A different world
The book presents a variety of perspectives not normally represented in Western media. There are the Pacific Islanders who want to reframe their perceived image and count as a large ocean state rather than a splatter of small island states.
Probing scientific mythology
This rather provocative book takes scientist authors to task for a practice that is commonplace in the sciences and regarded by the great majority of scientists as unexceptionable. The book’s author, physicist and historian of science José Perillán claims that problems arise as soon as scientists decide to include even the briefest mention of history in a scientific work.
Superbug armour revealed
Using various analytical tools, researchers have revealed details about the structure of Clostridioides difficile’s external armour-like surface. Information that could aid efforts to treat infections due to the superbug, which is resistant to all but three antibiotics.
Brain cell breakthrough
Australian researchers have created a new substrate to apply to petri dishes that supports the growth of live brain cells (neurons). It should allow researchers to model patients’ brains more accurately and determine more reliably the best treatment for neurological diseases such as dementia, Parkinson’s and epilepsy.
Liquid launch
‘Liquid polymers’ used in many consumer product formulations will need to be produced – and disposed of – more sustainably in future. Lou Reade reports
Silencing pests
RNA technology that silences genes in crop-destroying insects and fungi promises to be a valuable new tool for next-generation pesticides, reports Katrina Megget
Nature decoded
Launched in 2018 as an international ‘network of networks’ including existing projects under a new umbrella organisation to avoid unnecessary duplication, the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP) aims to ensure that all species that have complex cells with a nucleus and have been officially identified with a binomial name will also have a high-quality genome sequence on record.
Bottle recycling report
A new report has found that most polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recovered from bottles in Europe does not end up in new bottles. It says that significant improvements in PET design, collection and recycling are needed to improve closed-loop recycling.
Amyloid answers
Scientists have revealed how a key biological peptide self-assembles into the rogue protein amyloid – thought to play a role in the development of Type-2 diabetes. Understanding amyloid fibril formation is of huge importance and is also implicated in other life-limiting illnesses, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
The UK innovation landscape
Supplying a fast-growing global population with food, energy and clean water, making the best use of limited natural resources and protecting our climate are among the greatest challenges of our time. Innovations based on chemistry play a pivotal role in overcoming these and it’s certainly worth taking a deeper look.