http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/ en celeste.ecuyer@anu.edu.au Copyright 2009 2009-11-05T03:40:10+10:00 http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/human_evolution_and_the_atmosphere_a_return_to_the_pliocene/ http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/human_evolution_and_the_atmosphere_a_return_to_the_pliocene/#When:02:54:05Z   The evolution of Australopithecines and subsequently the Genus Homo from about 4.5 million years ago was intimately related to an overall cooling trend associated with orbital forcing of the Milankovic cycles, natural long-term rhythms of global climate change caused by changes in the position of Earth relative to the sun. These included extreme conditions which forced humans to migrate and adapt through development of sophisticated communications (language) and technological innovation, culminating in the mastering of fire and thereby gaining control over the environment. Since the 18th century there has been a release into the atmosphere of over 300 billion tons of fossil carbon buried over hundreds of millions of years. The consequent increase in atmospheric CO2 levels by nearly 40 percent since 1750 threatens the delicate carbon cycle balance of the atmosphere, which allowed the development of the large ice sheets some 34 million years ago and the development of Neolithic agriculture and civilization from about 9,500 years ago. Current climate trajectories are leading toward atmosphere/ocean conditions similar to those of 3 million years-ago (mid-Pliocene). Public Lecture, Earth & Marine Sciences, History & Archeology, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences 2009-05-29T02:54:05+10:00 http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/messages_past_warm_earth/ http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/messages_past_warm_earth/#When:22:44:01Z As a pioneer in paleoceanography who has contributed to three generations of scientific ocean drilling programs, Ted Moore questions whether lessons learned from Earth's past will help us better appreciate the extensive changes that could be brought on by higher global temperatures, rising sea level, and more intense storms predicted for the future. He draws upon the 50-million-year-old climate records of the Eocene to offer insights into the impacts of increased global greenhouse gases and the expectations for Earth's future climate. Professor Moore's lecture is part of the inaugural DRILLS lecture series - a new scientific lecture series that features prominent, internationally known scientists describing scientific ocean drilling from first-hand experience. Public Lecture, Earth & Marine Sciences, Environment, University, Physical Science 2008-05-14T22:44:01+10:00 http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/the_dark_side_of_the_universe/ http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/the_dark_side_of_the_universe/#When:05:39:00Z Professor Silk discusses how our understanding of cosmology has evolved in recent years from the old Big Bang cosmology of the Einstein era. Observations have shown us that the universe is mostly dark. This is one of the greatest mysteries in the cosmos. Not only is the observed night sky dark, but also most of the matter in the universe is dark. Astronomers today are seeking to unravel the nature of the mysterious but pervasive dark matter and dark energy, which account for two-thirds of the mass-energy density of the universe. Public Lecture, Earth & Marine Sciences, ANU College of Science, Physical Science 2007-08-24T05:39:00+10:00 http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/debunking_global_warming_swindle/ http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/debunking_global_warming_swindle/#When:00:43:01Z Leading expert scientists from ANU and Stanford University presented critiques of the ABC televised program from the previous evening entitled 'The Great Global Warming Swindle'. The forum was then opened for general discussion and questions. Public Lecture, Earth & Marine Sciences, Environment, ANU College of Science, Physical Science 2007-07-18T00:43:01+10:00 http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/geological_perspectives_climate_change/ http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/geological_perspectives_climate_change/#When:01:16:00Z Throughout Earth’s history, mass extinctions of species were closely related to physical and chemical changes in the atmosphere and the oceans. These variations were controlled by heat from the sun, the distribution of oceans and continents, the extent of ice sheets; volcanic eruptions and asteroid impacts, air-borne particles, the eruption of methane and greenhouse effects. Greenhouse episodes were amplified by carbon dioxide and methane feedback effects from warming oceans and drying vegetation, and by changed reflection effects due to the extent of ice and snow. Current climate changes, triggered by human-generated emissions, will lead to shifts in the Earth’s climate zones toward the poles. The instability of ice sheets melting may lead to significant sea level rises over a time scale of decades. Public Lecture, Earth & Marine Sciences, Environment, ANU College of Science, Physical Science 2007-06-25T01:16:00+10:00 http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/it_aint_necessarily_so_bro/ http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/it_aint_necessarily_so_bro/#When:05:45:01Z Dr Karl explodes our most common ‘mythconceptions’, including whether the daddy long legs is really the most venomous spider in the world and whether a frog will really sit in a pot of gently warming water, and unknowingly boil itself to death. Are virgin births possible? Would cockroaches survive a nuclear holocaust? Will a black hole suck you in? Is the most radioactive device in our homes the microwave? Dr Karl will discuss the answers to these and other fascinating science questions posed in his new book 'It Ain't Necessarily So...Bro'. Part of the ANU 2006 Meet the Author series. Public Lecture, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Earth & Marine Sciences, Science Communication, ANU College of Science, Physical Science 2006-11-10T05:45:01+10:00 http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/earth_history/ http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/earth_history/#When:06:00:00Z Earth formed over 4.5 billion years ago with its initial condition greatly affected by the trauma of giant impacts. In this lecture, Professor David Stevenson discusses how this trauma affects the similarities and differences between Earth and Moon, the core, possible initial layering of the mantle and the conditions for the early evolution, including timing for the origin of life. This lecture was presented by The Research School of Earth Sciences, ANU College of Science. Public Lecture, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Biological Sciences, Earth & Marine Sciences, ANU College of Science, Physical Science 2006-11-02T06:00:00+10:00 http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/submarine_volcanoes_of_the_western_pacific/ http://www.anu.edu.au/discoveranu/content/podcasts/submarine_volcanoes_of_the_western_pacific/#When:04:38:00Z The way the sea floor is mapped has been revolutionised in the last decade by high resolution, multi-beam sonar systems, with follow-ups by manned and remotely-operated submersibles. Using these techniques, research groups from Australia, Germany, New Zealand and the USA are discovering much more about chains of underwater volcanoes in zones of tectonic plate convergence, known as 'arcs'. Researchers have found that up to 40 per cent of these underwater volcanoes in the southwest Pacific Ocean are emitting hot water, sulphur, and dissolved metals including iron.  In this lecture Professor Richard Arculus discusses the implications of these findings for the study of ore deposits, the growth of continents, and for the study of life in the oceans around deep sea hot water vents and the shallow water, pelagic photosynthesisers that critically depend on iron for their existence. Professor Arculus also discusses how the research will reveal more about the potential for underwater eruptions and volcanic collapses that can trigger tsunamis. This lecture was sponsored by the ANU College of Science as part of National Science Week 2006. Public Lecture, Earth & Marine Sciences, ANU College of Science, Physical Science 2006-09-22T04:38:00+10:00