JAN/FEB 2002

FEATURES

Biomedical Responses to the AIDS Epidemic
John Kaldor discusses the obstacles facing trials of an Australian vaccine against HIV.

Legislating for the Genetic Revolution
Brian Opeskin outlines the problems facing legislators as a result of advances in genetic science.

The Telescope Builders
Peter Pockley reports how an Australian enterprise has quietly taken over some world markets in high technology instruments.

Australian Impact Crater Linked to Global Mass Extinction
Sue Keay looks at the evidence linking the mass extinction of marine organisms 359 million years ago with a meteorite impact site in Western Australia.

Icebergs as a Water Source
Pat Quilty explains why icebergs may yet alleviate global water shortages.

Taking the Tarnish off the Gold Recovery Process
Matthew Jeffrey describes efforts to replace cyanide with a more environmentally acceptable alternative during the gold recovery process.

Homo vanus
Taxonomists are becoming as endangered as the species they are studying. Mike Lee says that a scheme to sell species names may save them, but questions whether this will lead to poor science.

Down Under Mars Research a Step Closer
A diverse group of scientists trekked through the outback recently in search of Mars-like conditions. Jennifer Laing reports that their findings may help human missions to the Red Planet.

INSIGHT

The First Cloned Human Embryo
Peter Coghlan says that our culture will suffer a profound moral loss if we allow embryos to be “mined” like a seam of coal.

NZ Science Wins GM Battle – For Now
Relative quiet is prevailing in New Zealand over the hot issue of genetic modification. Peter Pockley reports.

Slim Hope for Science and Universities after the Tampa Referendum
Peter Pockley scours the political landscape for pointers to the future but finds few.

UPDATE

Ball Reverses in Mid-air

Australian Research: More Is Less

Australasian Science Prize 2001 Presented

HyShot in Limbo

Dark Matter Distribution Matches Visible Galaxies

Giant Planets Found

Giant Solar Chimney for Mildura

Biota Makes Flu News Again

Corals Expel Healthy Algae During Bleaching

Viscous Mix Fix

Death at CSIRO Lab

Greenhouse Research Rewarded

Titanium Deposit Could Yield $300 Billion

Genetics Drives Bird Migration

Diabetes Gene Isolated in Mice

BRIEFS

The Cost of Ineffective Treatment

Fire Ant Alert Spreads South

Better Understanding of Memory Formation

Australia’s Radioactive Glow

Wine Press Niche

Low Rainfall Wood

Dugong Returned to Wild