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.

In our continued mission of connecting science and society, this issue of Scientia showcases some of the most exciting advances and achievements in understanding and confronting global challenges. Disease, poverty, war, inequality, and climate change are just some of the key concerns this issue’s featured researchers address.

We showcase research and discovery across fields spanning the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences & Biology, Physical Sciences & Mathematics, Medical & Health Sciences, and Psychology & Neuroscience. Collectively, the articles presented across these themed sections provide a powerful reminder that we can change our world for the better. And that by opening new horizons across diverse research fields and disciplines, we can drive a brighter future for all.

This inspiring issue celebrates the work of researchers who are driving positive change for the future across diverse disciplines.

The Earth and Environment section highlights important conservation and climate modelling developments. In Physical Science, Engineering and Technology, we focus on collaboration and education, and in Psychology and Neuroscience, we concentrate on child and adolescent mental health. Our Health and Medicine section presents several key advances in clinical research and our Article of the Year, A Quest for Zero Heart Attacks, which features the incredible work of Professor Gemma Figtree.

Finally, our stimulating social sciences and humanities section provides serious food for thought on topics ranging from economics and capitalism to insights into the history of science journalism.

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.

As always, we celebrate interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches in our mission of connecting science and society. Across four themed sections, we discover the latest insights in understanding the Earth and the environment, uncover new ideas in physical science, engineering and technology, read about innovation in health and medicine, and last but not least, explore a wealth of stimulating topics in the social sciences and humanities.

Our latest issue of Scientia continues our mission to connect science and society. Climate change, diseases that remain without a cure, social injustice and poverty are just some of the urgent global problems being tackled by our featured researchers. From exciting advances in physical science, engineering and technology to the latest insights in psychology and neuroscience, this riveting issue showcases recent advances in discovery, research and innovation across a fascinating breadth of disciplines.

Our future lies in the hands of the next generation of scientists and researchers, and we are delighted to showcase how different disciplines are working to inspire young people, widen participation, and promote inclusivity and diversity.

Welcome to the latest issue of Scientia! In this inspiring instalment, we focus on the vital work of researchers whose common goal is to make the world healthier and happier. While human life expectancy has more than doubled in the past two centuries, COVID-19 reminded us of the fragility of life, the vulnerability of our healthcare systems, and the potential for major disease outbreaks to change all aspects of life as we know it. At the same time, we face other urgent, global challenges to human health including cancer, heart disease, and mental health conditions.

Our first section is dedicated to critical advances in medicine and health. We take a look at the latest developments in cancer, human immunodeficiency virus, autoimmune diseases, cardiology, urology and other clinical fields. Our second section focuses on pioneering research in psychology and neuroscience. Here, we can read about neurodegenerative disorders and cognitive decline, the development of interventions to improve mental health, and fascinating research untangling the complexities of the human mind and behaviour.

Our new format Scientia features a variety of innovative projects reflecting a tremendous breadth and depth of research across different disciplines. From exploring advances in Engineering and Technology to the latest innovations in Education and Training, we can read how pioneering scientists and educators are paving the way towards a greater understanding of the universe, humanity, and everything in between.

Each section takes us on an exciting journey while also offering the opportunity for the cross-pollination of ideas from the latest and most exciting research. In our mission of connecting science and society, our new format celebrates the critical role of multi- and interdisciplinary approaches in propelling creativity and innovation, as well as the fundamental importance of advancing the expansion of ideas, broadening perspectives, and promoting new ways of thinking by furthering inclusivity and diversity.

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 and a growing human population. In this important issue of Scientia, we meet scientists who are tackling these challenges head on. The first half of the issue showcases the work of ecologists and conservation scientists, whose research is informing new strategies to protect and restore Earth’s precious biodiversity.

We open this section by speaking with Professor Astrid Groot, President of The European Society for Evolutionary Biology, who explains how evolutionary insights are essential for devising effective conservation plans. Next, we meet many fascinating scientists, each conducting important research in the areas of ecology or evolutionary biology – from identifying the best strategies to protect Louisiana’s wetlands, to exploring how ‘genetic rescue’ can save inbred populations of animals and plants from extinction.

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 first section showcases the dedicated efforts of researchers working to improve the prevention and diagnosis of disease across the lifespan. We also meet Nicola Perrin, Chief Executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities in an exclusive interview highlighting their vital work saving and improving lives through research and innovation.

