Medical & Health Sciences Latest
Dr Toby Phesse | Revealing the Mysteries of Wnt Signalling: Novel Approaches to Beating Cancer
Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, and the need for new, more effective treatments remains an urgent challenge. Dr Toby Phesse from Cardiff University in the UK focuses on the role of the Wnt receptor...
Dr Vijay Reddy | The Virus World Database: An Invaluable Resource for Public Health and Healthcare
Severe viral disease presents an ongoing challenge to the health of humankind. While unparalleled developments in science and technology are improving our understanding of such viruses, this information needs to be readily accessible to researchers to ensure...
Professor Ralf Herwig | Deciphering the Enigma of Vitamin D and the Immune System
Vitamin D has been studied as a treatment for a large number of diseases and conditions, from cancer to autism to COVID-19. However, its mode of action is not completely understood. Professor Ralf Herwig carries out his research at HG Pharma GmbH (Austria) and...
Dr Yong Teng | Improving the Outlook for Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Dr Yong Teng at the Emory University School of Medicine is working with colleagues to overcome the high mortality of individuals diagnosed with cancers affecting the head and neck. One of his approaches is based on understanding the particular mechanisms of the...
Earth, Environment & Agricultual Sciences
Dr Arne Stensvand | Thermotherapy: Effective Disease and Pest Management Without Chemicals
Dr Arne Stensvand and his team at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research are developing physical methods of pest reduction in plants. The team is specifically interested in strawberry plants, for which pest management is vital for crop success. They are pioneering thermotherapy as a heat treatment method to provide an environmentally effective and economically sound non-chemical approach to pest management.
Dr. Daniel Canfield | Reprioritising Pollution Reduction in Florida’s Lakes
Florida’s landscape is dotted with thousands of lakes that reflect regional geology, topography and anthropogenic activities. Phosphorus and nitrogen are critical nutrients for maintaining the wide range of biological production expressed across Florida, but...
Dr Jon Tore Lieng | Dynamically Installed Anchors for Floating Offshore Turbines
Effectively harnessing offshore wind presents a valuable opportunity to increase energy supplies. Floating wind turbines present several advantages over traditional fixed turbines in more shallow waters. Dr Jon Tore Lieng from Deep Sea Anchors and colleagues...
Dr Lifei Wang | Can Species Distribution Models Inform Us About Future Ecosystems?
The world is buzzing with news about how human activities and climate shifts are reshaping our ecosystems. Have you ever wondered how life will adapt to this rapidly changing world? Ecologists might be able to predict how different species will live in future...
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Open access vs Public access the case for democratic outreach in academic communication
While the move towards open access and its benefit to the wider scientific community is laudable, it comes at a cost—a cost, like most publishing costs in academia, that is ultimately funded by the general public. In 2023, approximately 45% of academic papers were published as open access. This figure represents a continuation of the growth trend seen in open access publishing over the past decade. This figure is based on all OA models: fully open access (gold), green (self-archived), bronze (free to read without a clear license), and hybrid models. Approximately $2.25 billion of public funds were spent to make those academic papers open access.
A cynical case for outreach
PewDiePie’s mention of Diogenes of Sinope in his reaction video to his house being robbed ignited a remarkable surge of interest in the classical philosopher. Following the video’s release, an additional 80 million Google searches related to Diogenes were recorded in the subsequent week.
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Physical Sciences & Mathematics Latest
Dr Tsun-Kong Sham – Dr Jiatang Chen – Dr Zou Finfrock – Dr Zhiqiang Wang | X-Rays Shine Light on Fuel Cell Catalysts
Understanding the electronic behaviour of fuel cell catalysts can be difficult using standard experimental techniques, although this knowledge is critical to their fine-tuning and optimisation. Dr Jiatang Chen at the University of Western Ontario works with colleagues to use the cutting-edge valence-to-core X-ray emission spectroscopy method to determine the precise electronic effects of altering the amounts of platinum and nickel in platinum-nickel catalysts used in fuel cells. Their research demonstrates the potential application of this technique to analysing battery materials, catalysts, and even cancer drug molecules.
Engineering & Computer Science Latest
Professor Martin Trefzer | Bridging Nature and Artificial Intelligence for Smart Electronics Technology
The ever-developing world of artificial intelligence (AI) stands at the tip of a transformative breakthrough. Professor Martin Trefzer from the University of York and Professor Jim Harkin from Ulster University have introduced a revolutionary approach to neural network design. They work on an electronic system based on AI that forms the basis of the cross-disciplinary project called Nervous Systems, which aims to build electronic neuromorphic devices with an artificial intelligence system mirroring the adaptability and responsiveness of biological neural systems.
Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Latest
Allison Balabuch – Professor Ann Brower Stahl | Bringing Archaeology to the Classroom and Beyond: The African Archaeology Review
The African Archaeology Review (AAR) journal recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. To mark this occasion, a special issue was compiled with an innovative theme: Archaeology for Education. To achieve this, the AAR editorial team assembled a group of academic researchers in archaeology with the proposition of writing articles collaboratively with educators that would make their research centred on Africa’s rich pasts accessible for use in school learning. The goal is to change the stories we tell about Africa both within and outside the continent.
Life Sciences & Biology Latest
Professor Alan Templeton | When Fire Sparks Ecological Opportunity and Habitat Restoration
How far would you be willing to go to save an endangered species? Would you consider burning part of a forest as a solution? As unconventional as it may sound, conservationists sometimes resort to such measures to restore lost habitats. One remarkable example is the efforts to save eastern collared lizards – and indeed the entire biological community in which they live – in the Ozarks, spearheaded by American geneticist and statistician Professor Alan Templeton of Washington University in St Louis, USA.
Dr Michael Cherney – Professor Daniel Fisher | Unlocking Woolly Mammoth Mysteries: Tusks as Hormone Time Capsules
The impressive tusks found on proboscideans (the order of mammals that includes elephants, woolly mammoths, and mastodons) are like time capsules, preserving detailed records of their bearers’ lives in the form of growth layers and chemical traces. Frozen in...
Dr Sebastian Fraune | Microbiota: Fast-tracking Adaptation to Rapidly Changing Environments
As climate change continues at an unprecedented pace, the processes of natural selection and genetic mutation can no longer fully explain how some organisms adapt to their rapidly changing environments. Dr Sebastian Fraune from Heinrich-Heine University and an...
Professor Danny Reinberg – Dr Gary LeRoy | Confronting a Rare and Deadly Cancer in Children
A diagnosis of cancer is never welcome but is particularly devastating when a child is found to have diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas – a rare but particularly aggressive and treatment-resistant malignancy in the brain. In this article, we focus on the...
Dr Jerome Goddard | Recovery from Tick Bite: New Insights from a Recent Case Study
Dr Jerome Goddard of Mississippi State University and Dr Julie Wyatt of Wyatt Dermatology Clinic recently presented a case study of a hard tick bite trajectory over 30 days. Their work provides a detailed and novel account of the healing trajectory of an...
Dr Michael E. Green – Alisher M. Kariev | Understanding How Charged Particles Cross Living Cell Membranes
Living organisms function through a complex interplay of cellular mechanisms. The movement of charged atoms across cell membranes is key to diverse processes like cell growth and electrical signalling in the brain, and channels in these membranes open and close...
Education & Training Latest
Dr Anushia Inthiran | Distance Learning: Impacts for Offshore Students Amid COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted global education and necessitated a shift to online learning. Due to ongoing border closures, even after the pandemic eased, offshore students were prevented from attending their university in person long after their local peers, impacting their learning ability and future perspectives. Dr Anushia Inthiran from the University of Canterbury conducted a survey among a group of offshore students to understand the consequences of distance learning on their education.
Professor Lori Hensley – Professor Nathan Reyna | Driving Innovation in Cell Biology Education: The Cell Biology Education Consortium
Cell biology is the foundation of several branches of science and medicine. An education in cell biology theory and techniques gives students the grounding to pursue careers in healthcare, research, and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as providing a...
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....
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...
Psychology & Neuroscience Latest
Professor Ken M Levy | The Boundaries of Free Will and Responsibility: From Academic Debate to the Real World
For almost thirty years, Professor Ken M Levy of Louisiana State University Law School has been thinking and writing about free will and responsibility. In several articles and his recent book, Free Will, Responsibility, and Crime: An Introduction (Routledge 2020), Professor Levy discusses a wide range of subjects, including the myth of the ‘self-made man’, whether psychopaths are culpable for their crimes, and the increasingly popular but highly controversial theory of responsibility scepticism. Professor Levy’s research has profound implications for law, ethics, and society.
Dr Kara Pratt | From Neurons to Behaviour: Exciting Insights from the Xenopus Tadpole
Understanding how neurons come together and form circuits in the brain is crucial to understanding how the brain works. Dr Kara Pratt and her team at the University of Wyoming are uncovering the mysteries behind the formation of neural circuitry and the ability...
Dr Michael Hoffmann | Mirror Neurons as a Key to Stroke Rehabilitation
Mirror neurons are specialised brain cells that underpin our capacity to learn and understand a myriad of behaviours. Dr Michael Hoffmann, from the University of Central Florida and the Roskamp Institute in Florida, has unravelled the profound implications of...
