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On the 25th of May, 2020, the world was shocked by the brutal murder of George Floyd, a black American man, by four white police officers. This led to mass outrage among every creed and race and propelled the Black Lives Matter movement to new heights, even in places like Palestine Go Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Micro-chimerism: a mother’s intuition and why do men call for their mothers near death? In collaboration with Dr. Aakila Sammy of Publett Last updated: 14/11/24 Published: 08/05/23 On the 25th of May, 2020, the world was shocked by the brutal murder of George Floyd, a black American man, by four white police officers. This led to mass outrage among every creed and race and propelled the Black Lives Matter movement to new heights, even in places like Palestine, a country already drowning in peril. While his last words were “I can’t breathe”, the transcripts revealed that he repeated several times, "Momma, I love you. Tell my kids I love them. I'm dead." As painful as it is to hear these words, especially for his mom, it's not surprising; calling out for your mom when death approaches. Many hospice nurses and soldiers recall that dying men call out for their “Mommy” or “Mama” in their last breath. Some have attributed it to its caregiver familiarity, primal instinct like calling out for your mom as a child or a Mary-Jesus connection. George Floyd (1973-2020). Image/ Publett We know that “the mother” is largely responsible for every life on earth, and most of them have the ability to make everything better, but what if that connection is more than something psychological or spiritual? I know, a physical connection to your mom outside the nine months of her carrying you? Like at this moment? Yes! Scientists call it micro-chimerism, and it may be able to explain why for most, the next greatest pain to losing a child is losing your mom. Micro-chimerism originates from the Greek mythical creature “Chimera”, a monster made up of three animals; a lion, a snake and a goat. In medicine, micro-chimerism was initially described as “alien cells”, and it is simply the circulation of cells from one individual in another genetically distinct individual. A Greek 'Chimera'. Image/ Publett And the culprit? There are several actually; natural cases like pregnancy and breast-feeding and artificial instances like organ or blood transplant. And it goes both ways! It could be responsible for that gut feeling you get when something is wrong with your child, also known as “a mother’s intuition”. And it doesn’t stop there; it has been observed in multiplet pregnancies like twins, which may be why twins have their own intuitive connection. So, in addition to nutrients and waste being exchanged, cells are also trafficked bi-directionally. The embryo/fetus receives cells from the mother and the mother from the fetus, and everyone coexists peacefully, sometimes spanning decades. And the burning question that might be in your mind right now is whether a biological female can have male DNA circulating in her body after carrying a male baby. Yes! Cells are also trafficked bidirectionally. Image/ Publett But what are the limits to this phenomenon? This answer is not clear-cut and varies among individuals and situations. Scientists have found maternal-fetal micro-chimerism is present as early as the embryo stage, and the further along, the more abundant it is. This allows non-invasive tests for genetic abnormalities or gender determination on the fetus using blood drawn from the mother. Another situation where it varies is trauma. We might all be familiar with the fetus releasing stem cells into the mother's circulation, which comes with healing benefits to maintain the well-being of the fetal host – and these cells can be detected up to 27 years after delivery. Even though they sound insignificant, fetal cells aren’t afraid of a challenge. Researchers have found them taking on the role of cancer immune surveillance, clustering around lung tumours in women decades after pregnancy and reducing risk of ovarian cancer in women who have later pregnancies. Now, in the case of abortions and miscarriages, the phenomenon might come as a source of comfort, heartache or both. It is unclear how early fetal cells enter the mother’s circulation; it can be when the placenta attaches around week eight or earlier. Commercial fetal blood tests start at weeks 7-8, but this is when they are abundant enough for testing, so it might very well be earlier. So, what does it mean if you have a miscarriage or abortion before week 8? No fetal cell acquisitions? On the contrary, the trauma of the process, especially in the first trimester, causes a massive acquisition of fetal cells by the mother. It is higher in the case of abortion and even higher in surgical abortions versus chemical abortions. Although the fetus is described as having parasitic nature, this last farewell release of healing benefits to its host is nothing short of pure. While controversy still exists around the role of maternal and fetal microchimeric cells, we still crave answers to questions like: How is the phenomenon affected when the fetus carries genetic abnormalities? Do fetal cells from a previous pregnancy enter the circulation of the fetus sibling in a subsequent pregnancy? It might also result in psychologists reframing questions they ask their male patients; are they worried about becoming your father, or should they be more concerned about becoming their mothers? Plus, we need more on the association between parous women and autoimmune diseases, especially in fetal Y-chromosome carriers. Micro-chimerism is a promising and exciting area of research with much to reveal for many fields. While no concrete evidence exists, we know that these cells are resilient to stress and trauma and offer a new perspective to inter-individual bonds and intuitions. Many scientists believe that individuals are calling out to these cells in times of survival, and maybe that’s why kids call out to their moms first or men their mothers near death. -- Scientia News wholeheartedly thanks Aakila Sammy , co-founder and CEO of Publett , for this fascinating piece of work on a lesser-known genetics topic of micro-chimerism. We hope you enjoyed reading this! Follow them @Dr.Publett on Instagram and/or @Publett Limited on Linkedin for more information. -- Related article: The Y Chromosome Unveiled

