MAY 2001

FEATURES

New Dates Reignite Human Evolution Debate
Guy Nolch reports that Australian archaeologists are once again at the forefront of the debate over the origin of our species, this time in Asia.

Aboriginal Rock Art Depicts Climate Change
Thousands of rock art galleries in the Kimberley depict the changing landscape over thousands of years. Stephen Luntz takes a guided tour of the Bradshaws.

Why Do Australian Scientists Stay Overseas?
Since Peter Doherty shared the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1996, no Australian reporter had visited him in his USA base until Peter Pockley went to learn why Australia’s superstar of science and many younger researchers are there.

Humanoid Robots: A Thing of the Past?
Matthew Devenish looks to the future of robotics and finds that they will look more like Lego than C3PO.

The Link Between Creativity and Manic Depression
Stephen Luntz discovers why there is some truth behind the stereotype of the mad scientist and tormented artist.

Deep Freeze Favours Search for Origins of Universe
Peter Pockley jumps into the fridge with physicists who, given modest support, offer bright pictures from research in Antarctica.

NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK

Celebration of Science Gets a Shake-Up
Sara Phillips finds that National Science Week, now in its fourth year, is evolving as organisations explore new niches for activities.

Scinema
Bianca Nogrady speaks to the organiser of a new science film festival that kicks off during National Science Week.

The Great Marsupial Night Stalk
Stephen Luntz describes a program that encourages the public to do some scientific snooping in their own back yards.

BIOSPHERE

Global Warming Hits Australian Territory
The dramatic shrinking of Australia’s little-known glaciers presents another challenge to US President’s Bush’s rejection of the Kyoto accord on greenhouse gases. Peter Pockley reports on this year’s expedition to the Subantarctic Heard Island, the first in a decade.

Beyond Climate Change
Will Steffen finds evidence in Antarctic ice cores that human impacts on the environment will produce tumultuous shocks to the biosphere.

Why Bush Stalled the Kyoto Treaty
Simon Grose examines why the US has withdrawn from the Kyoto accord on greenhouse emissions.

INSIGHT

Team Australia
New CSIRO Chief Geoff Garrett describes his vision for Australia.

Make-or-Break Budget for Universities and R&D
Peter Pockley finds that scientists are concerned that government enthusiasm for R&D has already dissipated.

Science Heroes Gauged Scientifically
Peter Pockley meets Australia’s most influential scientist.

BOOKS

Dangerous Australian Animals: Sydney Funnel-Web Spider
Struan Sutherland and Guy Nolch profile a deadly spider in an extract from their book, Dangerous Australian Animals.  

UPDATE

Universe Expansion Accelerating

Clues to First Australians Found in East Timor

It’s the Bubbles of Nothing that Make the Universe Really Something

Quasar Map Looks Back 14 Billion Years

What Motivates Knowledge Workers?

Award for “Advancing the Science of Stopping”

Federation Fellowships Fall Short

Less Pollution Saves St Paul’s

Multiple Sclerosis May Be a Viral Disease

Relenza Scientist Turns to Inflammatory Diseases

GP Pay Increase Spurned

Students Design Mine-clearing Robot

New Fish in the Murray

Aussies Harness Tidal Power for

Bangladesh

Birds of a Feather

Climate Change “Not the End of the World”
 

BRIEFS

Aurora Better Late than Never

On the Track of Arsonists

Last Days for the Dog Spike

Genetic Disorder Traced

Smart End to Blackouts

“Extinct” Stick Insects Found

Conserving the Great Artesian Basin

Cancer Patients not Warned of Side-Effects