Cryonics, will science fiction become fact?

02/10/2006 0 Comments read Health & Science

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 02.10.2006 (DNAIndia): Some people love life too much to ever let go. Australian biologist Philip Rhoades is one of hundreds of people, who believe in Cryonics. It is the practice of suspending normal decay processes in people, who have been declared legally dead, by storing them at low temperatures in the hope of future medical re-animation.

As a boy, growing up in the western suburbs of Sydney, Rhoades’ favourite pastime was reading science fiction. He was particularly drawn towards John Wyndham’s `logical fantasy’ novels.

“I liked The Chrysalids most and I had assumed that by the time I would grow old; science, medicine and technology would evolve a way to keep us alive forever”, says 54-year-old Rhoades, who is establishing Australia’s first Cryonic Centre.

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The Phases of Polio – Past, Present and Future

15/12/2004 0 Comments read Disability, Health & Science, Poliomyelitis

By Neena Bhandari

Canberra, 15.12.2004 (IPS): As developing countries move closer to polio eradication, the developed world is battling with ageing polio survivors experiencing post polio syndrome (PPS).

Many of the 40,000 Australians, who survived the polio epidemics of the twentieth century, are facing the threat of new disabilities. While they initially recovered and made the most of life with disability, today they are battling with profound fatigue, increasing muscle weakness, joint and muscle pain, increased sensitivity to cold temperatures and sleeping, breathing or swallowing difficulties. These are all linked to the late-effects of polio or PPS.

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Condom on a Tree

02/06/2002 0 Comments read Features, Health & Science, Indigenous

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 02.06.2002 (Women’s Feature Service): In the remote Western Australian town of Fitzroy Crossing, an innovative scheme has helped in promoting safe sex amongst the Aboriginal community – hanging condoms on trees.

Working on the ‘community knows best’ principle, Nindilingarri Cultural Health Service (NCHS), a grassroots organization, began placing condoms in 300 cm-long PVC pipes and hanging them with wire hooks on river gum and eucalyptus trees – unique condom dispensers. The local people congregate for their evening drink and socializing under these trees. Eight containers were hung at Crossing Inn and another eight a few kilometres away – the two traditional meeting grounds for the community.

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