Werewolves are just fiction
Funny Animal Photos by Ty Buchanan
Scramjet Launch
Though Australia is the world's leader in development of the scramjet, it needs partners to meet the objective of successful launch. The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) led by the University of Queensland has put together a group of 13 to test the rocket. The launch will take place above the Arctic Circle in September.
Preparation of the rocket has begun in Norway. There is a learning curve. A lot is expected to be learned from the project. Hypersonic physics and combustion is a relatively new area of research. The aim is to be able to launch satellites cheaper. The overall cost of the launch is $14 million, believed to be money well spent.
There is no doubt that participating scientists will be nervous on day zero. The two-stage rocket will leave Andoya Rocket Range and soar to 320 kilometers. When the thrusters cease it will gently fall back to earth in a swan dive. Unfortunately, the scramjet will not be salvaged. It is set to self-destruct over the ocean.
There is an air of optimism about the flight. However, it would be wise to err on the side of caution. The European Space Agency had many failures before perfecting its technology. We can only wait and see.
Technology by Ty Buchanan
Wax Ear Plug Illuminates a Whale's Life
Who would have thought that ear wax would add to scientific knowledge. A wax ear plug from a dead 12 years old whale has shed more light on its life. Traditional research involved blubber, faeces and blood.
Lipids, keratin and waxes built up by two layers a year. This was used to tell the age of the whale. When sliced ultrafine, 24 separate rings were identified.
Closer analysis was done and various industrial chemicals and pesticides were found. Some of the chemicals persisted in the wax despite being banned world wide ten years before. There is no doubt that these chemicals were stored in the females fat and passed onto the young.
Mercury was high at two periods in the whale"s life. Testosterone level rose when the whale reached maturity at ten years of age. The high chemical rate is believed to have an indirect effect on the high cortisol level, the stress hormone. However, a 12 year old male would have been driven to compete with other males for females and form social bonds.
Conservation by Ty Buchanan
Cat Toast
"It may only be toast but it looks good to me."
Funny Animal Photos by Ty Buchanan
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Gene Bank Needed to "Save" Endangered Native Animals
There is no way that Australia can prevent the extinction of some native animal species. Some can be preserved with a national gene bank. Though a seed bank has already been set up to save native flora, nothing is planned for fauna.
Present debate is centered on the loss of the northern and southern gastric brooding frog. If a gene bank had existed the frog would have been preserved. Australia has the worst record of native animals going extinct than anywhere else, not something to be proud of. Over 40 birds and mammals have disappeared since European settlement.
Because government has been slow in allocating resources, private organizations have started gene banks. Indeed Taronga Conservation society Australia has stored genes from 20 native animals. This is far from adequate. Over 2,000 species need preservation.
With the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, the Animal Gene Storage and Resource Centre of Australia at Monash University has a total of 100 endangered species in storage. Funding from the public and enterprise supports these "frozen" storage facilities. Nothing has been added for four years due to lack of resources. Looking the other way is not the solution.
Present debate is centered on the loss of the northern and southern gastric brooding frog. If a gene bank had existed the frog would have been preserved. Australia has the worst record of native animals going extinct than anywhere else, not something to be proud of. Over 40 birds and mammals have disappeared since European settlement.
Because government has been slow in allocating resources, private organizations have started gene banks. Indeed Taronga Conservation society Australia has stored genes from 20 native animals. This is far from adequate. Over 2,000 species need preservation.
With the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, the Animal Gene Storage and Resource Centre of Australia at Monash University has a total of 100 endangered species in storage. Funding from the public and enterprise supports these "frozen" storage facilities. Nothing has been added for four years due to lack of resources. Looking the other way is not the solution.
Conservation by Ty Buchanan
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Australians Need Space Not Refugees
Australians like space. The major cities are relatively sparsely populated by world standards yet we still try to shun them to avoid people. Perhaps we are spoiled for space. Australia is the most sparsely populated country after Mongolia. Yes that is a fact. We do not hold the record, though many still claim it.
Another issue is - What is a city? For world records this can be a problem. An "average" Chinese city would have more people than the whole of Australia. Some Australian politicians are aiming to keep our cities small in the near future. But is this still possible in a world seemingly full of refugees? Time will tell if placing refugees overseas from Australia will work. It will certainly cost us a great deal. Tony Abbott's idea of turning the boats around will only cause refugees to put a hole in their boat. Most boats are seriously overloaded and unseaworthy anyway, so they should be taken into safe custody. Ignoring safety concerns could be breaking international law..
With Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister things seemed to be moving too quickly. Kevin Rudd did too much too quickly and he ignored what most people wanted. People don't like things to change too fast. Maybe there is a lesson there for Labor in the next federal election. Voters wanted something done about the apparent flood of refugees and what this would mean for future population density. Hopefully new policies will give some breathing space to Australians who are quite shocked to find people from strange cultures walking down their street. Australia is a Caucasian land - at the moment. It has taken two centuries for Chinese to be accepted as Ocker Aussies. Australians not only need space. Time is required as well to accept change.
Another issue is - What is a city? For world records this can be a problem. An "average" Chinese city would have more people than the whole of Australia. Some Australian politicians are aiming to keep our cities small in the near future. But is this still possible in a world seemingly full of refugees? Time will tell if placing refugees overseas from Australia will work. It will certainly cost us a great deal. Tony Abbott's idea of turning the boats around will only cause refugees to put a hole in their boat. Most boats are seriously overloaded and unseaworthy anyway, so they should be taken into safe custody. Ignoring safety concerns could be breaking international law..
With Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister things seemed to be moving too quickly. Kevin Rudd did too much too quickly and he ignored what most people wanted. People don't like things to change too fast. Maybe there is a lesson there for Labor in the next federal election. Voters wanted something done about the apparent flood of refugees and what this would mean for future population density. Hopefully new policies will give some breathing space to Australians who are quite shocked to find people from strange cultures walking down their street. Australia is a Caucasian land - at the moment. It has taken two centuries for Chinese to be accepted as Ocker Aussies. Australians not only need space. Time is required as well to accept change.
Immigration by Ty Buchanan
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