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Articles by Lucy Timms
TV | I, Science
Round-up of this week’s news: spinal cord implants used to treat paralysis; children’s climate lawsuit to progress; and scientist to feature on new £50 note. Round up of this weeks news: Beplicolombo heads to Mercury; radiotherapy used to treat prostate cancer; and wooly mammoth and rhino bones found by road workers. This week: Soyuz spacecraft failure; fracking resumes in the UK; and mice with two mothers. I,Science caught up with Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space.
Deep-sea corals found to produce their own sunlight
As coral reefs are put under increasing stress from rising sea temperatures, some believe that a potential refuge could be the ‘deep blue sea’. However, scientists have now discovered that to thrive under those conditions, corals must possess a fluorescing ability which allows them to seemingly produce their own sunlight. It is well known that many shallow reef corals fluoresce in sunlight for protection against harmful UV radiation.
Skeleton in the Closet
Earlier this year a petition popped up on Change.org demanding a sea burial for Charles Byrne. The petition, started by US based Richard McKee, concerns a story which takes in freak shows, medical research, law and ethics. The story starts with a body snatching. No. That’s not quite true. Charles Byrne was born an Irish peasant in 1761. By 1780 he had grown to a towering 7 feet 7 inches tall; more than two feet taller than an average man at the time.
I,Science Issue 37: ‘Elements’ Out Now!
In this issue, we bring you the stories behind the elements of the periodic table, delving into the pasts, futures, people and politics of the fundamental ingredients of nature. Pick up your copy at the South Kensington campus today, or read the magazine online by following the link below. For this issue, our Pictures Editor Natasha Gertler sourced artwork for a number of the magazine’s articles.
Issue 37: Elements
Sex work can be dangerous and detrimental to those who d...
I,Science Issue 37 Artwork
For this issue, our Pictures Editor, Natasha Gertler, reached out to artists from within and external to Imperial for their artistic input for the Summer 2017 issue, Elements. Contributors include art students and graduates from Central Saint Martins, Camberwell College of the Arts, Winchester School of Art and Loughborough University.
Could chemistry students be the key to tackling neglected diseases?
Visceral Leishmaniasis is the second-biggest parasitic killer in the world, yet most won’t have heard of it. It is caused by parasites that migrate to internal organs like the liver, spleen or bone marrow, causing them to swell and creating fever, weight loss and low blood cells. Second only to Malaria, every year this disease affects up to 400,000 people across 80 countries and is fatal if untreated. Yet despite its impact, it is still on the WHO’s list of neglected diseases.
Undoing death: Is there a case for resurrection biology?
We are living through the greatest mass-extinction event since the dinosaurs died out. Dozens of animal and plant species disappear every day. While conservationists work hard to save our remaining biodiversity, a few scientists around the world want to go further. They are attempting ‘de-extinction’: bringing back species from the grave.
I,Science Issue 37: ‘Elements’ Out 26 June
I,Science Issue 37: ‘Elements’ Out 26 June The focus of the upcoming Summer 2017 issue of I,Science is Elements. We’ll be discussing the stories behind the elements of the periodic table, delving into the pasts, futures, people and politics of the fundamental ingredients of nature. Pick up your copy on Monday the 26th June at the Queens Lawn or I,Science stands around the South Kensington campus, or visit us at www.isciencemag.co.uk to read the magazine online.
Artificial Womb - Future of Pregnancy?
From pain to extensive hormonal changes, the challenges women face during pregnancy are bountiful. However, dangers associated with premature births can cause particularly devastating consequences for mothers and their infants. A new study published in Nature Communications, reports on the first successful development of a premature foetus in an artificial womb, which may offer interesting opportunities for the future of developmental biology.
Music and Science: Stop Right There
In the following, our writer, Aran Shaunak, imagines what a conversation between Freddie Mercury and his producer might have been like, if his producer had been a huge science nerd and wanted to correct Freddie’s ‘alternative facts’. “Freddie, sit down. I have some concerns about the lyrics of that new song.” “Yeah. That’s the one. There are some serious scientific inaccuracies in it that I find rather worrying. We should think about correcting them.” ?
SpaceX to Launch Space-Based Internet Access for All
Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, yesterday outlined plans to start launching a constellation of satellites in 2019 that will provide high quality internet access options to all reaches of the globe by 2024. Speaking to the Senate Commerce Committee in Washington DC, Patricia Cooper, Vice President of Satellite Government Affairs at SpaceX, announced that a prototype satellite will be launched by the end of the year, followed by another in early 2018.
Diary of a Researcher: Life at the (not-so-romantic) telescope
In the fourth part of our Diary of a researcher series, Josh Greenslade gives us an insight in to what life is like at an observatory 2,800m above sea level. One thing is for sure: not even making coffee is easy up there. It was after the 5th electric shock from the coffee machine that I began swearing violently at 4 o’clock in the morning.
