September 2009

Velocity once again covers a wide range of topics providing readers with a light but informative insight into some of the latest in Australian science. In this edition you can read about the emerging science of nuclear forensics, learn how solar cells are being made from bank note technology, get insight into how small animals adapt to a new diet after a major environmental event, learn how synchrotron's are being used to date famous artworks, how 'nano-bones' may revolutionise joint replacement surgery, and why a frozen moon in deep space displays 'tiger stripes'. There's always something fascinating in Velocity, so be sure to forward this to a friend and encourage subscription!     Elementary Watson? No nuclear     It's a bank job!     Them nano-bones!...are made for walking     Arts hidden secrets     How a Moon got its stripes     Recipe for yabby pasta

Elementary Watson? No nuclear The great literary detectives like Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot brought traditional forensics into the public eye and now we have a strange fascination for the science. A relative newcomer is also on the scene – nuclear forensics – which looks at how radiation can affect traditional evidence, amongst other things. It's a bank job! Imagine not having a big electricity bill each month? It may not be far away. House roofs of the future may soon use new polymer solar cells – made from bank note technology and currently being developed by Australian scientists - and which could be the latest in power generation. Them nano-bones!...are made for walking 'Creaking' bones and 'rusty' joints are a fact of life for many aging people but that may all change with new ‘nano-bones’ developed by Murdoch scientists, which have the potential to revolutionise joint replacement surgery.

Arts hidden secrets There is much more to a revolutionary 20th century artwork than meets the eye as scientists discovered when they examined Australian and South-East Asian paintings using the Australian synchrotron. The artist’s technique, paint pigments, dyes and layers are now being revealed. How a Moon got its stripes How does a frozen moon in deep space display 'tiger stripes' and show evidence of a geyser of hot water and steam at its south pole? The answers to these questions surprised Melbourne scientists when they virtually explored Enceladus, a Saturn moon, using computer simulations. Recipe for yabby pasta How about pasta with Blood & Bone for dinner? While you might not find it appetising, to a yabby it is a gourmet meal; albeit one with a sting in its tail. The common yabby is helping scientists at ANSTO establish how long it takes for small animals such as yabbies to adapt to a new diet after a major environmental event.

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