Science Updates is a weekly email alert about recent online science coverage and upcoming TV and radio science programs from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
==== NEW ON ABC SCIENCE ONLINE ==== http://www.abc.net.au/science ====
ACE DAY JOBS -.Speech pathologist
Gabi Schaefer loves seeing children overcome speech and language problems. She's worked her way up to managing a speech pathology clinic, but still also provides one-to-one therapy and group therapy sessions for young children, and parent training workshops.
http://www.abc.net.au/acedayjobs/cooljobs/profiles/s2111857.htm
==== TOP NEWS STORIES FROM NEWS IN SCIENCE =====
CHIMPS OUTSMART UNI STUDENTS (News in Science 4/12/07)
Young chimpanzees are better than university students at playing a computer game that tests numerical memory, a new study shows.
http://abc.net.au/science/articles/2007/12/04/2109404.htm
SUNLIGHT MAY SAVE KIDS' SIGHT (Health & Medical, 5/12/07)
Exposure to sunlight could be a critical factor in stopping children from becoming short-sighted, Australian researchers have found.
http://abc.net.au/science/articles/2007/12/05/2110197.htm
AT LAST, SAY SCIENTISTS ABOUT KYOTO (Environment & Nature, 4/12/07)
Climate change researchers have applauded Australia's agreement to ratify the Kyoto Protocol at this week's UN-led talks in Bali.
http://abc.net.au/science/articles/2007/12/04/2109049.htm
SATURN'S MOON HOME TO LIFE'S BUILDING BLOCKS (Space & Astronomy, 5/12/07)
Scientists don't know how it happened, but the oxygen-starved atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan contains chemicals that on Earth can serve as building blocks for complex organic molecules.
http://abc.net.au/science/articles/2007/12/05/2110063.htm
KILLER DONKEYS WERE FIRST BIOWEAPONS (Ancient Worlds, 3/12/07)
Infected rams and donkeys were the earliest bioweapons, according to a new study that dates the use of biological warfare back more than 3300 years.
http://abc.net.au/science/articles/2007/12/03/2108080.htm
CANCER TEST FINDS SQUIDGY CELLS (Innovation & Technology, 3/12/07)
Cancer cells, like ripe fruit, are much softer than healthy cells, scientists say in a finding that could help doctors diagnose tumours and figure out which might be the deadliest.
http://abc.net.au/science/articles/2007/12/03/2107856.htm
MORE NEWS IN SCIENCE - updated daily
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/
==== IN THE SKY THIS WEEK ====
The New Moon is Monday December 10. With the Moon no longer interfering Comet 17/P Holmes is still visible again in northern Australia. It is just visible to the unaided eye as a fuzzy star-like object. It will appear very low above the northern horizon between 11 pm to midnight am (daylight saving) and the best places for viewing this comet are QLD, NT, northern NSW and northern WA. Jupiter is very low in evening twilight. On the evening of Monday December 10 the keen eyed can see the thin crescent Moon near Jupiter very near the horizon half an hour after Sunset. At midnight red Mars can now be seen as the brightest object above the north-eastern horizon. Saturn and brilliant white Venus can be easily seen above the eastern horizon in the early twilight.
http://home.mira.net/~reynella/skywatch/ssky.htm
==== ABC HEALTH & WELLBEING == http://www.abc.net.au/health/ =====
THE PULSE: Fat, fit and living longer
Obese and overweight people can live as long as those with a normal weight. The question is, how disabled will they be?
http://www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/stories/2007/12/06/2111303.htm
Health Updates provides the latest ABC Health information online. You can join at: http://www.abc.net.au/health/subscribe/
==== NEW RADIO AND TV SCIENCE TRANSCRIPTS NOW ONLINE ====
WALKING THROUGH ANTARCTICA AND THE SOUTHERN OCEAN (In Conversation: 29/11/2007)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/inconversation/stories/2007/2095829.htm
BRAIN SURGERY ON THE WIRELESS! ONE YEAR ON [PART 2 OF 2] (All In The Mind: 01/12/2007)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/allinthemind/stories/2007/2102298.htm
AUSTRALIAN SKEPTICS AWARDS 2007 (Science Show: 01/12/2007)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2007/2106437.htm
MEGA-FIRES (Science Show: 01/12/2007)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2007/2102541.htm
BILHARZIA DISEASE (Science Show: 01/12/2007)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2007/2106431.htm
THE BACTERIA YOU WANT (Science Show: 01/12/2007)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2007/2106420.htm
COMBINING WORK AND FAMILY LIFE IN A CAREER IN SCIENCE (Science Show: 01/12/2007)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2007/2106416.htm
SEAMLESS SURGERY (Science Show: 01/12/2007)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2007/2106351.htm
ROBERT MAY AND OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE EVER (Science Show: 01/12/2007)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2007/2106346.htm
TROUBLE WITH BEES (Background Briefing: 02/12/2007)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/stories/2007/2104818.htm
===== COMING UP - ABC RADIO ===========
http://www.abc.net.au/science/programs/
Podcasts and downloads
http://www.abc.net.au/science/programs/podcast.htm
SCIENCE SHOW - Meso Diary
Saturday 8 December, 12.05pm & Monday 10 December, 7.05pm RN
On Wednesday Bernie Banton's state funeral marks the end of his fight against the asbestos that killed him. And this week the Science Show begins a Meso (Mesothelioma) Diary, written and presented by someone with an unusual perspective. Dr. Jim Holmes is a country psychiatrist, just diagnosed with the deadly disease. He reflects on the surprising news - he cannot remember working with asbestos - and coping with such a bleak prognosis. His training offers remarkable insights into the process, changes to his body and the way the mind responds to an inevitable, rapid decline. Dr Holmes is remarkably positive about his experience. The meso diary will continue this year and next.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/
ALL IN THE MIND - Human Rights and psychiatry (Part 1 of 2): Should doctors be involved in interrogation or torture?
