EUSci – The Edinburgh University Science Magazine

EUSci Podcast #23

Do we know how galaxies form?

We bring you another EUSci podcast, full of science facts, and a bit of Big Bang Theory. This week, our host Bethan Lowder takes you through stories about hands and feet, galaxy formation, oil drops navigating a maze, and much more. So sit back and enjoy our take on the oily beaker of science stories that made the headlines (or at least the science pages) of newspapers over the past couple of weeks.

Download Link

What’s in today’s show:

News:

• Alcohol During Pregnancy Chemically Alters Fetal DNA
• Online Community Disprove Claims in Paper, Leading to its Eventual Retraction
• Breaking the Strongest Bonds
• An Elaboration on the Traditional T-shirt Sniffing Pheromone Research
• Pheromone that Makes Fruitflies Beat up their Ladyfriends

• An economist works out why he doesn’t have a girlfriend, using the Drake equation.
  

You can subscribe to the feed for the podcast here, or by using the podcast button on the sidebar. If you have iTunes, click the iTunes button to subscribe automatically.

Don’t know how to subscribe to podcasts? There’s a tutorial here. And don’t forget that you can also join our Facebook group, or send comments and feedback to podcast@eusci.org.

Global warming is sped up by rising temperatures

Scientists from the University of Edinburgh and The Netherlands Institute for Space Research have discovered that rising temperatures due to climate change are resulting in greater global warming. This effect is caused by an increased production of methane from wetland areas, which are the world’s largest source of the greenhouse gas.

The researchers used satellite measurements of the atmospheric concentration of methane and changes in surface water, as well as data on surface temperature.  They found that methane output from wetland areas increased by 7 per cent from 2003-2007 in line with rising temperatures. The research also highlighted the emissions from wetland areas that are most sensitive to flooding or temperature fluctuations.

These findings, published in Science, may help scientists to predict future climate change.

For more information:

University News

Full Paper

- Laura Bailey

EUSci Podcast #22

Authentic or imitation? Your computer may be able to tell.

What better way to start a brand new year than with a brand new episode of the EUSci podcast! This week, our host Alex Sinclair takes you through stories about bees, prehistoric DNA, computers identifying false paintings, and much more. So sit back and enjoy our take on the freshly-minted bounty of science stories that made the headlines (or at least the science pages) of newspapers over the past couple of weeks.

Download Link

What’s in today’s show:

News:

• Partners ’sculpt’ Each Other’s Personalities Toward their Ideal
• Different Groups of Chimpanzees have Unique Cultures
• Two Types of Killer Whales in UK Waters
• Does the G-spot actually exist?
• Open Access Papers Cited More Often
• Smart Wind Turbines (with Lasers!)

• Despite what certain people may say: Children who don’t have the chickenpox vaccine are more likely to get chickenpox.

You can subscribe to the feed for the podcast here, or by using the podcast button on the sidebar. If you have iTunes, click the iTunes button to subscribe automatically.

Don’t know how to subscribe to podcasts? There’s a tutorial here. And don’t forget that you can also join our Facebook group, or send comments and feedback to podcast@eusci.org.

Issue 5 is out!

The latest issue of the EUSci magazine is out, with a brand new logo and design. The printed version is available in science departments on all campuses, so keep an eye out.

This issue features a Focus article on Autism Spectrum Disorders, as well articles on genetics, bionic limbs, science rap, Scottish sea power, the British Science Festival and much more.

If you can’t wait to read it, download the PDF here.

EUSci Podcast Extra: Interview with Professor Ian Stewart

Mathematician and writer Professor Ian Stewart

Listen to the full version of Frank Dondelinger’s interview with Professor Ian Stewart, mathematician, science and science fiction writer, and co-author of The Science of the Discworld.

Download Link

You can subscribe to the feed for the podcast here, or by using the podcast button on the sidebar. If you have iTunes, click the iTunes button to subscribe automatically.

Don’t know how to subscribe to podcasts? There’s a tutorial here. And don’t forget that you can also join our Facebook group, or send comments and feedback to podcast@eusci.org.

Sensing and flowering

A recent research project, carried out at The University of Edinburgh, may have discovered a link that explains how seasonal daylight fluctuations alter the activities of plants.

Computer modellings of mouse-ear cress (a small flowering plant) revealed interactions between the genes responsible for the plant’s internal rhythm and those controlling seasonal events. It is thought, that changes in day-length result in a modification of the activity of the genes, on which the exact flowering time is determined.

