Nov/Dec 2004

FEATURES

Gene Cleaver Offers Promise for Therapies
The winner of the Australasian Science Prize for 2004 is developing potential treatments for arterial diseases and some cancers.

iRobot
Insects are providing the inspiration for the latest generation of tiny autonomous robots. Julian Cribb reports.

Oyster Plan for Toxic Waste
Geoff MacFarlane’s team believes that pearl oysters may be the perfect animals for removing heavy metals and microbes from our waters.

Military Minds Turn to Evolution’s Arms Race
The military is studying fossils hundreds of millions of years old to predict how weapons and defence systems may evolve. Andrew Parker reports.

25 Years of World-Class Science:
The Controversies
In the final of a four-part series celebrating Australasian Science’s 25th year of publication, Peter Pockley recalls some of the most memorable debates about, and within, Australia and New Zealand science during this time.

The Rising Asbestos Toll
Wendy Laursen investigates the rising rate of the asbestos-related disease mesothelioma in Australia.

Traditional Fishing Puts the Bite on Sharks
Recent developments in underwater video technology have allowed an Australian team of marine scientists to measure the impact of traditional Indonesian fishing on shark populations in Australia’s northern waters.

Desalination: A Solution to Water Woes?
Simon Grose reports that plans to desalinate seawater in Australian cities will need to keep greenhouse emissions in check.

Sponge Farming in Remote Australian Communities
Carsten Wolff trials the optimum conditions for farming sponges, which may provide a sustainable livelihood for remote communities in Arnhem Land.

The Point of the Clitoris
Antoni Milewski looks to the animal kingdom for evidence of the true purpose of the clitoris.

Evergreen Revolution
The Green Revolution must make way for an Evergreen Revolution if the world’s food supply is to overcome environmental degradation and support nine billion people by 2050. Stephen Luntz reports.

Algal Shuffling Helps Corals Cope with Environmental Change
Madeleine van Oppen, Angela Little and Bette Willis show that coral can rapidly acclimatise to environmental changes by reshuffling symbiotic algae.

conScience

Selling our Southern Oceans Short –
On Science
Commercial and political interests are dominating the planning of Australia’s offshore marine parks, largely to the exclusion of science, says Karen Edyvane.