Origins of life
The story Lane has to tell concerns his long-standing endeavours to understand the origin of all life on Earth. The relevant biochemistry is clearly outlined and his relaxed style and unpretentious language considerably aid readability of the more technical aspects of his work.
Life in Nanoscience
When it comes to the scientists who researched carbon and its extraordinary structural and electronic properties, few rank as high as Mildred Dresselhaus. By the time of her death on 20 February 2017, Dresselhaus had seen her research go from a virgin field of curiosity-driven science to its central place in the modern world.
Saliva test for pregnancy
The world’s first saliva-based pregnancy test is set to be launched and promises to usher in a new generation of diagnostic tools. Developed by Israeli start-up Salignostics, the SaliStick test kit has received the CE mark from European authorities and is awaiting US Food and Drug Administration approval.
Rewiring the brain
Nerve cells damaged by traumatic injury or disease don’t have the ability to regenerate – that was the old way of thinking. But new research is bringing the prospect of regenerative therapies for trauma, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Katrina Megget reports
EU-Japan to cooperate on H2
The EU and Japan have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to spur innovation and develop an international hydrogen market.
Africa renewables transition
The South African government is fast-tracking a plan to wean the country from dependence on fossil fuels and ramp up renewable energy sources. Transitioning from coal, which is the source of up to 86% of South Africa’s electricity supply, to wind and solar technology, would help the country cut down on carbon emissions and increase energy security.
3D printed tumours
A new bioprinting technology, which uses a patient’s own cells to mimic solid tumours in 3D models, could be a big step towards personalised medicine. The models, known as spheroids, could help doctors understand why certain patients respond better to chemotherapy.
Solidarity in crises
Responsibility, international solidarity, openness, inclusion, mobility, flexibility and predictability. They are words that will already be familiar to all of us engaged in the international scientific community. So perhaps it’s not too surprising that they are also the watchwords selected by a recent report on the Ukraine crisis.