Below is a list of our latest blog posts. Including feature articles covering recent research and discoveries, and science events around the city.
If you would like to get involved by writing or editing for the blog, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
- The Dark Side of Microglia: Hidden Drivers of Alzheimer’s Disease Photo by: geralt from Pixabay 2023 Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK, yet it remains incurable and poorly treated. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a subtype of dementia,… Read more: The Dark Side of Microglia: Hidden Drivers of Alzheimer’s Disease
- The Hallucinating Machine: Why AI Needs to DreamImage Created by Elisa Castagnari with ChatGPT Core argument: Hallucinations in Large Language Models (LLMs) may not be merely errors. They may emerge from the same cognitive dynamics that make… Read more: The Hallucinating Machine: Why AI Needs to Dream
- Under the Ink: The Silent Effects of Tattoo PigmentsPhoto by: ilovetattoos from Pixabay / March 28, 2018 Tattoos are now a common way for people, especially younger adults, to express themselves. As millions of people dive into tattoo… Read more: Under the Ink: The Silent Effects of Tattoo Pigments
- Ever See TV Static in Your Vision? Here’s Why.Photo by: Wojtek Pacześ from Pexels / 2020 Take a second to lift your eyes from the screen, and let them rest on a nearby wall. Does your view appear… Read more: Ever See TV Static in Your Vision? Here’s Why.
- Huntington’s Disease May No Longer Be A Life Sentence[Image created by Claudia Logan with BioRender.com] Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a rare, inherited brain disorder which progressively damages nerve and muscle functions, yet until recently had no cure. In… Read more: Huntington’s Disease May No Longer Be A Life Sentence
- Can low blood oxygen silently weaken your immune system by tweaking the genetics?Photo by: Nasimudeen, R. from Wikimedia Commons / 2017 Climbing a mountain and being hospitalised with severe lung disease both have similar effects on your immunity. Scientists from the University… Read more: Can low blood oxygen silently weaken your immune system by tweaking the genetics?
- Invisible invaders: the rise of microplastics in human organsImage description: Photo by Stijn Dijkstra from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/colorful-paper-straps-15528035/ Plastic: lightweight, cheap and durable, it’s become a staple in households and industry. It may make our lives easier, but it… Read more: Invisible invaders: the rise of microplastics in human organs
- AI spots heart attack risks before they strikePhoto By: Etatics Inc. from Pexels / 2022 AI is now helping doctors detect heart disease even before visible symptoms appear. While some people are cautious about this advancement, one… Read more: AI spots heart attack risks before they strike
- 15 Years of Magnetic 3D Cell Culture: From Magnetic Levitation to FDA-Endorsed New Approach MethodologiesCell culture is a huge part of biological research that has changed dramatically over time as our understanding of science has grown, but how has this improved the daily work of scientists? Sponsored posted by Greiner Bio-One.
- Dark Energy and the Runaway UniverseMishita takes us through a century of astronomy discoveries and how a “mistake” from Einstein may have been hiding a clue for decades
- Setting a Higher Standard: Improving Reporting in Psychedelic ResearchGuido takes us through the current research into pharmacological psychedelics, outlining the reasons that have been holding the use of these therapeutics back.
- The Ripple Effect: Why Heart Attacks May Spark Cancer GrowthIzzy McMeeking tells us how recent research has linked heart attacks and cancers
- A Shot a Year: The Future of HIV Prevention?Snigdha takes a look at the latest and possibly groundbreaking HIV treatment, Lenacapavir!
- Ancient Egyptian Skeleton Reveals Long-Distance AncestryNitara Wijayatilake takes us through an exciting new that may change our understanding of early human migration.
- The Sun, Solar Maximum and the Aurora BorealisFeature image credit: NASA/SDO * Since solar minimum was declared in December 2019, experts have been closely watching Solar Cycle 25. Unlike the prior cycle—which was the weakest in 100 years—this cycle… Read more: The Sun, Solar Maximum and the Aurora Borealis
- Women Engineers Shaping Tomorrow: A Conversation with Historic Preservation Engineer Jordan DickWomen have and continue to contribute to the field of engineering in countless influential ways, working in mechanical, material, architectural engineering and more. In honour of International Women in Engineering… Read more: Women Engineers Shaping Tomorrow: A Conversation with Historic Preservation Engineer Jordan Dick
- You Are What She Ate: The Surprising Link Between Your Face and Your Mother’s DietJosh details how a mother’s diet may impact the facial features of her unborn baby
- Why Men Age Differently: The Tiny Chromosome with a Big RoleAngelica teaches us about the gradual loss of the Y Chromosome on a population level and the impacts of losing this chromosome on an individual
- Glow Up: The Science and Benefits of Red Light TherapyColleen explores Red Light Therapy: the history, uses and medical applications.
