Scientific Theory

Birds have specific needs when it comes to sleep, much of which is influenced by migration patterns. Dr John Lesku (Zoology, La Trobe University) explains how birds sleep and what humans can learn from them.

Australia's native bees have it pretty good at the moment, but it's the European imports that are in danger of colony collapse, which is bad news for Australia - we rely on them for $5 billion worth of free agriculture production. Dr Ken Walker (Curator of Entomology, Museum Victoria) explains the state of bees and how we're monitoring the problem.

Humans have had a complex relationship with animals - we use them for food, we keep them as pets, we breed them in zoos and experiment on them in labs. Dr Bert de Groef (Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University) explains the complex relationship between humans and animals.

Cell death was always thought of as a random event, but it isn't always the case. We now know that some white blood cells die in a controlled manner and put the components to use through beaded apoptopodia. Dr Ivan Poon (La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science) explains the process and how he got the photo to prove it.