SMC Heads-Up: Dawn whales, #shirtstorms and antibiotics

Friday, 21 November 2014, 3:02 pm
Column: Science Media Centre

SMC Heads-Up: Dawn whales, #shirtstorms and antibiotic awareness

New ancient NZ 'Dawn Whale' identified
Local palaeontologists are rewriting the history of New Zealand's whales by identifying - and naming - a previously unknown genus of ancient baleen whale and two species in it.

The scientists, Otago University PhD geology student Robert Boessenecker and his supervisor Professor Ewan Fordyce, have named the new genus Tohoraata, which translates as 'Dawn Whale' in Maori.

The two species, Tohoraata waitakiensis and Tohoraata raekohao, lived between 27 and 25 million years ago and were found preserved in a rock formation near Duntroon in North Otago. At that time, the continent of Zealandia was largely or completely under water and the whales were deposited on a continental shelf that was perhaps between 50 to 100 metres deep.

In their research Boessenecker and Fordyce looked at the partial skull of what is now called Tohoraata raekohao, with raekohaomeaning 'holes in the forehead' in Maori - so named because of the distinctive holes for arteries near its eye sockets.

"This new species differs from modern baleen whales in having a smaller braincase and a skull that is generally much more primitive, with substantially larger attachments for jaw muscles. The lower jaw retains a very large cavity indicating that its hearing capabilities were similar to archaic whales," Boessenecker explains.

The scientists suggest that Tohoraata raekohao was probably about eight metres long and vaguely resembled a minke whale but was more slender and serpent-like.

The new genus belongs to the toothless filter-feeding family of baleen whales called Eomysticetidae and the two whales have now become the first eomysticetids to be reported outside of the USA and Japan.

The new research was published in the journal Papers in Palaeontology this week.

You can read more and see media coverage on the Science Media Centre Website.
On the science radar this week...

Ebola bloodmobile, self-recycling plastic, comet landing audio, 'gay gene' implications and the microbiology of kissing.

#Shirtstorms, scientists and the media
A poor wardrobe choice has sparked a social media furore around the Rosetta comet mission, and raises the question of how scientists should be managed when fronting to the media.

Last week the European Space Agency's ten-year Rosetta missionsuccessfully landed the Philae probe on the comet 67P, allowing us a first glimpse at what really makes up a comet.

However when Agency scientist Dr Matt Taylor appeared for media interviews wearing a shirt emblazoned with scantily clad female cartoon characters, things became somewhat derailed. Many objected to the choice of clothing, saying it reflected a culture of sexism in science.

The #shirtstorm that unfolded on Twitter, blogs and Facebook has stimulated much discussion on sexism in science as well as a torrent of online abuse directed at both Matt Taylor and his critics. Dr Taylor made a public apology regarding his clothing choice in the days following the initial interview.

One of the less-examined issues arising from the controversy was the question of how the initial situation could have been managed behind the scenes.

Director of the UK SMC, Fiona Fox, has written a blog, 'I don't want our scientists beige', exploring the role press officers have in controlling scientists' interactions with the media. While certainly not condoning Dr Taylor's fashion choices, Fiona challenges some suggestions that management should have stepped in to stop Dr Taylor going on air wearing the shirt:

"The implication [...] is that scientists would behave better if only employers, science communications professionals and journalists had more control over the way in which they present themselves.

"I am not so sure, and while I know that these commentators are trying to work out ways to reduce sexism in science, I would say be careful what you wish for. Any more controls on scientists introduced by managers will not just be used to tackle sexism.

"I now partly wish that some savvy press officer had taken Matt Taylor aside to say why not lose the shirt, if for no other reason than to save him a lot of misery in what should have been the best week of his life. But that is a world away from employers, science communicators, journalists and trainers stepping in to sort out scientists who might go off-message."

"...it is not at all uncommon for speakers to be pulled from SMC panels at the last minute, or for briefings to be completely sabotaged by faceless senior corporate PR people or senior managers who believe it's ok to stop their academics speaking out."

Fiona contrasted Dr Taylor's interview with that of Prof Monica Grady, who, upon seeing the success of the probe landing, unleashed shouts of unbridled joy, shook her fists in the air and hugged the BBC's Science Editor David Shukman.

"My fear is that if we all go beige, we will inadvertently lose moments like this," concluded Fiona.

You can read the full blog on the UK Science Media Centre website. Dr Nicola Gaston has a break down of social mediaon her Why Science is Sexist blog.
Resisting antibiotic resistance
It's Antibiotic Awareness Week and New Zealanders are being urged to go easy on their use of antibiotics.

The NZ Health Quality & Safety Commission, alongside their counterparts in Australia, the US, Canada and Europe are campaigning to highlight the problem of antimicrobial resistance and the need for responsible use of antibiotics.

The international initiative, which runs from 17 to 23 November, emphasised the importance of:

* doctors prescribing antibiotics only when necessary
* patients taking antibiotics as directed
* patients completing their full prescription even if they feel better
* patients never sharing antibiotics or using leftover prescriptions
* the importance of good hand hygiene

Antibiotic Awareness Week was high on the media agenda last year when Wellington Hospital released the details of a deceased patient who was suffering an infection resistant to all known antibiotics.

This year, media attention to the campaign has been minimal. But the issue isn't going away according to Dr Tim Blackmore, an infectious diseases physician at Capital and Coast District Health Board.

"Last year's widely-publicised case won't be the last patient we see with a bacterium resistant to all-known antibiotics," he said in amedia release, "but if health professionals and the public are careful with our use, we can delay the onset of the post-antibiotic era in New Zealand."

You can read more about Antibiotic Awareness Week on the Health Quality & Safety Commission website.

