Articles
Research evaluation: Citation versus expert opinions
Research evaluation judgements appear to be moving away from expert opinions, with more emphasis instead resting on citation counts. Professor Lawrence Smolinsky and his colleagues from Louisiana State University, USA, examine whether peer reviews and citation metrics measure similar notions of an article’s importance, impact, and value. They explore the relationship between the various phenomena related to the perceived importance […]
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The past that we know and the past that was: Exploring Constructed Past Theory
How do we come to know the past? Constructed Past Theory (CPT) claims that the past, as we understand it, is not what existed or happened but is the product of cognitive processes. By using concepts and methods from semiotics, archival science, and computer science, researchers are beginning to understand those processes. Dr Kenneth Thibodeau, a researcher with the InterPARES […]
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Positive adult relationships reduce adolescent suicide risk
One in ten adolescents in the US attempt to end their lives each year, leading to tragedy for these individuals and those around them. Lynne Fullerton, Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, and her research collaborators, have invested years studying the factors which predispose adolescents towards suicide. This research provides clear indicators of important points […]
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Traditional kava-drinking, cognition, and driver fitness
Kava, or ‘the plant of the gods’, grows widely across tropical Moananuiākea (the Pacific). Used in traditional medicine, its roots are also ground and steeped in water to make a drink with relaxant effects. Kava has deep cultural significance, but because it is customarily consumed in large quantities over several hours, concerns have been raised about its effects on driver […]
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Unearthing avian evolution: What can we learn from the skeletons of flightless birds?
The evolution of flightless birds is a conundrum that scientists are still trying to solve. Using his experience in clinical medicine, Dr Peter Johnston from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, has recently unearthed new information about the sensory adaptations of several species of flightless birds, including the now extinct moa. This work demonstrates that, in contrast to previous hypotheses, […]
Presenting a case for molecular scales in atmospheric models
Modelling Earth’s atmosphere is a monumentally difficult task, and atmospheric scientists have long faced challenges in accurately recreating the large-scale processes they observe in real life. Dr Adrian Tuck, a retired former visiting professor at Imperial College London, proposes that models could be improved by accounting for processes which take place on molecular scales. Through a better explanation of the […]
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Taming Staphylococcus aureus in the eczema skin microbiome
Atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, is a skin condition that affects millions of people globally. The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus – a common and normally harmless member of the skin microbiome that can turn nasty in certain circumstances – has been linked to this condition. A team at the University of Michigan, USA, led by Drs Gabriel Núñez and Seitaro […]
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Diverse Horizons: Investing globally in social and environmental sustainability
The issues of climate change, environmental degradation, and social inequality are growing ever more challenging. Considering these problems, global goals for sustainable development have encouraged treaties such as the Paris Agreement and the proposed Green New Deal. Mr Tony Marshall, the Founder, President, and CEO of his corporations Diverse Horizons, Inc. and The Diverse Horizons Foundation, has been diligent in […]
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Neoliberal traits in school curricula-instructional design: Post-pandemic opportunities for change towards the common good
Calls for systemic change to Western education systems are growing louder, following seismic social activism over the past few years and the emergence of an increasingly connected and issue-savvy youth. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on education have become the trigger point for change. Chris Green, a specialist in educational reform, says it’s time to turn our backs on […]
Chemical synthesis to tackle tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) – the world’s most deadly bacterial infectious disease – kills around 1.5 million people every year, and its treatment remains challenging. Dr Jeffrey Buter at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, has been researching the chemical biology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the parasite that causes TB. Buter believes that understanding the structure–activity relationship of the components, in particular […]