大象传媒

Geoff Watts looks at the top science stories of the week, with James Randerson, science correspondent at the Guardian.

Martian Rocks
Geoff talks to Professor Monica Grady of the Open University about a new mission being planned for around 2020 to collect the first rock samples from the surface of Mars. The samples will be brought down to Earth for investigation here. Studying the rocks with all the tools available on Earth would provide huge insights into the geological history of the Red Planet, as well as giving important clues as to how an eventual human mission to Mars might be carried out.

Kidney Stones and Climate Change
A new study published this week has shown how climate change may have a direct impact on human health. Dr Tom Brikowski from the University of Texas has shown that the incidence of kidney stones rises in higher climates, due to loss of water and concentration of salt in the urine. He suggests that as global temperatures rise, the number of cases of kidney stones will also increase.

Building the pyramids
Molly Bentley talks to materials scientists attempting to get to the bottom of how the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids. The current thinking is that rock was quarried and then the huge stones dragged into place. However, Dr Linn Hobbs of the MIT in Boston believes that some of the stones may have been constructed from concrete and poured in place, in much the same way as concrete is poured today. In an effort to prove this, he and his team are building their own, smaller replica of a pyramid in their lab, using materials easily accessible to the people of the time.

OCD
A new study published in the journal Science this week has used brain imaging techniques to highlight an area of the brain which may not work as well in patients suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. By understanding the part of the brain involved, physicians may be better able to diagnose the condition, or at least highlight the people who may be vulnerable to it.