The 15th edition of The Best Australian Science Writing, curated by Zoe Kean and Tegan Taylor, presents a compelling collection of 39 essays and stories that delve into the intricate tapestry of the universe as unveiled by scientific endeavour. These contributions tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time, spanning the breadth of climate change and ecological crises, the complexities of psychology and animal behaviour, the societal impact of medicine and data, the nuanced landscape of scientific ethics, and the often-overlooked pitfalls of unchecked technological advancement.
Beyond the immediate concerns of contemporary science, the anthology embraces a speculative spirit. The editors set the tone with a provocative question: “Gaze into a telescope and what do you see?” This prompts a reflection on the ancient Greek oracle of Delphi, acknowledging foresight as an intrinsic element within the scientific discovery process. The collection thus unfolds as a modern homage to ancient Greek myths and heroes, exploring the profound idea that observing the celestial expanse can offer profound insights into the meaning and value of human existence.
Echoes of Olympus: Greek Mythology in Modern Science
A notable characteristic of this anthology is the frequent engagement with tropes and metaphors deeply rooted in Greek mythology, even among contributors who are primarily established journalists, academics, and freelance writers.
Robots and Ancient Guardians: In his essay “Humanoid Robots,” Owen Cumming draws a parallel between modern inventions and classical myths, specifically referencing Talos, the mythical bronze guardian of Crete. Cumming positions Talos as one of the earliest narratives concerning a mechanical being crafted in human form. The myth, where Medea deceives Talos into removing a vital seal by promising him immortality, serves as a potent metaphor for the complex and often unsettling nature of human-machine hybrids. It captures that peculiar sensation of simultaneous fascination and repulsion we experience when a robot appears almost, but not quite, human.
Love, Death, and the Corpse Flower: Angus Dalton’s contribution creatively reinterprets the myth of Eros, the Greek god of love. His essay culminates in a vivid and almost darkly comedic account of the rare blooming of the corpse flower, “Putricia,” at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. The narrative underscores the theme of enduring hardship for the sake of passion and desire, powerfully articulated in the line: “Putricia’s attendants gaze at her for a moment and, cloaked in the stench of death, do as we always have: hope for new life.”
Insects, Consciousness, and Prophecy: Amalyah Hart’s exploration of insect behaviour in the quest to understand consciousness features one of the collection’s most memorable lines: “In the insect world, bees have a monopoly on charisma – famously intelligent, admirably cooperative, and cheerfully partnered.” This resonates with the ancient association of bees with foresight in Greek mythology; indeed, the god Apollo is said to have received his prophetic gifts from three bee-maidens. Hart details how contemporary scientists are studying bees, flies, and other insects to unravel the intricacies of brain function and the evolution of consciousness, demonstrating how science, through human-animal interactions, mirrors ancient methods to glean new understanding about our inner world.
The Butterfly Collector and the Master Thief: Olivia Congdon’s piece recounts the story of lepidopterist Colin Wyatt, who illicitly removed approximately three thousand butterfly specimens from Australian museum collections. Wyatt’s actions are reminiscent of Autolycus, the renowned trickster and master thief in Greek mythology. The consequences of such actions are significant; when a scientist names a new species, a physical specimen (the holotype) must be preserved as a record. The removal or alteration of these foundational specimens, as Wyatt did, can fundamentally disrupt the biological record for an entire species, potentially setting scientific understanding back by decades, or even permanently in the case of extinct species.
Venomous Tales and Mythical Beasts: Belinda Smith’s essay, which investigates why some venomous snakes can still deliver a fatal bite even after being decapitated, evokes the legend of the multi-headed Hydra, a creature renowned for its regenerative and deadly nature.
Promethean Legacies: Knowledge, Power, and Peril
Beyond individual essays, the anthology as a collective work resonates with the foundational myth of Prometheus, a narrative that underpins the very genesis of human knowledge and technological advancement. Aeschylus’ dramatic play, Prometheus Bound, recounts the story of the Titan Prometheus, who defied Zeus by stealing fire from the gods and bestowing it, along with the gift of knowledge, upon humanity. His punishment was eternal chaining to a rock.
