Science Updates is a weekly email alert from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
== IN DEPTH: LOW CARB CARS==
Rising oil prices and greenhouse gas emissions are pushing us to look at our motor vehicle use – but what are the alternatives and will they work in Australia?
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3173/0/
== DR KARL: MICROWAVE EXPLOSION==
In the world of kitchen convenience, there are many advantages to microwaves. But there are times when you must be wary of them. Dr Karl has seen the dark side. http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3172/0/
== TOP STORIES FROM NEWS IN SCIENCE == http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/1759/0/
BLACK HOLE HAD 18TH CENTURY FEEDING FRENZY
About 300 years ago, the black hole lurking in the heart of the Milky Way woke from hibernation and entered a feeding frenzy, triggering a cascade of x-rays that reverberated off nearby clouds, researchers say.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3174/0/
DINOSAUR KILLER MAY HAVE STRUCK OIL
The dinosaur-killing Chicxulub meteor might have ignited an oilfield rather than forests when it slammed into the Gulf of Mexico 65 million years ago, say geologists.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3175/0/
NEANDERTHALS WERE QUITE SEPARATE
A simplified family tree of humanity has dealt a blow to those who contend that Neanderthals intermingled with our forebears.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3176/0/
WEIRD ELECTRONS MAY SHRINK YOUR LAPTOP
A new type of material with bizarre acting electrons could bring dramatic advances in the world of electronics, predicts an Australian researcher.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3177/0/
== IN THE SKY THIS WEEK == http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/1764/0/
The First Quarter Moon is Monday May 12. The evening sky is to the north is enlivened by Mars and Saturn. In the North-west Mars is in Gemini and forms a line with the bright stars Castor and Pollux (the twins of Gemini). On Saturday March 10, Mars is near the Crescent Moon, forming an interesting line-up with the twins. Mercury can be seen peaking up over the horizon at twilight. Saturn can be seen near the bright star Regulus high in the northern sky. On the nights of 12 and 13 May the waxing Moon is close to this pairing. Jupiter can now be seen above the eastern horizon in the late evening. In the morning, Venus is very low in the eastern twilight, and difficult to see.
== ABC GREEN AT WORK ==http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/2581/0/
== BUSTED! ZAN ROWE FROM TRIPLE J ==
Zan Rowe is an eco-warrior, so green that she's making her workmates see red. In this exposing 'Busted' video, Ronan Sharkey shows just how punishing she is to triple j staff, and decides to put her in her place!
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3178/0/
== ABC HEALTH & WELLBEING == http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/1765/0/
== THE PULSE: THE WINTER FLU JAB ==
Winter's here, and it's time to think about getting the flu shot - especially for 'at risk' groups, and that includes younger children.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3147/0/
== TRANSCRIPTS NOW ONLINE
THE FLOOD PULSE (Catalyst: 01/05/2008)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3179/0/
COORONG: THE END OF THE LINE (Catalyst: 01/05/2008)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3180/0/
ACID MUD (Catalyst: 01/05/2008)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3181/0/
FIRE AND WATER (Catalyst: 01/05/2008)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3182/0/
IN COLD BLOOD? (In Conversation: 01/05/2008)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3183/0/
DISEMBODIED BRAINS, CULTURE AND SCIENCE: INDIGENOUS LIVES UNDER GAZE [PART 2 OF 2] (All In The Mind: 03/05/2008)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3169/0/
MENTORING FOR SCIENCE STUDENTS (Science Show: 03/05/2008)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3184/0/
THE LEWIN PHYSICS LECTURES (Science Show: 03/05/2008)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3185/0/
QED – A PLAY ABOUT RICHARD FEYNMAN (Science Show: 03/05/2008)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3186/0/
FLACCO – DARK MATTER (Science Show: 03/05/2008)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3187/0/
UNICELLULAR ORGANISMS IN ANTARCTICA – RESPONSE TO EXTENDED DARKNESS AND TEMPERATURE CHANGE (Science Show: 03/05/2008)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3188/0/
THE LOH DOWN ON SCIENCE – SCENT OF A STRIPPER (Science Show: 03/05/2008)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3189/0/
AUSTRALIAN SEA FLOOR EXPANDS (Science Show: 03/05/2008)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/3190/0/
== COMING UP ON ABC RADIO == http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/1773/0/
SCIENCE SHOW - Budgets and platypuses
Saturday 10 May, 12.05pm & Monday 12 May, 7.05pm RN
If Sara rather than Swan were the treasurer making the budget speech next Tuesday, what would she announce for science? Vicki Sara is the Chancellor of UTS and former head of the ARC (Australian Research Council). She says young scientists are being let down in this country and reform can't wait. But how much more does Australian R&D really need? Free advice on the Science Show for Wayne Swan. PLUS: how they cracked the platypus genome, announced this week.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/902/0/
ALL IN THE MIND – Quitting the habit: neurobiology, addiction and the insidious ciggie.
