Ecos articles from October 1998

Ecos archives from October 1998

Australian seafood brimming with omega-3.
October 1, 1998... Before tucking in to your next dish of yabbies, oysters, orange roughy or salmon, you might like to ponder their relative health benefits. A study by CSIRO Marine Research has shown Australian seafood contains higher levels of omega-3 oils than...

Silvertop study reveals healthy genetics.
October 1, 1998... For scientists studying population genetics, challenges lie not only in the laboratory, where they tangle with DNA, but also in the field, where the task of gathering genetic resources can be equally demanding. Innovative techniques are...

Australia advances, on video.
October 1, 1998... Papua New Guinea depends heavily on its waterways -- for drinking, fishing, farming and transport. But waterways in many provinces have become clogged by the South American water hyacinth, a vigorous species whose seeds can remain viable in...

Made to measure.
October 1, 1998... Alastair Sarre meets three unsung heroes of the scientific world, members of a modest legion whose talents range from counting kangaroos to constructing DNA. You've probably heard the old joke about how many Irishmen (or politicians, or...

More techies' tales.
October 1, 1998... JOHN Owen works in CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products' Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources Program. Much of his time is spent in forests across Australia and Papua New Guinea, pollinating trees, and collecting seed and scions (material for...

Reinventing rice.
October 1, 1998... The International Rice Research Institute is developing high-yielding `super rices' and urging Asian farmers to protect biological diversity by swapping chemicals for integrated pest management, a move that has brought remarkable success in the...

Australia's climate Cerberus.
October 1, 1998... The puzzle of three oceans Dr Peter Baines, leader of the ocean modelling group at CSIRO Atmospheric Research, likens the oceanic influences on Australia's climate to the antics of a three-headed dog. The challenge lies in predicting which...

Batteries included.
October 1, 1998... On the smell of an oily rag, Australian scientists are marrying battery and petrol power with a view to lifting energy efficiency, cutting emissions and injecting the motor vehicle industry with homegrown expertise. Plant and animal...

Bioinformatics Spinning worldwide web of life.
October 1, 1998... Tim Thwaites reports on plans to dust off the data dinosaurs that lurk in biological collections worldwide. Using advances in corn purer technology, the information can be made accessible and easier to analyse, broadening the knowledge base...

A case of inflated identity.
October 1, 1998... A team of CSIRO entomologists has made a breakthrough in the battle to control heliothine moths, one of the world's most devastating agricultural pests. They have developed a way of distinguishing between heliothine species, an essential step...