Dr Antonius VanDongen | Unlocking the Mysteries of Alzheimer’s Disease with the Arc Gene
Our vulnerability to developing diseases and conditions depends upon a complex interaction between our genes, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Alzheimer’s disease is no exception to this, and sadly, it remains without a cure. Dr Antonius VanDongen and his...
Dr Audrey Nath | Neurological Disorders in Prisoners: A Neglected but Complex Problem
Incarceration presents a unique set of challenges for the health of individuals, particularly when it comes to neurological conditions. In a comprehensive review, Dr Audrey Nath and Samuel Han have delved into the often-overlooked realm of neurological health....
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...
Business, Economics & Finance Latest
Professor Karen Hogan | Uncovering the Financial Fallout of Cyber-Attacks
In our increasingly digital world, cyber-attacks pose a significant threat to corporations with their potential to disrupt operations, damage reputations, and ultimately impact shareholder value. Because these attacks are getting more sophisticated, companies need to protect both their own systems and be aware of what potential threats might exist as a result of doing business with their suppliers and partners. Professor Karen Hogan from Saint Joseph’s University in the USA is an expert on the complex relationship between cyber-attacks and shareholder wealth. Her comprehensive research provides valuable insights into how companies and investors can navigate this treacherous landscape.
Dr Simone Farinelli – Dr Hideyuki Takada | Geometric Arbitrage Theory: A New Conceptual Structure in Financial Mathematics
Stochastic finance modelling allows researchers to describe, analyse, and predict the highly variable behaviour of markets. Dr Simone Farinelli (Core Dynamics GmbH, Switzerland) and Dr Hideyuki Takada (Toho University, Japan) are experts in mathematical finance...
Professor Anup Basu | Hidden Costs of Gender Inequality in Aging Couples’ Financial Management
Gender inequality takes different forms across economic, social, political, and cultural situations. One important example from everyday life relates to how households make financial decisions. Professor Anup Basu from Queensland University of Technology...
Professor Usha Haley | A Word of Caution: State-Capitalist Investment in US Shale Gas
Fracking of shale gas remains a controversial but important energy source in the US and also for China – the largest consumer of energy worldwide. In recent years, China has invested significantly in the US shale-gas sector, prompting questions about the impact...
Jacob Hariri – Asger Wingender | Democratisation Becomes Less Likely When Arms Technology Surpasses Economic Development
Professor Jacob Hariri and Professor Asger Wingender, both at the University of Copenhagen, recently noticed that in most countries outside Europe and North America, economic development lags far behind government access to highly sophisticated weapons. The...
Dr Kimberly Kay Hoang | Spiderweb Capitalism: The Secret Financial Webs Built by the Ultra-Wealthy
The anonymous leak of the Panama Papers in 2016 revealed how the exceptionally wealthy (such as politicians, celebrities and business leaders) hide their money and exploit secretive offshore tax regimes. Dr Kimberly Kay Hoang is a Professor of Sociology at the...
Scientia Issue #149 | Scientific Strategies for People and Planet
This issue of Scientia showcases the researchers making innovative advances in improving the health and well-being of people across the globe, as well as those dedicated to ensuring the health and sustainability of our planet. From advances in the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences and Education & Training to Business, Economics & Finance and Engineering & Computer Science, we gain fascinating insights into how research drives a better and fairer world.
In Earth & Environmental Sciences, we present the latest developments in navigating the complex challenges of climate change. In Medical & Health Sciences, we update on efforts to confront the challenge of cancer and how diet can promote human longevity. Spotlight on SciComm Corner is a new section highlighting recent and interesting posts from Scientia’s webpages, sharing science communication advice and opinions from the Scientia team and guest bloggers.
Scientia Issue #148 | New Horizons in Research and Discovery
New Horizons in Research and Discovery In this latest issue of Scientia, we showcase some of the most exciting recent advances in research and discovery. Disease, poverty, war, inequality, and climate change are just some of the...
Scientia Issue #147 | Driving Positive Change Through Research and Innovation
DRIVING POSITIVE CHANGE THROUGH RESEARCH AND INNOVATION This inspiring issue celebrates the work of researchers who are driving positive change for the future across diverse disciplines. The Earth and Environment section...
Scientia Issue #146 | Pushing Boundaries in Science and Research
PUSHING BOUNDARIES IN SCIENCE AND RESEARCH This riveting issue of Scientia showcases recent advances across excitingly diverse fields of study, spanning agriculture, linguistics, physics, healthcare, economics, and much more....
Scientia Issue #145 | Discovery, Research and Innovation in Tackling Global Challenges
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
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
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
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...
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