Aug 06 2009
Archive for August, 2009
Jul 31 2009
Part One (Dark Science): Judgement of the Flesh
By Rob Wilson
It’s on the days of senior citizen’s mass outings that I notice it most. The beadie eyes staring at me through the half-glasses, the comments whispered behind hands. The Premier’s Senior Citizens’ Concerts are on in Sydney and my train ride home comes packed to the luggage racks with blue hair, crocheted shawls and clacking brooches.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have tattoos. Visible tattoos. And rather large, rather drastic-looking holes in my ears too. Gasp! But, ladies of the CWA, I’m not a bandit or an escaped lunatic, and sure as the day is long, I’m not alone.
Tattooed couple. Please note, this is NOT our esteemed author, Rob Wilson!
Jul 29 2009
Galileo’s well-toned calves
By David Finnigan
Full disclosure: I work in that vanishingly small gap-between-genres that is Science Theatre. You probably haven’t heard of it, though combine those two concepts in your head and you’ve pretty much got it.
Science theatre is the art of translating science concepts into performance – and it is an art, believe me. Boiling down complex scientific concepts into the language of engaging drama is fraught with challenges but incredibly rewarding when you get it right.
Science Theatre has grown exponentially over the last several decades although the number of well-known playwrights who work in the field remains few. Tom Stoppard (Arcadia). Michael Frayn (Copenhagen). And in Australia, Alana Valentine.
Ms Alana Valentine is a writer of science theatre
Jul 29 2009
Part Two: Are humans still evolving?
By Fiona MacDonald
Zoology graduate Fiona MacDonald presents part two of her opinion piece on the continuing evolution of humans.
Disease, competition for resources and natural disasters were the natural selection factors driving evolution in Darwin’s day. Yet, as covered in Part One, it appears humans have managed to cheat their way past these factors using modern technology.
However, the human species still has challenges to face. Ironically, the biggest obstacle to our survival now is something Darwin may not have taken into account – ourselves. I don’t think he could have predicted the impact we’ve had on the planet and our spectacular population growth.
We can wipe out a species’ habitat in a day, pollute their food supply over the course of a week and, in a few years, alter the temperature to the point they can no longer survive. There are most likely plenty of mutations arising that will help certain species survive one or two of these pressures – but not all of them at once. Estimations are that one species becomes extinct every hour.
Are humans putting so much pressure on the planet that even the fittest may not survive? Image: Credit: Photo by Georgie_grrl through Flickr
Jul 28 2009
The silent connection with the heavens
By David Finnigan
Our solar system is fairly straightforward. Some planets spin around an enormous nuclear furnace, humans all live on Earth, Mars is our wacky neighbour, nobody really likes Mercury (what is there to like?) and, if the Sun ever went on holidays, Jupiter would be left in charge.
Jupiter’s huge. It has 64 moons and most of them are bigger and smarter than the Earth and Moon combined. Jupiter could beat any other planet in a fight without breaking a sweat; and yet, on Friday July 19, something left a bruise the size of Earth on Jupiter’s handsome gaseous cheek.
Jupiter
Jul 27 2009
Are you near any of these National Parks?
By Kate Hennessy
Does the very mention of ‘National Park’ provoke uncomfortable memories of bumpy roads, pebbly campsites, sore limbs and prickly native shrubbery? Or do you proudly sport an All Parks Pass on your dusty rear window?
Either way, who could resist a cuppa with an expert from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), while learning more about your local environment?
Jul 27 2009
Glimpse a “redesigned” future at EcoLogic
By Erika Dicker
In nature there is no such thing as waste. Everything gets used and reused in great natural cycles. For millions of years, water and carbon have flowed through the air, sea, land, plants, and animals. Continue Reading »
Jul 23 2009
The earth is ours on loan
By Kate Hennessy
As Ric Morante from the NSW Department of Education (DET) explains the Climate Change video conference series he is planning for schools around the state, I am vividly reminded of an episode of TV series, The West Wing.
Extremely V.I.P: The West Wing cast
In the episode, a delegation of be-suited school children file into an White House meeting room to be greeted by somewhat baffled presidential aid, Toby. You get the impression Toby’s got (literally) bigger things on his mind. Until one precocious tween presents his case for lowering the voting age in the U.S. with surprising persuasion.
Among other arguments, the youth says: “I’m gonna be breathing the air and drinking the water after you are long gone. But I can’t vote to protect the environment?”
The kid has a point. And Ric Morante couldn’t agree more.
Jul 22 2009
Part One: Are humans still evolving?
By Fiona MacDonald
Zoology graduate and science writer Fiona MacDonald ponders what Charles Darwin might think of evolution in the modern world.
I often find myself wondering what Charles Darwin, the most famous zoologist of all time, would make of society and evolution today. It has been 150 years since ‘On the Origin of the Species’ was published and, although the same species walk the planet (give or take a few), a lot has changed.
Charles Darwin. Image: wikipedia
He argued each species had evolved in order to survive changing conditions, like a new habitat, predator or climate. Darwin’s ideas clashed with the era’s accepted view that every creature was created by God, exactly as they were. Yet 150 years on, scientists unanimously agree Darwin was on the right track. Continue Reading »
