Features

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...

Liver cells…in 3D

June 17, 2014
With a breakthrough that led to the first ever in-vitro expansion of liver stem cells, researchers from the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute think they are on the brink...

The ‘middle men’ of knowledge

June 12, 2014
Researchers developing lighter materials and new catalysts are collaborating with UK companies to revolutionise our homes, cars and planes - but, says John Conti-Ramsden, we can’t rest on our laurels;...

Unleashing the hidden efficiency of your lab

June 10, 2014
Money for science is in short supply. Yet an untapped resource exists. These are the performance and financial benefits which are available from improvements in the efficiency of laboratories. The...

Scotland builds a biotech future

June 5, 2014
It’s no secret, globally our environment is changing. We’re seeing a rise in population, a rapid depletion of resources, increasing environmental pressures and climate change.  That’s why there’s never been...

Putting it all on the table

June 3, 2014
The competition to synthesise heavy elements is well underway, but are we creating them just because we can; what can we learn from these superheavy additions to the Periodic Table?...

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