According to Professor Andrew Millar, leader of the research project at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Biological Sciences: “growing knowledge about the mechanism in simple plants may provide further understanding of the system in more complex organisms. The comparison among plants and between the plant and animal kingdoms in terms of the evolutionary relationship of daylight preceiving are also of interests.”

-Dong Liu

Study lights up new strategy for targeting cancer

A team of researchers from the University of Edinburgh has discovered a new method for targeting anti-cancer drugs to their target, based on light emission. It is thought the technique could light the way to safer cancer treatments.

The researchers found that by shining light on microscopic light-absorbing semiconductors – a component of solar cells – it was possible to activate certain anticancer drugs. Additionally, it is thought that the amount of drug activated can be controlled by altering the wavelength of the light used.

By administering inactive forms of the drugs and then selectively activating different amounts of drug at the site of a tumour, the strategy may help to reduce the side-effects of anticancer drugs. According to Dr Juan Mareque-Rivas (University of Edinburgh’s School of Chemistry): “There is much work to be done before our discovery translates into treatment for cancer patients. However, we believe this semiconductor technology could offer a safe and efficient form of chemotherapy”.

For more information please contact: Dr Juan Mareque-Rivas, School of Chemistry; e-mail Juan.Mareque@ed.ac.uk

-James Beggs

EUSci Podcast #21

The chances of anything coming from Mars - not that bad?

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and not a creature was stirring except for the industrious elves of the EUSci podcast. This week, our host Katie Marwick guides you through stories about bacteria from Mars, meditation as an alternative to heart drugs, whale voices getting deeper, and much more. So sit back and enjoy our take on the guaranteed holiday-free stockingfull of science stories that made the headlines (or at least the science pages) of newspapers over the past couple of weeks.

Download Link

What’s in today’s show:

News:

• Stunning Nematodes
• Plastics Without Fossil Fuels
• Osmosis Power Plant
• Possible Stem Cell Therapy for HIV
• Talking Monkeys

• Scientists find that men like porn.

You can subscribe to the feed for the podcast here, or by using the podcast button on the sidebar. If you have iTunes, click the iTunes button to subscribe automatically.

Don’t know how to subscribe to podcasts? There’s a tutorial here. And don’t forget that you can also join our Facebook group, or send comments and feedback to podcast@eusci.org.

EUSci Podcast #20

Humans and Chimpanzees - What's the Difference?

Despite exams, work, and the Christmas season bearing down upon us like a freight train, we have found the time to bring you yet another episode of the EUSci podcast. This week, our host Frank Dondelinger explores why chimpanzees can’t talk, why doctors may need help from computers in making decisions, why nanotechnologies are not always bad, and much more. So sit back and enjoy our take on the small but perfectly formed collection of science stories that made the headlines (or at least the science pages) of newspapers over the past couple of weeks.

Download Link

What’s in today’s show:

News:

• Bad Decisions May Be Contagious
• Rare Monkey Has an Interesting Sexual History
• Hazfa People in Tanzania Don’t Conform to Body Stereotypes
• Rosetta Probe Comes Back and Does a Slingshot
• Scottish Forest Named one of the World’s Best Places for Stargazing

EU-What?!

• We talk about natural remedies and the placebo effect.

You can subscribe to the feed for the podcast here, or by using the podcast button on the sidebar. If you have iTunes, click the iTunes button to subscribe automatically.

Don’t know how to subscribe to podcasts? There’s a tutorial here. And don’t forget that you can also join our Facebook group, or send comments and feedback to podcast@eusci.org.

EUSci Podcast #19

Is this fruitbat giving us a lascivious look?

Better late than never, here’s the latest episode of the EUSci podcast. This week, our host Jess Smith is here to find out about fruitbat fellatio (believe it or not), magnetic navigation in birds, new spider discoveries, and much more. So sit back and enjoy our take on the araneaic webful of science stories that made the headlines (or at least the science pages) of newspapers over the past couple of weeks.

Download Link

What’s in today’s show:

-

News:

• Lawsuit Against Gene Patents
• Monkeys Experience ‘Uncanny Valley’
• Space Elevator Competition
• Possible Drug to Treat Fragile X Syndrome
• Fear Detector

EU-What?!

• We discuss why it’s better if healthcare staff wash their hands.

You can subscribe to the feed for the podcast here, or by using the podcast button on the sidebar. If you have iTunes, click the iTunes button to subscribe automatically.

Don’t know how to subscribe to podcasts? There’s a tutorial here. And don’t forget that you can also join our Facebook group, or send comments and feedback to podcast@eusci.org.