Nine To Noon Science: Malaria development, fluid physics and fighting cockroaches
Mar 10, 2026
Allan Blackman, chemistry professor and science commentator at Auckland University of Technology, breaks down fresh research. He covers a newly discovered parasite kinase crucial to malaria spread and its promise as a drug target. He explains fluid physics behind why viscous liquids cling to containers for wildly different times. He also describes a quirky study on cockroach wing‑chewing and pair bonding.
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ARK1 Is A Critical Drug Target For Malaria
- Researchers identified ARK1 (Aurora-related kinase 1) as essential for plasmodium cell division and parasite survival in both humans and mosquitoes.
- Disabling ARK1 halts parasite development and could block transmission, making ARK1 a promising drug target reported in Nature Communications.
Prioritise ARK1 Drug Development Pathways
- Developing treatments targeting ARK1 could prevent plasmodium reproduction and interrupt transmission chains.
- Drug delivery could be oral or injectable, but significant research and testing remain before clinical use.
Thin Film Physics Explains Why Some Liquids Linger
- Thin films of liquid adhere to container surfaces and their drainage time depends strongly on viscosity and surface interactions rather than bulk flow.
- Examples: milk ~30s for 90% at 45°, olive oil ~9min, cold maple syrup takes hours, and water only seconds.