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HEALTH & MEDICINE Latest
Dr Elise Van Breedam | Using Brain Models to Better Understand Stroke
Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death. Despite extensive research and the huge burden on patients and healthcare systems, treatments are sadly limited and new treatments are slow to emerge. To better understand...
Dr Thomas Shaffer – Dr Tariq Rahman | Innovative New Technology to Monitor Children’s Breathing
Monitoring a patient’s breathing closely is vital to medical care. However, it comes with a whole set of challenges in young children and those with certain medical conditions. Dr Thomas Shaffer and Dr Tariq Rahman from the Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware,...
Professor Michael Ryan | What the Ugandan Response to HIV/AIDS Can Teach Us About Collaborative Governance
Persistent problems such as poverty, disease and hunger are of critical interest to organisation and management scholars. Developing countries often struggle with intractable social issues, including susceptibility to epidemics. The complexity of these...
Professor Aaron Brown | Brown Adipose Tissue and Optogenetics – The Next Step in Obesity Treatment?
Adipose tissue is more commonly known as body fat. Unlike white adipose tissue, which is linked to negative cardiovascular outcomes such as metabolic syndrome, brown adipose tissue is positively related to health and may reduce the risk of cardiometabolic...
EARTH & ENVIRONMENT Latest
Dr Francine Kershaw | Bringing Geneticists to the Forefront of Conservation Planning
Our planet is in peril. Threats such as climate change, habitat destruction, and pollution are contributing to the loss of species at alarming rates. Protecting biodiversity and enhancing ecosystem resilience relies on protecting evolutionary processes at the scale of individuals, species, populations, and ecosystems. Genetic data is a vital component for achieving this, and yet, a significant gap between conservation geneticists and other scientists, conservation practitioners, and policy-makers hinders knowledge-sharing. Dr Francine Kershaw from the Natural Resources Defense Council, USA, has been helping to spearhead a highly collaborative effort to bridge the gap and enhance conservation efforts.
Dr Xu Liang – Dr Yao Liang | CyberWater: Making Water Science Open Science
Water is possibly the most important resource on our planet, and being able to model and understand the systems that transport it through and around our planet is essential. As water science straddles many diverse scientific disciplines, gathering and...
Professor Carmen Amaro – Dr Carla Hernández-Cabanyero | Vibrio vulnificus and Rising Ocean Temperatures: A Threat to Human and Marine Life
Vibrio vulnificus is a bacteria found in warm aquatic ecosystems around the world, capable of infecting and killing both humans and fish. As global ocean temperatures rise, the habitat of this organism is extending, and so are the numbers of infections it...
Professor Susan M. Scott | New Methods for Mathematically Modelling Black Holes
The swirling vortexes of incredible gravitational strength we call black holes are amongst astrophysics’ most recognisable and captivating phenomena. Whilst regularly featuring in films, novels and popular science texts, black holes continue to pose mathematical...
SCI-COMM CORNER
SciComm Corner – Opposites Attract: Art and Science
Art is often considered the antithesis of all things scientific. Where science is precise and methodical, art is passionate and creative; where scientists are introverted and rational, artists are expressive and emotionally driven. Unfortunately, this view often causes art to be unfairly disregarded by scientists who, naturally, value their own skills and processes and are unconvinced about the benefits of collaboration with the unknown ‘other’.
SciComm Corner – Translating numbers into words: Can science communication keep up with increasingly abstract research in quantum physics?
The theory of quantum mechanics is one of the greatest scientific achievements of all time – it’s the best description that we have for matter, energy and how those two things relate to each other at a fundamental level. But quantum mechanics is also incredibly complex, and poses an enormous challenge to our imaginations, describing situations which seem contradictory and impossible.
