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The next big things in science |
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Nutraceuticals - foodstuffs that provide medical or health benefits - will be one of the next big things in food science
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ANSTO's OPAL reactor will play a key role in Australian science during the next 40 years
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Science is giving us the answers to solve tomorrow's problems but what about solutions for next month or next year? Who has the crystal balls out for future-science? We're not just talking about wonder-gadgets here, like the latest iPod or 3G communications technology, but big meaty questions such as how society will relate to science in 10, 20 or 100 years time.
1. Rethinking the relationship between science and society
According to Bradley Smith from the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies "We need to acknowledge that the big questions of today and tomorrow including climate change, low-carbon energy or embryonic stem cells, are fundamentally political issues not scientific (although the science is obviously really important).
"That means asking some pretty hard questions about how and what we teach and how we organise science communication, research, funding, professional societies and commercial interactions.
"We cannot tackle the big questions in a sensible public way, independent of the hot interface between science and politics. If you think you can separate science and politics these days, you're pretty naive," said Bradley.
2. Synchrotron (X-ray) and neutron scattering science
Neutrons promise to play a key role, notably in oil and gas exploration and extraction, Generation IV nuclear reactors, and fuel cells to power a burgeoning hydrogen economy.
Neutrons are also increasingly popular for solving industrial problems encountered in practices such as welding, grinding and monitoring chemical reactions.
ANSTO's Dr Rob Robinson said, "The strong penetrating properties of neutrons have been used to look deep into large engineering structures to understand the stresses within them - these can range from pipelines, engine components in automotive and aerospace applications to issues in the mining and defence industries."
"Neutrons were even used to analyse what happened to the structural steel in the Twin Towers on September 11," Rob said.
Two key events in this exciting field will happen next year: in Melbourne, Australia's first synchrotron will be launched, as will OPAL, Australia's new state-of-the-art $360 million nuclear research reactor.
3. Food technology/nutraceuticals
Ever wondered exactly what is in your deli sandwich, or your fast food burger?
A joint ANSTO-CSIRO initiative is aiming to give you all the juicy detail. The project will determine the molecular structure of foods, right down to the minute particles that make up everything we put in our mouths.
This research will significantly advance food technology, especially in the sector of nutraceuticals (foodstuffs that provide medical or health benefits).
The project will examine the structure of starch in relation to its long-term nutritional benefits in reducing the risk of colorectal cancer and the incidence of diabetes.
"By understanding the underlying science in this and other foods gives local industry a distinct advantage in developing enhanced products and bringing them to market more quickly to improve health," said the food science program's leader, Dr Elliot Gilbert.
4. Drug design
"Molecular imaging is considered key to drug discovery and development for the future of healthcare," said ANSTO's Dr Suzanne Smith.
One important area of research has been to widen the scope of PET (Positron Emission Tomography) agents to screen cancer patients to determine who is likely to respond to treatment.
It has been tricky to create strong bonds (or 'ligands') to ensure these agents remain attached to cancer-treating molecules while travelling through the body. The ability to 'image', or monitor, exactly where the drug goes in the body allows doctors to determine the best treatment for the patient.
Suzanne and scientists from the Australian National University (ANU) have developed SarAr technology, which attaches isotopes to carrier molecules for imaging purposes.
"SarAr can be used to attach isotopes, such as copper-64, to carrier molecules very easily and fast," Suzanne explained.
5. Thermoelectronic materials
Thermoelectronic materials capture energy lost as heat and turn it into electricity. One exciting application is using such devices to recover the considerable energy emitted from a vehicle engine. Some trucks already have thermoelectric systems that power their air-conditioning.
So in theory at least, you might be able, in the not-too-distant future, to walk around wearing a stylish thermoelectronic shirt charging your mobile phone from the heat given out by your own body. You could even connect your shirt to a battery that cools you down.
"Current best production thermoelectric materials lead to energy conversion of around eight per cent, but new laboratory materials lead to energy conversion of more than 17 per cent," said CSIRO's Dr Howard Lovatt.
"Thermoelectrics are particular interesting in an Australian context because the current best material is Bismuth Telluride which was developed by Julian Goldsmid at the University of New South Wales," he said.
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Velocity cannot be sure but we are fairly certain we saw Dr Spock and the gang testing space age drugs, penetrating neutrons and thermoelectronic shirts aboard the Starship Enterprise, circa 1975, which means science fiction has become science fact.
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