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| So you're into sci fi? But what about sci fact? Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction... Each month our very own Voyager Science Queen* will bring you interesting, quirky and downright bizarre tasty morsels from the world of science. And its all completely, totally, 100% true! January Sci-Facts |
Updates: Bad New, Good News It was a full year last year. Before we move into this brand new year, let’s look back and revisit a couple of previous science pages with news updates. The bad news first.... The Baiji Yangtze Dolphin
In Requiem Well, sometimes being right is a terrible thing. I predicted that the Yangtze Dolphin would be extinct if special measure weren’t taken. It has happened sooner rather than later. Six nations undertook a six week search to locate individuals of the species in its habitat. They used sophisticated equipment during their search of 35000km of the river. However, even with underwater microphones and up-to-date optical devices, they were unsuccessful in locating any dolphins. The extinction of this beautiful animal can be attributed to the destruction of their habitat, illegal fishing and collisions with ships, the disasters I mentioned in my previous article. As well as searching for the Baiji dolphins, the scientists investigated the situation of Yangtze Finless Porpoise, and the total population was less than 400 individuals. There are five species of freshwater dolphins left in the world, with three of them living in major freshwater systems in Asia. All of remaining freshwater dolphin species are endangered. This tragedy occurs over and over again. Just look to the dodo and the Tasmanian tiger. Hunting for its fur and over-fishing killed off the Caribbean monk seal in the 1950s. The tiger and the gorilla are on the brink of extinction in the wild. I’m sorry if this is depressing, but I am making a point from all this. Every individual can change the world, even a tiny change can be a significant change in the long run. Support your ‘green’ organisations. The Good News: a Successful Shuttle Mission The Space Shuttle Discovery and its seven member team of astronauts landed safely at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre, Florida at 5:32 PM Eastern Standard Time for America; I was watching in the early morning here and it was lovely way to start Christmas.. They had a successful mission, with several space walks, and they were able to rewire the International Space Station and retract a malfunctioning solar array. The current mission has already been extended for an extra day, to allow for an extra spacewalk. This effort was to retract the solar array on the International Space Station. The solar array became a problem on the previous Wednesday, when NASA tried to fold it up in preparation for a future move and it jammed before it could be fully stowed away. Bad weather conditions complicated the shuttle landing. The touchdown was originally scheduled for the Friday. It looked as it the shuttle would have to make a landing in New Mexico, which would be the first shuttle landing there in almost 25 years The shuttle only had enough hydrogen and oxygen onboard to generate electricity through to the Saturday. The successful mission was a triumph for NASA. Even with the addition problems, the shuttle team completed all their tasks and made it home safely and in time for the holidays.
Well, on that cheering note, I would like to wish you all a safe and active 2007. I know I have big plans for this year…and I hope all your hopes and dreams come true. |
| *The Voyager Science Queen is also known as Lynne Green So, who is this woman who attempts to entertain us with Science? Well, I really am a scientist. I have a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Queensland, in Zoology. And, at the moment, I am working in a Pathology laboratory. I have always been intensely curious about every aspect of our universe, from the teeny tiny workings of the gene right up to the mind-bending forces that are twisting and knotting inside a blackhole. So, now I am sharing a brain stuffed full of trivia...and hopefully entertaining people at the same time. As well, I write Fantasy stories and novels. One day, I hope to have a book published, but don't hold your breath. Reading is my other major love, and my favourite authors are Terry Pratchett and Isaac Asimov, though I could list hundreds of others. If I had one wish, I ask for more time to write! Read previous Sci-Facts: Happy Holidays Looking for more scientific oddities? Have you checked out Dr Steven Juan's website? He is, quite literally, the wizard of odds! |
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