The Best Australian Science Writing 2022

by Shih, Ivy

• ISBN13: 9781742237640
• ISBN10: 1742237649
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2022-11-01
• Publisher: NewSouth

Summary

What can a microbial gravesite on a moon teach us? Why are scientists risking their lives to safeguard a seed bank? How does a virus detective story show us why we need to be vigilant about the next disease outbreak? Great science writing compels us to pay attention to parts of the world often unseen, from a dusty gold mine which could help answer one of the biggest questions in astrophysics to a delightful date with the misunderstood blobfish. This acclaimed anthology—now in its twelfth year—selects the most riveting, entertaining, poignant, and fascinating science stories and essays from Australian writers, poets, and scientists. With a foreword by health broadcaster and commentator Dr. Norman Swan, this collection covers another remarkable year, not only filled with seismic moments in science, but also shining a light on important work that would otherwise be overlooked.

Author Biography

Ivy Shih is a science writer and audio producer based in Sydney. A former virus researcher, she now writes about all areas of science, from coconut-cracking megabats to giant viruses. She is also a producer on the ABC podcast Cosmic Vertigo. Her work has appeared in Nature, Cosmos, Hakai, The Best Australian Science Writing 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, and more.

Table of Contents

Foreword Norman Swan Introduction Ivy Shih The hunt for alien life on Phobos, one of Mars’ mystifying moons Jackson Ryan Spillover in suburbia Olivia Willis Earth is getting a black box to record our climate change actions, and it’ s already started listening Nick Kilvert Deep down and Dark: Stawell’ s genius lair Jacinta Bowler The curious case of the hidden ancestor Elizabeth Finkel 2029 Headlines Amanda Anastasi Apes, robots and men: the life and death of the first space chimp Alice Gorman Love and fear Kate Cole-Adams Checking in on the fugly fish that broke the internet Angus Dalton The chemical question Bianca Nogrady Artificial intelligence is misreading human emotion Kate Crawford A Syrian seed bank’ s fight to survive Helen Sullivan Professor Amnon Neeman doesn’ t really mind whether you read this story or not Tabitha Carvan Rise of the preprint: how rapid data sharing during COVID-19 changed science forever Clare Watson Jenner, sure, but here’ s to the real pioneers of immunisation Jane McCredie When cats are not as cute John Pickrell Anticipation of light Alice Sometimes Time travel and tipping points Lauren Fuge Rising in the yeast Kelly Wong COVID-19 rarely spreads through surfaces. So why are we still deep cleaning? Dyani Lewis My Father’ s beautiful brain Suzannah Lyons The scientific genius that eschewed fame Robyn Arianrhod Eel Odyssey Louise Wakeling Why discovering ‘ nothing’ in science can be so incredibly important Michelle Starr Swamp Sentinels Kate Evans Culture shock: how loss of animals’ shared knowledge threatens their survival Zoe Kean Mind machines Christine Kenneally Wombat dental gags and monster whale needles Angela Heathcote Could biobanking offer Australian animals a last hope against extinction? Lydia Hales Fish out of mortar Drew Rooke