S2E1: Science News

Hearing black balloons
Scientists from Curtin University of Technology are using thousands of acoustic sensors to hear global warming. Usually these sensors are used to monitor nuclear weapons testing by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation. The scientists will be able to hear ice breaking from the giant icesheets of the South Pole. The aim of the research is to see if we can monitor changes in the ice shelf through sound. So far the results have not been successful – but by god it’s a cool idea. Dr Alexander Gavrilov says “This is very promising research which may provide a practical and cost-effective way of monitoring the impact of climate change on Antarctica.” Plus, analyzing the data over the past six years has revealed a strong seasonal cycle in the intensity and frequency of noise events located in Antarctica.

Patchy cures
A radioactive skin patch might be new way to treat skin cancer. Researchers at the Society of Nuclear Medicine published results this week using a patch with radioactive phosphorus that can deliver radiation to the cancer site. The small study of 8 adult patients with basal cell carcinoma on the face, but no cancer elsewhere elected to try the patch instead of surgery or radiation. The patches were custom-made to the shape and size of each patient's skin cancer lesions. And applied on the cancer sites for three hours and then reapplied to each site two more times on subsequent days. After three months biopsies of the sites revealed no residual cancer. But the phosphorous used has a limited range. It’s fairly weak so does not reach the bone or underlying blood vessels.

The power of proteins!
Today Monash University researchers discovered a protein, called PLZF, that is an important player in the body's immune response to disease. Interferon activates PLZF and a bunch of genes that are important in protecting us against viral infections – like swine flu! Interferon is naturally made when we are infected with a virus or cancer. It is being used to treat many diseases at the moment like hepatitis, cancer and MS.