Articles
Deeper insights into cell death and survival
The intricate balance between cell death and survival is essential for normal development and for preventing diseases such as cancer and autoimmunity. Ronald Jemmerson at the University of Minnesota contributed to the seminal discovery that cytochrome c (Cyt c) plays a key role in the onset of apoptosis (programmed cell death). His laboratory also established that leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 (LRG1) binds […]
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Superellipses to Superformula: The impact of Gielis Transformations
Devised to describe botanical shapes by Dr Johan Gielis, visiting Professor at the University of Antwerp, the Superformula has found applications across many areas of mathematics, science and technology. Dr Gielis’ single equation, which provides a unified description of abstract, natural and man-made shapes, from triangles to spirals, has now been tested on more than 50,000 specimens, and his original […]
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Monitoring electrolyte stability in lithium-air batteries for electric aircraft
Switching to electric powered transport is one way of reducing CO2 emissions and their negative effects on the climate. Lithium-air batteries could play an important role in this transition, as they have the potential to provide the highest known theoretical energy density (3,400 Wh/kg). Development of lithium-air batteries requires highly stable electrolytes that are resistant to decomposition under operating conditions. […]
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Intimate communication through co-creating uniqueness
Dr John Stewart proposes that people can fulfil the deep human need for connection with others in dialogic conversations. At the heart of this process lies the concept of individual ‘uniqueness’. This can be co-constructed by the partners in dialogic conversation, as each takes turns sharing unique aspects of themselves and helping the uniqueness of the other to emerge. Getting […]
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Advanced chemiresistive materials for wireless sensor networks
When exposed to gases and vapours of certain chemicals in their surrounding environments, chemiresistive materials can change their electrical resistance, which makes them incredibly useful as sensors for air pollution. Through her work, Dr Esther Hontañón, a researcher at the Spanish Council of Research (CSIC) in Madrid, explores how the latest advances in materials science and 3D printing technology can […]
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A digital health intervention for adolescent mothers in the Dominican Republic
Adolescent mothers and their babies are vulnerable to poor health outcomes. For this reason, it is vital to provide them adequate support and information to ensure optimal health. Dr Samantha Stonbraker and her research team undertook a study to identify the health information needs of young mothers living in the Dominican Republic and design a digital intervention using WhatsApp Messenger […]
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Museums and climate change: From passive bystander to agent of change
Museums have traditionally been institutions that maintain the stories of the past, implicitly supporting the Western ideological status quo. However, this role is rarely congruent with contemporary issues in our communities, such as climate change and social justice. With her critical paper, Dr Julie Decker, the CEO of the Anchorage Museum in Alaska, looks at how museums can become an […]
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Food security in an insecure world: Modelling self-sufficiency
When global food prices spiked in 2008, many governments embarked on programmes to improve their country’s food self-sufficiency – but have they been successful? At Setsunan University, Japan, Dr Tetsuji Tanaka and Dr Jin Guo are quantitatively assessing the effectiveness of a number of self-sufficiency policies. They have studied regional and global volatility in beef and wheat prices, and used […]
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Scismic: Enhancing and diversifying scientific hiring
Scismic was founded to help facilitate scientists’ transition from academia to industry. Its two platforms – Scismic Job Seeker and Scismic Lab Seeker – ensure job-seeking scientists find fulfilling work that truly matches their unique skillsets. Scismic has overcome several weaknesses inherent in traditional hiring models, and provides a job-matching platform that saves time, alleviates confusion, and reduces the biases […]
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The benefits of exercise programmes for pre-school children with autism spectrum disorders
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) see the world differently and can find it hard to interact with both their environment and other people. Sport has many benefits for mental and physical health, and therefore Kelong Cai, of Yangzhou University, hypothesised that sport may offer a novel therapy for pre-school children with ASD. He implemented a 12-week mini-basketball programme for […]