Could mapping the seafloor help save the planet?
Joel Tester provides a deep-dive into the current holes in our knowledge about the ocean, and why mapping the seafloor is so important.
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Do antidepressants actually work?
Joshua Mitchell reviews the debate over the role of serotonin in depression, and the evidence on whether antidepressants do actually work.
‘Publish or perish’ versus scientific collaboration in medical research
The COVID-19 pandemic thrust medical research into the global spotlight. It bridged established disconnects between scientists and the public, between science and industry, and within the scientific community itself. It demonstrated the power of researchers working collaboratively towards a common goal. And yet, the pandemic also fostered unprecedented levels of scientific competition.
Are GMOs safe? The debate over genetically altered foods
Isabel Schmidt discusses GMO crops and the debate about their safety.
Why bananas could disappear from our supermarkets
The lack of genetic diversity in banana plants puts them at risk of disease pandemics that could wipe them off our supermarket shelves for good. Isabel Schmidt discusses how our current bananas have been developed and how to overcome these risks in the future.
In search of a cure to insomnia
Nearly 20% of people suffer from insomnia, and yet the drugs to treat it are often not effective. Yexuan Zhu discusses new research on the the best treatments for insomnia and future approaches to helping people sleep better.
Does the discovery of a ‘chronic pain gene’ solve the complexities of treating the disease?
Chronic pain diseases continue to cause distress worldwide and are now the leading cause of disability. Benjamin Fisher discusses why we can experience chronic pain, how it is researched and new findings that provide a source of hope for chronic pain sufferers.
Is junk food really ‘food’?
In the last 50 years, our eating habits have changed from 3 meals a day to almost constant snacking on fast food. Sophie Beaumont explores how the food industry is pushing our new diets, and whether junk food can be considered ‘food’ at all.
No Mow May: Can our backyards be the haven that nature needs?
No Mow May is a campaign by UK charities to reintroduce wildlife into our gardens. Natalie Stevenson discusses why biodiversity is so important, and the impact the campaign is having.
With every breath: A call for action on air pollution
Natalie Stevenson discusses the problems air pollution can cause for our health and the environment, and the measures needed to tackle the rising levels.