In the second section, we showcase the critical work of researchers pioneering the development of new drugs and interventions. We can read of the diverse ways in which the drugs of the future are being advanced, and how improving understanding of underlying disease mechanisms is informing much-needed treatment innovation. The third and final section is focused on the researchers boldly confronting the challenge of cancer. Here, we can read of the inspiring, dedicated efforts to overcome this leading cause of death worldwide.

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 Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), our first section focusing on climate and atmospheric science is particularly pertinent. Here, we introduce researchers who are advancing our understanding of climate breakdown in all its complexity, including how aerosols are impacting the progression of climate change. Next, our geophysics and planetary science section opens with an exclusive interview with the President of the Association for Women Geoscientists. We then showcase some of the most exciting geophysics research, before venturing beyond our atmosphere to explore the effects of the solar wind on Earth’s magnetic field.

This important issue of Scientia takes an exciting look into the future of health and healthcare delivery across the world. It is with great pride that we celebrate the significant advances that have been achieved in this field, despite the adversity caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Our first section showcases the dedicated efforts of researchers working to improve the promotion of healthy living as well as the provision of clinical care and disease prevention through policy development. The second section focuses on the researchers tackling the causes and consequences of poor nutrition, from undernutrition in the developing world to obesity in the developed world. Our third section highlights the work of researchers dedicated to progressing understanding of how we fight infection and defend against disease. We also meet here Professor Colin Garner, founder and Chief Executive at Antibiotic Research UK, and gain insight into the charity’s vital work. Our fourth and final section celebrates the diverse and inspiring work of scientists who are dedicated to the development of innovative treatments and technologies across the broad realms of health and healthcare.

In this inspiring new edition of Scientia, we are delighted to feature some of the most ground-breaking research findings and innovations across the diverse fields of chemistry, materials science, physics and computer science. Our opening section explores the weird and wonderful world of chemistry. Here, we begin with a focus on chemistry education, before highlighting a selection of research projects in this fascinating branch of science. From developing chemical methods to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, to devising inexpensive strategies for synthesising pharmaceuticals, this section shows how chemistry continuously offers solutions to an array of societal challenges. Next, we report on some exciting developments in the critical field of materials science.

This riveting and thought-provoking issue of Scientia showcases the work of scientists charting new frontiers in psychological and brain sciences. The brain is, by far, the most complex organ in the human body. It is responsible for our thoughts, what we do and what we don’t do, our external experience of the world and our internal sense of self. It should not, then, be unexpected that conditions affecting the brain can have deleteriously severe impacts on people’s lives. And at the same time, conditions affecting the brain are notoriously difficult to treat. In our first section, we meet the researchers working to ameliorate the negative impacts of adversity and trauma on mental health. From advances in understanding how childhood trauma impacts brain development to recognition of the complex and interacting factors associated with alcohol use disorders, this section highlights critical advancements being made in building brighter futures through scientific endeavour. Our second section showcases the work of researchers unravelling the complex and multifaceted causes of disease.

This special issue of Scientia is dedicated to the scientists working to confront cancer, one of the biggest challenges facing medical science in the 21st century. Although research into cancer has taken place in some form for over 200 years, still to this day we do not have a cure and cancer remains a leading cause of mortality across the globe. The first section in this special issue is dedicated to research on the causes and risk factors that may lead to cancer, with a focus on the need for public health interventions to reduce preventable deaths. Our second section focuses on the work of researchers striving to improve the timing and accuracy of diagnosing cancer. This is a critical area of research because early diagnosis is associated with much better rates of survival than later diagnosis. Our final section is dedicated to the development of treatments for cancer. In acknowledgement of the need to develop a broad range of therapies to cover the whole spectrum of cancer, we meet the researchers dedicated to the development of novel and innovative therapeutics.

Scientists, engineers, medical professionals and statisticians are all at the forefront of our battle against SARS-CoV-2. As a result, the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) have perhaps never seemed so important. In addition to eradicating this devastating virus, many other challenges facing society, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, can only be addressed by a strong and diverse STEM workforce. Building a robust STEM community is dependent upon innovative and inclusive education, from primary school to university and beyond. Therefore, this issue showcases an inspiring collection of projects, each seeking to enhance STEM education worldwide.

While the world’s attention is focused on eradicating COVID-19, we must not forget that unsustainable farming practices and the ensuing biodiversity declines were leading factors in the emergence of this devastating disease. To prevent future pandemics, we must now find new ways to feed the human population while also protecting and restoring Earth’s biodiversity. Such sustainable agricultural methods have a range of other positive impacts, including climate change mitigation, improved animal welfare, and reduced social inequality.