The Stigma of Sex Work
Sex work can be dangerous and detrimental to those who do it, but the stigma of sex work itself can also cause harm… For many of us, sex is a fundamental part of our lives. Not only is it vital for procreation, it is also a pleasurable activity enjoyed every day by humans across the world. But what about selling sex? Suddenly, this renders it a disgusting and immoral act. This stigma, or ‘mark of disgrace’, is experienced by sex workers in societies throughout the world.
I,Science Issue 36 Artwork
Following on from the great feedback we received for using reader artwork in our last issue, Other Worlds, our Picture’s Editor, Natasha Gertler, reached out to our readers again for their artistic input for our Spring 2017 issue, Taboo. Below, in order of magazine appearance, we look at each piece more closely, accompanied by a short description by the artists of their inspirations and creative processes. We would like to thank all of our contributors for these wonderful pieces.
Issue 36: Taboo | I, Science
The focus of the upcoming Spring 2017 issue of I,Science is ...
I,Science Issue 36: ‘Taboo’ Out Now!
In this issue, we explore a broad range of taboo topics – from incest, to nudity, and all the way to death, we take a hard look at some of society’s most stubborn hang-ups. Pick up your copy at the South Kensington campus today, or read the magazine online by following the link below. For this issue, our Pictures Editor Natasha Gertler sourced artwork for a number of the magazine’s articles.
Mum, my surgeon is a robot!
Our author, Marcela Leite, went to the Guardian Live Robot Surgery at the Science Museum – and no, it doesn’t involve a robot being cut open When I first received an invite to the “Live Robot Surgery” event, I thought the hosts were going to pull apart a robot to show its mechanics.
I,Science Issue 36: ‘Taboo’ Out 17 March
I,Science Issue 36: ‘Taboo’ Out 17 March The focus of the upcoming Spring 2017 issue of I,Science is taboo – from incest, to nudity, and all the way to death, we take a hard look at some of society’s most stubborn hang-ups. Pick up your copy this Friday at the Queen Lawn or I,Science stands around the South Kensington campus, or visit us at www.isciencemag.co.uk to read the magazine online. This entry was posted in Gallery, News and tagged IScience Spring 2017, Issue 36, magazine, Taboo.
Transhumanism: An immor(t)al future?
Ever thought about the ethics and philosophy behind our technological progress? Well, don’t worry if you haven’t! Our author Silvia Lazzaris has done so for you and tackled the daunting topic of transhumanism You switch off the alarm, and put on your glasses to orientate yourself in the room. You find your way to the kitchen, where you drink a coffee to then orientate yourself in the world. Outside the window the weather looks cold: perhaps you’ll take a vitamin supplement.
One Month of Trump: Making Space for science?
Social media erupted with panic the day after Donald Trump officially walked in to the White House. The National Park Service (NPS) retweeted a photograph which compared the crowd in attendance at Trump’s inauguration with the army of supporters at Barack Obama’s in 2009. The frenzy escalated, not just because of its implicit political message, but because of Trump’s reaction to it.
Scientists’ latest quest for the fountain of youth
The ageing process is something which inevitably happens to all of us. Yet, the ability to postpone it has become something of a holy grail for scientists. As well as the effects to our skin, prompting a myriad of ‘solutions’ on the market, ageing happens to all other cells inside our bodies. This causes many problems, from fragile bones to heart conditions.
I,Science Interviews Astronaut Helen Sharman
8 months in the making, this simulation is the most deta...
MANIPULATING MEMORIES AT THE FLICK OF A SWITCH
Had a bad experience with an ex? Or perhaps embarrassed yourself in public today and wish you could erase all traces of this from your mind? No problem, just right click and delete. Although such control over our brains may seem like the stuff of science fiction, Neuroscience research is getting closer to uncovering the science behind memory manipulation. The brain is often compared to a computer, due to its storage capacity and speed of processing.
Can a mother’s diet cause Alzheimer’s in their child?
A recent study suggests the beginnings of Alzheimer’s disease might stretch back as far as the womb. The new research, carried out at the University of British Columbia and the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, investigated how vitamin A deficiency in pregnant mothers and new-borns, might be linked to Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a disease marked by memory loss and cognitive decline.
Diary of a Researcher: Recreating the conditions of space at our fingertips
In the third part of our Diary of a Researcher series, MSci physics student Meriame Berboucha tells us how the conditions of space are recreated at Imperial. Sound impossible? Read on. A journey into outer space is very difficult. It requires rockets, lots of fuel, a large team of outstanding brains and carefully thought-through maths and physics.
I,Science Interviews ExCiteS
I,Science Interviews ExCiteS What is citizen science? How do you adapt citizen science projects for communities who can’t read or write? What makes a good citizen science project? How can you get involved? I,Science’s Liz Killen speaks to Muki and Alice, the London-based experts at ExCiteS Citizen Science. Liz Killen is studying for an MSc in Science Communication.