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The endless possibilities of iPSCs and organoids 31/10/24, 11:44 Last updated: Published: 20/01/24, 11:50 iPSCs are one of the most powerful tools of biosciences On the 8th of October 2012, the Nobel Prize in Physiology was given to Shinya Yamanaka and John B. Gurdon for a groundbreaking discovery; induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs). The two scientists discovered that mature, specialised cells can be reprogrammed to their initial state and consequently transformed into any cell type. These cells can be used to study disease, examine genetic variations and test new treatments. The science behind iPSCs The creation of iPSCs is based on the procedure of cell potency during mammalian development. While the organism is still in the embryonic stage, the first cell developed is a totipotent stem cell, which has the unique ability to differentiate into any cell type in the human body. “Totipotent” refers to the cell’s potential to give rise to all cell types and tissues needed to develop an entire organism. As the totipotent cell grows, it develops into the pluripotent cell, which can differentiate into the three types of germ layers; the endoderm line, the mesoderm line and the ectoderm line. The cells of each line then develop into multipotent cells, which are derived into all types of human somatic cells, such as neuronal cells, blood cells, muscle cells, skin cells, etc. Creation of iPSCs and organoids iPSCs are produced through a process called cellular reprogramming, which involves the reprogramming of differentiated cells to revert to a pluripotent state, similar to that of embryonic stem cells. The process begins with selecting any type of somatic cell from the individual (in most cases, the individual is a patient). Four transcription factors, Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc, are introduced into the selected cells. These transcription factors are important for the maintenance of pluripotency. They are able to activate the silenced pluripotency genes of the adult somatic cells and turn off the genes associated with differentiation. The somatic cells are now transformed into iPSCs, which can differentiate into any somatic cell type if provided with the right transcription factor. Although iPSCs themselves have endless applications in biosciences, they can also be transformed into organoids, miniature three-dimensional organ models. To create organoids, iPSCs are exposed to a specific combination of signalling molecules and growth factors that mimic the development of the desired organ. Current applications of iPSCs As mentioned earlier, iPSCs can be used to study disease mechanisms, develop personalised therapies and test the action of drugs in human-derived tissues. iPSCs have already been used to model cardiomyocytes, neuronal cells, keratinocytes, melanocytes and many other types of cells. Moreover, kidney, liver, lung, stomach, intestine, and brain organoids have already been produced. In the meantime, diseases such as cardiomyopathy, Alzheimer’s disease, cystic fibrosis and blood disorders have been successfully modelled and studied with the use of iPSCs. Most importantly, the use of iPSCs in all parts of scientific research reduces or replaces the use of animal models, promising a more ethical future in biosciences. Conclusion iPSCs are one of the most powerful tools of biosciences at the moment. In combination with gene editing techniques, iPSCs give accessibility to a wide range of tissues and human disorders and open the doors for precise, personalised and innovative therapies. iPSCs not only promise accurate scientific research but also ethical studies that minimise the use of animal models and embryonic cells. Written by Matina Laskou Related articles: Organoids in drug discovery / Introduction to stem cells Project Gallery

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Brief neuroanatomy of autism 10/10/24, 10:28 Last updated: Published: 26/12/23, 20:38 Differences in brain structure Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition present in both children and adults worldwide. The core symptoms include difficulties understanding social interaction and communication, and restrictive or repetitive behaviours such as strict routines and stimming. When the term autism was first coined in the 20th century, it was thought of as a disease. However, it is now described as a cognitive difference rather than a disease; that is, the brains of autistic individuals – along with people diagnosed with dyslexia, dyspraxia, or attention deficit hyperactive disorder – are not defective, but simply wired differently. The exact cause or mechanism for autism has not been determined; the symptoms are thought to be brought about by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Currently, autism disorders are diagnosed solely by observing behaviours, without measuring the brain directly. However, behaviours may be seen as the observable consequence of brain activity. So, what is it about their brains that might make autistic individuals behave differently to neurotypicals? Total brain volume Back before sophisticated imaging techniques were in use, psychiatrics had already observed the head size of autistic infants was often larger than that of other children. Later studies provided more evidence that most children who would go on to be diagnosed had a normal-sized head at birth, but an abnormally large circumference by the time they had turned 2 to 4 years old. Interestingly, increase in head size has been found to be correlated with the onset of main symptoms of autism. However, after childhood, growth appears to slow down, and autistic teenagers and adults present brain sizes comparable to those of neurotypicals. The amygdala As well transient increase of total brain volume, the size and volume of several brain structures in particular seems to differ between individuals with and without autism. Most studies have found that the amygdala, a small area in the centre of the brain that mediates emotions such as fear, appears enlarged in autistic children. The amygdala