Science Updates is a weekly email alert from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
== QUIZ: THE HUMAN BRAIN ==
Here's something to really get your neurons firing. Find out how much you know about your brain by taking our quiz.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7622/0/
== ASK AN EXPERT: CAN LOVE CHANGE THE WAY YOU SMELL? ==
Can your unique 'smell' - what your body smells like - change naturally? And when would this happen? Would it change if you were in love?
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7623/0/
== DR KARL: WHEELS FALL FROM 4WD SAFETY CLAIMS ==
These days, 4WD vehicles are almost exclusively lurking in car parks and outside primary schools. And now Dr Karl has heard we're teaching our kids to drive in them! But is it safe?
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7624/0/
== SURFING SCIENTIST: ELEPHANT'S TOOTHPASTE ==
This classic chemistry demonstration is a huge hit with kids of all ages. It looks just like a giant tube of toothpaste being squished. Please be prepared for very excited students who will want to see the demonstration more than once!
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7625/0/
== ABC ONLINE INTERACTIVITY AUDIENCE SURVEY ==
We hope you can take a moment to provide us with some information on your use of social media sites and your interaction with online communities by taking part in our online interactivity survey. Results from the survey will help us develop better services for you to use on ABC Online.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7626/0/
== TOP STORIES FROM NEWS IN SCIENCE == http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/1759/0/
ARGENTINE ANTS GIVE WEEDS A BOOST
In a double blow to the environment, Argentine ants are not only outcompeting native ants, but they are helping spread weeds, Australian research has found.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7627/0/
COLD COMFORT FOR REPTILES IN WARMER WORLD
Commonly known as being cold blooded and in need of some sunshine, the world's ectotherms may be struggling to keep cool in the future.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7628/0/
BAD MEMORIES ERASED WITH A PILL
A drug commonly used to treat blood pressure may help people erase bad memories and even treat phobias, a team of Dutch scientists say.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7629/0/
GALACTIC IMPACT LEAVES MILKY WAY RINGING
The effects of a small galaxy colliding with our own 1.9 billion years ago is still being felt, say an international team of astronomers.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7630/0/
== IN THE SKY THIS WEEK ==
The new Moon is Wednesday February 25. Venus is still easily recognised as the brightest object in the western evening sky, and is now a distinct crescent shape in small telescopes. Venus will sink lower in the sky, and its crescent will become dramatically bigger and thinner.
Comet Lulin is easily visible in binoculars as a round, fuzzy ball despite strong moonlight. In the coming week it will become just visible to the unaided eye under suburban skies. Lulin will be at its brightest between February 21 and 25, and on Tuesday February 24 Lulin is within a binocular field of Saturn. This will be excellent to view under dark skies, but will be good even in suburban locations.
Saturn is now rising as Venus is setting and can be easily seen as the second brightest object above the north-eastern horizon, almost midway between the bright stars Regulus and Spica. On the evening of Tuesday February 24, Saturn's moon Titan makes a rare transit of the body of Saturn. The transit starts around 10:26pm (AEDT) in the eastern states, and 10:00pm (ACDT) in the central states. In WA the transit starts with Saturn too close to the horizon for telescopes.
On the morning of Monday February 23, Mercury, Jupiter, Mars and the crescent Moon are clustered together in a spectacular line-up. On the morning of Wednesday 25, Jupiter and Mercury are close together, with Mars just below them.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/1764/0/
== STARSTUFF PODCAST: ORBITAL ACCIDENT RAISES RISK OF MORE COLLISIONS ==
Two satellites collide in low-Earth orbit; new questions about brown dwarfs; and exploring the darkest depths of craters at the lunar poles.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/4567/0/
== ABC HEALTH & WELLBEING == http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/1765/0/
== THE PULSE: AFTER THE FIRE, OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS ==
Research shows the effects of bushfires are deadly and their health risks extend for longer and further afield than you might think.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7631/0/
== CATAPULT == http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/2337/0/
== YOUNG GUNS: EYE ON THE BALL ==
Gerard Ramsey-Matthews is keeping his hand-eye coordination in top shape with his own invention. Listen to his story and find out how he plans to turn his idea into a commercial winner.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7632/0/
== TRANSCRIPTS NOW ONLINE ==
AERIAL ORANGUTANS (Catalyst: 12/02/2009)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7633/0/
MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE (Catalyst: 12/02/2009)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7634/0/
PLANES,TRAINS AND AUTISM (Catalyst: 12/02/2009)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7635/0/
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLES DARWIN SPECIAL (All In The Mind & Philosophers Zone: 14/02/2009)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7636/0/
INTERPRETING DARWIN'S THEORY (Science Show: 14/02/2009)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7637/0/
DARWIN'S DESCENDANTS (Science Show: 14/02/2009)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7638/0/
FOOD FOR THE FUTURE (Background Briefing: 15/02/2009)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7639/0/
MIRROR NEURONS AND EMPATHY FOR PAIN (Ockham's Razor: 15/02/2009)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7640/0/
FINDING HER FOCUS (Australian Story: 16/02/2009)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7641/0/
DRUG DEPENDENCE - PART ONE (Health Report: 16/02/2009)
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7642/0/
== COMING UP ON ABC RADIO == http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/1773/0/
THE SCIENCE SHOW - Science from Chicago