Diary of a Researcher: Computing Personalised Treatments
Medical treatments are very different. So are people. PhD student Andris Piebalgs describes how finding the right treatment seems to lie in the ‘hands’ of computers. Medical diagnostics and treatment have undergone many tremendous changes over the last few decades. For some illnesses, a patient suffering from a chronic disease can now be presented with a myriad of treatment options.
Knot your average discovery
Tying a knot may seem like a trivial thing– in fact few people over the age of 5 would ever call tying their shoelaces a great achievement. However, researchers at the University of Manchester have broken a new record we didn’t even know existed. This team of scientists created the tightest knot ever: the microscopic circular triple helix.
Why did the world’s biggest shark go extinct?
How do you tackle a giant shark with a 3-meter wide jaw, a 16-meter long body and a ferocious appetite? According to an international research team, the answer may be to simply take away its favourite food. The giant shark species, Carcharocles megalodon is thought to have gone extinct 2.6 million years ago, after roaming the world’s oceans for over 14 million years. New archaeological evidence suggests the disappearance of dwarf whales and seals may have led to its downfall.
Virtually Real | I, Science
Everybody hates Mondays. Rainy, lazy, dark winter Monday nights are made to stay home and drink tea under your favourite blanket. Even more so when there is a tube strike, and all zone 1 stations are shut, forcing Londoners onto the streets, a moody wet mass crawling through the city. Against all odds, I set off on an hour-long walk under the rain to escape from the chaos of the city into a parallel reality at Virtually Real, the newest jewel of the Royal Academy of Arts.
Another Win for Women’s Health!
Most women experience some form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) at some point in their menstrual cycle. However, a small percentage suffer with a more extreme version of this called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The symptoms of this are so severe that it can interfere with the ability to lead a normal life. Yet a new study has illuminated the molecular and genetic mechanisms behind this very real and debilitating condition.
A Review of the Science Museum’s New Winton Gallery
Greeted by warm croissants and a virtual reality demo, we arrived at the opening of the new Winton Gallery at the Science Museum. The spaceship-like gallery, designed by internationally acclaimed Zaha Hadid Architects, succeeds in shedding new light onto the historically impenetrable field of mathematics by highlighting the essential role that it plays in our everyday lives.
Don’t push me around! Cancer cells and their turbulent relationship with their environment
A new study has explored the mechanical interactions that breast cancer cells have with their microenvironment. This has important implications for understanding tumor metastasis and tissue scaffolding. Typically, animal cells are surrounded by a network of protein fibers known as the extra-cellular matrix (ECM). They can communicate with this environment through biochemical and mechanical signals.
The science behind our celebrations: Christmas and the solstice
It is undeniable – the world is spinning off-kilter. No, I do not refer to yet another exciting addition to the history books before the close of this year’s jam-packed chapter. I argue a more perennial phenomenon is also influencing our culture – the winter solstice. The 23.4° tilt of the Earth’s axis, as can be seen in the mounting of a desk globe, makes itself chillingly evident with long, dark nights and bitter weather for those in higher latitudes.
Rags, Riches and Rodentia: The Different Lives of Mice
At a conference entrance, a scientist walks around a long, serpentine queue and reaches the check-in counter, only to find the organiser walk away from the table. She lowers her poster board and smirks to her colleagues, “I passed the maze test, and don’t even get a reward?” Even in an ordinary situation, she makes a reference to the laboratory mouse. Not too many post codes away, a girl sees a flash of fur dash from the balcony to the kitchen and shrieks.
Physicists over the Moon about new theory
The prevailing theory of the moon’s creation is the ‘giant impact theory’, in which a Mars-sized object collided with Earth around 4.5 billion years ago. The collision scattered debris from both the Earth and Mars-sized object into orbit, which eventually came together to form the moon. It also set the angular momentum of the Earth-Moon system. But if this theory were correct, the debris – and, thus, the moon – would have been similar in composition to the Mars-sized object.
Diary of a Researcher: Understanding Brain Cancer Treatments
The main idea behind brain surgeries, to put it simply, is the local removal of infected regions referred to as tumours. Looking at it historically, brain surgery has already been practised for centuries. But recently, some alternative treatments have also been in use, which involve a catheter that effectively infuses therapeutic drugs in the near-tumour region. This catheter, unlike the image you may have in mind, is a needle-like tool that can reach far into the brain to the targeted area.
Other Worlds: The 21st Century Space Race
Motives for humans to expand their geographic extent have constantly evolved through time. A million years ago, migration would have been fueled by survival instincts: either through lack of food, competition, or generally tough times. Once the birth of civilisation made humans less vulnerable to these hazards, our exploration voyages became less of a necessity and more of a noble endeavor powered by the old dictum: ‘God, Gold, and Glory’.
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