Ultimo science Festival may be over but the stories keep coming. We got a lot of coverage for our dark science nights in August. Here are just a few links to stories about the science of fear and pain;
1. Natasha Mitchell – the host of Dark Science presents All in The Mind on Radio National and has her take on the nights here.
2. 10daysofscience the NSW National Science Week committee’s great news blog about NSWk told a few stories about dark science here, here , here, here, here and here.
Ever wondered why the big pieces in your muesli come to the top when you shake it, or why when you try and shake things to mix them up some pieces clump together and just wont mix? Well then the university of Nottingham will explain the answer. Sixty Symbols is a series of (sixty) short videos explaining the meaning of the symbols used in Physics.
One of those symbols is Capital Gamma, the relationship between acceleration and gravity, also called the Brazil Nut effect. When a mixture of things is accelerated vertically relative to gravity the larger things in the mix will ALWAYS rise to the top (Brazil nuts in muesli). So shaking your muesli to mix it evenly just wont work.
[display_podcast]
Giant Squid on the wharf after being brought to Melbourne on board a fishing boat Photographer: David Paul. Image source: University of Melbourne
Now this is fascinating. You will probably never get the chance to see this happening. A giant squid caught by fishers off Victoria is dissected in a public forum. Rarely caught whole and hardly ever seen in captivity this is a great video for anyone with a interest in Australia’s natural history.
With expert commentary from Dr Mark Norman, world-renowned squid expert and Deputy Head of Science (Marine Zoology), Museum Victoria.
They even talk about squid that can fly. Now that is amazing.
Climate change activist Al Gore gave a speech at We calling for the US to not just reduce it’s dependence on oil – but to stop using oil for energy all together.
Now that’s a challenge.
Yet when we look at all three of these seemingly intractable challenges at the same time, we can see the common thread running through them, deeply ironic in its simplicity: our dangerous over-reliance on carbon-based fuels is at the core of all three of these challenges – the economic, environmental and national security crises.
Sound familiar?
when you connect the dots, it turns out that the real solutions to the climate crisis are the very same measures needed to renew our economy and escape the trap of ever-rising energy prices.
Hmmm??
So what could we do?
1. Use public transport and lobby for infra-structure projects that support alternatives to petrol based transport
2. Choose green power accredited electricity and lobby for greater access to non-carbon energy
3. Install gas in place of electricity for heating
4. Install solar in place of electricity or gas for heating
5. Install solar for home electricity
6. Ride a bike
7. Grow some of your own food
8. Choose superannuation funds that invest in renewable energy and other world friendly investments
9. Get friends to watch the video
10. Buy less and fewer new things
Most importantly is to talk to your representatives about the choices you would like them to make.
TED talks, always a great source of inspiration has done it again. An easy to follow solution to the US and logically OZ’s reliance on oil. Well worth a listen and passing on to your friends.
With support from a forward thinking government, fuel alternatives, as mentioned in my previous post, would be supported by infra-structure changes. Making it possible for business opportunities to replace any losses from traditional hydro-carbon industries.
How are smart businesses going green?
Thursday 8 March, 2007
This month we ask what businesses should be doing in terms of their sustainability commitments. Derek Williamson from the Powerhouse Museum leads a discussion with Alexandra Matyear, Whitcher Matyear Architects; Michael Bown, project manager Amcor; Tone Wheeler, architect, Environa Studio, and Tony Stapledon, Director, Stapledon and Co.
Coal v Nuclear v Renewable
Thursday November 9, 2006
Here is a topic to get charged up about! You’d be a fuel to miss it. The media is full of opinion about energy so we want to give everyone an opportunity to hear from and question experts in the various options. This Free Radical discussion at the Powerhouse Museum looks at the role coal, uranium and renewable resources should play in the economic and energy future of Australia.
Museum Educator Derek Williamson leads an expert panel; Mark Wakeham, Clean Energy Campaigner, Greenpeace Australia Pacific. Dr Clarence Hardy, Secretary, Australian Nuclear Association. Mr Burt Beasley, Director Technology and Innovation, Australian Coal Association. Dr Chris Riedy, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney.
When the Rivers Run Dry
Thursday 28 September
In this month’s talk, Fred Pearce calls for a ‘blue revolution’ to avoid the impending global water crisis in his latest book, When the Rivers Run Dry. The author’s 15 year odyssey researching water issues has taken him from our own Murray Darling River system to the banks of England’s Thames River. Through personal stories, he will locate our regional water crisis in a global context, and offer a way forward to meet this global challenge.
Your community – going, going, gone? Sunday 5 March, 2.00pm
How do we balance village lifestyle with population growth? As Sydney continues to face the dilemma of middle-aged spread, the government is making plans to limit the stretch and increase housing density in established communities. It’s time to discuss how this will affect our lifestyle. ABC presenter Bernie Hobbs leads our expert panel, Phil Jenkyn, Foundation Chair, Defenders of Sydney Harbour Foreshore; Norma Ingram, Redfern Waterloo Authority; and Chris Johnson, former NSW Government Architect.
Activism on trial
Sunday 5 February2006
This month the audience became the jury when activism went on trial. Dave Burgess and Will Saunders, two high-profile campaigners responsible for painting No War on the Sydney Opera House, stand before The Honourable Justice Robert McDougall to argue the role of activism in society. Is it a matter of social conscience or just anti-social?
Free Radicals is a forum for discussion of the impact and input that science and technology has on society, moderated through the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. This blog covers issues and ideas related to these issues and current themes in science and sustainability.
The Powerhouse Museum takes no responsibility for the content on this site and all views and opinions are those of the authors only.
Ultimo science Festival may be over but the stories keep coming. We got a lot of coverage for our dark science nights in August. Here are just a few links to stories about the science of fear and pain;
