DNA sequencing can help fight epidemics -- but there are privacy risks

Jan 14, 2019 10:58 am UTC| Science Health

The Democratic Republic of Congo is battling an Ebola outbreak. As is the case with any disease caused by pathogenic viruses like Zika or influenza Ebola spreads dangerously and unpredictably. This makes tracking the...

Will China's moon landing launch a new space race?

Jan 07, 2019 13:25 pm UTC| Science

China became the third country to land a probe on the Moon on Jan. 2. But, more importantly, it became the first to do so on the far side of the moon, often called the dark side. The ability to land on the far side of the...

China goes where no one has gone before – the moon's far side

Jan 04, 2019 16:05 pm UTC| Insights & Views Science

In a spectacular few days for solar system exploration during which NASA whizzed the New Horizons spacecraft past the Kuiper Belt object 2009 MU69 (somewhat controversially nicknamed Ultima Thule) and eased OSIRIS-REx...

Why microbeads are such a threat and why they're so hard to handle

Jan 04, 2019 16:03 pm UTC| Science

Plastic is everywhere. It is used across a spectrum of applications from durable industrial equipment, household appliances to throw-away single-use items and even the clothes we wear. This wide scope of uses is ascribed...

Microbial aromas might save crops from drought

Jan 04, 2019 16:01 pm UTC| Insights & Views Science

In her book Silent Spring, Rachel Carson writes: The sense of smell, almost more than any other, has the power to recall memories…. You might wonder how this relates to microorganisms. In fact, they produce most...

A neuroscientist's tips for a new year tuneup for your brain

Dec 31, 2018 12:16 pm UTC| Science Health

Unlike the effervescent bubbles that stream to the top of champagne flutes on New Years Eve, what I call brain bubbles are far from celebratory. These bubbles are metaphorical rather than physical, and they distort the...

Record for decoding the longest DNA sequence is impressive – here's what to expect next

Dec 31, 2018 12:15 pm UTC| Science Health

Like other professionals, scientists like to be the best at what they do, but they also like to have fun in their job. And in 2018, my colleagues managed just that in claiming a record for decoding the worlds longest DNA...