Guest Work

WHO reform: a call for an early-warning protocol for infectious diseases

Guest Author • Oct 21, 2020

• COVID-19,
• Infectious Diseases,
• WHO

Peter Gluckman and Alexander Gillespie, University of Waikato The World Health Organization (WHO) has come in for its share of criticism for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some faults are the responsibility of the WHO, others were caused by member states, which did not always act as quickly as they should have. In our opinion, … Read More

Which ‘milk’ is best for the environment? We compared dairy, nut, soy, hemp and grain milks

Guest Author • Oct 15, 2020

• almond milk,
• environmental footprint,
• milk,
• nut milk,
• soy milk

Making eco-conscious choices at the shops can be tricky when we’re presented with so many options, especially when it comes to milk. Should we buy plant-based milk, or dairy? We’ve looked at the evidence to help you choose. Dora Marinova, Curtin University and Diana Bogueva, Curtin University Dairy has the biggest environmental footprint, by far Any plant-based milk, be it … Read More

The SMC Video Competition: The Tītipounamu Project

Guest Author • Oct 09, 2020

• early career researcher,
• Tītipounamu

Recently, the Science Media Centre ran the third round of its 2020 SAVVY Video Competition for science researchers. With entries ranging from kea tracking to Beethoven’s piano pieces, we judges were incredibly impressed by the creativity and quality of submissions. This week, we’re featuring the work of runner-up, PhD candidate Yen Yi Loo. When I introduce myself … Read More

Rocky icebergs and deep anchors – new research on how planetary forces shape the Earth’s surface

Guest Author • Sep 29, 2020

• continental drift,
• continents,
• oceans,
• plate tectonics

Simon Lamb, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Have you ever wondered why the Earth’s surface is separated into two distinct worlds – the oceans and large tracts of land? Why aren’t land and water more mixed up, forming a landscape of lakes? And why is most of the land relatively low and close to sea level, making … Read More

Where in the world will the next epidemic start?

Guest Author • Sep 27, 2020

• animal hosts,
• COVID-19,
• epidemic,
• Pandemic,
• virus transmission

Naomi Forrester-Soto, Keele University Viruses jumping from animals to humans have been the starting point of numerous outbreaks, from Ebola to Zika. Given the similarity of SARS-CoV-2 to coronaviruses found in bats, this probably marked the beginning of COVID-19 too. We know that viruses have passed from animals to humans throughout history, and will continue to do so. Read More

Coronavirus: the road to vaccine roll-out is always bumpy, as 20th-century pandemics show

Guest Author • Sep 26, 2020

• COVID-19,
• Pandemic,
• polio,
• Vaccine

Samantha Vanderslott, University of Oxford If you have been following the media coverage of the new vaccines in development for COVID-19, it will be clear that the stakes are high. Very few vaccine trials in history have attracted so much attention, perhaps since polio in the mid-20th century. A now largely forgotten chapter, summer polio outbreaks invoked terror in parents. Read More

Cycling: head injuries ignored because of entrenched macho culture

Guest Author • Sep 24, 2020

• behaviour,
• concussion,
• culture,
• cycling,
• head injury,
• sport

Howard Hurst, University of Central Lancashire and Jack Hardwicke, University of Winchester Competitive road cycling is a demanding and unique sport. One where crashing is inevitable – especially at the professional level. While the risk of head injury is relatively low in cycling – approximately 5-13% – compared to contact sports such as rugby, the consequences of a … Read More

Arctic sea ice is being increasingly melted from below by warming Atlantic water

Guest Author • Sep 24, 2020

• Arctic sea ice,
• climate change,
• sea ice

Tom Rippeth, Bangor University Arctic sea ice today (white) is covering a much smaller area than in 1980-2010 (orange line). National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CC BY-SA Each September, scientists like me look out for the point when the Arctic’s meagre summer fizzles out and sea ice begins to grow once more. This point … Read More

Humans ignite almost every wildfire that threatens homes

Guest Author • Sep 23, 2020

• arson,
• bush fires,
• climate change,
• wildfire

Nathan Mietkiewicz, National Ecological Observatory Network and Jennifer Balch, University of Colorado Boulder CC BY-ND Summer and fall are wildfire season across the western U.S. In recent years, wildfires have destroyed thousands of homes, forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate and exposed tens of millions to harmful smoke. Wildfires are a natural disturbance for these regions, but when … Read More

Neuralink and You: A Human-AI Symbiosis

Guest Author • Sep 21, 2020

• artificial intelligence,
• brain implant,
• elon musk,
• medical device,
• Neuralink

Becky Casale Elon Musk reckons his Neuralink brain implant is much more than a medical device–that one day it will drive a symbiosis between humans and artificial intelligence. “Good morning! I’m Dr Benedict Egg and I’ll be supervising your Neuralink insertion today. Do you have any questions?” “Yes, Doc. Does it hurt? Will I feel it going … Read More