is a particularly interesting structure to study in autism, as individuals often have difficulty interpreting and regulating emotions and social interactions. Its increased size seems to persist at least until early adolescence. However, studies in adolescents and adults tend to show that the enlargement slows down, and in some cases is even reversed so that the number of amygdala neurons may be lower than normal in autistic adults. The cerebellum Another brain structure that tends to present abnormalities in autism is the cerebellum. Sitting at the back of the head near the spinal cord, it is known to mediate fine motor control and proprioception. Yet, recent literature suggests it may also play an important role in some higher other cognitive functions, including language and social cognition. Specifically, it may be involved in our ability to imagine hypothetical scenarios and to abstract information from social interactions. In other words, it may help us recognise similarities and patterns in past social interactions that we can apply to understand a current situation. This ability is poor in autism; indeed, some investigations have found the volume of the cerebellum may be smaller in autistic individuals, although research is not conclusive. Nevertheless, most research agrees that the number of Purkinje cells is markedly lower in people with autism. Purkinje cells are a type of neuron found exclusively in the cerebellum, able to integrate large amounts of input information into a coherent signal. They are also the only source of output for the cerebellum; they are responsible for connecting the structure with other parts of the brain such as the cortex and subcortical structures. These connections eventually bring about a specific function, including motor control and cognition. Therefore, a low number of Purkinje cells may cause underconnectivity between the cerebellum and other areas, which might be the reason for functions such as social cognition being impaired in autism. Written by Julia Ruiz Rua Related article: Epilepsy Project Gallery

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Unleashing the power of the stars: how nuclear fusion holds the key to tackling climate change 21/02/25, 12:17 Last updated: Published: 30/04/23, 10:55 Looking at the option of nuclear fusion to generate renewable energy Imagine a world where we have access to a virtually limitless and clean source of energy, one that doesn't emit harmful greenhouse gases or produce dangerous radioactive waste. A world where our energy needs are met without contributing to climate change. This may sound like science fiction, but it could become a reality through the power of nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion, often referred to as the "holy grail" of energy production, is the process of merging light atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing an incredible amount of energy in the process. It's the same process that powers the stars, including our very own sun, and holds the potential to revolutionize the way we produce and use energy here on Earth. Nuclear fusion occurs at high temperature and pressure when two atoms (e.g. Tritium and Deuterium atoms) merge together to form Helium. This merge releases excess energy and a neutron. This energy an then be harvested inform of heat to produce electricity. Progress in the field of creating a nuclear fusion reactor has been slow, despites the challenges there are some promising technologies and approaches have been developed. Some of the notable approaches to nuclear fusion research include: 1. Magnetic Confinement Fusion (MCF) : In MCF, high temperatures and pressures are used to confine and heat the plasma, which is the hot, ionized gas where nuclear fusion occurs. One of the most promising MCF devices is the tokamak, a donut-shaped device that uses strong magnetic fields to confine the plasma. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), currently under construction in France, is a large-scale tokamak project that aims to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of nuclear fusion as a viable energy source. 2. Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) : In ICF, high-energy lasers or particle beams are used to compress and heat a small pellet of fuel, causing it to undergo nuclear fusion. This approach is being pursued in facilities such as the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in the United States, which has made significant progress in achieving fusion ignition, although it is still facing challenges in achieving net energy gain. In December of 2022, the US lab reported that for the first time, more energy was released compared to the input energy. 3. Compact Fusion Reactors: There are also efforts to develop compact fusion reactors, which are smaller and potentially more practical for commercial energy production. These include technologies such as the spherical tokamak and the compact fusion neutron source, which aim to achieve high energy gain in a smaller and more manageable device. While nuclear fusion holds immense promise as a clean and sustainable energy source, there are still significant challenges that need to be overcome before it becomes a practical reality. In nature nuclear fusion is observed in stars, to be able to achieve fusion on Earth such conditions have to be met which can be an immense challenge. High level of temperature and pressure is required to overcome the fundamental forces in atoms to fuse them together. Not only that, but to be able to actually use the energy it has to be sustained and currently more energy is required then the output energy. Lastly, the material and technology also pose challenges in development of nuclear fusion. With high temperature and high energy particles, the inside of a nuclear fusion reactor is a harsh environment and along with the development of sustained nuclear fusion, development of materials and technology that can withstand such harsh conditions is also needed. Despite many challenges, nuclear fusion has the potential to be a game changer in fight against not only climate change but also access of cheap and clean energy globally. Unlike many forms of energy used today, fusion energy does not emit any greenhouse gasses and compared to nuclear