issue 3 : alien
10 September 2022
This issue is about exploring all things exotic, unfamiliar, unknown. Dive into the column and feature articles by our talented writers below!
columns
The Body, Et Cetera
“Blink and you’ll miss it”: A Third Eyelid?
By Rachel Ko
This article unpacks the fascinating evidence for evolution reflected within our very own eyes, connecting us to our reptilian ancestors.
Chatter
Belly bugs: the aliens that live in our gut
By Lily McCann
In this issue we explore how microbes influence our health and emotions, and what this means for our concept of identity.
Humans of UniMelb
In conversation with Paul Beuchat
By Renee Papaluca
I caught up with Paul Beuchat to learn more about his research journey and his potentially ‘alien’ methods of teaching.
Our Past, Present & Future
Waving Hello to the Aliens
By Reah Shetty
Our interaction with the idea of aliens has evolved. The question is how far have we come and how far will we go?
Science Books
Believing in aliens... A science?
By Juulke Castelijn
I wasn’t expecting to be persuaded of the existence of life beyond the confines of Earth.
Ethics in Science
The Ethics of Space Travel
By Monica Blasioli
Being the beginning of research into the impacts of space travel, can turning space travel into monopoly truly be justified?
Wonders of the Landscape
Space exploration in Antartica
By Ashleigh Hallinan
What makes Antarctica special when it comes to meteorite discovery?
Science in the Age of Politics
Hope, Humanity and the Starry Night Sky
By Andrew Lim
This second feature in the ‘Science in the Age of Politics’ series considers the importance of the stars, and scientific diplomacy, amidst rising global tensions.
features
Death of the Scientific Hero
By Clarisse Sawyer
How do we teach scientific history without promoting historical bigots?
Mighty Microscopic Warriors!
By Gaurika Loomba
Equipped with a plethora of signalling chemicals and cells with different features, our heroic immune system fights wars daily without us realising it.
Love and Aliens
By Gavin Choong
The First Nations’ perspectives are profound, and must be recognised by the Australian legal system.
Existing in an Alien World: Navigating Neurodiversity in a System Built for Someone Else
By Hazel Theophania
Autism isn’t some inscrutable mystery - we’re people, and learning how we operate will help dismantle the barriers built up around us.
AI and a notion of 'artificial humanity'
By Mia Horsfall
We still consider AI as other (or 'alien') to us, but ideal utility would be gained from toeing the precarious line between humanity and machine.