AI discovers the first new antibiotic in over 60 years
A deep-learning algorithm has helped scientists identify new compounds that are effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria – a public health threat that causes thousands of deaths annually. With doctors concerned that antibiotics have become increasingly ineffective since Fleming first purified penicillin in 1928, the recent discovery of a compound which...
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UAE’s ‘low carbon’ blue ammonia debunked by experts
Hydrogen is heralded by many as the key to decarbonising energy, but the UAE’s ‘low carbon’ way of transporting it through blue ammonia is drawing scepticism from experts. When the president of the world’s leading climate conference is simultaneously the chief of a top 10 oil production empire, it’s understandable...
Microdosing psychedelics could help those with ADHD
A new study shows that consuming tiny amounts of LSD or magic mushrooms can improve mindfulness in people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Following decades of demonisation and criminalisation, psychedelic drugs are being proved to have profound implications for a field that’s seen few pharmacological advancements since the 60s. I’m...
PlayStation’s ‘India Hero Project’ to cultivate the nation’s gaming talent
The ‘India Hero Project’ is a scheme which will allow the nation’s indie developers to pitch to a committee of nine Sony employees. Financial, technical, and marketing support will be offered to the best demos and Sony may even publish games directly. The gaming market in India is currently worth...
The growing danger of satellite re-entries
While satellites play a crucial role in various industries, recent concerns have emerged regarding the potential safety risks posed by aging satellites re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the dangers of satellites falling from the sky. This is due to several factors, including...
Space launches are ‘profoundly’ polluting Earth’s atmosphere
A team of researchers has traced atmospheric pollution to types of metal found in rockets and satellites. Is our ozone layer again under threat? In our quest for knowledge and cosmic expansion, is the Space Age leaving dirty fingerprints on our Earth’s stratosphere? A team of researchers recently discovered an abundance...
NASA is gearing up to build houses on the moon
Humans may have only made their first visit to the moon a little over fifty years ago, but by 2040 some of us could be living there. If building homes on the moon is successful, NASA says homes on Mars could be next. Living on the moon might sound far-fetched, but the big brains at NASA aren’t being shy about their desire to give it a shot. Discussions about long-term stays...
Could CRISPR save us from a future of food scarcity?
Scientists are hopeful that the gene-editing technology could help ease food insecurity as climate change continues to threaten crop yields and worsen global food insecurity on a planet with a growing human population. Feeding a population of more than 8 billion people in a world stricken by an unpredictable climate will be a challenge we are forced to face in the near future. Looking for solutions to this incoming problem,...
Is AI about to change deep-sea exploration?
Humans have explored more of outer space than our own planet’s oceans. Artificial Intelligence is about to change that. Although oceans cover 70 percent of the planet’s surface, much of this vast realm has remained unexplored on account of it being too challenging of an environment for humans to survive in. Our planet’s oceans can reach incredible depths, with its deepest area located in the Pacific. It is known as the...
Henrietta Lacks – The unsung hero of the medical world
The cells of Henrietta Lacks have been instrumental in advancing the bioscience field, saving countless lives, but their use was tainted with injustice. Her story is a reminder of the importance of informed consent in medical research. In 1951, a young mother walked into Johns Hopkins Hospital – one of the few hospitals to treat poor African Americans at the time. The woman, Henrietta Lacks, was later told by her doctors...