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Science In Public

Science writers, communicators, media, training, and public relations

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Galaxies pump out contaminated exhausts

Corrected 31 August: ‘500 light years’ updated to ‘500 million light years’

Research reveals how star-making pollutes the cosmos

Animation available, astronomers available in Australia and UK for interview

Galaxies pollute the environment they exist in, researchers have found.

A team of astronomers led by Alex Cameron and Deanne Fisher from the ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D) used a new imaging system on at the WM Keck Observatory in Hawaii to confirm that what flows into a galaxy is a lot cleaner than what flows out.

The research is published today in The Astrophysical Journal.

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Australians find owl hunting good for science and soul under lockdown

12,000 Powerful, Barking, Boobook, Barn, and Masked owl calls found so far

Media contacts: Ben Keirnan, ben@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0408 184 858; or Tanya Ha, tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863.

Is that a dog barking? Or a Barking owl?

Hundreds of Australians have found thousands of owl calls by listening to short recordings made in nature reserves. 

They’re helping researchers identify and map native Australian owl species through the Hoot Detective project.

[Read more…] about Australians find owl hunting good for science and soul under lockdown

Hot earth, whale songs, science meets footy, the sourdough craze, and more

Sunday 22 August 2021

Highlights from the final day of National Science Week

117 events and exhibitions, 82 online activities, and dozens of great stories and talent.

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

  • VIC: Climate change remedies
  • SA: Science at the footy
  • QLD: Save whales, but do we want to save sharks?
  • NSW: Bizarre ancient fish
  • NSW: The science of Sydney’s biggest backyard
  • TAS: An obsession with sourdough
  • WA: How do we future-proof agriculture?

Read on for more on these, including event contact details.

Also today:

[Read more…] about Hot earth, whale songs, science meets footy, the sourdough craze, and more

A Blue New Deal for oceans, hacking Minecraft, LEGO goes astro, and more

Saturday 21 August 2021

Highlights from day eight of National Science Week

197 events and exhibitions, 103 online activities, and dozens of great stories and talent.

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

  • NSW: An ocean defender to the rescue
  • TAS: Hacking Minecraft, insect worlds, and cuddly animals at the Festival of Bright Ideas
  • VIC: A VR view of the Universe
  • QLD: Dive into the Great Barrier Reef without getting wet
  • NSW: CSI wildlife
  • ACT: Understanding the Universe through LEGO

Read on for more on these, including event contact details.

Also today:

Coming up tomorrow:

Hot earth, whale songs, science meets footy, sourdough, and more – see a preview of Sunday’s highlights.

[Read more…] about A Blue New Deal for oceans, hacking Minecraft, LEGO goes astro, and more

Ending COVID-19, lighter x-rays, safe vaccines, and a teddy bear goes under the knife

Friday 20 August 2021

Highlights from day seven of National Science Week

262 events and exhibitions, 131 online activities, and dozens of great stories and talent.

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

  • NSW: Quashing pandemics
  • TAS: Hacking Minecraft, insect worlds, and cuddly animals at the Festival of Bright Ideas
  • NSW: What 60,000 years of Indigenous knowledge tells us about the night sky
  • TAS: What dissecting a teddy reveals about plastic and waste
  • VIC: How quickly can you make a safe vaccine?
  • SA: Space sci-fi fact and fiction
  • SA: Lighter, faster, portable x-rays
  • VIC: The blind artist making books you can read with your eyes closed

Read on for more on these, including event contact details.

Also today:

[Read more…] about Ending COVID-19, lighter x-rays, safe vaccines, and a teddy bear goes under the knife

Help for addicts, speedy space travel, protecting Aussie critters, hot penguins, and more

Thursday 19 August 2021

Highlights from day six of National Science Week

302 events and exhibitions, 162 online activities, and dozens of great stories and talent.

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

  • NSW: Understanding addiction
  • VIC: How will wildlife cope with climate change?
  • NSW: Alternatives to meditation
  • VIC: Australia’s weirdest mammal
  • QLD: Nuclear testing fallout

Read on for more on these, including event contact details.

Also today:

[Read more…] about Help for addicts, speedy space travel, protecting Aussie critters, hot penguins, and more

Lockdown science

Wednesday 18 August

Get through lockdown with science.

You and your family can contribute to real research projects without leaving home:

  • help map Aussie owls by listening to their calls
  • classify the coral, sand and sea creatures in the Great Barrier Reef.

Or you can explore:

  • virtually dive into the sea with Giant Australian Cuttlefish
  • or build the Universe Lego brick by Lego brick.

You can make your own hand sanitiser, or a lava lamp, or a marshmallow bridge.

You can find peace of mind with alternatives to meditation and mindfulness.

You can discover the future of no-kill meat, or Sydney’s backyard biodiversity.

You can explore nine forces of the Universe through the ABC series Phenomena on YouTube. Or just chill out with the dance mix on iView.

For more information read on or contact:

▪ Tanya Ha: tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863
▪ Niall Byrne: niall@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0417 131 977 or 03 9398 1416.

[Read more…] about Lockdown science

Underground dark matters, optimal beers, Aussie volcanoes, climate grief, disappearing frogs, and more

Wednesday 18 August 2021

Highlights from day five of National Science Week

343 events and exhibitions, 178 online activities, and dozens of great stories and talent.

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

  • VIC: Seeking dark matter underground
  • TAS: Experimenting with beer
  • NSW: The threat of Aussie volcanoes
  • NSW: Children’s climate change fears
  • VIC: Cutting through science jargon
  • VIC: What’s killing our frogs?

Read on for more on these, including event contact details.

Also today:

[Read more…] about Underground dark matters, optimal beers, Aussie volcanoes, climate grief, disappearing frogs, and more

Satellites solving mysteries, faster x-rays, zippy rockets, quicker cures and more

Great National Science Week TECHNOLOGY stories up for grabs now around Australia.

  • An eye in the sky over the deaths of one million fish – online, NSW
  • How fast can a rocket go? – Adelaide, SA
  • Smaller, lighter, faster X-rays – Tonsley, SA
  • What to do with radioactive waste – online, NSW
  • Hastening medical advances – online, NSW

These are just a few of the events on during this year’s National Science Week (August 14 to 22).

If you’re after more ideas for stories, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/science-week, and on Twitter at @SciWKMedia.

Scientists, performers, experts and event organisers are available for interview throughout National Science Week. Read on for contact details for each event, or call:

▪ Tanya Ha: tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863
▪ Niall Byrne: niall@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0417 131 977 or 03 9398 1416.

[Read more…] about Satellites solving mysteries, faster x-rays, zippy rockets, quicker cures and more