The Friday video...

Winds swirl plumes of carbon dioxide across the globe

Policy news and developments

Medicines upgrade: The Government plans to upgrade New Zealand's therapeutic products regulation following the decision not to proceed with a joint regulator with Australia.

Fungi submissions: The Environmental Protection Authority is inviting submissions on an application to release non-toxic fungi to improve crop resistance to pests and diseases.

Ebola support: Cabinet has agreed to facilitate deployment of volunteers to Sierra Leone and provide a package of assistance to Pacific countries to help them prepare for an Ebola outbreak.
Quoted: Radio New Zealand

"We need a massive boost in priority for science and technology, led by government and leveraged by industry where we proceed to produce things like value add, sophisticated foods and fibre, as well as medical devices and nano materials.

"It's not a war between them, it's not a tradeoff - what we actually need is vastly more investment. There's actually a lot of confluence between those sorts of technologies, but we're not going to make it on 1.2 or 1.3 percent [GDP investment in R&D]."

Lincoln University's vice-chancellor Andrew Westspeaking at the Federated Farmers national council

New From the SMC

Experts respond:
Cardiovascular risk and credit ratings
Bird flu detected in UK, Netherlands

In the News:
New ancient NZ 'Dawn Whale' identified
Funding NZ with science - The New Zealand Herald

From the SMC Network

From the UK SMC:
The future of autonomous vehicles
Expert reaction to Mark Walport's evidence to parliament on GM and the precautionary principle
Expert reaction to identification of bird flu on Yorkshire duck farm as H5N8
Food safety: Laboratory of the Government Chemist conference
Expert reaction to identification of membrane protein alteration and cardiovascular disease
Expert reaction to new study on triclosan and tumours in mice
Expert reaction to detection of case of bird flu at a Yorkshire duck farm

From the Australian SMC:
EXPERT REACTION: Common antimicrobial triclosan boosts liver tumour growth in mice

Sciblogs highlights

Some of the highlights from this week's Sciblogs posts:

Big data do do - Robert Hickson looks at the science of smart toilets.
Ariadne

Possible Strategic Approaches to Achieve the NZ Government's Smokefree 2025 Goal - Six bloggers jointly take a look at how the Government might effectively reduce smoking in New Zealand.
Public Health Expert

Lamprey: Living fossils in our midst - Cindy Baker tells us about the secret life of these gruesome-looking aquatic vampires.
Waiology

Protecting the big fish in the sea - Michael Plank explains to Lynley Hargreaves why we should be catching more small fry and letting the big fish go free.
Infrequently Asked Questions

Weapons-grade foolishness from the 'food babe' - Alison Campbell criticises 'Food Babe' Vani Hari's recent misinformation about flying in planes.
Bioblog

Research highlights

Some of the research papers making headlines this week.

Stepping ahead of flu: It may be better to pre-emptively vaccinate against future strains of the influenza virus than to use last season's flu strain, according to a new study. The research suggests, by using computer models, that when people are exposed to a range of influenza virus strains, they retain a broad 'immune memory' that boosts their immune response against new strains of the flu virus when it evolves and re-infects them.
Science

Gecko tech climbs high: A new hand-sized gecko-inspired adhesive device has actually made it possible for people to climb glass walls like a gecko. Unlike other designs - where the 'stickiness' strength got less as they increased in size - the researchers were able to scale up small laboratory prototypes to real-life, human-scale applications with little decrease in performance.
Journal of the Royal Society Interface

Mini molecules may maximise memory tech: Researchers have found that tiny molecules called polyoxometalates could replace conventional materials used in Flash memory devices such as USB sticks, smartphones and cameras. They say that adopting the molecules as a way of storing data would make it possible to shrink cells down to just a few nanometers, creating much smaller chips that function just as efficiently as conventional ones.
Nature

Does 'brain training' really work? Although computerised cognitive training (CCT) programs can boost older adults' memory, speed and 'visuospatial' thinking skills, they don't improve attention or executive functions such as impulse control, planning and problem solving, finds new research. The study also found that training completed in a group and under supervision showed a positive effect, whereas training completed by oneself at home did not.
PLOS Medicine

Paying for STIs: A study suggests that men who pay for sex within a five-year period are twice as likely to have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI), visited a sexual health clinic, or been tested for HIV during that time. Men who paid for sex also reported having twice as many lifetime sexual partners - mostly unpaid - as the general population average. The authors say that while paying for sex may not itself be a risk factor for sexually transmitted infections, it may nonetheless be a marker for sexually risky behaviour.
Sexually Transmitted Infections

Upcoming sci-tech events

For these and other upcoming events, and more details about them, visit the SMC's Events Calendar.
• 2014 Psychosocial Oncology New Zealand Conference - 20-22 November, Palmerston North. The theme is "The Big C: Communication", and focuses on how to improve communication to ultimately improve the outcomes and experience of people affected by cancer.

• The internet future of books, art, music and video - 24 November, Wellington. Brewster Kahle, the dynamic founder of the Internet Archive, will headline this panel discussion looking ahead to where the internet is taking books, art, music, and video.

• International Indigenous Development Research Conference - 25-28 November, Auckland. The 6th Biennial Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga conference topics include: optimising Indigenous economic wellbeing, healthy and thriving Indigenous families, and enhancing Indigenous distinctiveness.

• 2014 Research Honours Dinner - 26 November, Wellington. This prestigious event hosted by the Royal Society of New Zealand will comprise a gala banquet and the presentation of awards to eminent academics and researchers. The evening will also celebrate the presentation of the 2014 Rutherford Medal to honour this year's foremost New Zealand scientist.

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