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< Back to Issue 7 Fossil Markets: Under the Gavel, Under Scrutiny by Jesse Allen 22 October 2024 edited by Zeinab Jishi illustrated by Jessica Walton At the crossroads between science and commerce, the trade in fossils has "developed into an organised enterprise" over the course of the twentieth century. With greater investment and heated competition between museums and private collectors, fossils increasingly took their place alongside “art, furniture, and fine wine” (Kjærgaard, 2012, pp.340-344). Fast forward to the twenty-first century, and this trend shows no signs of abating. On the contrary: as of 10 July 2024, a near-complete stegosaurus skeleton - nicknamed ‘Apex’ - was discovered by a commercial palaeontologist in Colorado, and was later purchased by “hedge-fund billionaire” Ken Griffin for US$44.6 million (Paul, 2024). This makes it the single most expensive dinosaur skeleton ever sold, eclipsing the previous record set in 2020 for a T-Rex named ‘Stan’, who was snapped up for US$31.8 million (Paul, 2024). These sales came with their fair share of criticism and controversy, reigniting the long-standing debate about how fossils should be handled, and where these ancient remains rightfully belong. Fossils (from the Latin fossilus , meaning ‘unearthed’) are the “preserved remains of plants and animals” which have been buried in sediments or preserved underneath ancient bodies of water, and offer unique insights into the history and adaptive evolution of life on Earth (British Geological Survey, n.d.). Their value is by no means limited to biology, however: they are useful for geologists in correlating the age of different rock layers (British Geological Survey, n.d.), and reveal the nature and consequences of changes in Earth’s climate (National Park Service, n.d.). Though new discoveries are being made all the time, fossils are inherently a finite resource, which cannot be replaced. This is part of what makes the fossil trade so lucrative, but the forces of limited supply and high demand have also led to the emergence of a dark underbelly. Cases of fossil forgery go back “as far as the dawn of palaeontology itself” in the late 18th and 19th centuries (Benton, 2024). The latest “boom in interest" is massively inflating prices and “fuelling the illicit trade” in fossils (Timmins, 2019). Whereas the US has a ‘finders-keepers’ policy, according to which private traders have carte blanche to dig up and sell any fossils they find, countries such as Brazil, China, and Mongolia do not allow the export of specimens overseas (Timmins, 2019). Sadly, this does little to prevent illegal smuggling; the laws are sometimes vague, and enforcement can be difficult when no single government agency is responsible for monitoring palaeontological activities (Winters, 2024). According to David Hone, a reader in zoology at Queen Mary University of London, “not every fossil is scientifically valuable”; but they are all “objects…worthy of protection,” and too many “scientifically important fossils appear briefly on the auction house website” before “vanish[ing] into a collector’s house, never to be seen again” (Hone, 2024). Museums, universities, and other scientific organisations are finding it more and more difficult to “financially compete with wealthy, private purchasers” as they are simply being priced out of the market (Paul, 2024). As sales become less open to expert scrutiny, the risk of forgery and price distortions become greater. It also has negative implications for future research. Private collectors might give access to one scientist, but not allow others to corroborate their findings. If the fossils aren’t open to all, many institutions simply won’t examine the items in private collections as a matter of principle. (Timmins, 2019). The general public also loses out in a world where dinosaur fossils are reduced to expensive conversation pieces. As Hone writes, “we might never dig up another Stegosaurus, or never find one nearly as complete as [Apex].” Having waited 150 million years to be unearthed, this latest fossil is one of many that may not see the light of day for a very long time. Bibliography Benton, M. (2024, September 5). Modern palaeontology keeps unmasking fossil forgeries – and a new study has uncovered the latest fake . The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/modern-palaeontology-keeps-unmasking-fossil-forgeries-and-a-new-study-has-uncovered-the-latest-fake-223501 British Geological Survey. (n.d.). Why do we study fossils? British Geological Survey. https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discovering-geology/fossils-and-geological-time/fossils/ Hone, D. (2024, June 10). The super-rich are snapping up dinosaur fossils – that’s bad for science . The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jun/10/super-rich-dinosaur-fossils-stegosaurus-illegal-trade-science Kjærgaard, P. C. (2012). The Fossil Trade: Paying a Price for Human Origins. Isis , 103 (2), 340–355. https://doi.org/10.1086/666365 National Park Service. (n.d.). The significance of fossils . U.S. Department of the Interior. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/significance.htm Paul, A. (2024, July 18). Stegosaurus 'Apex' sold for nearly $45 million to a billionaire . Popular Science. https://www.popsci.com/science/stegosaurus-skeleton-sale/ Timmins, B. (2019, August 8). What’s wrong with buying a dinosaur? BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48472588 Winters, G.F. (2024). International Fossil Laws. The Journal of Paleontological Sciences , 19 . https://www.aaps-journal.org/Fossil-Laws.html Previous article Next article apex back to

< Back to Issue 7 Soaring Heights: An Ode to the Airliner by Aisyah Mohammad Sulhanuddin 22 October 2024 edited by Lauren Zhang illustrated by Esme MacGillivray A smile at your neighbour-to-be, a quick check and an awkward squeeze as you sidle into your seat: 18A. Window seat, a coveted treasure! A clatter . Whoops! As you fumble for your dropped phone, your feet–which jut out ungracefully onto the aisle, end up as a speed bump for the wheels of someone’s carry-on. Yeowch! It isn’t without more jostling that everyone finally settles into their seats, and with a scan at the window, the tarmac outside is looking busy. Hmm. It makes sense–this flight is just one of the 36.8 million trips around the world flown over the past year (International Air Transport Association, 2024). Commercial aviation has clocked many miles since its first official iteration in 1914: a 27-km long “airboat” route established around Tampa Bay, Florida (National Air and Space Museum, 2022). Proving successful, it catalysed an industry and led to the establishment of carriers like Qantas, and the Netherlands’ KLM. Mechanics of Ascent (and Staying Afloat) As said Qantas plane pulls up in the window view, its tail dipped red with the roo taxies ahead of you on the tarmac. Your plane is now at the front of the runway queue and the engines begin to roar. You’re thrusted backwards as gravity moulds you to your seat. For a split second, as you look out the window, you can’t help but wonder– how on earth did you even get up here? How is this heavy, huge plane not falling out of the sky? The ability for a plane to stay afloat lies in its wings, which allow the plane to fly. The wings enable this through generating lift (NASA, 2022). Lift is described as one of the forces acting on an object like a plane, countering weight under gravity which is the force acting in the opposite direction, according to Newton’s Third Law ( figure 1a ). A plane's wings are constructed in a curved ‘airfoil’ shape with optimal aerodynamic properties: as pressure decreases above the wing with deflected oncoming air pushed up, the velocity increases, as per Bernoulli’s principle. This increases the difference in pressure above and below the wing, which remains high, generating a lift force that pushes the plane upwards (NASA, 2022) ( figure 1b ). Figure 1a. Forces that act on a plane . Note. From Four Forces on an Airplane by Glenn Research Centre. NASA, 2022 . https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/four-forces-on-an-airplane/ . Copyright 2022 NASA. Figure 1b. An airfoil, with geometric properties suitable for generating lift. Note. From Four Forces of Flight by Let’s Talk Science. Let’s Talk Science, 2024. https://letstalkscience.ca/educational-resources/backgrounders/four-forces-flight . Copyright 2021 Let’s Talk Science. Looking laterally, the thrust of a plane’s engines counters the horizontal drag force that airfoils minimise, all whilst maximising lift. Advancements in plane design over the mid-20th century focused on optimising this ‘Lift to Drag ratio’ for greater efficiency, a priority stemming from the austere, military landscape of World War II (National Air and Space Museum, 2022). Influenced by warplane manufacturing trends, the commercial sphere saw a transition from wooden to durable aluminium frames. In conjunction with this, double-wing biplanes were superseded by single-wing monoplanes ( figure 2a, b ), which had a safer configuration that reduced airflow interference whilst maximising speed and stability (Chatfield, 1928). Figure 2a. A biplane, the De Havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth. Note. From DH-82A Tiger Moth [photograph] by Temora Aviation Museum. Temora Aviation Museum, 2017 . https://aviationmuseum.com.au/dh-82a-tiger-moth/ . Copyright 2024 Temora Aviation Museum. Figure 2b. A monoplane, an Airbus A310. Note. From Airbus A310-221, Swissair AN0521293 [photograph] by Aragão, P, 1995. Wikimedia Commons . https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Airbus_A310-221,_Swissair_AN0521293.jpg CC BY-SA 3.0. Taking a Breather Without really noticing it, you’re somewhat upright again. Employing head shakes and gulps to make your own ears pop, you can also hear the babies bawling in discomfort a few aisles back. Blocked ears are our body’s response to atmospheric pressure changes that occur faster than our ears can adjust to (Bhattacharya et al., 2019). Atmospheric pressure describes the weight of air in the atmosphere above a given region of the Earth’s surface (NOAA, 2023), which decreases with altitude. Our bodies are suited to pressure conditions at sea level, allowing sufficient intake of oxygen through saturated haemoglobin within the bloodstream. Subsequently, the average human body can maintain this intake until 10000 ft (around 3000 m) in the air, with altitudes exceeding this likely to result in hypoxia and impairment (Bagshaw & Illig, 2018). Such limits have had implications for commercial flying. Trips in the early era were capped at low altitudes and proved highly uncomfortable: passengers were exposed to chilly winds, roaring engines, and thinner air, and pilots were forced to navigate around geographical obstacles like mountain ranges and low-lying weather irregularities. However, this changed in 1938 when Boeing unveiled the 307 Stratoliner, which featured pressurised cabins. Since then, air travel above breathing limits became possible, morphing into the high-altitude trips taken today (National Air and Space Museum, 2022). Via a process still relevant to us today, excess clean air left untouched by jet engines in combustion is diverted away, cooled, and pumped into the cabin (Filburn, 2019). Carried out in incremental adjustments during ascent and descent, the pressure controller regulates air inflow based on the cockpit’s readings of cruising altitude. Mass computerisation in the late 20th century enabled precise real-time readings, allowing safety features like sensitive pressure release valves, sensor-triggered oxygen mask deployment, or manual depressurisation. However, the sky does indeed dictate the limits, as pressure conditions are simulated at slightly higher altitudes than sea level to avoid fuselage strain (Filburn, 2019). This minor pressure discrepancy plays a part in why we feel weary and tired whilst flying–our cells are working at an oxygen deficit for the duration of the flight. Your yawn just about now proves this point. Time for your first snooze of many… Food, Glorious Food A groggy couple of hours later and it’s either lunch time or dinner, your head isn’t too sure. You wait with bated breath, anticipating the arrival of the flight attendant wheeling the bulky cart through the narrow aisle... Only to be met with a chicken sausage that vaguely tastes like chicken, with vaguely-mashed potato and a vaguely-limp salad on the side. Oh, and don’t forget the searing sweetness of the jelly cup! You’re far from alone in your lukewarm reception of your lunch-dinner. Aeroplane food remains notorious amongst travellers for its supposedly flat taste. Whilst airlines like Thai Airways and Air France have employed Michelin-star chefs to translate an assortment of gourmet cultural dishes to tray table fare (De Syon, 2008; Thai Airways, 2018), the common culprit responsible for the less-than-appetising experience remains – being on a plane. As Spence (2017) details, multiple factors play into how you rate your inflight dinner, many relating to the effects of air travel on our bodies. The ‘above sea level’ air pressure within the plane coincides with higher thresholds for detecting bitterness at 5000-10000 ft (around 1500-3000m), heightening our sensitivity to the tart undertones of everyday foods. Dry pressurised air that cycles through the cabin is about as humid as desert environments, which hampers our smell perception and thus taste. Less intuitively, the loud ambient noise of the plane’s engines also appears to hinder olfactory perception, though the reason as to why remains unclear. Nevertheless, alleviating the grumbling passenger and stomach is an area of interest with a few successful forays. One angle of approach involves food enhancement. Incorporating sensory and textural elements into meals such as chillies and the occasional crunch or crackle can compensate for impaired perception. Interestingly, umami has been observed as the least affected taste sense mid-air (Spence, 2017), inspiring British Airways’ intense and aromatic umami-rich menus – though with the unwitting drawback of threatening to stink up the plane on multiple occasions (Moskvitch, 2015). Meanwhile, Singapore Changi Airport houses a simulation chamber for food preparation in a low-pressure environment, taking it up a notch in both quality and cost (Moskvitch, 2015). Alternatively, passengers can be psychologically tricked into perceiving food to be more appetising than it is in reality. Some examples of this include the use of noise-cancelling headphones, cabin lighting designed for enhancing the appearance of food, or appealing language for describing meals. Both off-ground and in air, it was found that humans were inclined to respond more positively to dishes described in an appetising and detailed manner (Spence, 2017), rather than the vague choices of “sausage or pasta”. Whilst these innovations have covered some ground, De Syon (2008) also notes that sociology can influence our perceptions of food on a plane. The enjoyment of meals is dependent upon core social rituals like dining communally or comforting meal-time habits–both of which are tricky to navigate and achieve on a packed plane with front-on seating. What Goes Up Must Come Down Not long now! Accompanied by the movies you’ve played for the first time in your life and oodles of complimentary tea, there’s about half an hour left until landing. Jolt! The seatbelt sign is bold and bright as you can feel the plane gradually descending–it’s getting bumpy! As your plane rocks about and the airport comes into view as a speck in the distance, your descent is at the mercy of the crosswinds… and turbulence? Not only do these vortices of air cause havoc mid-flight, near cloud bands and thunderstorms (National Weather Service, 2019), they also pose a challenge during landing in the form of local, “clear-air” convection currents invisible on radar. These currents often occur in summer months and in the early afternoon when incoming solar energy is at its highest. In particular, they emerge when the surface of the earth is unevenly heated, including across regions such as the oceans, grassland, or in this case, the pavement near the airport. Consequently, this creates pockets of warm and cool air that rapidly rise and fall, creating downdrafts, thereby trapping planes ( figure 3 ). Luckily, pilots are specifically trained to recognise these surface winds, and can adjust their landing glidepath to suit local conditions forewarned in Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts for a steady, controlled descent (BOM, 2014). Figure 3. Varying glidepath due to local convection currents - note the different types of surfaces. Note. From Turbulence by National Weather Service. National Weather Service, 2019. https://www.weather.gov/source/zhu/ZHU_Training_Page/turbulence_stuff/turbulence/turbulence.htm . Copyright 2019 National Weather Service. Even with its bumpier experiences that draw endless complaints, it is undeniable that commercial aviation has grown tremendously over the century to deliver the safe, efficient and comfortable flights we are accustomed to today. Building upon a history of ingenuity and scientific discovery, it's almost certain that the industry will soar to even greater heights in our increasingly globalised world. Enough talk–you’re finally here! It’s a relief when you clamber from your seat, giving those arms and legs a much needed stretch. Now, time to trod along on solid ground… …and onto the connecting flight. Cheap stopover tickets. Darn it. References Aragão, P. (1995). Airbus A310-221, Swissair AN0521293 . Wikimedia Commons. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Airbus_A310-221%2C_Swissair_JP5963897.jpg Bagshaw, M., & Illig, P. (2019). The aircraft cabin environment. Travel Medicine , 429–436. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-54696-6.00047-1 Bhattacharya, S., Singh, A., & Marzo, R. R. (2019). “Airplane ear”—A neglected yet preventable problem. AIMS Public Health , 6 (3), 320–325. https://doi.org/10.3934/publichealth.2019.3.320 BOM. (2014). Hazardous Weather Phenomena - Turbulence . Bureau of Meteorology. http://www.bom.gov.au/aviation/data/education/turbulence.pdf Chatfield, C. H. (1928). Monoplane or Biplane. SAE Transactions , 23 , 217–264. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44437123 De Syon, G. (2008). Is it really better to travel than to arrive? Airline food as a reflection of consumer anxiety. In Food for Thought: Essays on Eating and Culture (pp. 199–207). McFarland. Filburn, T. (2019). Cabin pressurization and air-conditioning. Commercial Aviation in the Jet Era and the Systems That Make It Possible , 45–57. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20111-1_4 International Air Transport Association. (2024). Global Outlook for Air Transport . https://www.iata.org/en/iata-repository/publications/economic-reports/global-outlook-for-air-transport-june-2024-report/ Let’s Talk Science. (2024). Four Forces of Flight . Let’s Talk Science. https://letstalkscience.ca/educational-resources/backgrounders/four-forces-flight Moskvitch, K. (2015, January 12). Why does food taste different on planes? British Broadcasting Corporation. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20150112-why-in-flight-food-tastes-weird NASA. (2022). Four forces on an Airplane . Glenn Research Center | NASA. https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/four-forces-on-an-airplane/ National Air and Space Museum. (2022). The Evolution of the Commercial Flying Experience . National Air and Space Museum; Smithsonian. https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/evolution-commercial-flying-experience National Weather Service. (2019). Turbulence . National Weather Service. https://www.weather.gov/source/zhu/ZHU_Training_Page/turbulence_stuff/turbulence/turbulence.htm NOAA. (2023). Air pressure . National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/atmosphere/air-pressure Spence, C. (2017). Tasting in the air: A review. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science , 9 , 10–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgfs.2017.05.001 Temora Aviation Museum. (2017). DH-82A Tiger Moth . Temora Aviation Museum. https://aviationmuseum.com.au/dh-82a-tiger-moth/ Thai Airways. (2018). THAI launches Michelin Star street food prepared by Jay Fai for Royal Silk Class and Royal First Class passengers . Thai Airways. https://www.thaiairways.com/en_ID/news/news_announcement/news_detail/News33.page Previous article Next article apex back to

Mee t OmniSci Editor Tany a Kovacevic Tanya is an editor at OmniSci, currently in her third year of the Bachelor of Biomedicine and studying a concurrent diploma in Italian. For Issue 4: Mirage, she is contributing to four articles as an editor. interviewed by Caitlin Kane What are you studying? I am studying a Bachelor of Biomedicine, currently in third year, and a Diploma in Italian. I’m majoring in human structure and function, which looks at how the body works: the muscles, the bones, the visceral organs, everything. I’m hoping to get a research subject placement at the Florey Institute because I have a very big passion for neurology. I feel like it will be fun to get exposure to both what’s happening behind the scenes through research and be able to apply it in the future as well. I want to hopefully go into medicine and become a GP with a focus on neurology. What first got you interested in science? My primary school wanted to start introducing science subjects and I was chosen as one of the students to give it a shot. I found that I really enjoyed it. Especially when the skeleton was brought out of the closet–all dusty and stuff–and we finally started to use it. Then compulsory science subjects at high school, I continued to find that interesting. I thought, I guess I’ll stick with this. What is your role at OmniSci? I started off writing a piece during lockdown and I wrote my first piece about lockdown fatigue. I remember speaking to my psychologist about it because I was experiencing it. When I heard of it, I thought this actually explains a lot so I wanted to share that with other people. I applied for the editing role as well, so that’s what I’ve been doing these last three years. I quite enjoy helping people flesh out their ideas. I find that I’m quite an analytical and meticulous person, so I will always look for the little things that could go wrong and always like to correct them. I thought it was a pretty good fit! What would you say to someone else who was thinking about getting involved at OmniSci? It’s really open with what you can do. You can communicate with so many different people. Getting involved is a good way of exploring your own interests and putting your skills to the test. It’s nice having something on the side that takes your mind off study but is also related to things that you enjoy. It's a good pastime but also something that gives you professional experience. Kills two birds with one stone. What is your favourite thing about contributing at OmniSci so far? I like seeing when it gets printed and everything has been put together, because you really see the contribution of everyone, and it all falls into place. While you're doing it, it’s sort of “I’ve got to focus on this aspect,” but then it’s nice seeing how your feedback has been included and how people have really improved in their writing and been able to use the skills of others. It’s a very collaborative thing that comes together. It’s a good product, especially with all the cool illustrations. I love looking at art–not very good at it, but I love looking at it. It’s exciting to see something that I was interested in while writing or editing come to life in a physical representation, an artistic interpretation. Can you give us a sneak peek or pitch of what you're working on this issue? With Mirage it’s very open ended. Placebo effect is something that everyone talks about, but there are hidden aspects that we don’t quite think about. It’s interesting looking at a bit of the biology behind it, particularly between the different sexes. That’s one thing to look out for! What do you like doing in your spare time (when you're not contributing at OmniSci)? Reading all sorts of stuff, watching TV shows and movies–I’m a bit of a film fanatic as well. Going outside and playing tennis or walking my dog. I love spending time with my dog. My dog is my life so he takes up a bit of my time. Do you have any media recommendations? One of my favourite international films is called ‘I cento passi’ or ‘One Hundred Steps’. It’s an Italian movie about the mafia and the man it’s based on is very courageous. I think it’s something we all need to see to remind us that we do have a voice even in such horrible, dark moments. I think that’s definitely something that people can look into! It’s on Youtube with subtitles [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhc9S8txE9c]. Which chemical element would you name your firstborn child (or pet) after? That’s a very um… specific question! Curium is one, so Marie Curie. Fantastic woman, pioneering woman, who was definitely ahead of her time. Or Thorium, because Thor! Read Tanya's articles Sick of lockdown? Let science explain why. Law and Order: Medically Supervised Injecting Centres Space exploration in Antarctica Believing in aliens... A science? Behind the Mask From Fusion to Submarines: A Nuclear Year