fission is stable and does not produce radioactive waste. Furthermore, the fuel for fusion, which is deuterium is present in abundance in the ocean, where as tritium may require to synthesised at the beginning, but once the fusion starts it produce tritium by itself making it self-sustained. When the challenges are weighted against the benefits of nuclear fusion along with the new opportunities it would unlock economically and in scientific research, it is clear that the path to a more successful and clean future lies within the development of nuclear fusion. While there are many obstacles to overcome, the progress made in recent years in fusion research and development is promising. The construction of ITER project, along with first recordings of a higher energy outputs from US NIF programs, nuclear fusion can become a possibility in a not too distant future. In conclusion, nuclear fusion holds the key to address the global challenge of climate change. It offers a clean, safe, and sustainable energy source that has the potential to revolutionize our energy systems and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. With continued research, development, and investment, nuclear fusion could become a reality and help us build a more sustainable and resilient future for our planet. It's time to unlock the power of the stars and harness the incredible potential of nuclear fusion in the fight against climate change. Written by Zari Syed Related articles: Nuclear medicine / Geoengineering / The silent protectors / Hydrogen cars Project Gallery

An individual may be restricted to a certain range of physical activities which they can participate in. Individuals are usually reliant on the surrounding environment and the maintenance of facilities. If they are not kept well maintained, individuals are usually discouraged. Go back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Influence of different environmental factors on exercise Last updated: 30/01/25 Published: 10/02/23 The characteristics of environmental factors: - Chemical safety - Air pollution - Climate change and natural disasters - Diseases caused by microbes - Lack of access to health care - Infrastructure issues - Poor water quality - Global environmental issues What are the impacts of these environmental influences on physical activity? An individual may be restricted to a certain range of physical activities which they can participate in. Individuals are usually reliant on the surrounding environment and the maintenance of facilities. If they are not kept well maintained, individuals are usually discouraged. The physiological effect on training: Climate change will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in our populations, including the very young, the very old, and those with pre-existing health conditions. Training adjustments to compensate for the influence of environmental factors on training: - Treatments for heat stress- stop exercising / move to a shaded or air-conditioned area / remove excess clothing or equipment / drink cold beverages / sit in front of a fan / put a cool piece of cloth around neck / place entire body in cool water e.g. cool bath or shower - Treatments for cold stress- move to a warm environment / remove cold and wet clothes / find access to warm air such as heaters, or fireplace / use electric or non-electric blankets / drink warm beverages Written by Kushwant Nathoo Related articles: Impacts of negligent exercise on physiology / Physical and mental health / Environmental impact of EVs

At Scientia News, we provide free help with personal statements for students applying to UK universities. From proofreading and checking to detailed feedback reports, there is a lot of support. We check UCAS personal statements for free! What are UCAS personal statements? For UK-based universities UCAS personal statements are a chance for students to show a UK university why they should be offered a place to study a particular subject there. Academics or more? Whilst academics are important to talk about, it is just as necessary to talk about who you are beyond your grades, too. We can inform you on what this may look like. Page limited It is critical to note that the statements must not be longer than 1 page: anything beyond this will not be read. You can v isit UCAS for more information... Deadline! All statements must be submitted through UCAS by 31st January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time). However, the earlier the better as universities accept students on a rolling deadline. The process of submitting a personal statement: 1. Research university courses interested in 2. Pick a course & write statement on why this subject 3. Check and edit statement for approval 4. Submit to your top 5 university choices Note for those that are considering medicine or dentistry: You (normally) will have to choose 1 university out of the 5 where you will do a back up course i.e. something that is not medicine or dentistry. What we offer to you: Proofreading To catch any remaining errors or inconsistencies in draft statements Expert advisors Graduates or current university students will provide personalised advice to highlight your unique qualities, and align your statement with your chosen field of study Goals We'll assist in articulating your passion and long-term goals effectively Feedback Get detailed feedback reports with specific improvement suggestions Guidance Giving example guideline questions for you to answer and include in your statement. This will help to create flow and making adjustments easier. Structure Advice on approaching your introduction, main body paragraphs and ending Examples of universities where some of our volunteers currently attend, or have graduated from: Queen Mary University of London, Imperial College London, Kings College London, University of Liverpool and so on. Fill the form out below and we will contact you* * Alternatively, you can email us at scientianewsorg@gmail.com . Please keep the subject as 'Personal Statement'. * Disclaimer: there must be no plagiarism in all statements submitted - we will assume there has been no copying. Scientia News will not be responsible for any plagiarism detection by UCAS, as we only give advice. Email Subject Your message Send Thanks for submitting!