- New Results on the Photon Sphere Around a Black HoleJonathon Kenigson explores recent research on the behaviour of light surrounding blackholes and the potential profound implications of this understanding!
- One Step Closer to a Theory of EverythingSince it was first proposed, the graviton (the particle theorised to be responsible for the gravitational force) has long been considered undetectable, but this may no longer be the case.… Read more: One Step Closer to a Theory of Everything
- Redefining Heart TransplantsWritten by Anthea Choi, this article discusses the success story of Australia’s first Totally Artificial Heart and how it helps those waiting on the transplant list.
- Pint of Science 2025!Pint of Science 2025, 19th- 21st May, 36 talks across 6 locations! Join us for a pint and a peek into the latest discoveries shaping our world.
- Whispers in the Cloud Forest: The Mysterious Life of the Spectacled Andean BearAndrés Acosta makes us fall in love with South America’s only bear species, the Andrean Bear. He teaches the reader about these understudied creatures and the threat of climate change on their habitat.
- Edinburgh Science Festival 2025When?: Saturday 5th April – Sunday 20th April What is it?: Last weekend marked the start of the Edinburgh Science Festival 2025! The event runs over Easter every year and… Read more: Edinburgh Science Festival 2025
- Hummingbirds: Tiny Aviators Shaping EvolutionAndrés explores the fascinating physiology and influence of hummingbirds in evolution and maintaining biodiversity!
- Music to Heal By: A Simple Remedy for Post-Surgery RecoveryMatthew explores the potential of utilising music for recovery post-surgery!
- Celebrate British Science Week 2025!British Science Week is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering, and maths, running from Saturday 7th March to Sunday 16th March! Visit the official website to download kids’ activity… Read more: Celebrate British Science Week 2025!
- Mind the Gap! The Future of Spinal RepairAidan McConnell-Trevillion discusses the promising results of a 25-year study exploring spinal cord implants and their use in restoring movement after paralysis. Although he highlights the challenges that still remain, he hopes that advances in technology may improve outcomes, bringing us closer to making spinal cord injury a more treatable condition.
- Fertilo: The Birth of a New Era of IVFEleanor discusses how a new IVF technique, know as Fertilo, has led to the birth of the first baby conceived using stem cell-based egg maturation. This alternative method offers a faster and less invasive alternative to traditional IVF. However, concerns remain over long-term safety, regulatory approval, and equitable availability. While Fertilo is already in use in several countries, its global impact on IVF remains to be seen.
- Fusion Energy: A viable alternative to fossil fuels?Nishwal Gora explores the immense potential of fusion energy and it’s implications for the future as well as considering it’s viability today.
- APEX7: Edinburgh Medical Students Advancing the Frontiers of Medical ResearchDiscover the adventure of a lifetime with APEX 7. Learn how Edinburgh students can join a one-in-a-lifetime expedition to the Bolivian Andes, participate in cutting edge research and explore one of the world’s most breathtaking regions.
- Scientist Next Door – Issue 32 TeaserA preview of the exciting articles you can find in EUSci’s newest magazine issue!
- STARMUS Earth: The Future of Our Home PlanetA spectacular festival combining music, art and science took place in May this year known as STARMUS. Tanja Holc explores the importance of this combination and the messages the festival hoped to present at this year’s edition, STARMUS Earth.
- A scientist walks into a bar…Pint of Science is running this year from 13-15th May across Edinburgh. Katie Pickup shares how the festival not only brings science to the public but also serves as a vital space for scientists to cross disciplines, spark collaborations, and explore new skills in a relaxed and laughter-filled setting.
- Give It a ShotTo celebrate the beginning of World Immunization Week, let’s focus on its biggest roadblock – vaccine hesitancy.
- Crisis in Cosmology: The Laniakea Supercluster, and what it means for the UniverseNishwal Gora examines how the James Webb Space Telescope’s insights into the Laniakea Supercluster intensify the “Hubble Tension”, which continues to challenge the very foundations of cosmology and our understanding of the universe as it was, is and will be.
- Euscireka! (Issue 31 Preview)A collection of short news articles.
- The science publication process – Is a complete overhaul necessary? (Issue 31 Preview)By reviewing the now archaic peer review and journal publication process, Louisa Drake explores alternatives to the process which can help to progress science further.
