MARCH 2003

FEATURES

Heron Island Chosen for World Attack on Coral Questions
Research on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is becoming a key to the survival of coral reefs worldwide. Peter Pockley reports.

Ground Control to FedSat
Margaret Lawson looks at the research going on inside Australia’s newest scientific satellite.

A Fiery End for Mt Stromlo?
Peter Pockley traces the history of the birthplace of Australian astronomy, which was comprehensively gutted in the January bushfires that engulfed Canberra.

Ghostly Asteroids Provide Clue to Missing Matter
Could invisible “mirror matter” explain the disappearance of comets from our solar system? Jason Major finds out.

A Jungle in Every Drop
Harvey Merchant takes a microscopic view of the creatures that drive the world’s carbon pump and influence its climate.

What Makes a Quantum Computer Tick?
Damian Pope describes what lies “under the bonnet” of a quantum computer.

A Kink in the Tail of Heredity
Vardhman Rakyan explains why the theory that all heritable traits are strictly genetic is ready for a shake-up.

Nuclear Approach to Water Shortage
Simon Grose describes plans to desalinate water using nuclear energy.

Surrogacy Gives Rare Marsupials a New Chance
Rob Morrison describes efforts to help an endangered wallaby to reproduce.

Silent Spring Sprung
Michael Bogwitz reveals new evidence that the gene conferring resistance to the insecticide DDT also provides resistance to today’s most potent insecticides.

Gender Issues for Science
Pauline Gallagher reports some alarming statistics about discrimination against women in science.

conScience

Regaining Public Confidence in Science
Robert May says scientists and their organisations must be transparent, informative and welcome debate.

BROWSE

Fat Chance for Obesity Cure

Child Researcher Named Australian of the Year

Vampire Solution to Stroke

Cheaper Nanotubes on the Way

Antibiotic Alternative for Poultry

Robotic Floats Deployed

Antibiotics: Abuse Them and Lose Them

A Tale of Two Webs

Waterless Mars?

Saving the World from Sewage

Molecular Switch Developed

Indigenous Understanding of Climate

Smart as a Fiddler Crab

Truffle Turn-up

Weeding out the Wedding Weed

Plane a “Flying Gas Chamber”

Weed to Filter Wastewater Pollution

Spidernauts Lost in Shuttle Disaster

Climate Effects of Bushfires

Organ Rejection Clue Found