ABout US OmniSci Magazine is a science magazine at UniMelb, run entirely by students, for students. Our team consists of talented feature writers, columnists, editors, graphics designers, social media and web development officers, all passionate about communicating science! JOIN US Feature writing applications are open for Issue 2 until 11:59PM October 4. If you would like to write for our magazine, please apply here. Graphics design, social media and web development roles are also open, and you can apply here. Meet The Team Editors-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Sophia Lin Sophia (she/her) is a third-year Mechatronics and French student with an endless appreciation for the way that STEM impacts our lives - an appreciation she loves to share! She is passionate about creating a platform where people can share their thoughts on STEM, and improve their writing! Outside of uni, Sophia works with a team of student engineers to design, build and launch a nanosatellite. She loves music, spending time outdoors and all things marine! Sophia lives by the philosophy of trying new things, which has recently included scuba diving and sailing! Editor-in-Chief Maya Salinger Maya (she/her) is a third year doing a Bachelor of Arts. She is double majoring in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, and Japanese Studies. After her BA, Maya wishes to study a Masters of Speech Pathology with the hopes of having a career in the discipline in a few years to come. With a great passion for science and language, Maya wants to encourage everyone to build their skills in communicating and understanding the incredible scientific developments that are occurring everyday all over the world. In her spare time, Maya likes to read historical fiction, play board and card games with family, and hang out with friends. Editor-in-Chief Patrick Grave Patrick (he/him) is a second year Bachelor of Science student who's probably going to major in Statistics with a diploma in computing. He likes messing around with computers, reading science magazines - Cosmos, New Scientist, Scientific American - and believes that all people should have the place and skills to share their passions with the world - science, art, or otherwise. When he's not annoying his mates with strange rabbitholes and terrible music, you might see Patrick getting lost on a run, planning another adventure in the great outdoors, or just digging into a good book. Editor-in-Chief Felicity Hu Felicity (she/her) is a first year Science student with very little idea of what she hopes to do in the future, but enjoys branching out to new things-- such as help start a science magazine! She believes that science has a role to play in everyone's lives regardless of their field of study, and sees science communication to be the bridge between academics and the general population. Outside of uni, she also enjoys trying new restaurants/cafes, learn about philosophy and history, discovering new music and watching anime! E R R E S S Editors Editor Yen Yen is a third year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Cell and Developmental Biology. She is strongly passionate about the Sciences and wishes to pursue a career in medicine. Outside of university life and work, Yen loves to write poetry (her first published poetry book is Stardust), read (her favourite hobby), advance her proficiency in other languages (French and Chinese at the moment) and do martial arts (Aikido, JiuJitsu, Judo). Editor Jessica Nguy Jessica (she/her) is a first year Biomedicine student who is passionate about spreading awareness about the current health issues around the world. She looks forward to working with the OmniSci team to share informative and exciting science articles. Outside of uni studies, Jessica enjoys baking, listening to music and catching up with friends over good food. Editor Breana Galea Breana (she/her) is a second year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Biotechnology, specialising in Genetics and Biochemistry. With an interest in coding, she is fascinated by the integration of biology and technology. She is keen to pursue a career in academia or industry and is trying to gain experience in each sector to decide which one would best suit her. Nearly all of her breadth subjects are literature- or writing-related and she is also the Blog Editor for Women in STEMM Australia. In her free time, Breana enjoys getting a breath of fresh air on walks, watercolouring or watching the epic adventures of Dimension 20 (Dungeons & Dragons channel). Editor Khoa Tran Khoa (he/him) is a first year Biomedicine student interested in translational research, hoping to pursue a career as a clinician-scientist. He is passionate about health equity and saw OmniSci as the perfect opportunity to promote accessible scientific communication. As an interstate student from Brisbane, Khoa can usually be seen exploring Melbourne restaurants, photographing streetscapes and winding back through greenery walks. Editor Katherine Tweedie Katherine (she/her) is in her final year of the Master of Publishing and Communications. Having done her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science, she has a large interest in scientific communications and accessibility. When she’s not studying, she can be found at the local library or spending time with her cat, who doubles as a personal assistant. Editor and Issue 2 Feature Writer Andrew Lim Andrew (he/him) is a first year undergraduate Physics and Classics (Latin) student, deeply intrigued by the connections between seemingly disparate fields and their potential to change the ways in which we live, work, and learn. He believes passionately in the importance of pursuing knowledge for its own sake and not merely for an industrial or applicable end – and, therefore, in the necessity of scientists communicating the joys of discovery to the public. Outside editing and feature writing at OmniSci, Andrew serves as Education Officer (aedile) in the University of Melbourne Classics and Archaeology Society, and, beyond the university, he can be found eking out tunes on the piano and violin, coaching debating teams or nose deep in well-thumbed pages (terse prose, florid poetry, and everything in between!). Editor Niesha Baker This is Niesha (she/her), a second year undergraduate majoring in Genetics. She is absolutely in LOVE with anything science but has a ginormous obsession with emerging and untapped fields. In particular, genetics and space... the final frontier □. She wants to pursue 'space genetics', inspire big ideas and connect her passion for science with business pursuits. She believes in making the science industry less scary and more accessible, and encouraging all generations to feel safe to dream big and take steps towards those goals. Outside of the study desk, she's forming more than a few bruises pursuing volleyball, challenging herself to become more present/self-aware and is tapping into her creativity with drawing and interpretive bogeying/singing in the shower. Editor Mia Horsfall Mia (she/her) is a first year undergraduate student studying Mathematical Physics and a Diploma of Computing. She is interested in the intersection of Physics and ethics, examining the role science has to play in political and legal spheres. In the future, she hopes to pursue further study in the field of Quantum Physics. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing and going on long walks to pet dogs! Editor Ethan Newnham Ethan (he/him) is studying a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne. He has a specific interest in biosciences, along with the philosophy of science and the role that science plays in a healthy society. If you had a drink together, he'd probably steer the conversation towards determinsim or universal darwinism. The editing role at OmniSci is perfect for Ethan, as he loves language and thinking about how different audiences receive information. Outside of science, Ethan enjoys playing chess and flipping on the trampoline! Editor Irene Lee Irene is a second year undergraduate Biochemical sciences student. She wants to pursue a career in biomedical research or medicine but is still exploring other pathways. As she progressed through her degree, she found that there is endless information in variety of disciplines to be absorbed and that there is never an enough in doing so. Thus, she values platforms that allow easy access to information ranging all the way from biology to astrology. In her spare time she enjoys napping with her kitten and listens to music. Editor and Issue 2 Feature Writer Hamish Payne Hamish is a second year Bachelor of Science student, majoring in physics. Currently, he is considering a few different career paths but is eternally spurred on by the prospect of learning more and finds the interdisciplinary aspects of science particularly enticing. As well as science, Hamish is passionate about literature and languages, enjoys cycling, is an avid gardener and keeps his life full with a myriad of music. Editor Juulke Castelijn Juulke (she/her) is working towards her long-term goal of completing a Bachelor degree in Neuroscience after being inspired by the one and only McDreamy from Grey's Anatomy (who hasn't?!). More seriously, she loves the mystery that still surrounds this incredibly complex natural object and hopes to one day contribute to answering one of the biggest questions in our world: how does the brain work? A twin passion is sharing this knowledge with others, which is why she signed up to contribute to the OmniSci team. Apart from studying and daydreaming, Juulke likes to explore new places to knit nerdy cushion covers, hike to new places and drink chai lattes whilst reading the Harry Potter books (again). Editor and Issue 2 Feature Writer Caitlin Kane Caitlin (she/her) is a Bachelor of Science (Honours) student studying microbiology and epidemiology at the Royal Women's Hospital. That involves researching how public health strategies are affecting diseases in Australia by testing clinical samples and analysing vaccination data. When not enthusing about how fun science is, she can be found slathering on sunscreen for a