freelance science journalist and author
From The Australian, 15 November 2008:IF little Jade Ochnio was a “normal” child, her mother Cheri believes she’d be a handful.“If she was my able-bodied child, she’d be the naughty one,” Ochnio says. However Jade, 7, is not able-bodied because she has congenital muscular dystrophy. A few seemingly minor misspellings and deletions in her DNA … Continue reading Dystrophies among rarest mysteries
From ABC Science Online, News in Science, November 11 2008:Australian researchers have discovered that the tipping point for ocean acidification caused by human-induced CO2 emissions is much closer than first thought.Scientists from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and CSIRO looked at seasonal changes in pH and the concentration of an important chemical compound, … Continue reading Southern Ocean close to acid tipping point
Talking New Scientist stories with Wammo on Kiwi FM, 1 November 2008:The brain is doing very important things when stuck in neutral. Researchers have noticed that instead of lying dormant when unoccupied, the brain devours a huge amount of calories when we’re doing absolutely nothing. So what exactly is it up to? Some say there’s … Continue reading The private life of the brain, with Wammo on Kiwi
From CSIRO’s Process Magazine, February 2008:Although a rake may appear to be a fairly straightforward piece of technology, when used in mineral processing facilities, the difference between a well-designed or poorly-designed rake can mean millions of dollars in scaled, damaged or poorly operating equipment.Research is suggesting that even small changes to the size, shape, location … Continue reading Raking in the benefits
From ABC Science Online, News in Science, 3 November 2008:An Australian study has revealed for the first time the drinking habits of elite Australian football players, showing that unlike the rest of the population, AFL players do their riskiest drinking outside the football season.It’s the first time an entire sporting code has gone under the … Continue reading Study reveals AFL drinking habits
Talking about the latest in New Scientist with Wammo on Kiwi FM, 30 October 2008:Women beware. Men are better at detecting their partner’s infidelities than women. In a US study of heterosexual couples, 80 per cent of women’s inferences about fidelity or infidelity were correct, while men were accurate 94 per cent of the time. … Continue reading Suspicious minds, with Wammo on Kiwi FM
From ABC Science Online, News in Science, 31 October 2008:New software is able to analyse exactly how many hairs there are in a patch of skin and could help in testing the effectiveness of baldness treatments and depilatory creams, say Australian researchers.Researchers from CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences in Sydney report their findings in the … Continue reading Maths makes counting hair easy
From ABC Science Online, News in Science, 20 October 2008:New evidence suggests antivenom should be given at least within an hour after a snake bite to be effective at reducing the blood thinning effects of venom.Australian clinical toxicologist Dr Geoffrey Isbister, from the Menzies School of Health Research, and colleagues, report their findings online in … Continue reading Timing is everything with snake antivenom
From G Magazine, November 2008:Our diet revolves around meat. Imagine the footy without a pie, summer without snags on the barbie, or Christmas without a turkey. But rumours abound that being vegetarian is better for the environment. Could the lentil lovers be right?Read more in magazine.
From ABC Science News Online, 22 October 2008:Wolfing down your food and eating until your seams are straining could double your risk of becoming overweight, Japanese researchers have found.A study published in the British Medical Journal this week reveals that men and women who eat rapidly or eat until they are full are twice as … Continue reading Fast eating a fast track to obesity
Bianca Nogrady 