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Are hydrogen cars the future of the UK? 16/01/25, 11:28 Last updated: Published: 01/01/25, 13:50 Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen Introduction With the London debut of the first ever hydrogen powered racing car in June 2024, the new off-road racing series, Extreme H, is set to make waves in the motorsport and sustainability industries with its first season in 2025. The first ever hydrogen powered motorsport series was announced in 2022 to replace the carbon-neutral electric racing series Extreme E, with the intention of pioneering the potential of hydrogen fuel cells and diversifying the paths of sustainable mobility. Like its predecessor, Extreme H will continue to race off-road in a spec SUV car, where engineers and machinists from competing teams optimise the SUV for the different range of terrains and topographies. The hydrogen spec SUV, fittingly called the Pioneer 25 ( Figure 1 ), is promising for the rapid advancement of hydrogen fuel research, leading to the integration of hydrogen fuel cells vehicles on local roads. In line with the upcoming ban on the sale of new petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars across the UK in 2035, as well as the UK target of reaching carbon neutral by 2050, the need for sustainable and practical transport options is growing. So far however, electric cars have proved to not be a one-size-fits-all solution. Hydrogen fuel could potentially be the key to filling this gap. EVs vs. HFCVs Working mechanisms Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (HFCVs): Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The electricity produced is used to power an electric motor, which drives the car. The only byproduct of this process is water vapour. Electric Vehicles (EVs): A motor is powered directly from a charged battery, and equally produces no harmful emissions. As a result of large investments, electric vehicles have already established a strong footing in the UK market, prompting the declining cost of batteries as well as increasing availability of EV charging points in the UK. However, for many households and commercial uses, electric vehicles are not accessible forms of transport due to key barriers including the extensive charging time (around 8 hours), the weight of batteries for large vehicles, and performance decline in cold weather due to lithium-ion batteries being highly sensitive to temperature. HFCVs directly address these problems and present a sustainable and competitive alternative. As the refuelling process is the same as petrol and diesel cars, fuel tanks can be filled in the space of a few minutes and are notably weight efficient. A heavy-duty electric vehicle on the other hand can require a battery of around 7000 kg. Advantages of HFCVs: Significantly shorter refuelling times Can achieve 300-400 miles on a full tank Maintain performance in cold weather and under heavy loads Lighter and more energy-dense than electric vehicles Disadvantages: Expensive as they’re not yet widely available Lack of refuelling infrastructure The current primary method of hydrogen production produces CO2 as a byproduct Despite the key advantages hydrogen cars offer, there are currently only 2 available models of HFC cars in the UK, including the Toyota Mirai ( Figure 2 ) and the Hyundai Nexo SUV. As a result, there are currently fewer than 20 refuelling stations available nationwide, compared to the many thousands of charging points available across the country for electric vehicles. One of the main reasons why progress in hydrogen fuel production has been so delayed is because hydrogen, despite being the most abundant element in the universe, is only available on earth in compound form and needs to be extracted using chemical processes. The true sustainability of hydrogen production There are currently two main methods to extract hydrogen from nature, including steam-methane reforming and electrolysis. Hydrogen is colour-graded by production method to indicate whether it is renewable. Green/ yellow hydrogen The cleanest process for hydrogen production is electrolysis, where a current separates hydrogen from pure water. If the current is sourced from renewable energy, it’s known as green hydrogen. If it’s connected via the grid, then it’s called yellow hydrogen. The source of electricity is particularly important because the electrolysis process is about 75% efficient, which translates to higher costs yet cleaner air. Grey/ blue hydrogen Hydrogen can also be produced by treating natural gas or methane with hot steam. During this process, the methane splits into its four hydrogen atoms while one carbon atom bonds to oxygen and enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. This is known as grey hydrogen. If the carbon dioxide can be captured and stored via direct air capture, it’s called blue hydrogen. About 95% of all hydrogen in Europe is produced by methane steam reforming (grey and blue hydrogen), as it is very energy efficient and uses up lots of natural gas in the process, a resource that is quickly diminishing in importance and value as more and more households switch from gas boilers to heat pumps. Two percent of the world’s carbon emissions comes from the grey hydrogen process to produce ammonia for fertiliser and for steel production. For context, this is almost the same as the entire aviation industry. For HFCVs to be a truly sustainable alternative to combustion engines, green hydrogen via electrolysis (or another clean process) needs to be more widely available and economically viable. The UK’s plans for hydrogen As part of the UK hydrogen strategy ( Figure 3 ), the UK aims to reach up to 10GW or low carbon hydrogen production by 2030 (or equivalent to the amount of gas consumed by 3 million households in the UK annually). The government has allocated £240 million to develop hydrogen production and infrastructure. This is particularly for industry uses in the production of steel and cement, and for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Plans were also made to extend the use of hydrogen to heat homes, starting with ‘hydrogen village trials’ in 2025, to inform how 100% hydrogen communities would work, although this has understandably been met with local opposition. With greater research, information, and development into hydrogen for domestic uses, the applications of hydrogen energy may extend from industry and transport to households. As car companies (particularly Toyota, Hyundai, and BMW) continue