Australian Broadcasting Corporation Science Show
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Science Show
Galactic clustersClusters of galaxies are the largest gravitationally bound systems in the universe. Some are 1015 solar masses. Thatīs 1,000,000,000,000,000 times the mass of the sun. Christine Jones describes how and why galaxies cluster. One famous cluster is the bullet cluster.Death StarDan Evans has found two galaxies merging. Each hosts a supermassive black hole. One is sending out a jet of particles. This contradicts the earlier idea that black holes only swallow matter.Oscillating starsMost starts oscillate in some way. Detecting oscillations allows astronomers to see the properties of the inside of the star. Galaxy clusters can produce sound due to the diffusion of gas. One challenge is to try to explain why the hot gases donīt cool.The Chandra observatoryThe Chandra observatory was launched in 2000. Chandra can see way back to the beginning of the universe. X-rays show the hot violent events in the universe. Two merging galaxies, appear like a mess with an optical telescope. But using X-rays, black holes can be observed. And Chandra has shown two black holes heading straight for each other, lining up for one of the biggest bangs in the universe.John Wheeler - a tributePhysicist Paul Davies presents a profile of the great American theoretical physicist John Wheeler whose work gave us much of our knowledge about black holes, and indeed gave them their name. John Wheeler talks about his early fascination with the universe, his collaboration with Niels Bohr and his conversations with Albert Einstein. (first broadcast 13/09/2003)Café Sydney - changes after energy auditCafé Sydney conducted an energy audit and changed the way it does business, producing large savings in energy use and costs.
Prospects for coral reefsCharlie Veron looks at threats to the Great Barrier Reef. The crown of thorns starfish and sediment runoff pale compared to the looming threats of warmer and more acidic seas.Ten Questions Science Can't Answer (Yet!)Michael Hanlon discusses some of the questions in his book, questions which science has not yet come to grips with, or has chosen to ignore. He argues quite plausibly that dogs can have a sense of humour. He has some new suggestions for current dilemmas explaining why some populations are getting so enormously fat. Michael Hanlon then previews the approach he will take with his next book, Eternity.MythbustersIs Mythbusters science or entertainment? And does it matter! Nicholas Searle casts a critical eye over the program watched by millions and translated into nearly a dozen languages.
Green at workBernie Hobbs describes the ABCīs attempt to reduce consumption and waste.Quantum dots and nanowiresQuantum dots are small particles of nanometre scale. They are typically 10 nanometres in diameter. The dots' physical properties change at this level. Nanowires act as laser cavities. Just as with nanodots, physical properties at the nano scale are quite different. Applications include lasers for optical communications and night vision.Gene RadarGene Radar is a technology, a mobile phone-like device in which you place a small drop of blood or saliva. The machine can then display what disease the person has. It detects signatures of DNA and RNA. It detects a molecular fingerprint. The idea is to introduce and fine-tune the technology in developing countries, then bring it to developed countries with developed infrastructure where resistance to new technologies is often a barrier.Nano technology in energy generation and use of resourcesNano technology has applications in energy production - solar cells - and light generation. Solid state lights, as light emitting diodes, use nano technology and are expected to last for up to 25 years.Solar cellsNicola Phillips surveys the current state and potential of solar cell technology for domestic power generation in Australia and asks why the technology has not been taken up quicker.Regeneration of nervesNematode worms are put on chips and the nervous systems can then be seen illuminated. Then laser pulses are used to cut the nerves and they can be seen to regenerate. Itīs surgery on the nano-scale and allows study of neural regeneration. The technology has been demonstrated; now the plan is to see how neural regeneration is affected as genes are turned off one by one, thus allowing identification of the genes controlling regeneration. Then drug libraries will be tested.New smart materialsRichard Kaner is working on new smart materials such as plastics which conduct electricity; one application being new artificial muscle fibre. Another example is single layer graphite, known as graphene. This has special electrical qualities. It is hoped that carbon-based electronics may replace the current silicon-based technology, allowing further miniaturisation.Surface chemistryErica Wanless studies surface and colloid science. Itīs about how materials, usually liquids, mix or repel -- such as when oil is placed in water. There are complex kinetics involved. Applications are in cosmetics, shower gels and paints; also controlled drug delivery.Calicivirus delivers vaccines in humansCalicivirus infects rabbits. It causes a haemorrhagic disease. The rabbit bleeds from orifices and dies quickly. Humans are not a natural host for calicivirus so it does not cause infection, so the virus can be used as a vehicle for introducing antigens or proteins from infectious diseases and tumours into humans. The aim is to make and test vaccines against tumours. Eventually it is hoped to make a vaccine for a tumour which will kick the immune system and make it think there is an infectious disease.
Humans - built for long-distance running?Daniel Lieberman is interested in what makes the human body look the way it does. His passion is running. There are features over our whole body which help us to run well. One is the toes. Short toes help running. Tendons in the leg act as springs. These evolved around 2 million year ago. The bum tenses with every stride, preventing the trunk from pitching forward. There are features in the spine, neck and head. These all make us good long-distance runners but have no use in walking. Daniel Lieberman suggests we were good hunters on the savannas of Africa.Whitby fossilsWhitby, the historic town in North Yorkshire on the north-east coast of England, is known for its fossils. Paul Willis walks on a rock platform with local palaeontologist, Byron Blessed.Hydrogen considered as a fuel for air transportHydrogen is being considered as a fuel for use in air travel. The A2 is designed to travel at Mach 5 or more than twice the speed of Concorde. But there could be big environmental costs. Naomi Fowler reports.BMWīs Hydrogen 7BMW is developing a hydrogen-powered car. Dave Bean describes its virtues to Robyn Williams.Eris - a dwarf planetThere are eight big things in the Solar System. These are the planets. There are lots of little things, including dwarf planets. Eris is a dwarf planet and lies three times further away than Pluto. It has a single moon, Dysnomia, who in Greek mythology is Eris's daughter and the demon spirit of lawlessness.
