Welcome to A Week in Science. I'm Tania Meyer standing in for Paul Willis
who this week is off chasing dinosaurs in Queensland. R.I.O.S. brings you the news
in science all week, every week.
Findings revealed that the Great Barrier Reef may have suffered damage much
earlier than previously thought. The effects of farming soon after European
settlement caused a serious collapse in coral between 1920 and 1955. The
recovery of coral from modern problems like bleaching may be a lot slower
because of the same environmental conditions which caused the coral to
collapse. Worms are good for the garden but did you know they could also be good
for your gut? In treatment trials for autoimmune diseases such as multiple
sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease, patients were fed intestinal worms.
Findings suggest this is safe and that the worms live harmoniously within the
gut, improving symptoms and calming the immune system. However, lolly worms do
not produce the same effect. Other science headlines this week include regular
exercise increases lifespan even for people who are overweight,
stalagmites in Central America confirm long-term drought occurred prior to the
decline and abandonment of Mayan cities. A pacemaker has been developed which
uses heartbeats as a power source, eliminating surgery to replace batteries.
Differences in brain structure, brain function and spinal fluid content may
predict Alzheimer's well before symptoms appear. The use of stone tools was an
important step in the development of humans, however it may have happened
50,000 years earlier than previously thought. Stone blades from 71,000 years
ago thought to form part of a throwing implement have been found at a site in
southern South Africa. This discovery reveals new insights into the development
of humans and their movement out of Africa. And finally mother fairy wrens
sing a unique tune to their unborn chicks. This tune is a password which differs
from nest to nest. Once born the chicks must use this tune when they beg for
food, get it wrong and the mother will abandon her nest. This clever behavior
helps fairy wrens distinguish their babies from cuckoo invaders. So it pays to
listen to your mother. Check out the RIO's website for coverage of next week's
solar eclipse with updates from Paul Willis and head of the Australian
Astronomical Observatory Fred Watson. That's been the highlights of a week in
science. For more information and science news check out the RIO's website at
rios.org.au. You can also follow a week in science on the RIO's Twitter feed and
joining the discussion using the hashtag week in Si. I'm Tania Meyer and on
behalf of the RIO's team see you next week.
