May 2006

FEATURES

First GM Moratoria Domino Set to Fall
The ACT’s moratorium on GM food crops expires later this year. Simon Grose reports that industry pressure to remove the ban will set a political precedent for other states and territories with moratoria in place.

Pulling the Wool over Rumen Bacteria
Microorganisms hinder the efficiency of digestion in sheep, but André-Denis Wright says a vaccine designed to inhibit rumen bacteria could boost wool production.

Conquering Chytrid (267 kb PDF)
The habitat of frogs and the company they keep may expose them to a deadly fungus, reveals Jodi Rowley.

What Lies Beneath Victoria’s Waves?
A partnership between government, industry and universities is mapping some of Victoria’s marine protected areas. Anthony Boxshall describes some of the living treasures discovered.

Coral Bleachings Haunt the World’s Reefs
Corals from the Carribean to the Keppels are experiencing another devastating round of bleaching in the wake of the hottest year on record. Michael Perry reports.

Saving the Planet on a Budget
Australian mathematicians have developed ways to enable conservationists to allocate their resources more efficently. David Kay reports.

The Agroterror Threat
The tools of global terrorism extend beyond conventional weapons. Carl Ungerer examines the possibility of terrorism in Australian agriculture.

The Sustainability Myth
Robert White argues that viable farming is not the same as sustainable farming, and that the concept of sustainability is meaningless without a timeframe.

Peacock’s New Powers (231 kb PDF)
Dr Jim Peacock has become Australia’s most influential scientist, and not just because of his recent appointment as the government’s Chief Scientist. Peter Pockley reports entirely from exclusive documents gathered from government, CSIRO and leaks that Peacock now leads a new “team” at the apex of CSIRO, where he is charged with restoring the agency’s fortunes – politically, financially and publicly. Original documents

Nanomachines: Lessons from Nature
Paul Mulvaney explains the limits to nanotechnology and how nature is providing clues to overcoming them.

The Power of One
Thomas Barlow identifies two trends that are diminishing the role of the individual in Australian science: a fixation with scale and a culture that is obsessive about collaboration.

conSCIENCE

Diversity of Research Is a National Treasure
Peter Hall warns that a new method of assessing research threatens Australia’s capacity in vital disciplines like mathematics and statistics.

Browse

HyShot Test a Success

Dinosaurs of the Pacific

Koalas Dogged By Pets

Humpbacks on Song

Whale Research without the Killing

Estuaries Online

A Cure for Sick Buildings?

Sister of the Sun

Virus Named After Geelong

Solution for Submarine Smell

Minds Merge

Mangroves Don’t Stop Tsunami Damage

Roving Bandits Plunder Oceans

Reef’s Gardeners at Risk

Digital Astronomy for Students

Nature Inspires Tidal Energy Systems

Boost for Biofuel Production

Solar Centre Opens

Beetle Family Tree