OCTOBER 2002

FEATURES

The Spectre of Bioterrorism
Tess Holderness looks at Australia’s preparations for the unthinkable – the use of biological agents such as anthrax or smallpox to induce panic, disease and death.

Weather, Climate and Warfare
Clem Davis traces the history of warfare and finds that climate and weather forecasting have become more important with developments in military technology.

Hydrogen: Australia’s Energy Future
Australia’s significant new fuel for the 21st century will be hydrogen. Julian Cribb talks with two of the nation’s leading energy scientists about how we get there and what the big opportunities are on the way.

The Real Cost of Kyoto
Simon Grose finds that householders and governments are finding the cost of a greenhouse-friendly world too high.

When Does Human Life Begin?
Jonathan Kelley and Mariah Evans surveyed the public and discovered some interesting views.

The White Curse
Dominyk Lever examines why few albinos survive to adulthood in the wild.

Frogs Muscle in on Astronaut Problem
Muscles waste away when they’re not used, providing a problem for astronauts in microgravity as well as long-term hospital patients. Nick Hudson reveals that some Australian frogs have overcome this problem.

Saving the Booroolong Frog
Leane Regan reports that the decline of frog species is more complicated than infection with chytrid fungus.

Communities Watch Outback Waterways
Community groups in remote areas are providing valuable ecological observations to scientists, reveals Rob Morrison.

Consultants Doubt CSIRO Bid for More Funding
Peter Pockley continues to probe claims of a “crisis” in the nation’s premier research agency.

Science’s Second Tier
Stephen Luntz finds out why university enrolments in physics and chemistry are in decline, and how some lecturers are fighting back.

conScience

Lies, Loopholes & Landclearing
Clive Hamilton says the government has cooked the books to make its greenhouse strategy look achievable.

UPDATE

“Simple” Solution to Safeguard Skyscrapers

Aussie Technology Identifies WTC Victims

Clue to Breathing Disorders

Brain Steroid Link to SIDS

Overstocking Fish Causes Toxic Blooms

A New Cause of Hypertension

Redgums on the Way Out

Oceanic Information for NASA

Can the Speed of Light Have Changed?

McGauran Lobbies Argentineans on Waste Reprocessing

Crunch Time for Uni and Research Reviews

AIMS Looks North for Marine Opportunities

Native Grasses Strike Back

BRIEFS

Dish Has a New Moment in the Sun

Tailor-made Drugs

Skin Cancer Drugs Success

Black Holes Merge

Obesity Drug on the Way

Roadside Reserves Should Be Treated with Care

Australian Research Online

Predictable Chemistry

Rocky Times for Abalone Studies