Science by Email 3 February 2012

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	3 February 2012
News: Centenary of Australian Antarctic expeditions By Patrick Mahony Antarctic is a beautiful but tough place to conduct scientific research. Sunday 8 January 2012 marked the 100th Anniversary of Douglas Mawson's expedition arriving in Antarctica. This was the first of many research expeditions Australia would undertake to the frozen continent. There are no cities or towns in Antarctica. However there are research stations, of which Australia has four. The scientists who stay in them conduct research in fields as diverse as zoology, geophysics, medicine and climate change. Unfortunately for them, they have to endure one of the most extreme environments on Earth. At the same time that mainland Australia is sweltering during summer, temperatures rarely creep above 0°C in Antarctica. The continent may be covered in ice but it rarely snows in Antarctica. The low precipitation means it is classified as a desert. Not only is Antarctica the driest place on Earth, it is also the windiest. Intense winds called katabatic winds blow from the inland out to the sea. Cape Denison, where Mawson set up his first base, is recognised as the windiest place on the planet. While today's researchers have the benefits of modern technology to make life more bearable, spare a thought for Mawson and his men. They lived in wooden huts and used wooden sledges pulled by dogs to explore.    Australia has played a key role in protecting Antarctica's unique environment through the implementation of the Antarctic Treaty and the Madrid Protocol. These agreements are designed to ensure that Antarctica is not exploited, and used only for peaceful research activities. In particular, the Madrid Protocol placed a ban on mining activity in Antarctica. Antarctica is unlike any other continent. Through ongoing research and the recognition of its universal value, this beautiful place will hopefully continue to be preserved. More information 100 years of Australian Antarctic expeditions Australian Antarctic Division CSIRO link: Antarctica - the crystal desert CSIRO link: Scientists set sail south in search of climate evidence Careers link Classroom Antarctic: Careers in the Antarctic
Try this: Move your body Stand up straight and reach one arm up as far as it will go.   Bring your arm down, and swing it front of you. Notice how far you able to move your arm.   Let your left arm rest by the side of your body, and hold your upper arm with your right hand.   Bend your left elbow and try to move your forearm from side to side.     You will need Yourself What to do Stand up straight. Reach up one arm as high as it will go, then bring it down to your thigh. Bring it in front of you, and swing it around your body, keeping your torso still. Notice how far you are able to move your arm. Let your left arm rest by the side of your body. Using your right hand, hold your upper left arm to make sure it doesn't move. Bend your left arm, bringing your forearm up to form a right-angle at your elbow. Try to move your forearm from side to side without moving your upper arm, shoulder or body. Can you do it? What's happening? A joint is a place in the body where two bones meet. The shoulder and the elbow are examples of joints in the human body. You will notice that you have much more mobility in your shoulder: you can use it to lift your arm up, down and sideways, as well as rotate it. The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body. Your elbow isn't nearly as mobile. It can only swing backwards and forwards in one direction. The reason for this difference is in the shape of the joints. The elbow is an example of a hinge joint. The humerus (upper arm bone) and the ulna (one of the lower arm bones) are arranged in such a way that the elbow can swing in one direction only – like the hinge of a door. On the other hand, your shoulder is an example of a ball and socket joint. The curved head of the humerus sits in the 'socket', which is part of the scapula (shoulder blade). This shape means that the shoulder is able to rotate readily and move in many directions. Applications Humans need healthy joints to be able to perform the tasks of everyday life. Sometimes an injury will affect the movement of part of the body. There are tests that can be performed that measure the mobility of joints that can form part of the diagnosis of the problem. By Patrick Mahony Can you put the bones back together in this Science by Email activity? More information Bones, muscles and joints Types of joints in the human body View the online version Quiz questions 1. Where would you find the Sun's corona? 2. Which chemical element has the symbol K? 3. What is significant about the amethystine python's size? 4. Do microbes require oxygen to produce the greenhouse gas methane? 5. What colour roofs lead to cooler buildings – white or black? Did you know? Researchers from the One Tree Island Research Station say sea cucumber poo could help protect coral reefs from the ocean acidification caused by climate change. Websites Watch it! Want to know how to swing a cricket ball? Find out in this video. Hear it! Listen to these whale songs. Attention teachers – NASA Spaceward Bound expedition Are you a science teacher looking to engage your students in exciting new ways? NASA Spaceward Bound is a practical geoscience expedition that gives teachers the opportunity to work with scientists and engineers in authentic investigations in remote locations. These locations are used as models for Mars expeditions. Mars Society Australia is looking for two Australian science teachers to attend the next NASA Spaceward Bound expedition. This year's expedition will occur at the Desert Studies Center in Zzyzx, California from 18 to 23 March. For more information on how to apply contact Mark Gargano. Applications close 10 February 2012. Caves, Sunday 5 February at 7.30 am on Network Ten This week on SCOPE explore the natural wonders of the amazing, cavernous world of caves! From how they are formed, to what exactly lives down there and why, Dr Rob heads underground to SCOPE out all the answers. So tune in as once again the ordinary becomes extraordinary, under the SCOPE. Next episodes: Thursday 9 February: Green Sunday 12 February: Structures Want to have your own episodes of SCOPE to watch whenever you feel like it? Click here to download them directly into your iTunes folder, or go here to download iTunes. Charges apply. Quiz answers 1. The Sun's corona is a region that extends more than 1 000 000 km from the surface of the Sun. 2. Potassium has the chemical symbol K. 3. The amethystine python is Australia's largest species of snake. 4. Microbes produce methane without oxygen in anaerobic decomposition. 5. White roofs lead to cooler buildings, according to research from the University of Melbourne. Science by Email is a CSIRO publication. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and bankmecu are proud partners of Science by Email. Editors: Mike McRae | Manage your subscription | FAQ

 

 

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