| 'Red list' alert for tiny crayfish Several species of southern Australian crayfish have been named on a threatened species list. abc.net.au |
The Beagle, the astronaut and a party in Brazil put the awe back into science | Karen James A collaboration between the Beagle Project and Nasa is working to inspire kids to follow in the path of Charles DarwinKaren James is a botanist and blogs at the Beagle Project BlogBefore joining Nasa as a space medicine specialist, astronaut Michael Barratt had been a zoology graduate. He described himself as a James Cook freak, a sailing enthusiast and, at one time, a wannabe marine biologist.Three years ago, still an astronaut-in-training, Barratt came across a news snippet that caught his attention. A British team was planning to rebuild HMS Beagle, the ship that bore Charles Darwin on his historic voyage of discovery 180 years ago, as a way to "put the awe back into science". He decided to get in touch, to see how he might be able to help.As science director for the Beagle Project, I get a fair number of expressions of interest by email. None of them quite compared to the note I got from Barratt, though. Under the innocuous subject heading, "com request", Barratt explained that he was training for a six-month tour of duty, scheduled for 2009, aboard the International Space Station (ISS), and asked whether this might coincide with the inaugural voyage of the rebuilt Beagle. If so, could he help by providing some imagery of the voyage from space – plankton blooms, ships' wakes and other phenomena? Nasa, he said, and the Beagle Project had some joint goals to inspire new generations of scientists and explorers. He proposed that, as long as we were willing to weather some Nasa bureaucracy, we start up a collaboration.As a scientist and daughter of an officer in the US Air Force, this made me leap out of my chair and run shrieking up and down the modest length of my London flat. The delight stayed with me as we jumped through the bureaucratic hoops together and ultimately signed a formal International Space Act Agreement in October 2008, outlining plans for joint activities in science, education and public affairs. Astronauts aboard the ISS would track the voyage in photographs to correlate with physical data and biological specimens collected by scientists, teachers and students aboard the new Beagle as she circles the world over the course of several years, recreating Darwin's 1831-36 voyage aboard HMS Beagle."The voyage of the Beagle has been by far the most important event in my life and has determined my whole career," Darwin wrote in his autobiographical recollections, a full 40 years after his trip. "I have always felt that I owe to the voyage the first real training or education of my mind … I feel sure that it was this training which has enabled me to do whatever I have done in science."Inspiration, then, fuelled by adventure, was the trigger for Darwin's lifelong commitment to science. Over the past few years the Beagle Project team has worked to bring the adventure of science back into focus.Our plan is to raise £5m to rebuid HMS Beagle and a further £10m to sail her around the world in the wake of the same voyage of discovery that inspired Darwin to devote himself to science.Designed by master shipwright Detlev Loell, the new Beagle will be a modern rebuild of the ship Darwin boarded in 1831. Built in Pembrokeshire, where dry-dock space has already been designated for the purpose by the Milford Haven Port Authority, the new Beagle will be built of larch and oak planking on oak frames, just like her predecessor.But there are some advantages to building a square-rigger in the 21st, rather than the 19th century. As befits a modern working research vessel, she will have diesel auxiliary engines, radar, GPS navigation, satellite communications and modern safety equipment. And she will be equipped with laboratories and equipment to enable contemporary, original research. This is not only in keeping with Darwin's legacy but also creates an opportunity to engage students, teachers and other participants in the excitement of real scientific discovery.We're still working to raise the money needed to build and sail the new Beagle. But the delay hasn't stopped us from carrying out parts of our mission already.In September 2009, with Barratt six months into his seven-month flight aboard the ISS, we took part in a week of events in Paraty, Brazil, 250 kilometres south-west of Rio de Janeiro. The event was a mini version of our ultimate plan for the voyage of the new Beagle and brought together more than 20 professional scientists, including marine researchers from around South America, the UK and the US, and 60 local school children.Supported by the British Council, we put on a scientific workshop to identify research opportunities on sailing vessels, undertook two short voyages aboard the traditionally rigged Brazilian tall ship Tocorimé Pamatojari, or Spirit of Adventure (fitting considering the fact that HMS Beagle was originally supported by HMS Adventure during her 1831-36 voyage) and made sea-to-space connections with Barratt aboard the ISS.The highlight was a live, public audio link-up between the children and Barratt. Little voices asked well-rehearsed questions (in English), each ending with a loud and emphatic "OVER". Wide-eyed, delighted faces greeted Barratt's answers from the ISS, as he hurtled around the Earth at 17,500mph. There were tears in the audience that day."Space stations, square riggers and marine biology: science does not get more exciting than this, and we need to get the inquiring young minds of today excited by science," Barratt said. "The ISS circling the world while a scientific square rigger with Beagle's pedigree rounds Cape Horn, making new discoveries at sea and on land, streaming footage back to labs and classrooms will be a great way to welcome young minds into the excitement and adventure of science."Darwin would have been proud.Karen James is a botanist and blogs at the Beagle Project BlogClick here to donate to the Beagle ProjectInternational space stationNasaCharles DarwinPeople in scienceBiologySpaceguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Florida panthers bound back thanks to Texas mates By LAURAN NEERGAARD 2010-09-23T19:34:37ZWASHINGTON (AP) -- In the quest to save the endangered Florida panther, their Texas cousins were the cat's meow. Wildlife biologists moved eight female panthers from Texas - close relatives yet genetically distinct - into south Florida 15 years ago in hopes of boosting reproduction, and the immigration paid off.... hosted.ap.org |
China highlights climate change efforts By TINI TRAN 2010-10-09T03:15:29ZTIANJIN, China (AP) -- As the world's biggest greenhouse gas producer, China was widely seen as an obstacle in the Copenhagen climate summit last year. But while negotiations inched forward, Beijing poured $34.6 billion into clean energy in 2009, nearly double the U.S. investment.... hosted.ap.org |
Lung taste receptors may improve asthma treatment By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID 2010-10-24T17:06:18ZWASHINGTON (AP) -- The ability to taste isn't limited to the mouth, and researchers say that discovery might one day lead to better treatments for diseases such as asthma.... hosted.ap.org |