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Science In Action: 24/09/2010

24/09/2010

BBC World Service - Science In Action, 24/09/2010

Testing life on the Moon with NASA in the Arizona Desert

Testing life on the Moon with NASA in the Arizona desert; Science survey; Surveying forests; Castrati autopsy

Testing NASA prototypes
NASA is testing some of their advanced prototypes of rovers, habitat modules and transporters.  With a view to using them on future manned space missions to destinations all over the Solar System.  The Arizona Desert in the US provides an ideal, extreme environment testing ground for this kit.


Science survey
The journal Nature and popular science magazine Scientific American set out to find out what we think about science and scientists.  They set up a survey of scientifically-aware people from all over the world and asked them a series of questions to find out whether they understood, trusted and supported various branches of science.


Mapping the forest
Scientists say they have moved a step closer to understanding the role of the world's forests in regulating the climate.  Using satellite technology, researchers from NASA have created a global snapshot - a map - of the world's forests showing their heights and precise locations.  They say it will help them better understand how woodlands absorb carbon from the atmosphere. 


Castrati autopsy
Paleo-pathologists in Italy take the opportunity to examine a very unusual skeleton.  A famous singer known as Farinelli, born Carlo Broschi in 1705, was the most famous castrato of all, and could sing very high, clear notes.  The reason for his unusual voice, and the interest of the scientists was that he was a 'castrati' – his testicles were removed when he was reaching puberty in an attempt to retain his child-like voice.  But as we discover, it led to other changes in his bones.

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