Research Outreach – Issue 138: Trojan horses, capitalist utopias, and a fuzzy future
Our most recent issue of Research Outreach brings together a diverse array of subjects at the forefront of academic research. We showcase the FMsquare Foundation, an organisation that aims to spread the holistic values of ‘fuzzy logic’, as well as tracking the BEST lines for surgeons to follow to reduce post-operative scarring. New approaches to geological modelling may lead to a far greater accuracy when predicting fluid–rock reactions, while other researchers investigate the potential for utopic projects when entrepreneurs and private equity firms in the oil industry come together.
Sustainability remains a key research area, as shown by the development of an online platform that calculates a building’s efficiency and smartness, as well as a new set of best practices for doing the washing up. While in health research, nanoparticles are being used as ‘Trojan horses’ to deliver cancer-killing viruses direct into the bloodstream.
Capitalist utopias and financial futures of the US oil and gas industry
Investigating what happens when oil industry entrepreneurs and private equity firms come together to dream big and achieve utopic projects. In a comprehensive study centred on Weld County, Colorado, researchers question how entrepreneurs are encouraged to ‘dream big’ – and how financial institutions discipline these ambitions.
The EUB SuperHub Online Platform: Towards a smart and sustainable construction future
Developing a ‘digital building logbook’ – an online repository for all relevant data to calculate a building’s energy efficiency, sustainability, and smartness. This online repository would contain information throughout the building’s lifecycle, and also be able to connect all stakeholders from developers to tenants. Through the EUB SuperHub project, this digital one-stop-shop is one step closer to reality.
The science of dishwashing: Changing habits for a greener world
A recent review shows that rethinking the everyday chore of washing up can lead to decreased resource consumption and better energy use. For a chore that most of us do daily, very few of us think about how to do the washing up more efficiently. Reviewing dishwashing behaviours around the world has led to best practice tips for both manual washing up, and washing up using a dishwasher.
The BEST lines for skin surgery: A new paradigm
New research aims to improve surgical outcomes and reduce the chance of scarring by using real-time skin tension to map tension lines throughout the body. First identified over a century ago, surgeons have been using Langer lines and wrinkle lines to guide their incisions and excisions. In this groundbreaking study, real-time skin tension data shows the lines of least tension.
The FMsquare Foundation: Forging a fuzzy future
The FMSquare Foundation is dedicated to spreading the value of ‘fuzzy logic’, a way to account for imprecision in data processing. In an engaging interview, Research Outreach speaks with the founder, president, and an ambassador for the foundation, to talk about their roles as fuzzy logic evangelists and why fuzzy logic is so important.
Nanoparticles as Trojan horses: A safe and effective way to deliver oncolytic viruses to treat all cancers
Cancer treatments like immunotherapy are advancing, but are limited by their delivery options. However, it may be possible to use nanoparticles as carriers for certain cancer-killing viruses which can be injected directly into the bloodstream. This delivery system is shown to be a safe treatment option as well as an effective method to combating cancer that spreads throughout the body.
New approaches to high-resolution geological simulations
Geological exploration and resource extraction rely on geological modelling, but need greater detail. A new approach to high-resolution geological modelling might be able to provide this information on the granular level required to see the various geological structures that exist at sub-centimetre scales.