Science Spin May 2009

Issue 34 - Digital Edition

In this issue, Irish scientist, John Paul Tiernan describes his work on the 'romantic', 'rousing' Galápagos Islands. Elsewhere we report on some close-up studies of meerkat society in the Kalahari Desert; evidence that is helping unravel the mystery of why so many creatures died out 200 million years ago; a marine 'coring' expedition that could help scientists better understand ice movements, and climate change; how one leading MIT researcher believes the solution to our energy problems lies in harnessing solar energy like plants do; and how micro-organisms can be 'shocked' into devouring pollutants. We also have a selection of award winning bird photographs, and the latest popular science book reviews.

Features in this issue

• Galápagos Romance [ECOLOGY ]
• Harvesting solar power [ENERGY ]
• Glacial past can help predict future climate [GLACIOLOGY ]
• A morning with the meerkats [Zoology ]
• Solving the mystery of the Triassic mass extinction [Palaeontology ]
• Shocked bugs devour phosphorous [ENVIRONMENT ]
• Moving down the road [TRANSPORT ]