POLL RESULT Almost half of you think you'll live to see commercialised Terminator-style eye lenses that can project emails and text messages directly in front of our eyes. Thirty-sex percent of you think they're not far off, but you're not putting them on your Christmas lists. Nineteen percent of you think it will be some time before this technology hits our shelves. View the full results and add your comments.
NEW POLL: Would you switch to a diet based on insect proteins to help conserve the Earth's resources? Have your say.
TOP NEWS
 | The rapid evolution of the human brain may be traceable to specific gene activity, researchers in China and Germany suggest.
|  | A new kind of filter will enable astronomers to better detect the dim light generated during the early life of the universe.
|  | A remarkably preserved fossil from South Australia has revealed that the top predator in the Cambrian oceans, over 500 million years ago, was equipped with complex eyes and excellent vision. |  | Two of the largest black holes known to exist have been discovered and they are just a mere 300 million light years from Earth. |  | To avoid unwanted male harassment, female guppy fish have developed a unique strategy - associating themselves with more attractive females. |  | The first planet in the 'habitable zone' of a distant Sun-like star has been confirmed by NASA's Kepler mission. |
Monash Change of Preference Expo - It’s Chooseday. Discover the choices you have. Welcome to a world of possibilities. Speak one-on-one with Monash representatives about course options, entry requirements, fees, costs and alternative entry pathways at the Change of Preference Expo. All courses and all campuses will be represented at this event. Saturday, 17 December, 10am – 2pm, Caulfield Campus. Click here for more details.
IN FOCUS
 Positive news stories about animals are pretty rare. Unfortunately you're more likely to see a story about how a certain rhinoceros species has gone extinct or a certain native bird is now critically endangered than you are a story about animals being brought back from the brink of extinction. Which is why stories about the discovery of previously unknown species - especially the discovery of a bunch of new species - are so encouraging. The World Wildlife Fund reported today that in 2010, new species were discovered at the rate of one every two days in the Greater Mekong region that includes Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the Yunnan Province of China. (Download a PDF of the report here.) The 208 new species include a new snub-nosed monkey, a self-cloning skink, five carnivorous plants and a beautiful green and yellow leaf warbler (an insectivorous bird). You might remember the monkey from such comparisons as to Michael Jackson, due to its uniquely upturned nose. Locals say this kind of monkey can be spotted with its head between its knees in wet weather to avoid rain running into it. Which I guess sounds pretty cute if you like monkeys. Oh and after posing with the ghostly monkey corpse, the locals who found it ate it. READ MORE>>
SOUTH AUSTRALIA IN FOCUS Don’t miss our special COSMOS guide exploring the science, innovation and engineering developments in South Australia, a state brimming with capacity in R&D, training and careers. Rich in mineral wealth, SA has a strong focus on engineering, IT, food science, environment, mining, defence and astronomy. This 7-page special looks at career success stories, key technology areas, green initiatives, hot topics and more, mapping the best the Festival State has to offer. Click here for more details.
THIS WEEK'S FEATURES
 | A trove of underwater discoveries are being unearthed, as scientists bring new Atlantises to light from deep below the Southern Ocean. |  | Your great-grandkids may eat their greens, but also a carte du jour of lab-grown meat, GM crops and insect-derived proteins. Hal Hodson gets a taste of the future of food. |
THIS WEEK'S BLOGS
 | Fossils usually turn up as fragments of the whole animal. But scientists sometimes get lucky. |  | Elizabeth Finkel visits the world's most biosecure lab. |  | Intern Jude Dineley explores the concept of the thought experiment |
THIS WEEK'S PROFILES
 | For Caleb White, a lifelong hobby has become a professional obsession. |  | Medicinal chemist Jason Smith has removed cancer's invisibility cloak by identifying four drug candidates that may slow tumour growth.
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THIS WEEK'S REVIEWS
 | A refreshingly simple guide to how to live a healthy life, covering topics such as the preventable consequences of old age and the role of sexual relationships. |  | Stay abreast of the bounty of new worlds that are discovered every week in space with this new app.
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RMIT’s associate degrees are two-year qualifications that will to fast-track into a relevant degree or a cutting-edge career. You can advance into a range of RMIT degrees including: Engineering (including aerospace, automotive, civil, mechanical, network and electrical/electronic), Biomedical Science, IT, Food Science, Biotechnology, Applied Science. Come to the information session on Monday 19 December and speak face-to-face with RMIT reps about your study options. Visit the website for details.
CURRENT ISSUE IN STORE NOW!  As we face a global ageing epidemic and the prospect of brain deterioration, a revolution in genetics is transforming the way we'll live in the future. Are you ready for a smarter, longer lifetime? It may be closer than you think. Plus, we look at the shaky foundations for putting the science of predicting earthquakes on trial, meet the world’s most astonishing predator, discover a clock so precise it would lose less than a second in the entire history of the universe and travel to South Australia to find out about the cutting-edge science and technology transforming this resource-rich state. Order your copy now! Read the digital edition immediately, or have a print edition sent to you.
| Curtin Top-ranked for Earth Sciences Research – ERA Results. In the Federal Government Excellence in Research for Australia 2010 survey of Australian Higher Education Institutions, Curtin was one of only six Australian Universities awarded the highest possible ranking of 5 for the Earth Sciences discipline overall, indicating “outstanding performance well above world standard”. More info here. | Poll Do you think Terminator-style eye lenses will go on the market in your lifetime? Yes 46% No 19% Maybe, but I'm not holding my breath 36% |
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