at the Parkes telescope were caused by opening the door of a microwave oven.
3. Explainer: what is insomnia and what can you do about it?
Swinburne researcher, Jo-Anne Abbott, discusses insomnia and an emerging treatment that may help sufferers.
4. Shared keyboards are breeding grounds for germs
Using simple ethanol-based hand sanitisers and regular cleaning with ethanol wipes can dramatically reduce bacteria on shared computer keyboards. A study conducted by researchers from Swinburne's Environment and Biotechnology Centre proved that these simple measures led to a to a reduced potential health risk.
5. Chocolate really is good for you!
Good news for chocolate lovers. Swinburne research found that the polyphenols in dark chocolate increase calmness and contentedness.
This post was originally published by Swinburne University of Technology. Read the original here.