Summary: Various agencies are planning manned missions to the moon. NASA and China National Space Administration plan both to reach the moon and beyond in various stages. Private companies are testing innovative space rockets, with the goal of eventually reaching Mars. The current space race involves a mix of private companies and government agencies. The last moon landing took place […]
Summary: Presence of intelligent life on other planets appears likely. Several planets that might support intelligent life could be within observational range of Earth. Current alien observation of Earth is unconfirmed. UFO sightings, although numerous, are currently unexplained, and do not necessarily indicate non-human origin. A framework is needed for sharing data with the public. Monoliths found in California, Utah, […]
Summary: Particle accelerators are used to propel particles at very high speeds and energies. Modern-day particle accelerators come in different shapes and sizes, with some built for studying viruses and materials, and others used to understand the nature of the universe. If black holes were to be created, these would be tiny and short-lived. Strange particles are unlikely to emerge […]
As the world eagerly awaits a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, scientists study COVID-19 and the virus that causes it. Dr. Roberto Cattaneo, virologist at the Mayo Clinic, USA, took time out of his SARS-CoV-2 research to talk to us. Tell us a little about yourself. Originally from Lugano, Switzerland, I studied in Geneva and Heidelberg, before working in Zurich and at Yale. […]
Summary: Nanotechnology involves the manipulation or observation of matter at the nanoscale. Nanomaterials are currently used in anything from engineering, clothing, sunscreen, household products, medicine, and to assist medical imaging and drug delivery. While some applications, such as nanoparticles in sunscreen, pose low health risks, others such as multiwalled carbon nanotubes could cause lung problems if inhaled. Nanobots are being […]
The nature of scientific research – long hours in a lab and at a computer in a research centre or university, with only completed published work eventually making its way to the public – means that science often operates behind closed doors. I began to interview scientists to help bring their thoughts and methods more into the public eye. Diabetes […]