To understand the brain, it helps to make a computer model of one
Jun 02, 2016 07:48 am UTC| Science
One of the greatest challenges of engineering, science and medicine is to understand the brain, which is the most complex organ and system known to humans. A lot is already understood about how individual neurons and...
Maths anxiety is creating a shortage of young scientists ... here's a solution
Jun 01, 2016 11:32 am UTC| Insights & Views Science
Does the thought of doing long division, or solving a bit of algebra give you the shivers? Youre likely to have maths anxiety. In our recent research, my colleagues and I found that in 80% of countries, girls have more...
Learning the language of cells will help scientists beat cancer
May 31, 2016 13:41 pm UTC| Science Health
Chemotherapy is a blunt weapon. It kills cancer cells and healthy ones, too. For this reason, scientists are looking to develop more targeted treatments treatments that dont create a lot of collateral damage. One strategy...
How scientists are using drones to help predict coastal erosion
May 31, 2016 12:27 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature Science
A large chunk of chalk recently collapsed into the sea from the Seven Sisters cliffs, a world-renowned beauty spot located on Englands East Sussex coastline. To many, they are a quintessentially English landmark and the...
Ancient Egyptian pigment provides modern forensics with new coat of paint
May 30, 2016 04:31 am UTC| Science
It was during a trip to Indianapolis that Professor Simon Lewis, a forensic and analytical chemist, was approached by Gregory Smith from the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) with an idea. Smith, senior conservation...
Here's what happened in space this week
May 30, 2016 02:41 am UTC| Insights & Views Science Technology
From inflatable space stations to space sweeteners, its been an amazing week in space but none so visually astounding as the video from SpaceX of their 3rd successful landing at sea. The astounding landing at sea by...
We mightn't like it, but there are ethical reasons to use animals in medical research
May 26, 2016 00:09 am UTC| Insights & Views Law Science
The media regularly report impressive medical advances. However, in most cases, there is a reluctance by scientists, the universities, or research institutions they work for, and the media to mention animals used in that...
Johannesburg in a time of darkness: Ivan Vladislavić’s new memoir reminds us of the city’s fragility
Economist Chris Richardson on an ‘ugly’ inflation result and the coming budget
Why Germany ditched nuclear before coal – and why it won’t go back
Labour can afford to be far more ambitious with its economic policies – voters are on board
Sudan: civil war stretches into a second year with no end in sight