The Devonian period, between 420 and 360 million years ago, is usually known for its diverse ocean life. It’s sometimes even called ‘the Age of Fishes.’ Meanwhile, on land, something big was growing unlike any other life we know. Prototaxites looked like tree trunks, growing up to eight metres tall and one metre across. This … Continue reading Prototaxites: life, but not as we know it
The secret colours of birds-of-paradise
Many birds are pretty, but birds-of-paradise take decoration to the extreme. The males in this New Guinean family of birds attract their mates using a wide range of colours, accessories and movements. While these displays might look impressive to us, they involve even more than meets the (human) eye. Scientists from the United States tested … Continue reading The secret colours of birds-of-paradise
Shedding light on the dark galaxy
Encyclopedia Britannica defines a galaxy as “any of the systems of stars and interstellar matter that make up the universe.” This may soon need to change thanks to the discovery of J0613+52 – a galaxy without a single visible star. Astronomers were using radio telescopes to study a selection of galaxies which have very few … Continue reading Shedding light on the dark galaxy
Hitchhiking worms leap for the sky
In my second-ever article I wrote about how spiders can use electric fields to fly. Now scientists have discovered that some worms also have this power, and their technique is much more dramatic. Scientists from Japan were studying a type of worm called Caenorhabditis elegans (see-no-rab-die-tus ell-luh-gans), and kept finding them hanging from the lids … Continue reading Hitchhiking worms leap for the sky
Use Foley to make sound effects
You’re in a dark theatre. Footsteps echo as the main character walks across the screen. But wait! You’re actually hearing someone else! This isn’t a plot twist – it’s the deceptive art of Foley. Have you ever filmed something with a phone or video camera and been disappointed with the sound quality? Wind and other … Continue reading Use Foley to make sound effects
Laser focus lights up hallway
Lasers may seem precise but they still spread out the further they travel. Four scientists have tried to prevent this using nothing but the air around them. One way to keep light focused is to shine it through an optical fibre. These are made so that any stray light will just reflect within the fibre … Continue reading Laser focus lights up hallway
The Ig Nobel prize round-up 2022
As we reach the end of yet another year, it’s time again to do my annual write-up of this year’s Ig Nobel Prizes. Once again, ten prizes have been given out for research that is funny, odd, or just a bit different. And with no further ado, the winners are: Applied Cardiology – Eliska Prochazkova, … Continue reading The Ig Nobel prize round-up 2022
New gloves train surgeons
Becoming a surgeon takes a lot of time and practice, and it’s important for trainee doctors to know that they’re building the right habits. Engineers from Western Sydney University are hoping to help, by creating gloves that can track the wearer’s movements. Currently the only way to train a new surgeon is to have an … Continue reading New gloves train surgeons
Eyes make self-driving cars safer
It’s hoped self-driving cars will make roads safer for their passengers, but what about pedestrians? Japanese scientists have recently experimented with one way of protecting people on foot – adding big eyes. When you’re deciding whether to cross the road, like at a pedestrian crossing, it helps to know whether approaching drivers have seen you. … Continue reading Eyes make self-driving cars safer
Dissolving platinum speeds up reactions
Platinum is a very useful metal for chemical reactions. It acts as a catalyst, making reactions happen faster without getting used up in the process. Unfortunately, platinum is also rare, so buying enough for large industrial reactions can be very expensive. This problem could soon be solved by dissolving it in gallium. Gallium is also … Continue reading Dissolving platinum speeds up reactions
Lachlan Writes Science 