News

This is our spot to tell you the most exciting Edinburgh-centric science news we can find. It's also a great place for new writers to learn their trade- so get in touch.

400,000 year old CO2 reservoir in Utah reveals risks and rewards of Carbon Capture Storage

Submitted by Alex Shedlock on Wed, 2013-05-15 16:59
Sampling limestone has led to revelations regarding where and how natural CO2 leaks occur

Carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere are rising. Rapidly. We’ve known this for a few years now, and ways to actively reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air seem to be few and far between. However, a 400,000 year old CO2 reservoir in Utah could hold some clues on how to lock our carbon emissions into the ground. Read more »

11th March- Renewable energy symposium: fundraising event for Fukushima

Submitted by Alex Shedlock on Sat, 2013-03-02 15:48
Attend the free event on Monday the 11th March to see speakers, eat Japanese food, and learn about renewable energy in Scotland and the Fukushima disaster

Join the Day After the Tsunami Committee and a host of researchers and political speakers for the Renewable Energy Symposium- taking place on the 11th March; the second anniversary of the nuclear tragedy in Fukushima. Read more »

New plastic bone scaffold provides grip for stem cell bone growth

Submitted by Alex Shedlock on Mon, 2013-02-25 12:53
Rachel Huddart reports on a newly found lightweight, durable plastic which can provide better scaffolds for the regrowth of bones

We all know that breaking a bone becomes a more serious issue as we get older. For example, a sprightly young undergrad will probably bounce back within a couple of months whereas a more mature person (say, a PhD supervisor) might need a bit longer to recover*.  Read more »

Shetland at the heart of disease research

Submitted by Alex Shedlock on Thu, 2013-02-21 21:31
Frank Dong Liu tells us about how the islands' stable population allows scientists to study minor DNA differences: to many ends

A grant of £600,000 has been awarded to scientists at the University of Edinburgh to support a project that, with a little help from the residents of Shetland, promises to unravel how our genes play a part in diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.  Read more »

New water-based gels provide life-line for stem cell growth

Submitted by Alex Shedlock on Tue, 2013-01-29 18:34
Rachel Huddart talks about new technology which will replace the expensive scaffolds typically used to grow stem cells safely

They are often heralded as the future of medicine and could soon be used in anything from transplant surgeries to determining which drugs will work best in our bodies, but growing stem cells in the lab still represents something of a challenge. Read more »

New research reveals a hidden world of water beneath the streets of Istanbul

Submitted by Alex Shedlock on Wed, 2013-01-16 17:35
Michelle Williams reveals to us an ancient and unprecedented system of waterways underneath Istanbul stretching up to 200km

Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, is a rapidly growing place, home to over 13 million people. However, beneath the bustling pavements lies a hidden secret – an extensive water system dating from the fourth century. Read more »

Researchers need YOU to help understand dark matter

Submitted by Alex Shedlock on Mon, 2012-11-26 02:04
Rachel Huddart tells us about a new international, amateur competition to help solve the universe's greatest mysteries

 

Researchers from Edinburgh University, currently on the hunt for dark matter, are looking to people from around the world to help them understand one of the greatest mysteries in the universe. Read more »

Presidential talking heads let you chat anytime with a digital Obama or Romney

Submitted by Alex Shedlock on Thu, 2012-11-15 17:16
Yasmin Morgan-Griffiths tells us about computerised versions of this years American presidential candidates who will field any questions we can think up

Would you have loved the chance to pick Barack Obama’s or Mitt Romney's brains during the run up to the 2012 presidential elections? Even though election mania is over, here’s your chance to have a conversation with the presidential candidates. Read more »

Exercise keeps the brain young in old age

Submitted by Alex Shedlock on Fri, 2012-11-09 16:55
Michelle Williams discusses new research showing that people over 70 see less brain shrinkage if they exercise regularly

 

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have found that exercise later in life may protect the brain from ageing.

Ageing is associated with changes in the volume and health of brain tissue. These changes have also been linked to disorders of memory and thought, which are particularly prevalent in individuals later lives. Read more »

New compound blocks parasite which affects millions

Submitted by Alex Shedlock on Wed, 2012-10-17 14:18
Rachel Huddart talks about a newly found compound which can prevent illnesses such as Black Fever

 

A breakthrough by Edinburgh scientists may spell the end for a disease-causing tropical parasite which infects millions of people every year. Read more »

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