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Articles by Kerri Duncan
How does heat make food taste good?
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The flavors of fire: How does heat make food taste good?
Sure, cooking our food can make it safer to eat and more digestible. But let's be honest. We mainly cook to create something we enjoy—something delicious. So how exactly does heat produce these tasty flavors? And why do we all have different flavor preferences? Complexity on a plate Simon Warwick is a lecturer at Curtin University who specializes in food chemistry. He says there's a lot more to the science behind flavors than we might think.
The Flavours of Fire —People News | Particle
Sure, cooking our food can make it safer to eat and more digestible. But let’s be honest. We mainly cook to create something we enjoy – something delicious. So how exactly does heat produce these tasty flavours? And why do we all have different flavour preferences? Simon Warwick is a lecturer at Curtin University who specialises in food chemistry. He says there’s a lot more to the science behind flavours than we might think. “Food science covers many areas, not just the chemistry,” says Simon.
Shrinking birds change their tune: Birdsong may sound different in a warmer future
Birds' bodies are changing and so are their songs. Over the last 70 years, birds worldwide have been noticeably shrinking in mass or expanding in wing length. Many scientists believe this to be a response to climate change. The changes increase birds' surface area to volume ratio, which allows heat to be released faster from their bodies. But it also impacts how the birds communicate, including the very chirp of their songs.
Shrinking Birds Change Their Tune
Birds’ bodies are changing and so are their songs. Over the last 70 years, birds worldwide have been noticeably shrinking in mass or expanding in wing length. Many scientists believe this to be a response to climate change. The changes increase birds’ surface area to volume ratio, which allows heat to be released faster from their bodies. But it also impacts how the birds communicate, including the very chirp of their songs.
Bird brains vs noise pollution
The world is becoming a noisy place. So much so that man-made noise is now considered a major global pollutant. The impact of human activity was particularly obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic. When many of the world’s industries paused, global seismic noise was reduced by up to 50%. We know that exposure to loud or prolonged noise can cause a range of health problems in people. But how does it affect our wildlife?
Do strict dress codes and uniforms do more harm than good? Original
How do you feel when you wear a uniform? Are you relieved by the simplicity or resentful of the restrictions? The pros and cons of dress codes have long been a source of debate in schools and workplaces. Many claim uniforms evoke a sense of unity, reduce distractions and result in higher-quality work. But new WA research published in the International Journal of Educational Research suggests school uniforms can also normalize misogyny, homophobia, transphobia and racism.
Dress code division – People News | Particle
How do you feel when you wear a uniform? Are you relieved by the simplicity or resentful of the restrictions? The pros and cons of dress codes have long been a source of debate in schools and workplaces. Many claim uniforms evoke a sense of unity, reduce distractions and result in higher-quality work. But new WA research suggests school uniforms can also normalise misogyny, homophobia, transphobia and racism. This can lead to long-term impacts for affected students.
CSI: Crime Scene Insects – Biology News | Particle
is the study of found in, on and around dead bodies. Their presence, absence, bite marks, eggs, larvae, gut contents and chemical composition can all be analysed as clues. However, arthropod behaviour is changing due to climate change, invasive species and habitat loss. And world-leading forensic entomologist Dr Paola Magni from Murdoch University says these changing dynamics will affect the future of forensic entomology.
The love language of echidnas – Animal News | Particle
Echidnas aren’t the type to shout their love from the rooftops. In fact, they keep pretty quiet for most of their lives. As a result, scientists have long debated whether they could produce sounds at all – other than respiratory-related sniffles and snorts. But a recent study from WA has finally put an end to this debate. Echidnas do in fact vocalise.
Quokkas learning to adapt to prescribed burns
Quokkas are more than the "happiest animal in the world." These charismatic marsupials are clever enough to use fire exclusion zones to their advantage. Murdoch University and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions researchers tracked 20 mainland quokkas over two years. The study revealed a remarkable shift in the quokkas' behavior before and after prescribed burns. Under pressure Quokkas used to be much more widespread on mainland WA.
Quokkas dodging friendly fire
Quokkas are more than the “happiest animal in the world“. These charismatic marsupials are clever enough to use fire exclusion zones to their advantage. Murdoch University and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions researchers tracked 20 mainland quokkas over two years. The study revealed a remarkable shift in the quokkas’ behaviour before and after prescribed burns. UNDER PRESSURE Quokkas used to be much more widespread on mainland WA.