walk to someplace green, reading about interesting people and places, or watching something with pristine entertainment value. Editor Ruby Dempsey Ruby (she/her) is a 3rd year Chemistry and German student, hoping to improve people's lives through science. She believes research should be communicated in an informative and accessible manner to inspire scientists, students and society at large. Outside of study, Ruby loves teaching group fitness classes at the gym, learning languages and playing card games with her friends. Editor Sam Williams Sam is a third year Science student keenly interested in the intersection of human behaviour and computation. He would appreciate a research career creating dollar-store versions of the human brain on his laptop but wouldn't be averse to dabbling in the physical sciences on the side. When it comes to science communication, Sam appreciates clarity and conciseness almost as much as a first year essay marking guide, and hopes to help inspired science writers bring their ideas to life for new readers. If you can't find him at his desk, he'll probably be running, or selling running kicks to some other overly keen bean. Column Writers Column Writer Renee Papaluca Renee (she/her) is currently completing the final year of her Bachelor of Science, majoring in Physiology. She is fascinated by how the body works and how its systems adapt to everyday challenges. She is also passionate about promoting diversity in STEM and making possible careers in science seem more accessible to readers through her column 'Humans of UniMelb'. Outside of uni-related activities, you'll find Renee at home with her 13-year-old Labrador Nitro or her nose in a good book. Column Writer Manthila Ranatunga Manthila (he/him) is a third year undergraduate Mechatronics Engineering student who loves robotics. He wants to pursue a career in robotics and automation and believes in making industrial work environments safer and more efficient. Outside of uni, Manthila can be found tinkering with electronics, coding up little programs, or hiking with friends. Column Writer Sonia Truong Sonia (she/her) is a first year Biomedicine student with an interest in global and environmental health. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and exploring local walks. Column Writer Zachary Holloway Zach (he/him) is a second-year undergrad BSci student, majoring in physics and hoping to later pursue a career in aerospace engineering. His passion for writing and for explaining science brought him straight to OmniSci, where he hopes he can inspire in other people the same love for science that he has. When he's not immersed in his studies (diligent student that he is), the first place to look for him would be working at his local Woolworths, where, for some reason, they always seem to be understaffed whenever they call him. Otherwise, he can be found listening to any sort of music that takes his fancy, voraciously reading or even just messing around on the guitar. Column Writer Rachel Ko Rachel (she/her), a second year undergraduate Biomedicine student, is an avid science enthusiast, with a passion for writing. Making the most of her pre-med years, she is currently pursuing research experience in the lab, which she hopes to continue into the future, intertwined with her career in medicine. Science and writing are her two greatest passions, and she is excited to combine these in creating and collaborating within the university community. Rachel's column, and illustrations, aim to bring science into everyday life, widening the scope of readers to make science more approachable and enjoyable by all. Column Writer Grace Law Grace is an Honours student in biological sciences who has made the lab her home. She doesn't know what she wants to do with her degree yet, which is why she is trying everything, including science communication. Her interests lie in the health and biological sciences, especially molecular genetics. But she also wants to explore how science is portrayed in the news, the law, and policy-making. When Grace gets a chance to leave the lab, she likes to go for walks, cook and bake, play her marimba, and take photos while travelling the world. Column Writer Lily McCann Lily (she/her) is a third year undergraduate studying a major in Human Structure and Function. Hoping to follow a career in medicine or medical research, Lily loves to explore the intersections between science and daily life and how the former shapes our view of the world and our place within it. Between coffees, Lily loves reading, going for socially-distanced walks and chilling with her dogs. C Z Z F S S Issue 2 Feature Writers Feature Writer Dominika Pasztetnik Dominika is third year science student majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She wants to share her passion for science by pursuing a career in secondary education. In her spare time Dominika enjoys curling up with a good book, playing the piano or exploring the Australian wilderness. Feature Writer Hannah Savage Hannah recently completed her Bachelor of Science while on exchange from Otago, New Zealand. Studying a Geography major alongside a Communications minor developed her interest in communicating science to public audiences. She is fascinated by weather and motivated to participate in the climate movement while leaning on creativity as a power asset. Outside of university, she enjoys painting, visiting markets and galleries, and going on beach road trips. She has dreams to travel the globe and plans to book many overseas adventures when this becomes safer. Feature Writer Monica Blasioli Monica (she/her) is a first year Bachelor of Science student. She is passionate about health and immunology, and hopes to work in the health care or medical field in the future. Monica is also interested in science communication, and hopes to use her knowledge of science to make the field more accessible for all. In her spare time, Monica enjoys playing the piano, reading, spending time with her dog, and of course, sharing cool biology facts with her friends and family. Feature Writer Erin Grant Erin (she/her) is a third year PhD student in the Physical Biosciences at the University of Melbourne. She is passionate about sharing her love of science with the general public through written communication and illustration, which she shares on her blog (theartinscience.com) and various online platforms. When not in the lab she can be found out on a run or at home making new art. Feature Writer Xenophon Papailiadis Xen (he/him) is in his fourth year of undergraduate Science study, pursuing a major in Physics and a concurrent Diploma in Music. He aspires to pursue further studies in astrophysics and quantum physics, and perhaps one day uncover the secrets of the universe. Xen is passionate about science education and asides from tutoring high school students, he also enjoys taking part in the In2Science program, encouraging high schoolers to follow their aspirations and studies in the sciences. When not reciting the Schrodinger equation by heart, Xen likes to spend his time reading and ruminating about the ancient world, cracking open a fresh box of LEGO, or busting out some Bach and Beethoven for practice. His cats, Cinnamon and Sugar, come along for the ride. Feature Writer Mia Horsfall Mia (she/her) is a first year undergraduate student studying Mathematical Physics and a Diploma of Computing. She is interested in the intersection of Physics and ethics, examining the role science has to play in political and legal spheres. In the future, she hopes to pursue further study in the field of Quantum Physics. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing and going on long walks to pet dogs! Graphic Designers Graphic Designer Quynh Anh Nguyen Quynh Anh Nguyen is a second year Bachelor of Science student at the University of Melbourne. She wanted to become an animator when she was younger. But life sucker punched her in the stomach so hard she had to reevaluate her life choices. She now majors in Computing and Software System, and spends her free time occasionally drawing. Graphic Designer Aisyah Mohammad Sulhanuddin Heyo! Aisyah here. I'm a first year undergrad Science student looking to major in Climate and Weather. Aside from that, I'm interested the science-y and the technical, as well as all things artistic and creative. So basically... everything. Hah! In particular, I love old 'n' bold minimalist fashion, aesthetics and music, and am forever drawn to the wacky and surrealist side of life. Here's to OmniSci for allowing me a space to mix my passions! Graphic Designer Casey Boswell Casey (she/her) is a second year undergraduate Mechatronics Systems student with a passion for technology and design. She endeavours to do work in robotics / software development / design on impactful projects in future. She likes being a jack-of-all-trades to satiate her many interests and is an advocate of the STEAM philosophy (collaboration of science with art). Her main hobbies outside of uni include playing guitar, drawing and rollerblading / ice skating. Graphic Designer Jess Nguyen Jess (she/her) is a first year in undergrad Bsci and nineteenth year in being alive. She is particularly interested in astronomy (because space is cool) and physics, and is maybe hoping to pursue a career in research, if she doesn't have a mid-life crisis somewhere along the way. Outside of uni she is either watching tiktok for 3 hours straight or strumming her out-of-tune ukulele. A fun fact is that she can play the trombone, and enjoys jazz just like Barry B Benson. Occasionally she draws. Graphic Designer Friday Kennedy Friday (they/them/he) is a first year Master of Cultural Materials Conservation student and recently completed their Honours in Fine Arts. They love all things creative, and are particularly interested queer representation, and the relationship between science and art materiality. Friday's goals are to pursue a PhD, and to work to fortify and empower marginalised perspectives within historical and contemporary art contexts. Outside of uni life they enjoy daily walks in nature and are notorious for cooking the best vegan eggplant dishes. Graphic Designer Janna Dingle Janna (She/her) is a first year Arts student with an interest in design and creativity, specifically within marketing and communication fields. Her previous experiences working with magazines have lead her to join Omnsci as a way to broaden her knowledge of the industry around her, especially when it comes to the science communication. Outside of University, Janna spends her time illustrating, taking care of her cats as well as watching anime. She has a great passion for art and media. Graphic Designer Gemma Van der Hurk Gemma (she/her) is a third year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, driven by her passion for the history and interrelation of life on Earth, environmental preservation, genetics, green politics and philosophy. She's delighted to use her background in design, communications and the arts for the team at Omnisci magazine. Ultimately, she hopes to do some good in the world through research, authorship and science advocacy. Outside of University, you can find Gemma crooning to her cat, reading, writing, strolling along the Merri and sometimes even playing music to rooms full of people (when she is allowed to, that is). Graphic Designer Rohith S Prabhu Rohith (he/him) just graduated from master of international business. He wants to pursue a career in growth and strategy consulting where he can use his prior engineering knowledge and current business acumen. He has worked in many renewable energy projects like solar vehicle, micro-hydro electric power plants etc. He is currently researching on a new-tech that would enable for real-time health monitoring as an extension to his earlier publications and prototype. Apart from academics Rohith can be found sketching architecture, comics