to develop hydrogen car makes, and further investment is made into increased refuelling infrastructure and hydrogen fuel cell research, as well as with the ban on the sale of new combustion engine cars by 2035, commercial hydrogen cars have the potential to be commonly found on UK roads by 2040. Conclusion For now, HFCVs remain in the early stages of development, however they present a promising opportunity for the UK to diversify its clean transport options, particularly in areas where EV technology faces limitations such as for heavy goods vehicles. Rather than being competitors, it is likely that EVs and HFCVs will soon coexist, with each technology serving different needs. The biggest barrier to the progress of HFCVs currently is developing a full hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, where the gas is produced and then transported to stations across the nation, will take billions of pounds and a number of years to develop. If these initial hurdles could be overcome, HFCV technology can quickly become more practically and financially accessible. Written by Varuna Ganeshamoorthy Related articles: Electric vehicles / Nuclear fusion Project Gallery

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Artificial intelligence: the good, the bad, and the future 20/03/25, 12:01 Last updated: Published: 13/12/23, 17:10 A Scientia News Biology collaboration Introduction Artificial intelligence (AI) shows great promise in education and research, providing flexibility, curriculum improvements, and knowledge gains for students. However, concerns remain about its impact on critical thinking and long-term learning. For researchers, AI accelerates data processing but may reduce originality and replace human roles. This article explores the debates around AI in academia, underscoring the need for guidelines to harness its potential while mitigating risks. Benefits of AI for students and researchers Students Within education, AI has created a buzz for its usefulness in aiding students to complete daily and complex tasks. Specifically, students have utilised this technology to enhance their decision making process, improve workflow and have a more personalised learning experience. A study by Krive et al. (2023) demonstrated this by having medical students take an elective module to learn about using AI to enhance their learning and understand its benefits in healthcare. Traditionally, medical studies have been inflexible, with difficulty integrating pre-clinical theory and clinical application. The module created by Krive et al. introduced a curriculum with assignments featuring online clinical simulations to apply preclinical theory to patient safety. Students scored a 97% average on knowledge exams and 89% on practical exams, showing AI's benefits for flexible, efficient learning. Thus, AI is able to assist in enhancing student learning experiences whilst saving time and providing flexibility. Additionally, we gathered testimonials from current STEM graduates and students to better understand the implications of AI. In Figure 1 , we can see that the students use AI to benefit their exam learning, get to grips with difficult topics, and summarise long texts to save time whilst exercising caution, knowing that AI has limitations. This shows that AI has the potential to become a personalised learning assistant to improve comprehension and retention and organise thoughts, all of which allow students to enhance skills through support as opposed to reliance on the software. Despite the mainstream uptake of AI, one student has chosen not to use AI in the worry of becoming less self-sufficient, and we will explore this dynamic in the next section. Researchers AI can be very useful for academic researchers, such as making the process of writing and editing papers based on new scientific discoveries less slow or even facilitating it altogether. As a result, society may have innovative ways to treat diseases and increase the current knowledge of different academic disciplines. Also, AI can be used for data analysis by interpreting a lot of information, and this not only saves time but a lot of money required to complete this process accurately. The statistics and graphical findings could be used to influence public policy or help different businesses achieve their objectives. Another quality of AI is that it can be tailored towards the researcher's needs in any field, from STEM to subject areas outside of it, indicating that AI’s utilities are endless. For academic fields requiring researchers to look at things in greater detail, like molecular biology or immunology, AI can help generate models to understand the molecules and cells involved in such mechanisms sufficiently. This can be through genome analysis and possibly next generation sequencing. Within education, researchers working as lecturers can utilise AI to deliver concepts and ideas to students and even make the marking process more robust. In turn, this can decrease the burnout educators experience in their daily working lives and may possibly help establish a work-life balance, as a way to feel more at ease over the long-term. Risks of AI for students and researchers Students With great power comes great responsibility, and with the advent of AI in school and learning, there is increasing concern on the quality of learners produced from schools, and if their attitude to learning and critical thinking skills are hindered or lacking. This matter has been echoed in results from a study conducted by Ahmad et al. (2023), which studied how AI affects laziness and distorts decision making in university students. The results showed using AI in education correlated with 68.9% of laziness and a 27.7% loss in decision making abilities in 285 students across Pakistani and Chinese institutes. This confirms some worries that a former testimonial shared with us in figure 1 and suggests that students may become more passive learners rather than develop key life skills. This may even lead to reluctance to learn new things and seeking out ‘the easy way’ rather than enjoy obtaining new facts. Researchers Although AI can be great for researchers, it carries its own disadvantages. For example, it could lead to reduced originality while writing, and this type of misconduct jeopardises the reputation of the people working in research. Also, the software is only as effective as the type of data they are specialised in, so specific AI could misinterpret the data. This has downstream consequences that can affect how