Bethan Young Editor (Science) It is no secret that nuclear radiation lingers long after its release into the atmosphere. Its use as a fuel source and the associated risks to the environment and human health are a constant topic of debate. This month a study published in Nature Communications has suggested that nuclear radiation levels in the stratosphere are higher than first thought. The radioactive particles remain from tests that took place during the […]
Bethan Young Correspondent (Science) A January free of alcohol has become trendy in recent years. Some people take part to raise money for charity, others to make up for the season of indulgence the month before. It’s a challenge, that on the face of it, will have a positive effect on our bodies. Does 31 days free of alcohol actually have lasting health benefits? It sounds unlikely, especially as for every one month off […]
David Snowdon, Correspondent (Science) Year 2012 was definitely a tough act to follow in terms of revolutionary scientific breakthroughs: This was the year of the so called ‘God particle’ – the Higgs boson – and the Curiosity probe landing on Mars, amongst other significant moments. However 2013 did not disappoint either, with a host of innovations that have improved and promised to improve our scientific understanding of the world. CLARITY Sheds Light […]
Bethan Young, Correspondent (Science) Two NASA astronauts successfully completed essential repairs on the International Space Station earlier this week. Mike Hopkins and Rick Mastracchio carried out the task on Christmas Eve – their second space walk (or EVA – extra-vehicular activity) in four days. Their first took them across 260 Earth miles and over six hours; the second, seven and a half hours. The planned third space walk is so far unnecessary due to their current […]
David Snowdon, Correspondent (Science) The global supply of bananas is under attack. Recent reports have highlighted threats such as plagues of insects and the expansion of fungal pathogens, prompting concern over the future of the fruit. This week authorities in Costa Rica declared a ‘national emergency’ after the crop was completely decimated by two separate plagues of mealybugs and scale insects. The Central American country is one of the largest exporters of bananas, distributing […]
Amber Roguski Editor (Science) In the past decade, incidences of the mysterious ‘Nodding Syndrome’ have risen. A syndrome unique to South Sudan and Uganda, sufferers display a rare epileptic seizure with persistent head nodding. Thousands are known to be afflicted with the condition, but the root cause remains unclear, leaving huge gaps in knowledge about this disease and resulting in limited treatment possibilities. One of the most puzzling aspects of Nodding Syndrome is that it […]
Amber Roguski, Editor (Science) How many times have you decided to lose weight/ work harder/ save money/ become better than anyone one who has ever existed? And how many times have you been so excited about the prospect of a new, improved you that you’ve simply had to tell someone, because surely that way you will have to stick to your plan? More often than not we blurt out these plans, and more often […]
Bethan Young, Correspondant (Science) This week, Dallas Wiens, the first US patient to receive a full face transplant in 2011, spoke about his joy at its success. He suffered a loss of his facial features following an accident in 2008 where his head hit a high voltage wire. He lived for two years with only a two-inch slit for his mouth before the operation in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, which has now […]
Bethan Young, Correspondent (Science) SACRAMENTO — There is a private Google-backed company in the USA that allows members of the public to test themselves for various genetic ‘health risks’. They offer $99 saliva-collection kits, which are then sent back to the company for genetic testing. The company claims to test for inheritable disease, responsiveness to drug treatment and susceptibility to illnesses, such as breast cancer. The USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) however, has ordered […]
David Snowdon, Correspondent (Science) A study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology this week has discovered that women who take oral contraceptives face twice the risk of developing the eye condition glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when the trabecular meshwork – the drainage tubes within the eye – become blocked, preventing the fluid of the aqueous humour from draining properly. This leads to a build-up of pressure in the eye, causing […]
