Human impacts on the way our planet functions have now become so extreme many scientists are claiming the Earth has shifted out of the Holocene state and into a new geological epoch. They're calling it 'The Anthropocene', the new age of humans, because millions of years after we are gone, the scar of our existence will be visible in the rocks of tomorrow.
Orangutans are highly intelligent animals and keeping them mentally engaged and challenged is paramount for Melbourne zoo keepers and researchers. One project being trialled is using Xbox technology to enrich their experience and to encourage positive human-animal interactions.
Do Australian ticks pose a greater health risk than we thought? For people suffering from Lyme-like disease, it’s a controversial mystery that science has so far been unable to resolve. For the first time, microbes inside native Aussie ticks are being probed, leading to new discoveries which may reveal the causes of unexplained illnesses in the future.
The Anthropocene: a new age of humans
Tuesday, 15 November
Human impacts on the way our planet functions have now become so extreme many scientists are claiming the Earth has shifted out of the Holocene state and into a new geological epoch. They're calling it 'The Anthropocene', the new age of humans, because millions of years after we are gone, the scar of our existence will be visible in the rocks of tomorrow.
Swift Parrot Update
Tuesday, 8 November
Last year we brought you a story about the swift parrot - one of Australia's most charismatic birds, but also one of its most endangered. Logging and land-clearing have decimated their habitat but conservation biologist Dejan Stojanovic also made the startling discovery of why the parrot numbers were plummeting so rapidly - the deceptively sweet sugar glider was eating them.
Tick Allergy
Tuesday, 8 November
With summer on our doorstep, and the odd BBQ or bush walk planned, we thought it timely to revisit this story: mammalian meat allergy is on the rise in Australia and the surprising cause is a tick bite. Dr Jonica Newby meets Dr Sheryl van Nunen, the clinician who discovered the link, and this story is a must-see if you want the latest tips on how best to remove a tick.
Medicinal Cannabis
Tuesday, 1 November
The anecdotal evidence that cannabis has a positive effect on a long list of medical conditions from epilepsy, pain, cancer, even Alzheimer's Disease is building. However, to date there's been scant clinical evidence to back up these claims.
Antibiotic Resistance
Tuesday, 19 April 2016
Antibiotics have saved millions of lives, but their misuse and overuse is making them less effective as bacteria develop resistance. Will researchers outwit the incredibly clever bacteria and find novel ways to beat resistance?
Weather observed for first time on Jupiter-like exoplanet
Tuesday, 13 December 2016
A weather system - including strong winds and changing cloud cover - has been observed in the atmosphere of a giant gas planet outside our solar system for the first time.
Rethinking the Brain
Thursday, 23 May 2002
Dr Graeme Jackson, a prominent brain surgeon in Melbourne is flying in the face of conventional wisdom on how the brain works, and now . Armed with this theory and the most advanced MRI machines in the southern hemisphere, Jackson’s confidently chopped out sections of the brain of two epileptics to stop them having seizures. The operations he performed were previously thought to carry the risk of leaving the patient without language or even paralysed, but the patients are fine.
The patients involved have been released from a lifetime of medication and seizures and can now lead a life without epilepsy. Jackson believes that there may be many cases of “inoperable” brain tumours that may now be safely operated on.
The MRI is so advanced that instead of giving a series of crude pictures of brain structure it actually shows how things are changing as the brain functions – blood flows, chemical changes and neurons turning on and off can all be measured. Using this he was able to see what was happening in the brain pre and post operatively and tailor the operation to the patient.
The Conversation on Catalyst changes
The Conversation on what the ABC's new Catalyst could mean for science.
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