- The forbidden colours of the Mantis Shrimp (Issue 31 Preview)David Daubner explores exactly how many colours a Shrimp can see and if they can actually see colours which we can only dream of.
- Another cup of coffee, please! (Issue 31 Preview)Just how much caffeine should you be drinking? Sophie Hoetzel examines what current research shows, suggesting a few cups a day can actually be good for our hearts.
- Postpartum Depression – fathers experience it too (Issue 31 Preview)Postpartum depression has been well documented as arising in new mothers, but Ioanna Kougianou discusses how this mental health condition can affect fathers too and how to best help both parents.
- Lasers shed light on lost cities (Issue 31 Preview)LiDAR reveals that ancient Amazonian cultures created “urban” landscapes, reports Anna Flemming.
- Space Junk (Issue 31 Preview)With growing amounts of space junk orbiting Earth, Ananya Ganapathy explains what exactly it is just how damaging it can be.
- Watch This Space: Tourism rockets from fantasy to reality (Issue 31 Preview)Kevin Boyle investigates the possibility of space tourism to be accessible for us all in the near future and the various companies gunning to be the one to deliver these fantastical holidays.
- mRNA: The Future of Vaccination (Issue 31 Preview)With such successful progress made in Covid-19 vaccines using mRNA, Danny Pang explores what other areas this development may be applied to and the phenomenal effect it could have on those living with autoimmune diseases.
- Renewable / Perspectives (Issue 31 Preview)Looking at the future of green energy, Alexandra Bruncrona describes the developments still needed in field and even how the misuse of the term “renewable energy” can have big consequences.
- On your marks, Headset, Go! (Issue 31 Preview)Emily Oliver explores how virtual reality and augmented reality could be ever more present in our lives in the future and how the technology has developed over the past 50 years.
- Breaking the symmetry (Issue 31 Preview)No recipe currently exists for uncovering the fundamental laws of physics, but advances in a recently revitalised sub-field of machine learning may provide a glimpse into the future of scientific discovery, one in which physicists interpret rather than discover physical laws. Mika Kontiainen investigates.
- Hacking the fungal mainframe (Issue 31 Preview)Azia Bolger explains how a wide variety of areas from “sensing skins” to construction can benefit from the incredible properties of fungi.
- Resolutions and WillpowerAre you sticking with your New Years Resolutions? Emma Walsh looks at the neuroscience research behind making and keeping our New Years Resolutions.
- When chemistry “clicks” with natureIn light of the recent Nobel prize award in chemistry, Kevin Boyle discusses an advance that could potentially change how chemistry is carried out in the future with far reaching… Read more: When chemistry “clicks” with nature
- Another cup of coffee, please!Sophie Hoetzel reassures coffee drinkers that they should worry not, as she dives into the evidence in support of the health benefits associated with coffee consumption.
- From scientist to CEO— sponsored article — Ishani Malhotra reveals the secrets behind setting up her own company, Carcinotech, while also completing her Masters research in Regenerative Medicine. Designing new cancer drugs requires… Read more: From scientist to CEO
- Space Junk – a serious threat to our space missionsIn 2009, a Russian and an American satellite in orbit collided with each other creating lots of debris in the process. In recent years, space junk has increased significantly, endangering… Read more: Space Junk – a serious threat to our space missions
- Now is the time to see Northern LightsSolar scientists now predict that, due to an 11 year solar cycle, we could be witnessing some of the brightest display of lights till 2025.
- Lasers shed light on lost cities of the AmazonNew LiDAR data has revealed a constellation of 26 interconnected towns that disappeared mysteriously 600 years ago.
- Artificial general intelligence presents an existential threatYou’ve heard of AI, but artificial general intelligence poses another danger, as Jason Segall explores in this article, suggesting what could be done to mitigate the potential disasters the technology could bring about.
- Do no harm – but a white lie couldn’t hurt, could it?Placebos have been a well-known and effective tool for medical trials and professionals, but how ethical is it for doctors to use them on patients? Nathan Rockley argues they could be a slippery slope that is best left untouched.
- Genetic screening will empower familiesIf you could know, from the day you were born, your risk of developing certain diseases, would you want to?
- Saviour siblings: draw the line at organ donationClodegh Aherne argues why it is important that we look into the nature of saviour siblings and asks us to consider the psychological as well as the physical impacts on donor-children – is it really worth it?
- Gambling a life for a life: lose one or gain two?Millie Chambers finds that a saviour sibling is not as immoral an idea as you she first thought.
