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Can't give it up: The science behind addiction and the brain
By Andi Horvath
Behavioral neuroscientist Prof Andrew Lawrence discusses addictive and compulsive behaviors around drug and alcohol use, the power of psychological dependence, and how the brains of addicts differ from those of the rest of us.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Germ warfare: Young researchers seeking answers to diverse microbe threats
By Andi Horvath
Two young science researchers discuss their investigations of microbes that threaten, respectively, human health and our food supply. We chat with Claire Gorrie about aspects of the drug-resistant bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae, and how it's implicated in serious infections. And Rebecca Vandegeer tells us how the Barley Yellow Dwarf virus strips our wheat crops of their defences, posing a threat to food security.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Hello, Pet! Our love can hurt our animal friends
By Peter Clarke
Bioethicist Peter Sandøe discusses our complicated relationship with animals and the associated moral dilemmas, including how our love for companion animals can actually cause harm and the difference between society’s treatment of pets and production animals.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Brain in a Dish: the therapeutic potential of stem cells and organoids
By Andi Horvath
Epilepsy researcher Steve Petrou and developmental neuroscientist Miranda Dottori discuss the potential of organoids, miniature immature organs grown in dishes, particularly for future epilepsy and autism research.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Cell Sell: The ethics of the transnational human tissue market
By Elisabeth Lopez
Stem cell expert Megan Munsie and bioethicist Dominique Martin discuss medical tourism and the hidden transnational trade in transplant organs and stem cells, considering their ethics, legislative implications and what the future might hold.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Weeds girdle the globe: The marauding march of invasive plant species
By Andi Horvath
Plant population specialist Prof Roger Cousens talks about how the spread of undesirable plants, or “weeds”, has dramatically redefined the world’s natural landscapes and coastlines, and what this means for us economically, aesthetically and environmentally.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Wild and domestic: A cultural history of human-animal relations
By Andi Horvath
Environmental historian Prof Harriet Ritvo recounts the often ambiguous relationships between the human and animal worlds through history, and explores our need to both tame and take inspiration from the wild.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Disciples of the interdisciplinary: Researchers crossing boundaries to unleash creativity
By Andi Horvath
Neuroscientist and science communicator Dr Daniel Glaser discusses the synergistic dividends that arise from research efforts that cross traditional research domains.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Brain ever changing: Neuroplasticity and its role in mental health
By Andi Horvath
Behavioural neuroscientist Prof Anthony Hannan gives a neuro-researcher’s view of the dynamic, bidirectional interplay of brain and body, and the protective and destructive implications for both our mental and physical health.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Cannabis research: The state of the science in an age of weed liberalization
By Eric van Bemmel
Psychiatrist and clinical researcher Prof David Castle discusses how cannabis represents both a public health risk and a wide-ranging therapeutic opportunity, as the once “evil weed” gains greater legal acceptance for recreational and medical use.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