etc. Art/illustration is an arena he has pursued as his passion since young age. Social Media Officer Che McGuire Che is a third year Science student majoring in Physics. The decision to make a few YouTube videos one day has lead him to develop an interest in science communication. He believes that maths and physics have an unfair reputation of being difficult, and therefore wishes to eliminate this barrier to demonstrate how beautiful such areas of Science can be. Outside of studying, Che can be found playing video games, refereeing basketball, hanging out with the same 5 friends, and eating excessive amounts of chocolate. Social Media Officers Social Media Officer Yvonne Le Yvonne (she/they) is a first year Bachelor of Science student, interested in all things brain and chemical related. She’s not entirely sure what she wants to do in life, but loves learning new things and exploring new endeavours. When outside of Uni, they’re busy being an essential worker, listening to jazz or staring into space. Social Media Officer Janna Dingle Janna (She/her) is a first year Arts student with an interest in design and creativity, specifically within marketing and communication fields. Her previous experiences working with magazines have lead her to join Omnsci as a way to broaden her knowledge of the industry around her, especially when it comes to the science communication. Outside of University, Janna spends her time illustrating, taking care of her cats as well as watching anime. She has a great passion for art and media. Social Media Officer Devia Kurniawan Devia (she/her) is a third year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Chemical Biotechnology. She doesn't know what career to pursue yet, but aspire to make a positive impact on people's lives. She believes that science has the power to transform the way people live, be it through new technologies, renewable energy, or innovative medicines. Outside of uni, she enjoys trying new restaurants, baking, scrolling through TikTok and rewatching How I met Your Mother. Social Media Officer Che Mcguire Che is a third year Science student majoring in Physics. The decision to make a few YouTube videos one day has lead him to develop an interest in science communication. He believes that maths and physics have an unfair reputation of being difficult, and therefore wishes to eliminate this barrier to demonstrate how beautiful such areas of Science can be. Outside of studying, Che can be found playing video games, refereeing basketball, hanging out with the same 5 friends, and eating excessive amounts of chocolate. Social Media Officer Celine Huang Celine (she/her) is a first-year undergraduate student who is planning to major in Food Science. She is interested in café hunting and exploring new kinds of food (especially desserts!!!). After graduation, she wishes to pursue a career in the field of Research and Development at a food manufacturing company. She believes that nutrition has been underrated and that people should pay more attention to the nutrition of food eaten to improve public health - a balanced diet is key. Outside of studying, Celine could be found volunteering at charity events, at a bakery or cake shop indecisively deciding which to eat or at home, chilling a.k.a recharging as an introvert while enjoying her cup of tea. F S S Web Development Officers Web Development Officer and Feature 2 Writer Sabine Elias Sabine is a third year biomedicine student with a big interest in science research and communication. She is passionate about the development of innovative science and its technological applications within society. Web Development Officer Rebekka Krishtul Rebekka is a second year undergraduate science student, majoring in physiology. She wants to pursue work in the field of medicine, hoping to become a doctor one day. She is thoroughly enjoying being part of the web-dev team at Omnisci, working to make science easily communicated to readers, and of course fun to look at. Outside of uni, she enjoys meeting friends, watching gorey medical shows, and listening to classical music. W Sab S Issue 1 Writers Zachary Holloway Sonia Truong Tanya Kovacevic Wei Han Chong Natalie Cierpisz Ashley Mamuko Ashleigh Hallinan Evelyn Kiantoro SUBSCRIBE CONTRIBUTE ABOUT US

< Back to Issue 5 Serial Killers Selin Duran 24 October 2023 Edited by Yasmin Potts Illustrated by Aditya Dey Serial killers. Do we love them or hate them? It’s hard to know, especially as the media surrounding them is increasing. From fiction to nonfiction killers, our society is obsessed with giving a voice and perspective to these people. We have movies, documentaries, TV series and even Youtube videos accounting the lives and stories of killers. Despite this, people rarely stop to ask themselves why they enjoy this style of media - some of the most wicked and gruesome acts, glorified for the interest of many. Yet, every day we are met with new shows highlighting the life of coldblooded killers. But why are we interested in them? It’s mostly a morbid curiosity; as humans, we are drawn to crime. We want to know why people choose to kill and how they do it. Jack Haskins, a University of Tennessee journalism professor, noted that "humans [are] drawn to public spectacles involving bloody death...Morbid curiosity, if not inborn, is at least learned at a very early age " (UPI Archives, 1984). As a collective, we have always wanted to explore the horrid acts of those who kill. But it’s only with the help of modern media that people enjoy them. Media loves a good story - and what makes a good story? A crazy serial killer on the loose. One of the earliest movies about a serial killer is Fritz Lang's 1931 film M . Set in Berlin, the film details a killer who targets children. Since then, a downward spiral of fictional serial killer movies has taken society by storm. Being all the craze during the mid-80s and 90s, the highest amount of serial killer media were produced in this timeframe. One of the most popular works is director Alfred Hitchcock's iconic Psycho, which won eight Academy Awards (IMDb, 2021). What is truly disturbing is the story of this film. Norman Bates, our killer, is deemed mentally insane and suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder. Through his personality changes, he proceeds to kill two people during the film, in addition to multiple murders not depicted. Yet, when he is jailed, we learn that his actions were the result of abuse he endured when he was younger. Suddenly, we're forced to feel sympathetic towards his situation. How can that be a reasonable justification towards murder, and why do we applaud the film for this? As a society, accepting murder based on mental insanity seems more than unreasonable - but no one has questioned it thus far. This unfortunately happens not only with fictional killers, but with nonfiction ones. Our interest in killers turns into a way to inform ourselves of these situations (Harrison, 2023). We look to these documentaries and podcasts that tell the stories of the most notorious serial killers to learn something and prevent the situation from happening to us. All whilst indulging in content that emphasises these killers as being regular people, not evil individuals, who committed crimes for personal pleasure. We don’t need to see a biopic about the ventures of Ted Bundy and Jeffery Dahmer. Yet the second you search their names on Google, an all-star cast portraying the life of a man who tortured their victims fills your screen. This is certainly not an ethical thing to endorse. Despite this, not a single person thinks twice about it due to how common it is. Directors are profiting off victims and as a society, we are allowing it because of our curiosity. What happened to compassion? Because I certainly believe we have lost it. We have become so infatuated with killers that their actions seem unimportant to us. We yearn to discover more about their lives and forget that real people were implicated in these events. These killer stories provide bursts of short-lived adrenaline and then we return to our normal lives. In forgetting the consequences of these real stories, we are in many ways as bad as the killers themselves. And that is truly wicked. References Harrison, M. A. (2023). Why Are We Interested in Serial Killers? Just as Deadly: The Psychology of Female Serial Killers . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 17–31. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/just-as-deadly/why-are-we-interested-in-serial-killers/B35C2243B387273749EA164318C27623?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=bookmark IMDb. (2021). Psycho (1960) - Awards . https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054215/awards/ UPI Archives. (1984). Few answers on origin of morbid curiosity. UPI. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/04/07/Few-answers-on-origin-of-morbid-curiosity/7976450162000/#:~:text=%27Throughout%20human%20history%2C%20humans%20have Wicked back to

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< Back to Issue 4 Echidnas: Gentle Courters In The Competitive Animal Kingdom by Emily Siwing Xia 1 July 2023 Edited by Maddison Moore and Arwen Nguyen-Ngo Illustrated by Christy Yung When we think of animals or nature in competition, we picture aggression and savagery over resources such as food, territory and mates. Beyond aggression, however, the variety of animal behaviour associated with competition for resources is immense. A gentle form of competition is the bizarre mating ritual of our own unique Australian fauna: the echidna. Known as Tachyglossus Aculeatus and spiny anteaters, echidnas are quill-covered animals living in Australia and New Guinea. Since Australia is so isolated from other continents, our fauna has often been regarded by outsiders with an air of mystery and awe. To start with, echidnas are in the same family as the famed platypus, called monotremes (egg-laying mammals). Surviving monotreme species can only be found in Australia and New Guinea. The four species of echidnas, along with their duck-billed cousin, are the very few surviving members in this classification. Despite the similarities in their name and appearance in both being covered with hollow, spiny quills, these spiny anteaters are not actually closely related to the more well-known anteaters in the Americas on a genetic and evolutionary basis. Echidnas feed on a diet of ants and termites, using their electroreceptive beaks to find burrowing prey digging them out with their hind claws. These powerful claws are long and curved backwards, specially designed for digging. Funnily, when the British Museum received an echidna specimen, they switched the backward claws frontwards thinking that it was a mistake. As mentioned before, mating rituals can be a violent (even bloody) ordeal in nature. From barbed penises in cats and deadly fights for females in elephant seals, straight to sexual cannibalism in praying mantises, there seems to be endless examples of brutality in the animal world. However, behind these brutal images is another side of nature that seems gentle and even humorous at times: for example, the ritual of our spiny suitors. Echidna mating rituals begin with the formation of a mating train. From June to September in Australia, male echidnas mate by lining up — from their beak tips to their spiny bottoms — to follow behind one single female. These trains can have more than 10 males in line and last for days, even weeks, at a time. During the mating season, male echidnas may leave a train to join or form a different train behind another eligible female. Their mating efforts often lead males to travel for long distances, even beyond their own home ranges. If the males get interrupted and lose track of the female, they reform their train by picking up her scent with their snouts in the air. They are such determined suitors that it is extremely difficult for a female echidna to evade them. Usually, there is one male that remains through the long-winded process, and they get to mate with the female. The reason behind forming echidna trains is unknown, but scientists generally agree that it is correlated with some type of selection process. One theory is that it aids the female in weeding out all the weaker males by tiring them out until the last one remains. Another is that the female is waiting for the right male that she is interested in to get behind her. Either way, it is a process of determination and perseverance. In exceedingly rare occasions where there are still multiple suitors left at the end, the males dig a trench surrounding the female and compete through head bumping. Although there is still much not understood about head bumping due to its scarce occurrence, it is generally considered an echidna social behaviour that serves to maintain dominance. Head bumps are generally only given by dominant echidnas to subordinate echidnas who haven’t recognised their dominance status and moved away. This rarely happens and is a relatively peaceful affair compared to conflicts in other animals. The winner of the mating head bumping ritual then digs until the previously mentioned trench is deep enough for him to be below the female so they can mate through their cloacas. 