Saturday 10 May, 1.05pm, & Monday 12 May, 1.05pm RN
Smokers cling to the ciggies for dear life, knowing it will likely be a much shorter one. An anti-smoking drug released in Australia targets nicotine receptors in the brain, working differently to traditional nicotine replacement therapies. But are we too fixed on a quick fix for addiction? And, the challenge of investigating post-marketing reports that the drug may trigger suicidal thoughts and behaviour in some users. Real side effect of the meds, or part of nicotine withdrawal?
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/903/0/
THE PHILOSOPHER'S ZONE - Practical philosophy and speculative fiction
Saturday 10 May, 1.30pm & Monday 12 May, 1.35pm RN
The philosophy of Vedanta, which derives from the ancient Hindu Scripture, aspires to scientific knowledge about how life is to be lived. This week, we examine its claims. We also look at a new novel that asks what might happen if the work of Plato were to be put into practice. The result? Totalitarianism plus genetic engineering.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/904/0/
OCKHAM'S RAZOR - Secrets of the immune system
Sunday 11 May, 8.45am RN
To mark World Day of Immunology, President of the Australasian Society for Immunology, Dr Alan Baxter delves into our immune system to explain how our body deals with infection. Protection from infection is critical to our survival; almost every aspect of our biology has evolved to protect us from those organisms that cause actual harm.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/910/0/
INNOVATIONS
Sunday 11 May (0830hrs UT), Monday 12 May (1330 & 1705hrs UT), Wednesday 14 May (0430hrs UT), Radio Australia
New frontiers in measuring radiation with a human cell-sized detector; East meets West to unlock the secrets of bitter melon, and, will funnel web spider venom save farmers from a pest invasion?
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/1775/0/
HEALTH REPORT – Alzheimer's disease risks are gender specific
Monday 12 May, 8.30am and 8.05pm RN
A recent study by French researchers suggests that the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease differ between the sexes, with stroke in men, and depression in women critical factors. The researchers looked at almost 7000 people over the age of 65, which were drawn from the general population in three French cities. None had dementia, but around four out of 10 were deemed to have mild cognitive impairment at the start of the study. Their progress was assessed two and four years later.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/920/0/
IN CONVERSATION - Meanwhile, the science of the book.
Thursday 15 May, 7.35pm
Geraldine Brooks's The People Of The Book has been a massive best seller in Australia. But how did she prepare the science that is fundamental to her story. The archaeology, pigment chemistry and, indeed brain surgery is detailed and convincing. Brooks talks to Robyn Williams about why the science was so important to her - and the book.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/1468/0/
== HIGHLIGHTS ON ABC TV == http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/1773/0/
CATALYST
ABC 1, Thursday 15 May, 8pm
London is calling and the energy stakes are high but everyone in the city is a potential winner; a new green cement promises to reduce carbon emissions; and Dr Norman Swan asks, can you be fat and fit?
http://abcmail.net.au/t/148534/686964/834/0/
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