Just So Science

“Weekend Nanotech”: Snot-light?

Elf Eldridge • Aug 22, 2011

• led,
• mucin,
• mucus

Another entry in my “bizarre use of bodily fluids but that has a really cool result” category for nanoscience, is this paper published a couple of weeks ago in the Advanced Materials journal. The problem the researchers from Tel Aviv university were trying to solve is simple: we can make white LEDs now easily enough, but they’re complex to … Read More

“Just So Science” – Superflare

Elf Eldridge • Aug 21, 2011

• apocalypse,
• mass ejection,
• solar flare,
• Sun

There always seems to be some new ‘fashionable’ way for people to predict the end of the world doesn’t there? Last year it was the supposed black holes created by the LHC, then there was the whole “planetary alignment” thing promoted by films like 2012. The one that poked it’s head up this week is the idea that in 2012 … Read More

“Weekend Nanotech” – Nanomachines

Elf Eldridge • Aug 15, 2011

• DNA,
• microrockets,
• nanomachine,
• prey

Public perception of nanomachines?? One of my favourite things about being a scientist is the knowledge that one day you may be part of something that changes the world! Unfortunately, this change can be for the better or worse – and often the ‘worse’ is what makes a better story! This is why we get books like Michael Crichton’s … Read More

“Just So Science” – A Star is Born

Elf Eldridge • Aug 14, 2011

• formation,
• star,
• stellar evolution

While observing the open clusters M6 (the Butterfly cluster) and M7 (the Ptolemy cluster) in the tail of Scorpius (whilst dressed as Dr Who) this week, I realised that, whilst I had waxed lyrical about the bits of star forming regions visible in the night sky, I had never actually explained why or how … Read More

“Just So Science” – The Dusty Eagle

Elf Eldridge • Aug 08, 2011

• astronomy,
• eagle nebula,
• sagittarius,
• scutum,
• serpens

A towering pillar of dust and gas within the eagle nebula (M16) For my final (at least for the moment) Sagittarius post, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to mention of the best known and loved of all nebula to astronomers all over the world: M16, the Eagle Nebula. This particular nebula can be a … Read More

“Weekend Nanotech” – Bat Thermal Imaging

Elf Eldridge • Aug 06, 2011

• bat,
• infrared,
• Nature,
• predator,
• sensor,
• snake,
• TRPV1

Vampire Bat's nose - laden with infrared sensors. From Reference 1 This week has been a great week for interesting nanoscience, with Nature Nanotech being published with a couple of great articles that I will discuss in time (namely building glowing stuff with Quantum Dots and a DNA scaffolding and nanomachines made of neurodegenerative … Read More

“Just So Science” – The Astral Archer’s Bow

Elf Eldridge • Aug 01, 2011

• climate change,
• lagoonn,
• m20,
• m8,
• nebula,
• omega,
• sagittarius,
• trifid

As a follow-on from my previous Sagittarius post, this week I want to mention a few of the eye-watering spectacles viewable within this astral archer at this time of the year. All of the objects i’m about to mention are just to the North of the cosmic teapot, where the steam would billow from the spout in fact. The first two, M8 … Read More

“Weekend Nanotech” – Rhinovirus Nanotechnology

Elf Eldridge • Jul 30, 2011

• immune system,
• infection,
• Nanotechnology,
• rhinovirus,
• virus

Well my ‘Weekend Nanotech’ post from last week was a little delayed this week, primarily due to this little guy here: Rhinovirus Capsid Rhinovirus - the more cuddly version A Rhinovirus. Most commonly known as the causative virus of the ‘common cold’, rhinoviruses are found pretty much everywhere [1] decent hosts are. And yes, unfortunately that … Read More

“Just So Science” – Sagantastic

Elf Eldridge • Jul 22, 2011

• blue,
• dot,
• Earth,
• pale,
• Sagan,
• sol

This week I was fortunate enough to stumble onto this gorgeous image taken by the Voyager 1 satellite in 1990. By the request of physicist Carl Sagan, the camera were turned around for one last shot of Earth before the rest of Voyager’s epic journey which, as of 2011, has bought it to the heliopause, the … Read More

Nerdnite 6 – Review and Science!

Elf Eldridge • Jul 21, 2011

• 3d printing,
• bioprinting,
• film editing,
• nerdnite

I was lucky enough to attend the 6th installment of Wellington’s ‘Nerdnite’ on Monday evening at Bodega. As expected, I was treated to a glorious cacophony of different thoughts and experiences, from beer to cryptic crosswords to film editing to 3D printing.  By way of review, I’ll just say that the first 2 speakers were ok, … Read More