The modern world has a problem with waste. Up to a third of all the food we produce is thrown out, and millions of pieces of plastic enter our oceans every day. However, one group of scientists may have a solution to both of these problems – turn it all into graphene. Graphene is a … Continue reading Flash heating turns waste into graphene
Category: Chemistry
Nobel Prize summary 2019
Every year, the Nobel Prizes for physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace and economics are presented. Each is considered the field’s most prestigious award, celebrating the greatest contributions made by living people to modern society. Here is my summary of the Nobel Prize winners of 2019. Physics – Michel Mayor, Didier Queloz & James Peebles Exoplanets … Continue reading Nobel Prize summary 2019
Slugs put predators in sticky situation
If slugs are so slow, how do they escape predators? Easy – slow them down even more. Scientists from Newcastle were doing research in the nearby Watagan Mountains when they found a tree frog stuck to a branch. Right next to where it was trapped was a red triangle slug. The scientists watched it for … Continue reading Slugs put predators in sticky situation
Lost Opportunity
On the 24th of January 2004, the Mars rover Opportunity landed on the planet’s surface. The mission was supposed to last ninety days. It didn’t. Fifteen years later, NASA has finally declared the project complete, and said goodbye to our most experienced Martian explorer. What is a Rover? Rovers are large, remotely-controlled vehicles sent to … Continue reading Lost Opportunity
Human history preserved in whale earwax
Scientists are measuring stress in whales – using the animal's earwax. The research is uncovering how recent human history has affected whales. Whale earwax has light and dark bands, with one of each made every year. The bands are caused by the different conditions the whales experience on their annual migrations (travel). This means that … Continue reading Human history preserved in whale earwax
Birds’ eyes work as a compass
Migrating birds 'see' magnetic fields... and scientists now think they know how. Many birds, such as robins, travel thousands of kilometres during spring and autumn. For years, scientists have thought that they use Earth's magnetic field to navigate, like having an inbuilt compass, but they weren't sure how it worked. Researchers from Germany and Denmark … Continue reading Birds’ eyes work as a compass
Lachlan Writes Science 