research institutions are run, and beyond that, scientific inquiry is hindered. Therefore, if severely misused, AI can undermine the integrity of academic research, which could hinder the discovery of life-saving therapies. Furthermore, there is the potential for AI to replace researchers, suggesting that there may be fewer opportunities to employ aspiring scientists. When given insufficient information, AI can be biased, which can be detrimental; an article found that its use in a dermatology clinic can put certain patients at risk of skin cancer and suggested that it receives more diverse demographic data for AI to work effectively. Thus, it needs to be applicable in a strategic way to ensure it works as intended and does not cause harm. Conclusion Considering the uses of AI for students and researchers, it is advantageous to them by supporting any knowledge gaps, aiding in data analysis, boosting general productivity and can be used to engage with the public and much more. Its possibilities for enhancing industries such as education and drug development are endless for propagating societal progression. Nevertheless, the drawbacks of AI cannot be ignored, like the chance of it replacing people in jobs or that it is not completely accurate. Therefore, guidelines must be defined for its use as a tool to ensure a healthy relationship between AI and students and researchers. According to the European Network of Academic Integrity (ENAI), using AI for proofreading, spell checking, and as a thesaurus is admissible. However, it should not be listed as a co-author because, compared to people, it is not liable for any reported findings. As such, depending on how AI is used, it can be a tool to help society or be detrimental, so it is not inherently good or bad for students, researchers and society in general. Written by Sam Jarada and Irha Khalid Introduction, and 'Student' arguments by Irha Conclusion, and 'Researcher' arguments by Sam Related articles: Evolution of AI / AI in agriculture and rural farming / Can a human brain be uploaded to a computer? Project Gallery

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link A new model: miniature organs in biomedicine 27/01/25, 16:33 Last updated: Published: 16/10/23, 21:39 How they're used in treatments Introduction Within biomedicine, the study of diseases and understanding their mechanisms are crucial to the treatments we can develop for them. Before a treatment option can be rolled out to the general public, it must be tested for safety and efficacy. Usually, this testing takes place in the form of cell cultures or animal models. However, these methods cannot always accurately replicate the human body's complexity and physiological responses and are sometimes quite expensive and difficult to maintain. In the past few years, a new model has come to light known as organoids, allowing for a new realm of understanding into drug development, disease, and human biology. What Are Organoids? Organoids are self-organised, small, three-dimensional organ models which allow scientists and researchers to study different biological organs and tissues in a lab setting, including their physiological functions, development, and structure. These miniature organs are remarkable in their resemblance to actual organs and are obtained from stem cells, and they can undergo division to become any cell type. From their theoretical abilities, organoids may be able to serve utmost value in biomedicine and how we think about testing new treatments. Disease Modelling, Drug Development and Personalised Medicine One of the ways in which organoids can be used is to model diseases and test for potential drug targets and treatment programmes. In this way, researchers can replicate congenital and acquired conditions, such as cystic fibrosis and cancer, to study key target phenotypes and understand disease progression, which can help identify potential drug targets. From here, the efficacy of these therapeutics can be assessed quite quickly under different circumstances. As an example of this being used currently, scientists involved in cancer research have produced organoids from tumour cells stemming from cancer patients. These patient-derived organoids have been made for various cancers, including endometrium. They will allow for the ability to test chemotherapy drugs and determine which are most effective for individual patients whilst factoring in comorbidities and other unique factors to that person. Through this personalised approach, it is hoped that therapeutics will allow for a customised treatment programme which lowers the risk of side effects and improves the quality of care. Understanding Development and Function Another use of organoids is going into more depth and exploring our understanding of how an organ may develop and function. Using organoids can help us observe how different cells may work together and interact to organise themselves, allowing researchers to strengthen their knowledge of organogenesis by mimicking the natural growth conditions of the human environment. By combining tissue engineering with an appreciation of an organ's functional and developmental processes, organoid use can be extended to regenerative medicine to help fill research gaps in the molecular and cellular mechanisms of tissue regeneration. Techniques such as ELISA and immunofluorescent staining can help garner these critical details. By achieving this, organoids may produce entire organs for transplantation, addressing the organ donor shortage and lowering the risk of donor rejection. Recent Breakthroughs Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death around the world. The human heart is limited to regenerating damaged tissue; thus, research must explore using organoids and other cell-based therapies to encourage natural repair processes. By investigating this avenue, cardiomyocytes derived from human pluripotent stem cells are a promising source. These cell types have the potential to restore contractile functions in animal models as well as the ability to regenerate myocardial tissue. Researchers have developed a cardiac organoid with silicon nanowires that have significantly improved the medicinal efficacy of stem cell-derived cardiac organoids. Using these nano-wired organoids, electrical activity was shown to improve, which in turn supported improved contractility in ischemia-injured mice. Challenges and Future Directions While the promising nature of organoids must be acknowledged, they are not without limitations. Research is