JAN/FEB 2003

FEATURES

On the Trail of Breast Cancer
Erica Sloan tracks the genes responsible for breast cancer’s spread into bone.

Sudden Infant Death: New Role for Neurosteroids
Saraid Billiards, Jonathan Hirst and David Walker reveal how mild bacterial infections can trigger neurochemical responses in the newborn brain that lead to SIDS.

Ovarian Xenografting: Hope for Endangered Wildlife
Melanie Snow and Shae-Lee Cox describe how ovarian tissues stored in genome resource banks can assist the conservation of endangered wildlife.

Artificial Vision for the Blind
Luke Hallum, Guy Tsafnat, Nigel Lovell and Gregg Suaning report on the progress they have made in developing a bionic eye.

Where Have All the Seals Gone?
Mark Hindell and Corey Bradshaw report the findings of research investigating why southern elephant seal populations have halved, for which Hindell won the 2002 Australasian Science Prize.

Human Activities Threaten Coral Reefs with “Dire Effects”
Sixteen coral reef experts from around the world met privately in Townsville recently to thrash out an action plan. Peter Pockley was invited to join them.

Shedding Light on Dark Matter
Cathryn Trott looks for the invisible stuff that makes up 90% of the universe.

May the Best Model Win
Simon Grose says we should welcome fights between scientists and economists.

Eating Bushfires
Contrary to popular belief, the majority of houses destroyed in bushfires actually survive the passage of the fire front, only to be ignited by wind-borne debris. Justin Leonard offers some suggestions on how to defend your house.

Can We Myth-Proof Australia?
John Williams says that plans to “drought-proof” Australia are like bashing the continent into submission instead of accepting its nature and learning to live within it.

Can Cloud Seeding Bring Drought Relief?
With rainfall levels well below average over vast areas of the continent, farmers and water managers are asking what science can do about the problem. Brian Ryan evaluates the research.

conScience

Australia Has Become Too Timid
Tim Besley urges Australia’s scientists and technologists to become more adventurous, enterprising and
innovative.

BROWSE

Beetle Threat to Honey

September 11 Clues to Climate Mystery

ANU Camera as Sharp as Hubble

Aussie Firm Seeks to Terrorist-proof US Water

El Nino’s 2000-Year Cycle

Alternative Nobel Won by Green

Snakes Save Lives

Snoring Children Have Lowest Intelligence Level

Fire Truck Safety Improves

The End for the Incandescent Light Bulb

Probability of Extraterrestrial Life High

Universal Constants Look Shaky

Exercise Enhanced during the Menstrual Cycle

Fossil Whale Collected

Fishing Reduces Genetic Diversity

Goanna Energetics

Locating Landmines

Artesian Water Base Declining

CRC Spin-off Rate Speeds Up

Australia Threatened by Yellow Dragon Disease

Reading Takes a LEAP