Science / Year 10 / Science as a Human Endeavour / Nature and development of science

Curriculum content descriptions

Advances in scientific understanding often rely on technological advances and are often linked to scientific discoveries (ACSHE192)

Elaborations
  • recognising that the development of fast computers has made possible the analysis of DNA sequencing, radio astronomy signals and other data
  • considering how computer modelling has improved knowledge and predictability of phenomena such as climate change and atmospheric pollution
  • researching examples of major international scientific projects, for example the Large Hadron Collider and the International Space Station
  • considering how information technology can be applied to different areas of science such as bioinformatics and the Square Kilometre Array
ScOT terms

Innovation,  Discovery (Observations)

Video

Catalyst: Birth of radio astronomy

Did you know that some of the most ground-breaking scientific discoveries were made by chance (serendipity)? Discover the link between static on a telephone line and the invention of the radio telescope that has helped scientists find new clues to the origin of the universe.

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Catalyst: Nuclear fusion future

Visit the world's largest nuclear fusion reactor, which uses the same process as the Sun to produce energy. Look at the new advances in fusion technology which mean, for the first time, a fusion reactor should now be able to produce more energy than it consumes. It offers a future alternative energy source, but is not without ...

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When neutron stars collide

Using technologically advanced supercomputers, scientists have developed theories about the creation of black holes deep in outer space. Watch the computer simulation in this clip to see how the collision of two neutron stars produces a gamma ray burst and a new black hole. Discover that our continuing understanding of ...

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Catalyst: Geoengineering - a solution to climate change?

What is geoengineering, and how is it being investigated by scientists as a means of combating climate change? Learn about some climate control techniques that could slow down or even reverse the effects of global warming. Hear an atmospheric physicist explain the pros and cons of geoengineering techniques.

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ABC News: Sound waves measure ocean temperatures

View how scientists use underwater sound waves to measure ocean temperature changes in the Indian Ocean. The animations show how the technology called acoustic thermometry works. Australian scientists are working with a global network of 'listening posts' to monitor the long-term effects of climate change on ocean temperatures.

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BTN: Living on the International Space Station

What would it be like to live on a space station? In this clip you'll see footage of astronauts on the International Space Station and discover what their daily life is like. You'll also find out about how the space station was built and about some important research being done there.

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BTN: The biggest radio telescope in the world

In the past, astronomers explored the universe with their eyes and optical telescopes, but what they could see was limited. Find out how radio telescopes have revolutionised the way astronomers 'see' the universe, allowing us to explore deeper into space than ever before.Watch this clip to learn about Australia's contribution ...

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Catalyst: Large Hadron Collider discovery, 2012

Have you heard of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)? Watch this clip to find out about a scientific discovery at the LHC that left physicists uncharacteristically emotional. Catalyst's Dr Derek Muller takes you inside the LHC and talks to scientists there about the discovery of the Higgs boson and what it means for our understanding ...

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Landline: Handling deadly viruses safely to save lives

Imagine working in a research laboratory and handling deadly animal viruses that could potentially infect humans. Find out how this vital research helps protect Australia's wildlife, farm animals and human population. See how scientists use techniques such as 'gene silencing' to fight viruses.

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Catalyst: Seals help climate research

Discover how seals are helping scientists study Antarctica, polar regions, oceans and climate change. Scientists use Weddell and southern elephant seals to gather data and monitor the way currents move heat around the world's oceans.

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Monkey Malaria

This 13 minute video segment from Catalyst describes recent research in Borneo investigates malaria that is common to monkeys and humans.

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Exoplanets

This nine and a half minute video segment from Catalyst explains that relatively recently times we have got the technology to look for exoplanets. Astronomers have now uncovered more than 350 planets orbiting other stars. These worlds, known as exoplanets, can be pretty weird places. This program discusses a theory to describes ...

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Brainy bees

This six and a half minute video segment from Catalyst shows how understanding bees process information from their compound eyes may help in designing better surveillance systems. This program is useful for discussion of the methods of scientific research into behaviour and perception.

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Coal Gas

This 12 minute video segment from Catalyst outlines how for decades, scientists have worked to develop technologies that can unlock the energy from coal while reducing the risks of digging it up and burning it. Now entirely new industries are booming as they tap into coal seams either too gassy or too deep to be mined by ...

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Electron Microscope

This 6 minute video segment from Catalyst demonstrates some electron microscopes that are powerful enough to read a newspaper as far away as the moon and the many challenges in making this sort of power possible.

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Rob Harcourt

This 6 minute video segment from Catalyst highlights a number of diverse investigations that are part of the work of a marine biologist. It uses an incredible collection of photographs to inform and inspire people about conservation.

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GM Bananas

This 8 minute video segment from Catalyst explains how genetically modified bananas could be the answer to malnutrition in developing countries. Botanists in Queensland are developing genetically modified bananas that can boost vitamin and mineral content and create disease resistant varieties. Issues of lack of genetic ...

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Argo floats

This minute video segment from Catalyst decade ago describes the Australian initiative, Argo, that has become a major international collaborative project to look at the world's oceans and help understand processes at depth - monitoring the pulse of the global heat balance and giving us vital information on the ocean's role ...

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Sniffing out disease lesson

In this lesson, students consider contemporary research approaches to disease identification. First, they conduct an experiment to test how sensitive their sense of smell is and explore how our sense of smell functions. Students then learn about at how animals are trained to use their sense of smell to detect human disease. ...

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Catalyst: Thinning ice sheet

Discover that that the massive ice sheet in East Antarctica has been losing mass since 2006 instead of growing, as was previously thought. Watch animations to see how scientists from NASA and Australia are using satellite technology and aerial monitoring to investigate the thickness of East Antarctica's ice sheet. Find ...