23 days after copulation, the female lays a soft-shelled leathery egg into a temporary pouch where it continues to incubate for 10 more days when a tiny puggle (a baby echidna or platypus) hatches. The puggle drinks milk from the female’s special mammary hairs until it is capable of feeding itself and has fully covered spines and fur. At last, the matured echidna leaves their mother’s burrow to live independently. The mating rules and practices amongst echidnas are a demonstration of patience and courtesy. This contrasts with the general public misconception of nature being merciless, which is characterised by the brutal competition for food, social status and mating opportunities. Although they are in the same competition for a mate, the lines of waddling echidnas are polite, organised and humorous. Behind the mask of brutality, nature continues to have its pleasant secrets. References Morrow G, Nicol SC. Cool Sex? Hibernation and Reproduction Overlap in the Echidna. PLoS One. 2009 Jun 29;4(6):e6070. Echidna [Internet]. AZ Animals. [cited 2023 Jun 22]. Available from: https://a-z-animals.com/animals/echidna/ Anne Marie Musser. Echidna | Britannica [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2023 Jun 22]. Available from: https://www.britannica.com/animal/echidna-monotreme Echidna trains: explained [Internet]. Australian Geographic. August 6, 2021 [cited 2023 Jun 22]. Available from: https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2021/08/echidna-trains-explained/ Lindenfors P, Tullberg BS. Evolutionary aspects of aggression the importance of sexual selection. Adv Genet. 2011;75:7–22. Warm Your Heart With Videos of ‘Echidna Love Trains’ [Internet]. Atlas Obscura. September 1, 2017. [cited 2023 Jun 22]. Available from: http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/echidna-love-trains Previous article Next article back to MIRAGE

< Back to Issue 7 A Coral’s Story: From thriving reef to desolation by Nicola Zuzek-Mayer 22 October 2024 edited by Arwen Nguyen-Ngo illustrated by Amanda Agustinus The sun is shining. Shoals of fish are zooming past me, leaving their nests where I let them stay for protection from bigger fish. I look to my right and the usual fish have come to dine from me, filling their bellies with vital nutrients. I feel proud of our coexistence: I feed the big fish and provide shelter to small fish, whilst they clean algae off of me. I am the foundation of the reef. I am the architect of the reef. Without me, there would be nothing. I can’t help but think that the reef is looking vibrant today. A wide variety of different coloured corals surround me in the reef, with some of my closest friends a stone’s throw away. We’ve all known each other for our entire lives, and it’s such a close knit community of diverse corals. Life is sprawling in this underwater metropolis, and it reminds me of how much I love my home. But recently, I’ve heard some gossip amongst the city’s inhabitants that this paradise may change soon – and for the worse. Something about the land giants destroying our home. I refuse to believe such rumours – why would they want to destroy us? Our home is so beautiful, and we have done nothing to hurt them. Our beauty attracts many of them to come visit us, and most never hurt us. But sometimes I feel pain when they visit on a particularly sunny day, when I see white particles drop down to the reef and pierce my branches, polluting the city. My friends have told me that these giants wear something called ‘sunscreen’ to protect themselves from the sun, but their ‘protection’ is actually poisoning us. I hope that they realise that soon. Another thing that I’ve noticed recently is that the ocean is feeling slightly warmer than before, and my growth is slowing more. Yes, I’m concerned, but I don’t think that the issue will get worse. 30 years later… The sun is blisteringly hot. I feel sick and the water around me is scorching hot. The vibrant colours of the reef are disappearing, and there are fewer organisms around. We used to be so diverse, but so many species of fish have died out. It’s eerie to see the area so desolate. My body is deteriorating and I feel so much more fragile than before. I feel tired all the time, after using so much energy to repair my body in the acidic water. I sense myself becoming paler, losing all colour in my body. I struggle to breathe. My coral friends and family are long gone, perished from the acidity of the ocean. I am the last one remaining. In my last moments, I can only wish to go and relive the past. I wish that the land giants had done more to help not only my city, but other reef cities around the world. All the other cities are empty now, and all ecosystems are long gone. If only someone had helped our dying world. Previous article Next article apex back to

< Back to Issue 6 Fire and Brimstone by Jesse Allen 28 May 2024 Edited by Sakura Kojima Illustrated by Aisyah Mohammad Sulhanuddin CW: references to death, religion The year is 1783, and it seems that the end is nigh – at least, that is the impression of Icelandic priest Jón Steingrímsson. His diary offers a striking firsthand account of a fissure eruption which would last around eight months and claim the lives of approximately 9,000 people. These events are characterised by the emergence of molten magma through a crack in the Earth’s crust; and though they might lack the dramatic, Vesuvian spectacle of a typical volcanic eruption, they can be no less devastating (Witt et al., 2018). Steingrímsson recounts how “the ground swelled up with tremendous howling” before “flames and fire erupted” and sent “great blocks of rock and pieces of grass…high into the air”. There could only be one explanation for such apocalyptic scenes: these were surely “the signs of an angry god” (Bressan, 2013). In a last-ditch effort to save the local populace from this act of divine wrath, Steingrímsson held a church service in the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur – which the relentless magma threatened to engulf – in which he urged repentance and led feverish prayers for mercy. It has gone down in Icelandic folklore as the Eldmessa , or ‘fire mass’ (Andrews, 2018). Since October 2023, Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula has been beset with an intense new wave of seismic activity and fissure eruptions (Andrews, 2024). In these ‘rift zones,’ magma can seep upwards through splits in the Earth’s crust towards the surface, forming large dikes and potentially creating multiple vents from which lava fountains can occur (Witt et al., 2018). At the time of writing, the situation has been declared stable by the Icelandic Met Office. But after centuries of dormancy, it has made the extraordinary power residing beneath the surface of our planet abundantly clear to local and international observers alike. It might seem that people are helpless in the face of such raw, elemental forces; all we can do is hope and pray. Yet, thanks to the tireless work of local authorities and dedicated scientists, it has become possible to decode the previously ineffable language of the fiery interior – and save lives in the process (Andrews, 2024). At the heart of this effort lies the Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), which enables scientists to map surface deformations and, hence, to infer magma movements (Tolpekin, 2023). This imaging technique records the backscatter of microwave signals as they ‘bounce’ off the surface (European Space Agency, n.d.). When two images are taken of the same location at different times – and then aligned pixel by pixel – the level of deformation can be represented with an interferogram, which functions like a brightly coloured topographic map (NASA, n.d.). This technology has major implications for planning authorities (Ducrocq et al., 2024). The increased frequency and intensity of tremors that began late last year, for instance, heralded the possibility of an imminent eruption. In conjunction with Iceland’s network of over 50 seismographs – ground-based devices which detect movement in all directions – InSAR provided the early warning on November 10 (Icelandic Met Office, n.d.). Beyond measuring the deformation magnitude (around 50 centimetres), scans also showed the localised area that was most likely to be affected, around the town of Grindavik. A state of emergency was declared by the Icelandic government on November 12, and the town was subsequently evacuated. The Reykjanes fissure first erupted in December and has done so three more times since then, as of 19th March 2024 (Baker, 2024). Having lain dormant for centuries, the peninsula could now face decades, even centuries, of heightened volcanic activity (Andrews, 2024). Situated on the ridge between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, Iceland has long been a hotbed for geologists and other scientists; the most recent eruptions will continue to foster a deeper knowledge of the primordial forces at work beneath the crust. Even technology such as InSAR cannot flawlessly predict where the next fissure will occur, with the systems at work simply too complex and subject to unpredictable changes, nor does it offer the opportunity to tame these forces. But forewarned is forearmed: the lives that have already been saved illuminate the role of scientific understanding as a force for overcoming our powerlessness in the face of the elements. The fury of heaven, as Steingrímsson would surely have it. References Andrews, R.G. (2024, February 20). Inside Scientists’ Life-Saving Prediction of the Iceland Eruption. Quanta Magazine . https://www.quantamagazine.org/inside-scientists-life-saving-prediction-of-the-iceland-eruption-20240220/ Andrews, R.G. (2018, April 4). The Legend of The Icelandic Pastor Who Appeared To Stop A Lava Flow. Forbes . https://www.forbes.com/sites/robinandrews/2018/04/24/the-legend-of-the-icelandic-pastor-who-appeared-to-stop-a-lava-flow/?sh=703ae4301798 Baker, H. (2024, March 19). Iceland volcano: 'Most powerful' eruption yet narrowly misses Grindavik but could still trigger life-threatening toxic gas plume . Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/volcanos/iceland-volcano-most-powerful-eruption-yet-narrowly-misses-grindavik-but-could-still-trigger-life-threatening-toxic-gas-plume Bressan, D. (2013, June 8). June 8, 1783: How the “Laki-eruptions” changed History . Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/history-of-geology/8-june-1783-how-the-laki-eruptions-changed-history/ Ducrocq, C., Arnadottir, T., Einarsson, P., Jonsson, s., Drouin, V., Geirsson, H., & Hjartadottir, A.R. (2024). Widespread fracture movements during a volcano-tectonic unrest: the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, from 2019-2021 TerraSAR-X intereferometry. Bulletin of Volcanology , 86 (14). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-023-01699-0 European Space Agency (n.d.). How does interferometry work? https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/How_does_interferometry_work Icelandic Met Office (n.d.). 100 Years of Seismic Observations . https://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volcanism/conferences/jsr-2009/100_years/ NASA (n.d.). Interferometry . https://nisar.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/get-to-know-sar/interferometry/#:~:text=Interferometry%20is%20an%20imaging%20technique,reveal%20surface%20motion%20and%20change . Tolpekin, V. (2023, November 17). ICEYE Interferometric Analysis: Monitoring Potential Volcanic Eruption in Iceland . ICEYE. https://www.iceye.com/blog/iceye-interferometric-analysis-monitoring-potential-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland Witt, T., Walter, R.T., Muller, D., Gudmundsson, M.T., & Schopa, A. (2018). The relationship between lava fountaing and vent morphology for the 2014-2015 Holuhraun eruption, Iceland, analysed by video monitoring and topographic mapping. Frontiers in Earth Science , 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2018.00235 Previous article Next article Elemental back to

