Imagine you’ve just walked into a room to find a hungry looking lion, or a big snake, or perhaps a desk with your most dreaded exam paper. Despite being very different scenarios, the effect will be broadly similar. Emotionally, you will experience varying degrees of fear (from anxiety to panic), and a heightened sense of alertness (hypervigilance).… Read the rest
Ageing with grace: The longest living animals
There is something oddly captivating about superlatives. What is the biggest? The fastest? The cleverest? This article covers one in particular, the oldest.
As a benchmark, human life expectancy is on average 72 years as of 2016 (WHO).… Read the rest
The age of discovery – Are we alone in the universe?
As the discoveries of new planetary bodies are being made at a rapid rate around us, it inspires the question, “Are we alone in the universe?” The search for planets and development of theories on life outside of Earth is now a science in its own right, known as astrobiology.… Read the rest
Can Computers Write Science Books?
The German academic publisher Springer has recently brought out a whole book written by a piece of artificial intelligence software called Beta Writer. The book, Lithium-Ion Batteries: a machine generated summary of current research, can be downloaded free of charge as a PDF.… Read the rest
Review: The Plant Messiah – Carlos Magdalena ****
With its neon green, floral cover and commanding The Plant Messiah title, I knew I had to pay the heartbreakingly expensive £20* just to read this book, whether I enjoyed it or not. So off I went, the poor biology student that I am, knowing that even if it were a tedious read, at least it would look good on the book shelf.… Read the rest
Training Heavy: The Benefits For Women’s Health
Not too long ago, cardiovascular activity was seen as the holy grail of fat loss. Most people thought that to shift the extra Christmas pounds, LISS (low-intensity steady state) on the treadmill was the only way to burn that fat. The resistance training area of the gym was dominated by body-building young men – yet weight training could actually be superior to cardio for women seeking to ‘reshape’ their body.… Read the rest
A new hope for Parkinson’s sufferers?
1 out of 350 adults in the UK will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in their lifetime. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder that becomes increasingly common over the age of 60. As this disease has such a large impact on society, you may be wondering what is being done to bring an end to its impact in ageing communities.… Read the rest
Review: Incognito (The Secret Lives of The Brain) – David Eagleman ****
Weaving eye-catching optical illusions
and strange case studies together with a passion for his subject, David Eagleman’s Incognito is both accessible and challenging to the average reader. The depths of the subconscious mind explored in this book address the age-old question: why do we do the things we do?… Read the rest
A NEW FRONTIER FOR HUNTINGTON’S?
Walking is simple. Most people don’t have to think about placing one foot in front of the other, but then most people don’t have Huntington’s disease.
I sit at the New Scientist Live 2017 expo, transfixed by the woman on the screen.… Read the rest
Optogenetics, Memory, and Their Application in Other Spheres
