Articles
Atmospheric species and their effect on solar radiation and our health
Our atmosphere is a giant chemical reactor that helps keep us safe from the potentially damaging and warming effects of solar radiation. It consists of a hugely complex mixture of atmospheric liquids, gases, and particles with constantly varying compositions. Professor Jianhui Bai at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor Rui Chen at the Beijing Academy of Science and Technology […]
Read More… from Atmospheric species and their effect on solar radiation and our health
Making organic chemistry fun, meaningful, and accessible
Many undergraduate students perceive organic chemistry modules as make-or-break courses in their university career. They often resort to rote memorisation, which not only alienates them but prevents them understanding the discipline in depth. Social and economic factors may also be significant barriers in the study of this fundamental subject. With examples drawn from her extensive teaching experience, Dr Irosha N […]
Read More… from Making organic chemistry fun, meaningful, and accessible
FAME – the green revolution of conventional biodiesel
The global shift away from petrochemical production towards bio-based solutions has given a boost to conventional biodiesel producers. However, they’re facing a challenger ‘from the inside’ – renewable biodiesel. Undaunted, a team of chemists and engineers from Airable Research Lab in the USA, led by Dr Dylan Karis, has revealed that conventional biodiesel – or fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) […]
Read More… from FAME – the green revolution of conventional biodiesel
Unlocking iodine’s true potential
Despite it being a cornerstone antibacterial application in hospitals, ‘iodine’ is often used with reservations about staining and toxicity. Such reservations have historical roots founded on unfortunate misconceptions that also mask the remarkable properties of an iodine solution’s active agent – molecular iodine. Dr Jack Kessler, Douglas C Spitz, and colleagues at I2Pure, USA, have demonstrated that molecular iodine is […]
Should pre-anaesthesia consultations be done telephonically?
Anaesthesiologists play a crucial role in preparing a patient ahead of surgery, and not just physically. Pre-anaesthesia consultations are an opportunity to engage with patients, involve them in important choices, and consider these when making diagnostic, therapeutic, or palliative care decisions. Dr Sibylle Kietaibl at the Evangelical Hospital Vienna in Austria suggests such consultations should also consider patient preferences around […]
Read More… from Should pre-anaesthesia consultations be done telephonically?
Digital twin for integration of design, manufacturing, and maintenance
Design, manufacturing, and maintenance of industrial equipment are usually managed separately, making them inefficient in terms of time and cost. Dr Ming-Liang Zhu, Dr Fu-Zhen Xuan and colleagues at East China University of Science & Technology develop the concept of digital twin technology to increase the efficiency of all phases that make up a product’s lifecycle. Their research offers a […]
Read More… from Digital twin for integration of design, manufacturing, and maintenance
Microbiomes – the key to a healthier planet?
Microbiomes are communities of microorganisms living on or in animals, helping to keep them healthy. Changes in the composition of microbiomes could make wildlife more vulnerable to diseases which may be zoonotic – transmissible to humans – so monitoring them could help us to predict outbreaks of disease and protect global health. Dr Andrew Bartlow and colleagues at the Los […]
Read More… from Microbiomes – the key to a healthier planet?
Co-existence of hepatosteatosis and skeletal muscle fat infiltration
Accumulation of fat in the liver (hepatosteatosis) and muscle (myosteatosis) affects normal physiological functioning, leading to poorer health outcomes. But what is the concurrence of these two conditions in the general population, and are there common underlying mechanisms? Professor Julie Pasco and colleagues at Deakin University and Barwon Health in Australia investigate these metabolic alterations in a population-based study providing […]
Read More… from Co-existence of hepatosteatosis and skeletal muscle fat infiltration
Healthier societies: Professor Kent Buse on tackling health and gender inequality
Professor Kent Buse, Co-founder and Co-director of Global Health 50/50, discusses the relationship between gender and health inequality. Alongside fellow Co-founder and Co-director, Professor Sarah Hawkes, Buse is leading the independent initiative to actively assess global health organisations on their gender equality credentials to stamp out discriminatory policies and practices. Buse is also the Director of the Global Healthier Societies […]
Read More… from Healthier societies: Professor Kent Buse on tackling health and gender inequality
Phytoremediation: Using native vegetation to stabilise heavy metal contaminants at polluted sites
Elevated concentrations of heavy metals at polluted sites represent serious human health hazards and environmental threats. Persistent metal pollution is hard to remedy but one possible and effective method is phytoremediation, using plants to stabilise the metal pollution and ameliorate the contaminated soil properties. Across 20 years of research, Drs Madeleine Günthardt-Goerg and Pierre Vollenweider of the Swiss Federal Institute […]