Biochemistry
Exercise Mimetics
How drugs that replicate the effects of exercise could be a benefit, or detriment to us.
Biology
Whether it be the chemistry that determines how a slice of bread can help build entire cells, the engineering that can let us determine the traits of a new generation, or the psychology that governs why we so often fight wars, biology is the study of all things life. It encompasses a vast range of fields, all of which be traced back to the processes that have been so intricately connected, adapted and perfected over millennia to allow the most miraculous thing ever to thrive - life itself.
Biotechnology
Meet the Startup Bringing Lighting to Life
How Glowee is collaborating with a French municipal government to trial bioluminescent bacteria as a renewable source of public lighting for France
Biology
Project CETI
Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative), led by biologist David Gruber, is getting ever so close to bridging the gap between sperm whale ‘clicks’ and human words. Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, especially in the use of machine learning techniques, have allowed algorithms to identif
Biology
Prime Numbers in Nature: Cyclical Cicadas
To many, prime numbers are a useless concept studied in maths and soon forgotten about, having no impact on the rest of our lives. While they do have some applications in computing and encryption, primes never seem to crop up in day-to-day life, remaining as “special numbers” that aren’t all that sp
Biology
Electric Cargo Ship: Yara Birkeland
”It [Artificial intelligence] will either be the best thing that’s ever happened to us, or it will be the worst thing.” - Stephen Hawking Introduction The twin revolution in artificial intelligence and biotechnology is perhaps the most impactful advancement in technology since the mechanisation of p
Biology
Nerves, Pain, Dr Seuss, and the Chippendale Mupp
Although hypothetical and a little absurd, for a story written in 1962 the Chippendale Mupp can prompt all sorts of questions and calculations about the technicalities of nerves.
Biotechnology
AlphaFold
Unlocking the secrets of DNA, AlphaFold revolutionises the world of protein structures, dramatically enhancing our understanding of diseases. This AI breakthrough paves the way for unprecedented advancements in life sciences and medicine, redefining scientific exploration.
Psychiatry
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Richard Kim “I’m very OCD about it.” Doubtless, this is a phrase you have heard several times in your life and have perhaps said yourself. To many of us, the three letters “OCD” spark images of placing folders in a perfectly straight pile on our desks, or
Biotechnology
Cultured Meat, a Low Carbon alternative?
In a world grappling with climate change, cultured meat emerges as a potential game-changer. Yet, amidst bold claims and high hopes, uncertainties loom. Will sustainable energy and efficient processes unlock its promise, or will unforeseen challenges keep the dream just beyond our grasp?
Biology
The Mental Factors of Ageing
The Mental Factors Of Ageing Jonathan Zhao Introduction From Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s frantic quest for immortality to the myriad of cosmetic products that fuel modern consumerist desires, the implications of ageing with death and decline see a surging attempt to understand as well as counteract this phenomenon. Only
Biology
The Value of Pain
Pain. A four-letter word that can mean so much or so little, depending on who you are. But for all of us, it serves an important purpose: that of keeping us alive. When you burn your hand while attempting (unsuccessfully) to make roast dinner for your family, you know that
Biotechnology
How Nanopore Sequencing Is Revolutionising Biology
How Nanopore Sequencing Is Revolutionising Biology When the first human genome was sequenced completely, it cost an estimated $450 million[i]. Now, thanks to incredible technological advances, just 20 years later we can sequence the entire DNA of a human (foetus or octogenarian) for $600[ii], a cost that is