Whilst we humans like to think of ourselves at the top of the biological tree, we are in fact rather feeble animals when it comes to our senses. In comparison to most other beasts our […]
Science | Why language needs a twerk
Perhaps some of you have missed the recent media storm around American pop sensation Miley Cyrus. To enlighten you, the recent VMA awards provided this young starlet with an opportunity to showcase the world’s latest […]
Science | World Science News part 1
Science that has made the news around the world… Genes linked to increased eating disorder risk Scientists from the University of Iowa and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have isolated two gene mutations […]
Science | New test for Down’s syndrome unveiled
A breakthrough test for individuals with a high risk of having a child with Down’s syndrome is due to go on trial in the NHS. Down’s syndrome is the most common chromosomal genetic disorder and […]
Science | Junk genes revealed to enhance facial beauty
The characteristics of beauty are being embraced by scientists establishing the details of the blueprint that embodies good looks. Scientists have pinpointed 4,000 small DNA regions in the genome that influence facial features. Beauty and symmetry have historically been […]
Science | Comment – Is synthetic biology playing God?
Synthetic biology is the power of creating artificial life. The application of engineering tools and design principals allows passionate scientists to construct novel biological systems, enhance existing organisms and direct subsequent cellular processes. Think of […]
Science | False widow, false alarm?
With Halloween just past, it’s apt for there to be a scare story about a genus of venomous spider that has started to make its presence felt. The bite of the false widow or steatoda […]
Science | Comment – Should the NHS fund alternative medicine?
Firstly, I want to point out what I mean by alternative medicine. The definition of it is: any practice that is put forward as having the healing effects of medicine but is not based on […]
Science | Money can’t grow on trees, but gold can…
As the saying goes, ‘money doesn’t grow on trees’. Student living would be much easier if it did. However, a recent study published in Nature Communications suggests that the opposite of this idiom might actually […]
Science | The factories of the future
Cell factories could produce energy and fuels similar to petrol We use yeast and bacteria to make valuable chemicals Metabolic engineering may allow propane gas to be produced The factory workers of tomorrow will work 24 hours […]
Science | 1.8 Million year old skull challenges human evolution
The unearthing of a Hominin skull is causing controversy by implying that diversity established as belonging to different species of early humans may, in fact, all be attributed to variations in the same species. Exquisitely preserved, […]
Science | Why vaccines are an absolute must
The two interventions that have most decreased child mortality in the last 100 years have been clean sanitation and vaccination programmes. Clean sanitation is an expected standard of living in any developed nation however vaccination of […]