Who, and what, are you sleeping with?

If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, please subscribe. Having trouble reading this email? View it in your browser.  › News   › Dr Karl   › abc.net.au/science Find us on:   Twitter  Facebook  If you snuggle up with a furry friend in bed, you're not alone. The first scientific results from ABC Science's first citizen science project — the 2010 Big Sleep Survey — are finally back. They reveal that around a quarter of the people who took part shared their bed with a pet. Also this week the science of climate change is under the spotlight as delegates meet at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Doha. As temperature projections continue to rise, Arctic permafrost continues to thaw. Dr Karl explains why this cycle could create a positive feedback loop that no amount of talking will stop. And finally, many of Dr Andrew Prentice's predictions about our solar system have been proven correct by NASA missions. Will he be right about Pluto? Only time will tell… Top news stories of the week Chilli study reveals why some like it hot A fondness for the burn of spicy food has less to do with tolerance and far more to do with personality, according to a new study. Fossil find could be oldest dino of all Fossilised bones unearthed in the 1930s may be those of the oldest dinosaur ever found, say researchers. Older brains more vulnerable to fraud Temps set to soar as emissions grow: report Australians 'lack fertility knowledge' What's new Who, and what, are we sleeping with? Citizen science | It's been two years since we ran our first citizen science project - the 2010 Big Sleep Survey. Now the first scientific results are in, reports Kylie Andrews. New horizons for distant worlds Meet a scientist | Planetary scientist Dr Andrew Prentice can't wait to find out what NASA's New Horizons spacecraft will tell us about Pluto. Permafrost thaws as climate warms Great Moments in Science | Thawing permafrost could release an enormous amount of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. And the more it warms, the more greenhouse gases are released, writes Dr Karl. Is Venus still volcanically active? StarStuff Podcast | Discovery boosts theory that Venus may be geologically alive. Also; water found on Mercury, and Curiosity scoops up organic molecules on Mars. Catch up with ABC Radio and TV Listen to more science on Radio National Watch ABC TV science shows on iView    Statistical analysis the key to modern astronomy (Science Show)    Replacing pills with injections of antibodies (Science Show)    The proteins which regulate obesity (Science Show)    Sex-specific behaviour revealed by fruit flies (Science Show)    Chickens reveal movement of people (Science Show)    The Psychology of Cults (All In The Mind)    John Gould's Extinct and Endangered Birds of Australia. (Ockham's Razor)    Data and the virtual self (RN Future Tense)    Self-fitting hearing aid (RA Innovations) ABC Health & Wellbeing Fighting festive stress and conflict ABC Environment Scaling up the climate response In the Sky this Week, with Ian Musgrave Thursday December 6 to Thursday December 13 The Last Quarter Moon is Friday December 7, New Moon is Thursday December 13. Mars is in Sagittarius. Jupiter is visible in the late evening sky. In the morning skies Venus is low on the horizon. Saturn is visible low in the morning sky not far from Venus. Saturn is visited by the Moon on the 11th, and Venus on the 12th.  Mercury is in the morning sky below Venus. Geminid meteor shower ramps up on the 13th. Read more» You are subscribed to the Science Updates newsletter using the email address idouska1.scan@blogger.com Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. ABC Science Home | About ABC Science | Contact us Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 700 Harris Street, Ultimo NSW 2007 © 2012 ABC | Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Discover other ABC email newsletters