currently ongoing to improve the reproducibility and scalability of organoids and their cultures to make organoids more accessible and their use more widespread. Below are some summarised advantages and disadvantages of organoids. Conclusion In conclusion, the advent of organoids has created a revolutionary era within the scope of biomedicine. These miniature organs have remarkable potential in various research, development, and tissue engineering facets. Organoids provide scientists with precise modelling of diseases across a range of different organs, assuring their versatility. From understanding organ development to combating cardiovascular diseases and introducing personalised treatment for cancer patients, it is unclear why they are being more rapidly explored. While they hold their promise, there are still challenges surrounding their reproducibility, restricting them from being used in organ transplantation. However, with ongoing progress, organoids undoubtedly have the aptitude to tailor treatments and address complexities of tissue regeneration, heralding a groundbreaking era in healthcare. Written by Irha Khalid Related article: iPSCs and organoids Project Gallery

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Quantum Chemistry Last updated: 24/02/25, 11:29 Published: 06/02/25, 08:00 Exploring the microscopic world of molecules Quantum chemistry provides a glimpse into the strange and fascinating world of molecules and atoms, where the principles of traditional chemistry and physics no longer apply. While classical chemistry can explain molecular interactions and bonding, it cannot fully account for particles' unusual, frequently contradictory behaviour at the atomic and subatomic levels. Quantum mechanics provides scientists with a powerful framework for understanding the complicated behaviour of electrons and nuclei in molecules. The basics of quantum chemistry The notion of wave-particle duality, which states that particles, such as electrons, act not just like objects with mass but also like waves, is central to quantum chemistry. Because the exact position and momentum of an electron cannot be known at the same time (according to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle), probability distributions are used to describe electrons rather than accurate orbits. These distributions are represented by mathematical functions known as wave functions, which describe the probability of finding an electron in a specific location surrounding the nucleus. This fundamentally affects our understanding of chemical bonding. Instead of conceiving a bond as a solid connection between two atoms, quantum chemistry defines it as the overlap of electron wave functions, which can result in a variety of molecular topologies depending on their energy levels. Quantum mechanics and bonding theories Quantum mechanics has fundamentally altered our knowledge of chemical bonding. The classic Lewis structure model, which explains bonding as the sharing or transfer of electrons, is effective for simple molecules but fails to convey the complexities of real-world interactions. In contrast, quantum chemistry introduces the concept of molecular orbitals. In molecular orbital theory, electrons are not limited to individual atoms but can spread across a molecule in molecular orbitals, which are combinations of atomic orbitals from the participating atoms. These molecular orbitals provide a more detailed explanation for bonding, especially in compounds that do not match simple bonding models, such as delocalised systems like benzene or metals. For example, quantum chemistry explains why oxygen is paramagnetic (it possesses unpaired electrons), a characteristic that classical bonding theories cannot explain. Quantum chemistry and quantum computing One of the most interesting frontiers in quantum chemistry is its application to the development of quantum computers. Traditional computers, despite their enormous processing power, struggle to model the complicated behaviour of molecules, particularly large ones. This is because simulating molecules at the quantum level necessitates tracking all conceivable interactions between electrons and nuclei, which can quickly become computationally challenging. Quantum computers use fundamentally different ideas. They employ qubits, which, unlike classical bits, can exist in a state of both 0 and 1. This enables quantum computers to execute several calculations concurrently and manage the complexity of molecular systems considerably more effectively. This could lead to advancements in quantum chemistry, such as drug discovery, where precisely modelling molecular interactions is critical. Instead of depending on trial and error, scientists may utilise quantum computers to model how possible pharmaceuticals interact with biological molecules at the atomic level, thereby speeding up the creation of novel therapies. Similarly, quantum chemistry could help in the development of novel materials with desirable qualities, such as stronger alloys and more efficient energy storage devices. Why quantum chemistry matters The consequences of quantum chemistry go well beyond the lab. Understanding molecular behaviour at its most fundamental level allows us to create new technologies and materials that have an impact on everyday life. Nanotechnology, for example, relies largely on quantum principles to generate innovative materials with applications in medicine, electronics, and clean energy. Catalysis, the technique of speeding up reactions, also benefits from quantum chemistry insights, making industrial operations more efficient, such as cleaner fuel generation and more effective environmental remediation. Furthermore, quantum chemistry provides insights into biological processes. Enzymes, the proteins that catalyse processes in living organisms, work with a precision that frequently defies standard chemistry. Tunnelling, quantum phenomena in which particles slip past energy barriers, helps to explain these extraordinarily efficient biological processes. In brief, quantum chemistry provides the fundamental understanding required to push the limits of chemistry and physics by exposing how molecules interact and react in ways that traditional theories cannot fully explain. Quantum chemistry has the potential to radically alter our understanding of the microscopic world, whether through theoretical models, practical applications, or future technology advancements. Written by Laura K Related articles: Quantum computing / Topology Project Gallery