< Back to Issue 5 Three-Parent Babies? The Future of Mitochondrial Donation in Australia Kara Miwa-Dale 24 October 2023 Edited by Yasmin Potts Illustrated by Aisyah Mohammad Sulhanuddin Mitochondria are the ‘powerhouse of the cell’. Sound familiar? This fact was likely drilled into you during high school biology classes (or by looking at memes). Beyond this, you may not have given mitochondria a second thought - but you should! This organelle has been at the centre of some heated parliamentary debates relating to mitochondrial donation. This new IVF technology, which aims to prevent women from passing on mitochondrial disease, will reshape Australia’s approach to genetic and reproductive technologies. Mitochondrial donation was legalised in Australia last year when ‘Maeve’s Law’ was passed in the Senate. This law reform has generated a minefield of social and ethical questions that are yet to be fully answered. What is mitochondrial disease? Mitochondria are the small but mighty structures found in all our cells (except red blood cells) that produce more than 90% of the energy used by our bodies (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). This organelle is vital for the functioning of important organs such as the heart, brain and liver (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). Mitochondria also have their own DNA, with a relatively small genome size of 37 genes (Garcia et al., 2017), compared to the 20,000 genes in our nuclear DNA (Nurk et al., 2022). Mitochondrial disease refers to a group of disorders in which ‘faulty’ mitochondria results in a range of symptoms such as poor motor control, developmental delay, seizures and cardiac disease (Mito Foundation, 2023). Half of the cases of mitochondrial disease are caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA. These mutations are transmitted through maternal inheritance, which means that all the mitochondria in your cells are passed on from your biological mother (Mito Foundation, 2023). It is believed that about 1 in 200 people have a mutation in their mitochondrial DNA, with 1 in 5000 people having some form of mitochondrial disease (Mito Foundation, 2023). There is currently no cure for this group of conditions. How does mitochondrial donation work? Mitochondrial donation, also known as Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy (MRT), is an IVF technology which aims to prevent women from passing on mitochondrial disease to their children. For individuals with mitochondrial disease, this technology is currently the only way to have biological children without the risk of passing on their disease. MRT is used to create an embryo containing the nuclear DNA from two parents, in addition to mitochondrial DNA from an egg donor. This process involves taking the nuclear DNA from an embryo (created using the mother’s egg and father’s sperm) and inserting it into a donor egg which contains healthy mitochondria (NHMRC, 2023). The child will still inherit all of their unique characteristics, such as hair colour, through the nuclear DNA of their prospective parents. Therefore, it would be impossible to tell that an individual had been conceived through MRT simply by looking at them. Challenges in defining parenthood. Children conceived through MRT have been popularly referred to in the media as ‘three-parent babies’ since the technique creates an embryo containing DNA from three different individuals. However, this label is inaccurate and misleading. It suggests that all three parents make an equal contribution to the identity of the child, when in fact mitochondrial donors contribute only 0.1% of the child’s total genetic material. So, technically the term ‘2.002-parent babies’ would be more accurate! Under Australian law, mitochondrial donors will not have legal status as parents since their genetic contribution is not thought to influence the unique characteristics of the child. However, there are some concerns about the potential psychological impacts on children conceived through MRT, as the definition of parenthood is becoming increasingly blurry. It is possible that children conceived through mitochondrial donation will regard their mitochondrial donor as significant to their identity, considering how different their life may have looked without them. As researchers learn more about the function of mitochondria, we may indeed find that mitochondrial DNA has a greater influence on a person’s characteristics than we once thought. More recent studies have linked mitochondrial DNA to athletic performance (Maruszak et al., 2014), psychiatric disorders (Sequeira et al., 2012), and ageing (Wallace, 2010). Should mitochondrial donors remain anonymous? If mitochondrial donors contribute such a tiny amount of DNA to a child, and do not influence any of their personal characteristics, should they be obligated to disclose their identity to the recipient? Australia no longer allows egg or sperm donors to remain anonymous in order to protect the rights of individuals to know their biological origins. Yet, in the case of mitochondrial donation, there is a much smaller proportion of DNA involved. Some experts have compared mitochondrial donation to organ donation, in the sense that the donation also provides someone with the organ (or organelle) that enables them to live a healthy life, without altering their unique characteristics. It has therefore been argued that mitochondrial donation should be treated in a similar way to organ donation, allowing donors to remain anonymous. Considering that donated eggs are often in low supply, permitting anonymous donors may provide a way of improving the availability of donor eggs. It is likely that Australia will follow the lead of the UK by permitting anonymous donation. Are we ‘playing God’ by altering the genome? By making heritable changes to an individual’s genome, we are heading into new and potentially dangerous territory. Opponents of mitochondrial donation have voiced fears about the ‘slippery slope’ between trying to eradicate mitochondrial disease and taking this technology too far into the realm of ‘designer babies’. Considering that mitochondrial donation does not involve making any changes to nuclear DNA, and can only be used for medical reasons, these statements seem a bit sensationalist. However, there are some genuine reasons to be concerned about the safety of this technology and its implications for the future of humankind. While MRT is generally considered to be safe based on clinical research, there are still some uncertainties about its efficacy in clinical practice. For example, clinical research has found that there is a chance of ‘carry-over’ of unhealthy mitochondria during the MRT process (Klopstock, Klopstock & Prokisch, 2016). If this carry-over occurs, there is a potential for the numbers of unhealthy mitochondria to gradually increase as the embryo develops, essentially undoing all the hard work of creating an embryo free from mitochondrial disease. However, the percentage of carry-over is usually less than 2% and is likely to become lower as the technology advances (Klopstock, Klopstock & Prokisch, 2016). Unfortunately, we won’t know about any negative long-term impacts of MRT until we are able to observe the development of children conceived through this technology. However, adults over the age of 18 cannot be forced to participate in a study, which makes it more challenging to track long-term outcomes. An important consideration is the privacy and autonomy of these individuals - that they are not over-medicalised or viewed as some sort of ‘spectacle’ to the public. The future of mitochondrial donation in Australia. ‘Maeve’s Law’ was named in honour of Maeve Hood, a cheerful 7-year-old who was diagnosed with a rare mitochondrial disease at 18 months old. The law was passed with the aim of preventing the transmission of mitochondrial disease in Australia, which affects around fifty families each year. This revolutionary law permits the creation of a human embryo containing genetic material from three people and allows heritable changes to be made to the genome (although under strict guidelines). Such practices were previously illegal in Australia due to understandable concern that these technologies could be destructive in the wrong hands. Maeve’s Law introduces an exception to these prohibitions solely for the purpose of preventing serious mitochondrial disease. While MRT is no longer illegal in Australia, Maeve’s Law does not authorise the immediate use of MRT in clinical practice. The law outlines a two-stage approach in which the technology will be implemented, provided that clinical trials are successful. This initiative will be conducted by Monash University through the mitoHOPE (Healthy Outcomes Pilot and Evaluation) program, for which they received $15 million in funding (Monash University, 2023). Stage 1, which is expected to last around ten years, will involve clinical research aimed at improving MRT techniques and validating its safety. After an initial review, mitochondrial donation may become available in a clinical practice setting in Stage 2. Mitochondrial donation is an exciting technology which provides hope to the many Australians touched by the devastating effects of mitochondrial disease. However, it is important that more research is conducted into its safety and efficacy, as well as the long-term implications of its use. As is often the case with groundbreaking technologies such as this, the laws and policies lag behind the science. The passing of Maeve’s Law is only the start of what will be a long journey to the successful implementation of mitochondrial donation in Australia. The next ten years will be crucial in setting a precedent for how our society approaches the use of other novel genetic technologies in healthcare. The question is no longer ‘should we use mitochondrial donation?’ but ‘how can we implement this technology in a safe and ethical way?’ References Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Mitochondrial Diseases . https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15612-mitochondrial-diseases Garcia, I., Jones, E., Ramos, M., Innis-Whitehouse, W., & Gilkerson, R. (2017). The little big genome: The organization of mitochondrial DNA . Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark Edition), 22, 710. Klopstock, T., Klopstock, B., & Prokisch, H. (2016). Mitochondrial replacement approaches: Challenges for clinical implementation . Genome Medicine, 8(1), 1-3. Maruszak, A., Adamczyk, J. G., Siewierski, M., Sozański, H., Gajewski, A., & Żekanowski, C. (2014). Mitochondrial DNA variation is associated with elite athletic status in the Polish population. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 24(2), 311-318. Mito Foundation. (2023). Maybe Mito Patient Factsheet. https://www.mito.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Maybe-Mito-Patient-Factsheet1.pdf Mito Foundation. (2023). Mitochondrial Disease: The Need For Mitochondrial Donation . https://www.mito.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Brief-mitochondrial-donation-2.pdf Monash University. (2023). Introducing Mitochondrial Donation into Australia. The mitoHOPE Program. https://www.monash.edu/medicine/mitohope National Health and Medical Research Council. (2023). Mitochondrial Donation. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/mitochondrial-donation Nurk, S., Koren, S., Rhie, A., Rautiainen, M., Bzikadze, A. V., Mikheenko, A., & Phillippy, A. M. (2022). The complete sequence of a human genome . Science, 376(6588), 44-53. Sequeira, A., Martin, M. V., Rollins, B., Moon, E. A., Bunney, W. E., Macciardi, F., & Vawter, M. P. (2012). Mitochondrial mutations and polymorphisms in psychiatric disorders. Frontiers in Genetics, 3, 103. Wallace, D. C. (2010). Mitochondrial DNA mutations in disease and aging. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, 51(5), 440-450. Wicked back to