Saturday 8 December, 1.05pm, & Monday 10 December, 1.05pm RN
They know the machinations of the mind better than many. So do mental health professionals have a legitimate role in the interrogation of prisoners of war or detainees, in the interests of national security? The American Psychiatric Association and Australia's equivalent have said 'no way'. The peak body for U.S psychologists have taken a different position. Torture, tough interrogation or treatment - where do the boundaries blur for healers who have taken the Hippocratic Oath?
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/allinthemind/
THE PHILOSOPHER'S ZONE - The anatomy of a discovery
Saturday 8 December, 1.30pm, & Monday 10 December, 1.35pm RN
The great physiologist and anatomist William Harvey died three hundred and fifty years ago this year. In today's Philosopher's Zone, we examine the thinking behind his greatest discovery - the circulation of the blood - and reveal the philosophy that guided his hand when he wielded the scalpel.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/philosopherszone/default.htm
ENCOUNTER - The Carbon Communion
Sunday 9 December, 7am & Wednesday 12 December 7pm RN
Dominican friars in Oxford have been considering climate change; how Christians approach it and what responsibility we as humans can take for it. This is the second in Encounter's three-part series this month on environmental issues.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/encounter/
OCKHAM'S RAZOR - Science and philosophy - making time for each other
Sunday 9 December, 8.45am RN
Philosopher Dr Heather Dyke from the University of Otago in New Zealand ponders the question of time and how it is perceived. There have been several theories both scientific and philosophical on the possibility of time travel. Can we go backwards or forwards in time or is there, as yet, an undiscovered physical law that prevents it?
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/ockhamsrazor/
INNOVATIONS
Sunday 9 December (0830hrs UT), Monday 10 December (1330 & 1705hrs UT), Wednesday 12 December (0430hrs UT), Radio Australia
Mill scanning technology set to save mines millions; operating theatres made less threatening and more relaxing with medical musical hits; and new technology that gives water on demand to farmers.
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/innovations/
HEALTH REPORT - ABC Radio National's weekly health roundup
Monday 10 December, 8.30am and 8.05pm RN
Join Dr Norman Swan for news of the latest issues and developments in the world of health and medicine on this week's Health Report.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthreport/
IN CONVERSATION - Prof Paul Ehrlich rides again
Thursday 13 December, 7.35pm RN
His book The Population Bomb exploded in 1968, making him one of the pioneers of environmental concern. Paul Ehrlich, Professor of Biology at Stanford University (California), is an ecologist who comes to Australia to study our birds and butterflies. But he still talks explosively on green questions, as he did in Perth at the Ecological Society of Australia conference. He had a 'conversation' with 600 delegates, strolling, without notes, on stage. His message is undiminished by his age - 75 years and still outspoken.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/inconversation/
==== COMING UP - ABC TV ===========
http://www.abc.net.au/science/programs/
TAKE ON TECHNOLOGY - Sound Technology (For kids)
Friday 7 December, 10:00am
Monster puppets, Dodly and Flyn, take a fascinating look at designing technology to meet particular needs. This 12-part series adopts an investigative approach to help children recognise and understand the use of technology around them.
AUSTRALIA EYE OF THE STORM - Monsoon
Friday 7 December 11:05am
Natural history of Australia and how it responds to extreme climatic events: to the North West, a land of extremes, comes thunder and lightning to herald the arrival of the monsoons, depicted with incredible footage and 3D animation.
BINDI THE JUNGLE GIRL - Snake in the Grass (For kids)
Sunday 9 December, 6:55am
From her tree-house perched high in the jungle, Bindi Irwin will take us to every corner of the globe, to meet cute to not-so-cute animals and learn how all animals need to be protected.
http://abc.net.au/children/bindi/
SURFING SCIENTIST ON ROLLERCOASTER (For kids)
Tuesday 11 December, between 5-6pm
Catch Ruben Meerman each Tuesday afternoon as he gives Rollercoaster's host Elliot a dose of science. Apparently you can teach young hosts old tricks.
http://www.abc.net.au/rollercoaster/
==== COMING UP ON ABC2 - ABC DIGITAL TV ================
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/abc2/
BEST OF CATALYST 2007 - Friday 5:30pm, Wednesday 8pm
THE NEW INVENTORS - Saturday 6pm
NAKED SCIENCE - Thursday 8am
BREAKING THE ICE - Thursday 5pm
TREKS IN A WILD WORLD - Thursday 5:30pm
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