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Factual: Science & Nature

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Science In Action: 11/06/2010

11/06/2010

BBC World Service - Science In Action, 11/06/2010

Hayabusa space probe; Monitoring molluscs; Change blindness; MacRobert engineering awards

Hayabusa space probe returning from asteroid mission; Oil spill - monitoring molluscs; Change blindness; MacRobert engineering awards

HAYABUSA MISSION EXPECTED TO RETURN TO EARTH
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency space probe Hayabusa is finally, and hopefully, returning back to Earth on Sunday, with samples it has collected from the asteroid Itokawa. 

Hayabusa has already sent pictures and data, which has showed that far from the expected solid lump of rock flying through space, turned out to be a more like a heap of rubble, rocks, and boulders. 


MONITORING MOLLUSCS TO ASSESS OIL SPILL
We still don't have accurate figures for the amount of oil leaking in the Gulf of Mexico, but researchers are working on some alternative methods for measuring how much of it is entering the food web in this ecosystem.  One way is to look at one of the environments smaller inhabitants…shellfish and particularly the molluscs and their shells.


CHANGE BLINDNESS
Scientists have designed a computer game to test a strange and occasionally frustrating phenomenon known as "change blindness".  The game, developed at Queen Mary, University of London, uses artificial intelligence to find out why people sometimes just don't notice when and how things change.  Our science reporter Victoria Gill gives it a try.


MacRobert ENGINEERING AWARD
This week in London four top engineering teams held their breath, waiting to hear who had won the Royal Academy of Engineering’s prestigious MacRobert Award.  At stake, not just a gold medal and £50,000 prize but recognition of their innovation – its commercial success and value to the community.  Just hours before the awards were announced we sent reporter Tracey Logan to meet the finalists and find out what makes their inventions so special.

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