< Back to Issue 6 Cosmic Carbon Vs Artificial Intelligence by Gaurika Loomba 28 May 2024 Edited by Rita Fortune Illustrated by Semko van de Wolfshaar “There are many peculiar aspects of the laws of nature that, had they been slightly different, would have precluded the existence of life” - Paul Davies, 2003 Almost four billion years ago, there was nothing but an incredibly hot, dense speck of matter. This speck exploded, and the universe was born. Within the first hundredth of a billionth of a trillionth of a trillionth second, the universe began expanding at an astronomical rate. For the next 400 million years, the universe was made of hydrogen, helium, and a dash of lithium – until I was born. And thus began all life as you know it. So how did I, the element of life, the fuel of industries, and the constituent of important materials, originate? Stars. Those shiny, mystical dots in the night sky are giant balls of hot hydrogen and helium gas. Only in their centres are temperatures high enough to facilitate the collision of three helium-4 nuclei within a tiny fraction of a second. I am carbon-12, the element born out of this extraordinary reaction. My astronomical powers come from my atomic structure; I have six electrons, six protons, and six neutrons. The electrons form teardrop shaped clouds, spread tetrahedrally around my core, my nucleus, where the protons and neutrons reside. My petite size and my outer electrons allow my nucleus to exert a balanced force on other atoms that I bond with. This ability to make stable bonds makes me a major component of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates, the building blocks of life. The outer electrons also allow me to form chains, sheets, and blocks of matter, such as diamond, with other carbon-12 atoms. Over the years of evolution, organic matter buried in Earth formed fossil fuels, so I am also the fuel that runs the modern world. As if science wasn’t enough, my spiritual significance reiterates my importance for the existence of life. According to the Hindu philosophy, the divine symbol, ‘Aum’ is the primordial sound of the Cosmos and ‘Swastika’, its visual embodiment. ‘Alpha’ and ‘Omega’, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, represent the beginning and ending, that is the ‘Eternal’ according to Christian spirituality. When scientists photographed my atomic structure, spiritual leaders saw the ‘Aum’ in my three-dimensional view and the ‘Swastika’ in my two-dimensional view. Through other angles, the ‘Alpha’ and ‘Omega’ have also been visualised (Knowledge of Reality, 2001). I am the element of life, and within me is the divine consciousness. I am the beginning and I am the end. My greatness has been agreed upon by science and spirituality. In my absence, there would be no life, an idea humans call carbon chauvinism. This ideology and my greatness remained unquestioned for billions of years, until the birth of Artificial Intelligence. I shaped the course of evolution for humans to be self-conscious and intelligent life forms. With the awareness of self, I aspired for humans to connect back to the Cosmos. But now my intelligent toolmakers, aka humans, are building intelligent tools. Intelligence and self-consciousness, which took nature millions of years to generate, is losing its uniqueness. Unfortunately, if software can be intelligent, there is nothing to stop it becoming conscious in the future. Soon, the earth will be populated by silicon-based entities that can compete with my best creation. Does this possibility compromise my superiority? A lot of you may justifiably think so. The truth is that I am the beginning. Historically, visionaries foresaw asteroid attacks as the end to human life. These days, climate change, which is an imbalance of carbon in the environment, is another prospective end. Now, people believe that conscious AI will outlive humans. Suggesting that I will not be the end; that my powers and superiority will be snatched by AI. So the remaining question is, who will be the end? I could tell you the truth, but I want to see who is with me at the end. The choice is yours. References Davies, P. (2003). Is anyone out there? https://www.theguardian.com/education/2003/jan/22/highereducation .uk Knowledge of Reality (2001). Spiritual Secrets in the Carbon Atom . https://www.sol.com.au/kor/11_02.htm Previous article Next article Elemental back to

< Back to Issue 7 Interstellar Overdrive: Secrets of our Distant Universe by Sarah Ibrahimi 22 October 2024 edited by Hendrick Lin illustrated by Amanda Agustinus “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known” - Carl Sagan Humanity's innate curiosity and desire of uncovering the unknown has been the spark for mankind's explorations since the beginning of time. From Columbus' expedition across the Atlantic to discover the New World, to Armstrong's first steps on the Moon's surface, we have experienced technological advancement at a lightning pace over the course of human history. Perhaps the most enthralling of these advances has been the scientific quest to unveil the true nature of our universe - the stars, the planets and the beings that exist within it and far beyond. And now, a novel and revolutionary tool has been developed to deepen our understanding of the cosmos. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) developed by NASA is the largest of its kind to ever be placed in space. Launched on Christmas Day in 2021 on board the Ariane 5 rocket, it travelled 1.5 million kilometres equipped with various high-resolution and high-sensitivity instruments, allowing scientists the ability to capture detailed infrared astronomical images of our old and distant universe (NASA, 2022a). In a matter of less than a year, the deepest infrared image known to mankind was produced. Named Webb's First Deep Field, it was unveiled by U.S. President Joe Biden on June 11th, 2022 at the White House, encapsulating never-before-seen perspectives of our universe. With this revelation, a new gateway has been opened into answering the countless questions of the early universe pondered by astrophysicists and the public alike. Confronting viewers with an array of contrasting colours and eccentric shapes, Webb’s First Deep Field can be hard to interpret ( figure 1 ). Figure 1. Webb’s First Deep Field: SMACS 07223 Note. From/Adapted from Webb’s First Deep Field: SMACS 07223 [photo] by James Webb Space Telescope. NASA, 2022b. https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/2022/035/01G7DCWB7137MYJ05CSH1Q5Z1Z?page=1&keyword=smac Copyright 2022, NASA. But with a careful eye and some clever detective work, we can begin to decipher the secrets contained within. For example, the bright lights depicting what appear to be stars are rather entire galaxies, each a gateway to billions of stars. In addition, Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) is able to capture distant galaxies with the sharpest focus to date, unravelling important features from their faint complexities. Appreciation for this image increases exponentially once we begin to comprehend the magnitude of its importance - it depicts the galaxy cluster, SMACS 0723, exactly as it looked 4.6 billion years ago! In other words, this image is a glimpse back to a time well before humans or any life forms existed. Amongst the myriad of initial images produced by JWST, one particular point of interest would be the Southern Ring Nebula illustrating the dying NGC 3132 star ( figure 2 ). This can be seen through the expulsion of its gases and outer layers, producing striking imagery through Webb’s NIRCam. Viewers may also notice the bright lights representing individual galaxies in the nebula's background - again, not to be mistaken as stars. JWST’s ability to capture such a pivotal point in the trajectory of a star's life is crucial in assisting scientists to calculate the volumes of gas and dust present, as well as their unique molecular compositions. Figure 2. Southern Ring Nebula captured by JWST Note. From/Adapted from Southern Ring Nebula [photo] by James Webb Space Telescope. NASA, 2022c. https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/2022/033/01G70BGTSYBHS69T7K3N3ASSEB Copyright 2022, NASA. The efforts to produce such groundbreaking images and insights into the universe did not happen overnight. The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, was an important predecessor to the JWST. Whether it was confirming the existence of black holes, or the Nobel Prize winning discovery demonstrating the accelerating rate of expansion of the universe, the Hubble Space Telescope laid the foundations for the JWST to flourish. These marvellations revealed by the JWST would also not be possible without the efforts of countless scientists to improve the technological potential of the Hubble Telescope. As a result of these developments, JWST contains a larger primary mirror, deeper infrared vision, and is optimised for longer ultraviolet and visible wavelengths, all with the aim to increase the telescope’s ability to capture profound images of our universe. Nonetheless, a number of hypotheses relevant to matters such as dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics remain unanswered. As a next step forward, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set to launch in 2027 with the capacity to produce a panoramic view two hundred times greater than the infrared view generated by Hubble and JWST. The questions that continue to itch our minds remain limitless. As Einstein once lamented, "the more I learn, the more I realise how much I don't know”. There is still so much that remains to be discovered. However, the JWST illustrates that through collaborative scientific efforts, humankind can begin to unravel the many mysteries that govern our universe, one galaxy at a time. References NASAa. (2022, July 12). NASA’s Webb Delivers Deepest Infrared Image of Universe yet. https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasas-webb-delivers-deepest-infrared-image-of-universe-yet/ NASAb. (2022, July 11). Webb’s First Deep Field . Webb Space Telescope. https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/2022/035/01G7DCWB7137MYJ05CSH1Q5Z1Z?page=1&keyword=smac NASAc. (2022, July 11). Southern Ring Nebula. Webb Space Telescope. https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/2022/033/01G70BGTSYBHS69T7K3N3ASSEB Previous article Next article apex back to