Yes, you can. On eBay.

There's a pH shift going on in our oceans due to rising levels of atmospheric CO2. New data suggests the rate of glacier shrinkage appears to be increasing quickly. The sun's radiation may play only a minor, and decreasing, role in climate change. And, last in our global warming special, Rocky Mountain flowers are having trouble reproducing.

Okay, on to news reptilian:

Turtles are younger than you think

Alligators have clever lungs

Posted by Rob O'Neill at 2:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You may recall the discovery of the "Hobbit" humans in indonesia a few years ago that set of an international science storm. The discovery was made by some Aussies and then the remains 'disappeared' in Indonesia for a while.

First the Hobbits were a news species of human, then they weren't and now they aren't again. Latest theory: iodine deficiency. It looks as if new, uncontaminated, samples will be needed and DNA tests to sort it out.

We heard recenrtly that short women often live longer, and so do some Ashkenazi Jews, prompting a bit of intense gene research.

Finally, we could have a home away from home.

Posted by Rob O'Neill at 3:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

in the words of the song, "Are just the same as you and I", except for short women, who may get to live longer. For the rest of us, this might help - a cancer fighting molecule.

That wouldn't have helped the Neanderthals if they had Mad Cows' disease due to cannibalism. Elsewhere, we may now know why there is a flu season and why flu viruses appear to like the cold.

And, scientists may be closer to understanding the origins of life, thanks to amino acids found in meteors.

that'll do for now, i have to get on with my incredibly fulfilling social life.

Posted by Rob O'Neill at 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've become a podcast fanatic and one of my favourites is Melvyn Bragg's In Our Time, from the BBC, which is also available on iTunes. One recent episode on plate tectonics made me sit up and pay attention.

It was about the emergence of the idea of continental plates and continental drift. One of the panelists mentioned the South Island plates. She said tension on these plates is now so great, the odds of a sudden movement are higher for, say, tomorrow than they are for the day after.

The plates under NZ are interesting as they swap roles from the North to the South Island. In the north, the Pacific plate is moving under the Australian plate while in the south it's the other way around. Twisted.

In Our Time offers an eclectic mix of science and culture, with each episode homing in on a single subject.

From "Plate Tectonics" and "The Multiverse" to "King Lear" and "Greek and Roman Love Poetry", the topics get outlined, analysed and pulled apart in about 40 minutes.

I'll post some other worthy science podcasts soon.

Posted by Rob O'Neill at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)