Each year, Science in Public publishes a collection of stories that share highlights of recent Australian research and prize-winning science with journalists in Australia and overseas, politicians, schools, museum visitors, and others. The 2017 collection is now online, along with stories from previous years. Here are links to a couple I wrote for the 2017 … Continue reading Stories of Australian Science 2017
We know open fires are romantic. We know about fire danger. Hopefully, we also know about the importance of clear, well-functioning chimneys and flues to remove indoor air polluting combustion gases. But did you know some fire fuels can also be a source of dangerous toxins? The fuel I'm talking about is treated wood. While … Continue reading Watch what you burn this winter
Hollywood’s dystopian movies would have you believe our future looks like the dark Los Angeles of Blade Runner or the grey concrete jungles of Metropolis. But the work of University of Melbourne urban ecologists paints possibilities more like Hobbiton in Lord of the Rings or Theed on the idyllic planet of Naboo in Star Wars. … Continue reading Making megacities healthy for humans
Yes, we’ve safely banned the bulb and got rid of old fashioned, energy guzzling ‘incandescent’ bulbs. Just so you know what’s watt (geddit?), here’s a handy guide to deciphering the language of lighting: from halogen to LED and beyond. The basics Wattage – The wattage tells you how much electricity the light bulb uses – and … Continue reading Illuminating lighting jargon
Tanya Ha 