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Author: Tim Thwaites

  • ENVIRONMENT

    Clever Kiwis

    • Tim Thwaites
    • 18 May 2007

    The Kiwis have managed to stamp their name all over a fruit that is not even native to their land.

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  • ENVIRONMENT

    Science journalism battles stereotypes

    • Tim Thwaites
    • 18 May 2007
    1 Comment

    Science coverage in the media is dominated by boffins and nerds in lab coats . It loses out to “real” stories of politics and economics in the serious broadsheets, magazines and current affairs programs, and to crime and celebrities in the tabloids and to infotainment on TV.

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  • CONTRIBUTORS

    Tim Thwaites

    • Tim Thwaites
    • 17 May 2007

    Tim Thwaites has written the Archimedes column for Eureka Street for many years. He has been a science writer and broadcaster for more than 25 years. He is the voice of New Scientist in Australia, and teaches non-fiction writing at La Trobe University.

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  • ENVIRONMENT

    Individuals can offset their own carbon emissions

    • Tim Thwaites
    • 02 April 2007
    2 Comments

    Pollution released by high-flying jets directly into the atmosphere is up to four times as damaging as the same amount released at ground level. Increasingly people are prepared to spend significant money to salve their consciences over flying.

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  • ENVIRONMENT

    Triumph of the tree huggers

    • Tim Thwaites
    • 27 February 2007

    In the past six months, climate change has gone from an idea which may have some future relevance to something which is already happening around us. Each region of the world seems to have had its own epiphany over climate change.

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  • ENVIRONMENT

    Bodies and brains already merged with computer power

    • Tim Thwaites
    • 11 December 2006
    1 Comment

    The animated family conversation was becoming louder. Looking for signs that it was disturbing the other passengers, there was no need to worry. On a tram which was two-thirds full, almost all were staring into space, plugged into their iPods.

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  • ENVIRONMENT

    Environmental complexities of the modern dishwasher

    • Tim Thwaites
    • 30 October 2006

    Because of the intricate nature of all the interactions involved, the best course of action in environmental matters is rarely clear or obvious. We just need to be grateful for decisive political leaders.

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  • ENVIRONMENT

    Renewed esteem for a former marine enemy

    • Tim Thwaites
    • 16 October 2006

    Grey nurse sharks were cast as villains who preyed on unsuspecting swimmers. It's now regarded as an endangered species, whose potential disappearance from the marine ecosystem could lead to nasty imbalances further down the food chain.

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  • ENVIRONMENT

    Honk if Pluto is still a planet

    • Tim Thwaites
    • 04 September 2006
    4 Comments

    The outcry with which people greeted ex-planet Pluto’s change in status surprised many. Even the language used was astonishing. Pluto had been “demoted”, “banished” and “stripped of its status”. The Times of India reported people buying bumper stickers asking fellow drivers to “Honk if Pluto is still a planet”.

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  • ENVIRONMENT

    When human life is not really human life

    • Tim Thwaites
    • 07 August 2006
    6 Comments

    The term 'therapeutic cloning' is unfortunate, as it has nothing to do with replicating humans. Researchers undertaking therapeutic cloning would say that the circumstances under which they stimulate human eggs to develop ensure there is no way the result could ever become a human baby.

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  • ENVIRONMENT

    Keeping an eye on our behaviour

    • Tim Thwaites
    • 10 July 2006

    Warnings are more effective if accompanied by a photo of someone watching you.  Maybe this reflects our human evolution.  But if we are to talk sensibly about human evolution, we need a more sophisticated understanding of it than commonly prevails.

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  • ENVIRONMENT

    Being water wise

    • Tim Thwaites
    • 09 July 2006

    Summertime, and the livin’s less easy—at least in southern Australia.

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