- Rights of Nature will be meaningless without a fundamental shift in how we thinkMore than 2,500 trees will be uprooted as construction works for new subway lines begin in Athens, Greece. This follows a devastating summer in which more than 110,000 hectares (424 square miles) of forest areas have burned, more than five times the average from 2008 to 2020. Granted, the new routes are expected to lower CO2 emissions, but environmental organisations claim the works could move forward without laying bare the already limited urban green areas. Alas, the easiest
- The only way to save our natural world is by giving it rightsImagine a world where nature itself is a political actor recognised in law. In this world, deforestation would be genocide, and the use of bee-killing pesticides a hate crime. It may seem like a radical approach to environmental law, but charging 5p for a plastic bag clearly isn’t going to stop us from hurtling towards an irreversible increase in global temperature.
- Lockdown led to quieter but not cleaner oceansIn February 2020, Italy became the first country in Europe to impose a lockdown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the following months, amidst the stress of those initial lockdowns, the sounds of birdsong freed from traffic noise were a source of comfort and optimism to many around Europe and the rest of the locked-down world.
- Every breath you take, every memory you makeThe way you breathe can influence your brain’s ability to form long-term memories, writes Clara Lenherr.
- Synthetic “embryos” pave the way for ethical drug screeningEmbyronic stem cells could be the key to future drug testing, replacing animal testing with a cheaper and more reliable method, writes Katie Pickup.
- There is time to save the seas from our thoughtless extractivismLara Watson argues we should stop deep-sea mining before it wreaks havoc on marine environments.
- Sláinte! Does a glass of wine a day keep the doctor away?Thomas Vinterberg’s Dutch film Another Round or Druk won the Oscar for international feature in 2021. The film revolves around 4 teachers who – over a birthday dinner – discuss… Read more: Sláinte! Does a glass of wine a day keep the doctor away?
- Inside the jaws of the tyrant kingHady George explores how CT scans are revealing the inner workings of T.rex’s skull.
- A fresh dip into the health benefits of outdoor swimmingAlkisti Kallinikou asks if open water swimming can help your physical and mental health.
- Resistance isn’t futileLike the Borg in Star Trek, microbes are constantly evolving to get past their host’s defences (thankfully they don’t tend to assimilate their hosts into a hive mind). They are becoming resistant to the drugs created to prevent diseases caused by them, and this tactic is far from futile.
- Could genetically modified animal organs solve the human transplant crisis?Emma Nance discusses the pig-culiar story of the man who had a pig’s heart.
- Have we found the mysterious Planet 9?Our solar system is filled with many unsolved mysteries, one of them being the existence of an icy planet far beyond Neptune.
- Mapping Subtidal Seagrass Bed (Zostera marina) Habitat Suitability in ScotlandThis research article, written by Le Huang is based on her Master’s dissertation project for MSc Marine Systems and Policies (2020/21) at the University of Edinburgh. Specifically, her dissertation project… Read more: Mapping Subtidal Seagrass Bed (Zostera marina) Habitat Suitability in Scotland
- ‘It is because of the brave women of the past that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have today’Alice Drinkwater reflects on the story of Eunice Newton Foote, the unrecognised climate change pioneer who did not have the right to vote, let alone an equal voice to male scientists at the time of her discoveries in the 1850s.
- Could locusts be the future of bomb detection? The “surprisingly simple” brain mechanism behind locust scent recognitionLily Sharratt-Davidson explores how researchers attempting to bioengineer bomb-sniffing locusts have discovered that the insect’s sense of smell is governed by an arithmetic neuron mechanism. For several years now a… Read more: Could locusts be the future of bomb detection? The “surprisingly simple” brain mechanism behind locust scent recognition
- Issue 29 Online: EuScireka!Welcome to the new edition of EuSci Magazine! We will be posting and promoting each article from the magazine individually on our website over the next few weeks. If you… Read more: Issue 29 Online: EuScireka!
- Your Brain’s Natural Calorie CounterClara Lenherr tells the story of how digging up decade-old data led researchers to discover how the brain tells you it’s time to stop eating.
- What makes us human may come down to the way our neurons process informationClara Lenherr explores the newly discovered human-specific characteristics of neurons and discusses how the uniqueness of human neurons brings into question what we already know about human cognition. The ability… Read more: What makes us human may come down to the way our neurons process information
- Can the body remove HIV by itself?Two patients have astonishingly cured themselves of HIV without any therapy. Kevin Boyle discusses these novel findings and their potential implications in the development of a vaccine against the HIV… Read more: Can the body remove HIV by itself?