Where have all the women STEM role models gone?
When it comes to celebrating the achievements of scientists, there is a clear gender bias in Australian secondary classrooms. A recent study led by Dr Kat Ross, an astrophysicist at Curtin University, compared male and female representation in Year 11 and 12 biology, chemistry, physics and environmental science studies. Of the 145 scientists mentioned within the syllabuses, only one was female.
The enduring mystery of mass whale strandings
On 18 July 2023, 97 pilot whales became stranded near Albany, WA. It didn't take long for hundreds of people to rush to Cheynes Beach and offer their help. Despite the combined efforts of wildlife experts and volunteers, all the whales died. The only solace for distraught witnesses is the hope of learning something from the tragedy. Fishing for clues Scientists currently don't know why whales beach themselves in large numbers.
The grim mystery of mass whale strandings – Environment News | Particle
On 18 July 2023, 97 pilot whales became stranded near Albany, WA. It didn’t take long for hundreds of people to rush to Cheynes Beach and offer their help. Despite the combined efforts of wildlife experts and volunteers, all the whales died. The only solace for distraught witnesses is the hope of learning something from the tragedy. Your browser does not support the video tag. FISHING FOR CLUES Scientists currently don’t know why whales beach themselves in large numbers.
How to build a five-star native bee sanctuary – Environment News | Particle
As bee populations decline worldwide, public interest in their conservation is increasing. But how much do we know about helping our local bees? Dr Kit Prendergast – also known as the Bee Babette – is a native bee ecologist who studied at Curtin University. She’s on a mission to find out what WA bees want and how we can give it to them. what’s the buzz? There are over 20,000 known bee species. The majority of research has focused on honey bees—specifically the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera.
Solving Darwin's 'abominable mystery' – Environment News | Particle
When flowering plants appeared in the fossil records, Charles Darwin called it an “abominable mystery”. The plant group’s rapid diversification during the mid-Cretaceous period had the evolutionary biologist stumped. Known as angiosperms, flowering plants now make up the majority of land vegetation on Earth. After millions of years of plants without blossoms, how did flowering and fruiting ones become dominant so quickly? A team of UWA scientists examined this puzzle during a recent study.
Is possum poo the key to beating Buruli ulcer? – Health News | Particle
a perfect storm? Humans pick up Buruli ulcer infections from the environment. Human-to-human transmissions are extremely rare. Animals like possums harbour the bacteria in their gut and pass it on to mosquitoes, which infect humans. Four elements enable human transmission. First, the introduction of the bacteria into the environment and wildlife reservoirs (like native possums) to house and grow the bacteria.
Parasites, often overlooked in ecological studies, may be more beneficial than previously thought
Often overlooked in ecological studies, parasites may be more beneficial than previously thought. Parasites have a bad reputation—so much so that they are used as an insult. But is their reputation deserved? Mike Gardner is a Professor in Biodiversity/Ecology at Flinders University. He says parasites play a key role in healthy environments. "There are very intricate relationships between animals and their parasites," says Mike. Parasites help energy flow through food chains.
Parasites: What are they good for? – Earth News | Particle
Image credit: ©AIMS | Andre Rerekura Parasites have a bad reputation – so much so that they are used as an insult. But is their reputation deserved? Mike Gardner is a Professor in Biodiversity/Ecology at Flinders University. He says parasites play a key role in healthy environments. “There are very intricate relationships between animals and their parasites,” says Mike. Parasites help energy flow through food chains. They keep host and are an indicator of healthy biodiversity levels.
New filters to fight plastic soup – Tech News | Particle
New filters to fight plastic soup Microplastics may be tiny, but they’re a huge problem. There’s so much plastic in our oceans, it’s often called ‘‘. Dr Masoumeh Zargar is an Engineering Lecturer at Edith Cowan University. According to her, 25% of microplastics released into oceans come from wastewater effluent. To tackle this problem, Masoumeh’s team developed a new membrane filtering technique. And it could change how wastewater is treated worldwide.
