Science Spin September 2007

In this issue, we learn that many Irish people prefer Americans over Africans, young people over old, while teachers prefer other teachers to their students. Dr Andy Wheeler describes investigations of a huge underwater canyon, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, situated in deep waters 400km off Mizen Head. This ocean world is teeming with all kinds of exotic sea life, even at depths of thousands of metres. Robert Quinn reports that chimps in Africa have acquired 'road sense', while Anthony King describes what life was like for the first settlers that arrived in Ireland around 10,000 years ago. There is also a report explaining how scientists are understanding more about why sunspots occur in cycles, a piece on a blood test that doesn't require the use of needles, and an interview with Science Foundation Ireland Director Frank Gannon.

Features in this issue

• Shattering the PC myth [Human Behaviour ]
• The first Hibernians [Archaeology ]
• Ireland's 'Grand Canyon' [Oceanography ]
• Chimps acquire 'road sense' [Zoology ]
• Solving the sunspot riddle [Astronomy ]
• Frank Gannon, Director SFI [Interview ]
• Dread the needle? [Medicine]