Features

The challenges of going remote

August 5, 2014
In recent years, advances in technology have radically improved the quality and reliability of remote environmental monitoring; Neill Cornwell examines some of the key challenges and explains how they are...

Uncovering the truth of fibrosis

July 29, 2014
Despite its essential role in the normal wound healing process, fibrosis in humans is most often discussed in its pathological context – an irreversible, progressive and, ultimately, fatal disease. Although...

Stopping the air from turning blue

July 24, 2014
Concerns are being raised that some biofuel crops may increase the production of a climate changing gas known as isoprene – now research suggests microbes in the soil could combat...

Data management – the key to safe fracking?

July 22, 2014
Over the last few years, rapid technology developments related to fracking have spawned significant opportunity for the oil and gas industry, but that growth has led to controversial and well-publicised...

A taste for flavour characterisation

July 18, 2014
Flavour and aroma analysis is important to many industries, from the obvious – such as the food, drink and fragrance sectors – to the less evident, such as cosmetics and...

A standard solution for atmospheric science

July 17, 2014
Scientists at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have produced the world’s first synthetic air reference standard which can be used to accurately measure levels of carbon dioxide and methane in...

A gap in the clouds

July 16, 2014
While much of our climate is well characterised and modelled, there is something of a gaping hole in our understanding – the nuts and bolts of how a cloud actually...

Fit for purpose?

July 15, 2014
Almost every laboratory experiment and diagnostic assay relies on using pure water to generate results that can be trusted. Jim Keary explains why selecting the right water supply is more...

Biological production by human design

July 10, 2014
Paul Gemmill discusses why synthetic biology has become such a growth area and what the research councils are doing to foster this growth in the UK Competition for dwindling resources,...

Biological production by human design

July 8, 2014
Rapid advances in synthetic biology have made it possible to convert biomass to chemicals, fuels and materials, and produce new therapeutic drugs, all of which promise significant economic growth. Richard...

The starkest of contrasts

July 3, 2014
In mid-April, the latest volume from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was published, assessing current and future action to reduce carbon emissions. Coincidentally this came out just as...

Widening the wheat gene pool

June 24, 2014
Our most dominant crop has a worrying lack genetic diversity. Here, we learn about a UK programme aiming to change this, whilst also improving the germplasm pool to yield better...

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