Australian of the Year would become the first astronaut in space to qualify under the Australian flag if she embarks on the 2028 mission

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The federal government has sent an offer to the European Space Agency (ESA) to send the Australian of the Year, astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg, to the International Space Station.

The mission, slated for 2028, will mark the first time a qualified astronaut has flown to space under the Australian flag.

Study identifies ‘circadian depression’ as affecting nearly a quarter of more than 11,000 participants

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Australian researchers have identified a new subtype of depression – termed “circadian depression” – linked to disruptions in the body’s internal clock, which they believe is less responsive to traditional antidepressant treatments.

In a study published in British Journal of Psychiatry, involving clinical and genetic data from 11,380 Australians with mostly severe and recurrent depression, researchers identified circadian depression as affecting nearly a quarter (23%) of participants.