September 2005

FEATURES

The Hostile Womb
Understanding the chemical messages that prevent a fertilised embryo from attaching to the uterus could lead to new therapies for miscarriage and infertility, and conversely to new non-hormonal methods of contraception. Christine White reports.

Ice Age Survivors
Phil Hore traces the ancestry of big cats, elephants, rhinos, possums, kangaroos and echidnas across several ice ages and continents.

The Mysteries of the Motor Neuron
Recent research provides new clues to the causes of motor neuron disease. Julie Atkin reports.

The Science of Size
Australian data on the growing size of our population has not been updated for decades, with consequences for everything from clothing sizes to the design of fighter cockpits. Peter Blanchonette reports on a new survey by the Australian Defence Force.

Ant Threat to Biodiversity
With 90,000 queens per hectare, the spread of little fire ant supercolonies throughout the Pacific Islands is having disastrous consequences for one of the most biodiverse “hotspots” on Earth. Julien Le Breton reports.

New Weapon Against Tooth Decay
Stuart Dashper has discovered a novel antimicrobial agent in cow’s milk that could soon find its way into toothpaste and mouthwash.

Bubbles under the Spell of Sound
Franz Grieser and Muthupandian Ashokkumar are inducing violent explosions in ordinary bubbles to produce reactive chemicals that can be harnessed to synthesise nanoparticles and degrade pollutants and microbes.

Diabetes Research: The Best Result for Ages
Merlin Thomas and Josephine Forbes examine why an excess of sugar leads to blindness, amputations, kidney failure and cardiovascular disease in diabetics.

Science Teaching: A View from the Classroom
Debate over the nature and quality of science teaching at high schools is building with strong claims being made concerning the quality of science teachers and a looming shortage of suitable graduates to meet the demands of industry. Owen Evans questions some of the assumptions that are at the heart of this debate.

How to Win a Nobel Prize
Peter Doherty reveals his clues to snatching a “glittering prize” in science.

conSCIENCE

Clear View Needed in Environmental Monitoring
Hugh Possingham sees many inefficiencies in the way we look after the natural assets that underpin much of Australia's economic wealth.