Welcome to A Week in Science. I'm Paul Willis and RIOs brings you the science news you need to know all week, every week.
This week, US researchers examined the Earth's capacity to support wind power.
Using three-dimensional models of the atmosphere, they found that there was enough wind to drastically expand wind-powered generation worldwide.
They calculated that the wind capacity is around 10 to 20 times the total of all the energy we generate today.
The limiting factor is not the amount of wind, but rather the cost.
A link between recreational marijuana use and the risk of testicular cancer has been proposed.
Researchers found that young men who smoked cannabis had an increased risk of developing testicular cancer, the most common cancer in young men.
However, while biologically plausible, the results do not provide a causal link.
Other science news headlines this week include tie researchers developing a vaccine for dengue fever that protects against three of the four strains.
Acupuncture has limited benefits for chronic pain sufferers, but no clinical difference to a sham procedure.
A viral infection early in life may increase the risk of asthma later in life.
And great news for budding master chefs like our producer Ben.
Researchers have produced a surface which boils liquids without bubbling.
Also this week, an examination of the diets of mothers and the risk of cancer to their daughters.
Using rats, researchers found that mothers with high-fat diets during pregnancy gave their daughters a higher risk of breast cancer.
This increased risk was not only found in their daughters, but also the granddaughters, showing a lasting legacy from the original mother's diet during pregnancy.
And finally, UK researchers used stem cells to restore hearing to deaf gerbils.
Using human embryonic stem cells, they successfully grew functional ear cells.
These cells were implanted into the gerbils and restored auditory responses in the brain.
The authors suggest this may pave the way for future cell-based treatments of deafness in humans.
Tuesday this week at the Science Exchange, RIOs presents Science Behind the Headlines.
This edition looks at Australia's food security, the science and the politics.
We'll be live streaming this discussion from 6.30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.
That's been the highlights of a week in science.
For more information on these and other science stories, go to the RIOs website, rios.org.au.
You can also follow a week in science on the RIOs Twitter feed and join in the discussions using the hashtag, Week in Cy.
I'm Paul Willis, and on behalf of the RIOs team, I look forward to seeing you next week.
