June 2005

FEATURES

The Effect of Indoor Air Pollution on Children’s Health
Krassi Rumchev says that infants and children are more vulnerable to pollutants found in high concentrations in our homes.

Nuclear Waste Clean-up Comes of Age
High-level nuclear waste will be permanently locked up using an Australian technology 30 years in the making. George Collins reports.

Grass, Fire and Ecological Engineering
The cessation of Aboriginal fire management, combined with the spread of African grasses, are promoting intense fires that are destroying Australia’s tropical eucalypt savannas, according to David Bowman.

Bizarre Baleen Whales from Australia’s Ancient Seas
Erich Fitzgerald describes how discoveries of ancient fossils from Victoria have uncovered a bygone era when toothed baleen whales roamed the world’s oceans.

The Eyes of Time
John Long reveals the latest findings by Australia's archaeologists, including a 400-million-year-old fossilised eye.

Anthrax by Numbers
Jessica Kasza reveals how statisticians are playing an important role in the fight against bioterrorism.

Water Wings
Australia's boom and bust cycles of extreme flood and drought produce spectacular migrations of waterbirds, but new research is revealing the importance to a wide variety of species of floods of intermediate size. Rob Morrison says the research has profound implications for the management of Australia's wetlands, both inland and in coastal regions.

The Science of Complex Systems
John Finnigan explains how scientists are probing the complex interactions that influence the behaviour of bushfires, cyclones, the stock market and even electricity prices.

The Truth about Artificial Sweeteners
Glenn Cardwell examines whether artificial sweeteners are bad for your health.

The Shape of Things to Come
Shape memory alloys may be the driving force behind a new generation of devices. David Salt reports.

Living in the Hothouse
Ian Lowe reviews current scientific knowledge about global warming and explains the consequences for Australia.

Three More Years for CSIRO Chief
(192 kb PDF)
But the government has distanced itself from Geoff Garrett’s reappointment and foreshadowed the dismantling of CSIRO. Simon Grose reports.

conSCIENCE

Chemistry Is Heading for a Crisis
Australia faces an acute shortage of qualified chemists who are indispensable for the health of society and a multi-billion sector of the national economy, says Greg Simpson.