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PHYSICAL SCIENCE Latest
Dr Ivan Kennedy | Least Action and Quantum Fields: New Methods for Calculating the Energy of Systems and Reactions
The Principle of Least Action is a well-known tool for mathematicians and theoretical physicists. Simply put, the Principle of Least action states that, for a system to progress from one state to another, the variation in the average kinetic energy of the system minus the average potential energy of the system will be as little as possible. Dr Ivan Kennedy from the University of Sydney has found that the application of this important theorem, combined with the idea of a pervasive quantum field, to processes such as chemical reactions, atmospheric phenomena, and stellar structure, yields some unexpected but exciting results.
ENGINEERING & TECH Latest
Dr Jerry Zhang | Cleansing Indoor Spaces with Ultraviolet Light
Maintaining air quality in indoor spaces like shopping centres, stadiums, and airports is a key issue in modern society. Unfortunately, current air conditioning-based approaches are often energy intensive and inefficient. A viable alternative is the use of low-energy-consumption ultraviolet light disinfection systems, which cleanse the air of bacteria and pathogens in indoor settings. Dr Jerry Zhang and his team of ultraviolet light-based disinfection technology specialists at Bolb Inc. have developed a model to predict device performance and lifetime under different conditions, providing crucial guidance for their adoption in large-scale settings.
Dr Kimberly Kay Hoang | Who Gets to Be a Theorist? The Oppression of Marginal Theories
Who gets to be a theorist? What kinds of theoretical work get marginalised in academic research? And how does this oppression play out in the peer-review process? Dr Kimberly Kay Hoang is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Chicago. She has explored how difficult it is to get your sociology research published if you are not using research deemed to be legitimate by reviewers. She brings awareness to these issues and argues for change amongst scholars so that new forms of knowledge are not missed, especially regarding feminist, minority and racial theories.
BIOLOGY Latest
Dr Kay Cooksey | Developing Intelligent Packaging Solutions to Prevent Foodborne Illnesses
Many of us avoid foods that contain ingredients we haven’t heard of. However, many of these chemicals are beneficial because they prevent the growth of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. Although food quality standards have improved dramatically, outbreaks of foodborne illnesses are still common. Luckily, we have one line of defence to exploit: antibacterial food packaging. Dr Kay Cooksey of Clemson University is leading ground-breaking research to overcome the hurdles associated with antibacterial food packaging, bringing it one step closer to market.
Dale-Ila Riggs | Protecting Berry Crops from Invasive Pests with Exclusion Netting
Berry crops are vulnerable to numerous invasive pests, including spotted wing drosophila. These fruit flies have caused significant losses for farmers growing berries in different parts of the US, Asia, and Europe. A few years ago, Dale-Ila Riggs, the owner and...
Dr Stephen Love | Cultivating Sustainable Urban Landscapes with Native Plants
Landscapes exist on a spectrum – from those with minimal human impact, to urban sites wherein most natural features have been destroyed. As disturbed urban sites become more geographically prominent, imperatives to create managed urban habitats that provide...
The European Society for Evolutionary Biology
Founded in 1987, the European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB) is an academic society that brings together over 2000 biologists from Europe and beyond. In this exclusive interview, we speak with Professor Astrid Groot, President of ESEB, who discusses...
Dr Alexandra (Sasha) Pavlova | Professor Paul Sunnucks – Genetic Rescue Saves Species from Extinction
Human impacts on plant and animal populations can be striking. Landscape-level transformation of pristine habitats means less room for plants and animals and the inevitable decline and extinction of many species. However, human impacts can also act on...
Complementing Plant Breeding Programs with Biotechnology
By Dr Tom Elmo Clemente, University of Nebraska-Lincoln There are three components that impact crop harvests: the genetics of the seed sown, the environment in which the crop is grown, and the inputs employed during the growing period. For most species, the...
Dr Elif E. Miskioğlu – Dr Kaela M. Martin – Dr Adam R. Carberry | Intuition and Solving Complex Engineering Problems
Experienced engineers are typically equipped with advanced technical knowledge and a unique skill set but also a marked intuition that allows them to come up with solutions to complex real-world problems. Drs Elif E. Miskioğlu, Kaela M. Martin, and Adam R. Carberry, at Bucknell University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott, and The Ohio State University, respectively, recently engaged in important research to support the understanding of intuition in engineering practice.
