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

• Video
• Image
• Paper details, authors and affiliations
• Media release below

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.

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

• Download sample audio here. Images available here. Video available here.
• Meet the owls here.
• More about the Australian Acoustic Observatory: acousticobservatory.org.
• Background information
• Scientists available for interviews
• Media release below

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.

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:

• QLD: Solving search engine secrets
• NSW: A cosmologist’s gender studies
• VIC: Psychedelic science

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:

• SA: See the farm of the future
• TAS: Keeping rivers healthy
• VIC: The importance of bees
• WA: Blending science and gardening and solar cooking

Coming up tomorrow:

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

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:

• SA: Why do videos of wildlife antics go viral?
• NSW: Scientists solving murders
• WA: Can we future-proof food and agriculture?

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:

• VIC: Coding secrets
• TAS: Finding our oldest sourdough
• QLD: The influence of search engines

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.

Seeing sound

The beauty of salt

Explosive patterns from linseed oil and ink

Electricity moving slowly through wood

Extreme cinematography captures everyday phenomena

• About the films
• About the director Josef Gatti
• More information
• Media release below

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:

• WA: The science of cleaning
• QLD: Virtual reef diving
• ACT: The hidden benefits of parasites