"Ruins, ruins, RUINS!" To the Kid Complaining in Bolivia
By Kerri Duncan A whining child has made me ponder our perspectives when we travel. Comparing my height to the original inhabitants of Pucará de Tilcara in northern Argentina. Photo by author. From my top bunk at a hostel in Uyuni - the launch pad town for the famous Bolivian salt flat tours - a tone undoubtedly familiar to parents of pre-teen children assaulted my ears. "Ruins, ruins, RUINS!" it wailed.
How flies track native species – Earth News | Particle
FLY SPY: HOW FLIES ARE TRACKING NATIVE SPECIES Aussie flies are being used to spy on their neighbours. How? Curtin University researchers have used invertebrate-derived DNA – known as iDNA – from carrion flies to track other animals’ movements. The team detected native and invasive mammals in their study of habitats across the WA Wheatbelt.
Earthquakes, Invasions, and 2000 Years Have Only Brightened the Beauty of Kotor's Walls
And they are equally majestic by day and at night. I travelled to Montenegro with zero prior knowledge about the place. It was a simple case of convenient geography; Kotor was on the way between Greece and Croatia.
From lush to dust: Nullarbor rocks reveal ancient climate change
How did they measure what was in the rocks? They fired lasers at them. IRONING THINGS OUT Traditional climate dating models predominantly rely on marine sediments. “Because they are often continuous layers, you can date them quite well,” says Max. While this method shows broad, global changes, it isn’t specific enough to pinpoint local environmental changes. “If you really want to figure out how things locally changed, you need to have a local product,” says Max.
Attack of the hitchhiking armyworms – Environment News | Particle
Attack of the hitchhiking armyworms Spodoptera frugiperda, commonly known as the fall armyworm, is a moth species whose larvae wreak havoc on a wide range of plants, including crops. Its common name comes from mass movements of the caterpillars during autumn. After devouring whole crop fields, the species is said to ‘march’ out looking for more. Native to tropical regions of the Americas, the fall armyworm was first reported in West Africa in 2016.
Shorebird breakfasts come with a side of plastic – Earth News | Particle
Who ordered the large side of plastic? Not Australia’s shorebirds. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what’s on the menu at our beaches. And it’s ending up in the excrement (also known as guano) of some of our most vulnerable species. A study in Tasmania has found that the amount of plastic in different birds’ guano might boil down to their prey choices and foraging strategies. SIZE MATTERS When plastic breaks down (which can take hundreds of years), it doesn’t disappear.
An Easy Way to Elevate Travel Photos
I'm no photographer. My brother is a professional one, and I've never really tried to compete. At the same time, I'm obsessed with taking photos. I come back with thousands of them every time I travel. I cherish almost every photo, because not only do they represent a memory, they're the closest thing I'll ever have to experiencing the emotions I felt at the time I took them. A simple way I've found to level up the charm of my landscape photos is by making the most of foreground flowers.
Bunnies and bilbies: Friend or foe?
Bunnies and bilbies: Friend or foe? The introduction of rabbits has had a devastating impact on Australian native flora and fauna. However, their role as the traditional European symbol of fertility and new life has made it difficult for us to see them as destructive pests. Come Easter time, there has been some effort to ‘replace’ the Easter Bunny with Australian native species such as bandicoots, bilbies and bettongs.
Particle 101: Lawn – Environment News | Particle
Particle 101: Lawn A lush green lawn has been a source of pride, a place for children to run around and the home of backyard cricket since Europeans first settled in Australia. Lawns are so popular they cover an estimated 11% of our capital cities. But they aren’t always easy to keep alive. Introduced grasses guzzle huge amounts of water – something that can be hard to come by in our dry, heatwave-prone country. Lawns also contribute to pollution through the use of fertilisers and lawnmowers.
Nurturing Your Love of Travel When You Can't Travel
How I feed my travel addiction when I'm not travelling. If you're anything like me,travelling is your happy place, your drug, the main reason you earn money other than survival, something you can never seem to get enough of. Once you've caught the travel bug, it can be difficult to shake. Restlessness and agitation can plague you, wondering when you'll get your next hit. Some lucky people find ways to be travelling all the time, and I commend their commitment.
'I've asked to work part-time. But apparently work-life balance is only allowed if you have kids.'
I’ve asked several bosses throughout my working life if I could reduce my hours from five days a week to four. The reaction has become unfortunately predictable, and after chatting with several childless friends, it seems to be a common one across many fields. It goes something along the lines of: "But you don’t have kids, right?
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