Dr. Chastity Bradford | Teaching Students to Apply Geographic Information Systems to Real-world Problems
Tools used to analyze agricultural systems, quantify natural resources, and identify sustainable agricultural processes and resource management solutions have evolved considerably in recent years. Many current tools utilize data gathered by geographic...
Dr Ahmet Mete Kök | Cultivating a New Generation of Cybersecurity Professionals
Computer systems underpin nearly every aspect of modern life, but they’re more vulnerable than many people realise. Threats to cybersecurity can come from anywhere in the world, at any time, and the techniques that malicious agents use are constantly evolving....
Dr Sharon Nelson-Barber | Infusing Mainstream STEM Education with Indigenous Culture, Language and Values
In the USA, approaches to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) instruction are aligned with English-speaking, White middle-class norms. STEM courses rarely reflect consideration for the unique backgrounds of Indigenous learners. Because of this...
Dr Greg Swain | A Cross-Disciplinary Sustainable Chemistry Summer Program
To protect Earth’s environment and endangered species, chemists, material scientists and engineers will need to be more mindful of the substances they produce and use. To this end, Dr Greg Swain, Professor of Chemistry at Michigan State University, created the...
A Summer Opportunity Programme for Aspiring Scientists – with a Digital Twist
Emmanuel Vazquez-Rivera, Kristen CM Malecki, Mark D. Marohl, Laszlo Pazmany, Catherine Deeprose, Christopher A. Bradfield The development of a talent pool in Science Technology Education and Medicine that is as diverse as our population, has been a difficult...
PSYCHOLOGY & NEUROSCIENCE Latest
Professor Andres De Los Reyes – Professor Elizabeth Talbott | Transforming Youth Mental Health Through Evidence-based Assessment
Youth mental health in the USA is in crisis, having steadily worsened over the past ten years. To tackle this crisis, we have to understand it. Evidence-based assessment is key to this understanding. Professor Andres De Los Reyes at the University of Maryland and Professor Elizabeth Talbott at William and Mary lead the study of mental health assessment designed to advance outcomes for all children and youth.
Dr Reuven Bar-On – Dr Carina Fiedeldey-Van Dijk | Optimising Employee Talent with a Multifactor Measure of Performance
Dr Reuven Bar-On and Dr Carina Fiedeldey-Van Dijk, the co-directors of Into Performance ULC, are established experts in the psychology of human performance. For over 35 years, Dr Bar-On has examined human performance within the workplace and elsewhere. He...
Professor Kim McDonough – Professor Pavel Trofimovich | New Insights into Non-verbal Aspects of Second Language Learning
Although most people study a second language in school, this education alone is seldom sufficient to achieve the level of proficiency needed to live in a foreign country. But in a world where global migration is increasingly common, learning a second language...
Dr Susan Kennedy | Understanding Substance Abuse in College Students
Substance abuse in college students is a particular concern. Dr Susan Kennedy, Department of Psychology at Denison University in Ohio, USA, recently led a collaboration with colleagues from the Ohio State University and Kenyon College to explore alcohol and drug...
Dr Alexander Manevich | Navigating Through Grief: The Unheard Story of Dementia Caregivers
‘Grief is the price we pay for love’ (Queen Elizabeth II) Grieving and mourning are natural and deeply personal responses to losing someone we care about. It is an experience that is known to most people and evokes a wide range of emotions ranging from sadness...
Changing the Brain Through Learning
Attention allows us to plan and monitor our thoughts and, thus, is a critical step in the learning process. Learning can then change the physical structure of the brain. This is the reason why a team of scientists at the University of Oregon, led by Drs Michael...
