Examining human allergies
Although precise statistics are not available, it has been estimated that between 30 and 40% of the world’s population is afflicted with some form of allergy. Moreover, the number of allergy sufferers is continuing to rise. And Millions of people are unfortunately affected to a degree severe enough to have a major impact on their health. This book sets out to assemble what is known about allergies: their history, diagnosis, treatment and what they may reveal about emerging human susceptibilities in an ever-changing world.
Great Earth Escape
The author of this book, Chris Impey, is a University Distinguished Professor of astronomy based at the University of Arizona, US, and has written several books on a variety of astronomical themes. Here he takes his cue from the reasoning that, as our planet is suffering from relentless despoliation, it is timely to explore options for an eventual escape from our escalating predicament.
Imaginary aliens
There are three species of orangutan, two of gorilla, two of chimpanzee, and many more in most mammalian genera. We humans, however, unless we agree to join the chimpanzees, are the only species of our kind, alone in the genus Homo, and the only surviving species with our characteristic features since the Denisovans and Neanderthals disappeared and were soaked up by our burgeoning population.
Waste of space: the junk littering the ozone
The finding of significant amounts of metals in aerosols in the stratosphere – likely originating from the launch and re-entry of spacecraft and satellites – could have implications for climate and the ozone layer, Maria Burke reports
Neuromodulation: the next frontier in brain science?
Advances in materials science and bioelectronics are now allowing researchers to delve even more deeply into our brains and nervous systems. And to change how they function and respond to drugs, reports Katrina Megget
Getting mRNA on-target
The technology behind the mRNA vaccine for Covid-19 shows huge promise for other vaccines as well as therapeutics for cancer, cardiovascular disease and immunological diseases. Now researchers have found that while the technology produces most proteins as intended, there are also some unintended immune responses. However, they also report a solution to enable the safer design of future mRNA vaccines.
Down the drain and back
The water that we use to drink, shower, and cook currently goes down the drain. But with freshwater becoming ever scarcer, researchers are beginning to ask: what if we could reuse it? Jasmin Fox-Skelly reports
EV batteries: From rarity to recycling boom?
Used EV batteries are hard to come by, but the numbers are expected to soar in the next two decades. Recycling their valuable metals is a priority, Anthony King reports
Organic chemistry
Read the organic chemistry highlights for January 2024 written by G. Richard Stephenson, University of East Anglia, UK.
Environmental justice
Environmental justice is not a new concept[1]. The first calls for this were in the 1980s when protesters tried to block the construction of a landfill for toxic waste in Afton, North Carolina, US[2]. That effort failed, but the ideals have spread to the halls of power. However, the adoption of environmental justice principles has done little to slow the progress of climate change, or to tackle the hazards (and opportunities) of sustainable innovation.