Saturday 21 February, 12.05pm & Monday 23 February, 7.05pm RN
What will be the impact of the US President's new science team? What is Al Gore's message to research scientists on the increasing climate crisis? Can crows really innovate like clever engineers? What did Fred Flintstone have for dinner? And how do you train to swallow sharp swords? Robyn Williams reports from the biggest annual festival of science in the world.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/902/0/
ALL IN THE MIND - The philosophy of good intentions
Saturday 21 February, 1.05pm & Monday 23 February, 1.05pm RN
Reading the minds of others can be darn hard. Are their intentions good, bad or indifferent? Whether we hold people accountable for their behaviour depends on the answer. Scientists probe questions like this through experiments. Philosophers traditionally appeal to intuition and argument. But now a young band of experimental philosophers are taking armchair philosophy to task, and digging for data.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/903/0/
OCKHAM'S RAZOR - Tram tracks
Sunday 22 February, 8.45am RN
As an impoverished chemistry student Dr Trevor McAllister from Melbourne reflects on a summer vacation job being a conductor on a crowded Blackpool tram in the UK. Today he looks at the history of the tram from the first horse-drawn service to the technology that created the electric trams and how many large cities of the world are now returning to this mode of public transport.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/910/0/
THE HEALTH REPORT - Drug dependence - part two
Monday 23 February, 8.30am & 8.05pm RN
Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing condition and kicking the habit once and for all can be enormously challenging both physically and emotionally. According to research by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre in New South Wales the residential therapeutic community approach can be very effective, with around 80 per cent of residents remaining drug free three years after treatment. This week Lynne Malcolm visits two drug rehabilitation centres to speak with staff and residents about how therapeutic communities work.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/920/0/
FUTURE TENSE – Robots in warfare
Thursday 26 February, 8.30am & Friday 27 February, 12.30am RN
Future Tense speaks with PW Singer, the author of a newly released book Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and 21st Century Conflict. Mr Singer is a Senior Fellow and Director of the 21st Century Defence Initiative at the Brookings Institution.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7172/0/
INNOVATIONS
Sunday 22 February (0830hrs UT), Monday 23 February (1330 & 1705hrs UT), Wednesday 25 February (0430hrs UT), Radio Australia
The wine tipple that acts as a vascular pipe-cleaner; sarcasm elevated to the role of diagnostic tool; and news about biofuels from tallow.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/1775/0/
== HIGHLIGHTS ON ABC TV ==
WILD CARIBBEAN - REEFS AND WRECKS
ABC1, 7:30pm Sunday, 22 February 2009
The warm waters of the Caribbean are ideal habitats for coral reefs, but this beautiful underwater landscape also has its dangers. The reefs help protect the coastline of the islands from the pounding seas and they also support a huge variety of marine life, with many fish and corals found nowhere else in the world.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7643/0/
CATALYST
ABC1, 8:00pm Thursday, 26 Feb 2009
Could bats carry the next deadly virus?; ancient DNA unlocking our past; and the Surfing Scientist checks out some of the 3,000 robots monitoring oceans.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/834/0/
BRINGING UP BABY
ABC1, Thursday, 26 February 2009
Bringing Up Baby takes the guiding principles of three of last century's most influential childcare manuals and observes six families as they put into practice their chosen method for the first few months of their babies' lives. Three passionate and experienced mentors are with the families every step of the way - and also debate amongst themselves the various pros and cons of each method. In the second episode, the families navigate the crucial first two-week period, and some of the big issues of childcare are addressed: where a baby should sleep, the needs of a routine with the desire to bond with your baby, and the emotive subject of breast versus bottle.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7644/0/
SCRAPHEAP CHALLENGE
ABC2, 6:35pm weeknights
The Emmy nominated hit entertainment show where teams have just one day to build incredible machines using only materials they find on the scrapheap.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7645/0/
BODY HITS - BODY BEAUTIFUL
ABC2, 8:00pm Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Binges, benders, lost weekends... all basic forms of modern day hedonism. This program examines the culture and science of legal and illegal excess, entering the minds and bodies of those who just don't seem to know how to say no.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7646/0/
EATAHOLICS - ADDICTED TO PASTA
ABC2, 8:30pm Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Aspiring 18-year-old politician Helen Tree is about to become a university student, though she is already a fan of the staple student food - pasta. The problem is, pasta is virtually the only thing Helen eats and the only sauce she can manage to liven it up is ketchup. Worryingly, Helen is regularly in and out of hospital with undiagnosed problems - possibly caused by the lack of nutrients in her diet. Her five siblings have all given up trying to get Helen to eat new foods because even the thought of fruit and veg leaves Helen in tears every time.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7647/0/
MAYBE BABY
ABC2, 9:30pm Wednesday, 25 February 2009
What happens when a group of single American women past their reproductive prime give up looking for 'Mr. Right' and settle for his DNA instead? Maybe Baby is an intimate, provocative documentary that takes a new look at the emotional and physiological journeys of six women in their 30s and 40s as they pursue pregnancy through the world of assisted reproductive technology (ART), a multi-billion dollar industry on the cutting edge of medicine and science.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/398630/686964/7648/0/
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