ASTRONOMY & PLANETARY SCIENCE Latest
Dr Dawn Bowles | An Extremely Challenging Environment: Understanding the Molecular and Physiological Responses to Space Travel
Environmental stressors have an adverse impact on mammalian physiology, although biological systems are adept at evolving in response to regularly occurring stressors. However, the biological alterations resulting from less frequently encountered stressors are incompletely understood. Dr Dawn Bowles and her colleagues at Duke University Medical School are conducting experiments into the effects of the space environment on astronauts to further our understanding of the impacts of this extremely challenging environment.
Dr Adam Szabo | Dr Alexander Marshak – DSCOVR: Monitoring Earth’s Climate and the Threat of the Sun’s Weather
The Deep Space Climate Observatory – DSCOVR – is a satellite orbiting between the Sun and Earth at the first Sun-Earth Lagrange point. The primary mission of DSCOVR is to measure the incoming solar wind conditions and provide these measurements in...
Kevin R. Supak | Tapered LADs: Acquiring Cryogenic Liquid Propellants in Deep Space
To carry out complex manoeuvres such as orbit insertion, large spacecraft on long voyages must carry tanks of liquid propellants, kept at ultra-cold temperatures. In existing designs, however, heat leaking into these tanks can form unwanted vapour bubbles in the...
Dr Stefi Baum – Dr Christopher O’Dea | Shaping Galaxy Clusters with Supermassive Black Holes
The black holes found at the centres of most large galaxies are now found to be fundamental to galactic formation and evolution. Until recently, however, little was understood about how these massive bodies affect the behaviours of their host galaxies and...
Dr Amy Keesee | Mapping the Magnetosphere with Energetic Atoms
When Earth’s magnetic field is struck by violent geomagnetic storms, narrow streams of fast-moving ions can form, which pose serious threats to vital satellite systems. Through her research, Dr Amy Keesee at the University of New Hampshire is shedding new light...
Professor Henning Schmidt | DESIREE: Recreating Interactions Between Ions
Interactions between positive and negative ions are important processes in nature. However, there is a lack of experimental facilities designed to study them in detail. This picture could now be changing thanks to DESIREE: a facility where different ion beams...
LATEST ISSUES
Scientia Issue #146
This riveting issue of Scientia showcases recent advances across excitingly diverse fields of study, spanning agriculture, linguistics, physics, healthcare, economics, and much more. This featured research provides a testament to the power of pushing across and beyond boundaries in our thirst for knowledge and advancement.
Scientia Issue #145
DISCOVERY, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN TACKLING GLOBAL CHALLENGES Our latest issue of Scientia continues our mission to connect science and society. Climate change, diseases that remain without a cure, social injustice and...
Scientia Issue #144
WORKING TOWARDS A HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER WORLD Welcome to the latest issue of Scientia! In this inspiring instalment of the latest advances in science and research, we focus on the vital work of researchers whose common goal is to make the world...
Scientia Issue #143
CRITICAL ADVANCES IN UNDERSTANDING THE UNIVERSE Welcome to the new format Scientia! Each edition will feature a variety of innovative projects across a wide breadth of research disciplines, which together, are contributing towards a greater...
Scientia Issue #142
CULTIVATING RESILIENT ECOSYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABLE FARMS Restoring Earth’s ecosystems and ensuring global food security are two of the greatest challenges humanity has ever faced. These puzzles are even more challenging in the face of climate change...
Scientia Issue #141
CELEBRATING DISCOVERY AND INNOVATION IN MEDICAL SCIENCE This riveting issue of Scientia provides an exciting insight into the future of health and healthcare with a vast array of new discoveries and innovative technologies in medical science. The...
Scientia Issue #140
DRIVING DISCOVERY IN EARTH SCIENCE AND ASTRONOMY This exciting new edition of Scientia celebrates scientists who are driving discovery in Earth science, astronomy, and related disciplines. With only days to go until the launch of the 2021 United...
Scientia Issue #139
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE This important issue of Scientia takes an exciting look into the future of health and healthcare delivery across the world. For more than a year, COVID-19 has dominated almost every aspect of our lives,...
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