Many of the narratives within this anthology grapple with the inherent dangers of scientific and technological hubris, mirroring Prometheus’s cautionary tale.
Biometric Data and Ethical Quandaries: Dyani Lewis’s investigation into the use of biometric data collected from Chinese minority groups highlights the acute ethical concerns within forensic science, particularly given its close ties to law enforcement. While blood samples are invaluable for forensic identification and paternity testing, they can also be weaponised by security forces for surveillance and profiling, as seen with Tibetan populations. Muslim Uyghurs are another group whose DNA profiles have been incorporated into passport registration processes. Furthermore, facial recognition technology can identify individuals from these targeted populations, facilitating surveillance and mass detention by the Chinese government.
Misinformation and the Double-Edged Sword of Technology: Linda McIver’s essay champions a sceptical stance towards technological progress, particularly artificial intelligence. She argues that, much like the gifts from Prometheus, scientific advancements can create an illusion of knowledge while concealing hidden dangers and unforeseen consequences. McIver poignantly observes, “Technology is also wildly successful at selling us conspiracy theories, lies about health, lies about people, lies about politics, and lies about climate change, among many, many other lies.”
The Lugworm and the Pursuit of Glory: Matthew War Agius’s story, “Faster Higher Stronger Doper,” uses the seemingly unremarkable European lugworm (Arenicola marina) as a stark warning against sports doping. The lugworm’s haemoglobin possesses an oxygen-carrying capacity 39 times greater than that of human blood. When transfused into an athlete, this haemoglobin can significantly boost energy levels and enhance aerobic capacity by enabling more oxygen to circulate throughout the body. Agius notes the seductive nature of performance enhancement in sports where victory can hinge on minuscule margins, stating, “where winning and losing are separated by wafer-thin margins – sometimes requiring a photo finish – the dark arts of performance enhancement are seductive.”
Scientific Existentialism: The Sisyphean Struggle for Meaning
The anthology offers two primary lenses through which to interpret the Promethean legacy of scientific progress. The first focuses on the inherent risks of pursuing knowledge, akin to Icarus flying too close to the sun. The second perspective draws inspiration from the French philosopher Albert Camus’s interpretation of the Sisyphus myth.
Condemned to an eternal, futile task of rolling a boulder uphill only for it to roll back down, Sisyphus, for Camus, symbolises the individual’s existential quest for meaning in the face of life’s inherent absurdity. Like Sisyphus, humanity must either succumb to nihilism or find a way to embrace the persistent struggle of existence.
Tabitha Carvan’s final contribution, “The Unexpected Poetry of PhD Acknowledgements,” perfectly encapsulates this viewpoint. By compiling acknowledgements from PhD theses, Carvan illuminates the vast network of individuals who make sacrifices in the relentless pursuit of knowledge. While the sheer volume of effort can feel overwhelming and impersonal, reading these acknowledgements underscores the significance of each unique journey. Amidst expressions of gratitude and loss, glimpses of universal truths emerge, such as the poignant “I wish I could be half person you were… Words cannot express how much I miss you.”
The Continuous Cycle of Discovery
The most impactful science writing prioritises the value of the struggle for knowledge over the triumphant announcement of a singular discovery.
Consider the current discourse surrounding Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and its purported ability to understand, learn, and think independently of humans. Much of this commentary fixates on the potential implications for humanity and opportunities for profit. However, a more profound aspect of this discussion is the renewed impetus it has given to understanding what it truly means to be human, to possess free will, and to think autonomously. Scientists, often trained in objective methodologies, are now engaging with ambiguity, ethics, and emotions, venturing back into the subjective realm of the humanities, a domain they have largely neglected since the Enlightenment.
To borrow a phrase from Ceridwen Dovey’s story “Staying Faithful to Earth,” the inherent limitations of scientific endeavour inevitably “throw us back upon speculation, symbols, metaphors, visualisations, scientific analogies that work really hard but aren’t quite right.”
The enduring fascination with the gods and heroes of Ancient Greece speaks to our persistent need to comprehend the roles of wisdom, destiny, and power in navigating challenging times. The pursuit of scientific knowledge is, fundamentally, a human endeavour. It reflects our enduring imperative to forge our own meaning amidst the apparent chaos and indifference of the universe.