- HIV Retrovirus: Current advances and mysteriesClaudia Singh Gill discusses the mechanism of HIV infection and the potential advances to treat the deadly retrovirus. 37.7 million people are living with HIV in 2020. Almost one million… Read more: HIV Retrovirus: Current advances and mysteries
- Nanoparticle based vaccines: a potentially new addition to the “vaccine menu”?A versatile and highly effective flu vaccine required in tiny amounts might be just around the corner: too good to be true? Kevin Boyle looks at recent advances. For around… Read more: Nanoparticle based vaccines: a potentially new addition to the “vaccine menu”?
- Good news coffee drinkers: caffeine reduces the effect of drowsiness on cognitive performanceAlexandra Lesayova writes about new findings by the University of Western Australia and the University of Sydney on the effect of caffeine on cognition.
- The Climate Crisis: Which animals will survive?Alexandra Lesayova writes about the threespine stickleback fish; a promising model organism with respect to gaining a better understanding of the effects of climate change on living organisms, and how… Read more: The Climate Crisis: Which animals will survive?
- Newly identified proteins are predictors for dementiaMilena Flankova writes about new insights in dementia research: changes in the proteome as a potential indicator for an increased risk of disease, up to 10 years prior Dementia is… Read more: Newly identified proteins are predictors for dementia
- Coal, meat, and energy; John Kerry’s interview with Andrew Marr and what it means for the United States’ decarbonisation strategy.Long read: Sami Cheqrouni-Espinar writes about John Kerry’s proposals on new climate change legislation and how these have raised eyebrows and attracted criticism. What are the technical hurdles of implementing… Read more: Coal, meat, and energy; John Kerry’s interview with Andrew Marr and what it means for the United States’ decarbonisation strategy.
- Drug found to have opposing effects on the minds of male & female miceTommy O’Regan tells the story of how, for the first time in medical history, a drug has been found to have completely opposing effects on the memories of mice depending… Read more: Drug found to have opposing effects on the minds of male & female mice
- HLA Genotype and its effect on the severity of COVID-19 InfectionsIsabelle Ferenczi introduces the importance of Human Leukocyte Antigens and their potential role in determining a given patient’s response to COVID-19 infection. A brief introduction to HLA Human Leukocyte (white… Read more: HLA Genotype and its effect on the severity of COVID-19 Infections
- A jar of spices has a lot to hide and a lot to tellMarie Poirot writes about the research at Australian National University studying the use of spices in cuisines all over the world to show the complexity of evolutionary science. You might… Read more: A jar of spices has a lot to hide and a lot to tell
- Parasite-infected ants have discovered the secret to living a longer lifeArianna Schneier writes about the longevity-altering effects of a tapeworm that infects ants. A three-year study revealed that tapeworm-infected, compared to uninfected, worker ants exhibited increased lifespans similar to that… Read more: Parasite-infected ants have discovered the secret to living a longer life
- A New Piece in the Puzzle of Human EvolutionSophie Teall writes about how the discovery of an archaic human population in Israel suggests a more complex evolutionary history than previously thought. As modern humans (Homo sapiens), we are… Read more: A New Piece in the Puzzle of Human Evolution
- Novel findings in the biology of depression: Is now the time to update the 60-year-old serotonin theory?Serotonin is a hormone produced by nerve cells from tryptophan, an amino acid which enters our body through our diet. Foods such as nuts, cheese and red meat are rich… Read more: Novel findings in the biology of depression: Is now the time to update the 60-year-old serotonin theory?
- How brain cells repair their DNA reveals “hot spots” of aging and diseaseThe brain is the organ responsible for our personality, consciousness and ability to process our surrounding environment. It, quite simply, makes us who we are. Unfortunately, as we age it… Read more: How brain cells repair their DNA reveals “hot spots” of aging and disease
- Supermassive black hole: Andromeda’s and the Milky Way’s black holes will collideOur nearest galaxy, Andromeda or M31, lies 2.537 million light years (or 2.4 x 1019 km) away. However, scientists have agreed that it is on a collision course for our… Read more: Supermassive black hole: Andromeda’s and the Milky Way’s black holes will collide
- Concern for the Climate Endures Through the COVID-19 PandemicCOVD-19 may be cutting coverage on the climate crisis, but that doesn’t mean people have stopped caring about the climate. 2020 began with wildfires raging across Australia in an unusually… Read more: Concern for the Climate Endures Through the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Music was my first love…New research illustrates the potential for music therapy for people with Alzheimer’s. We’re all aware of the power of music – be that its ability to make you move your… Read more: Music was my first love…
- Robotic Touch: Artificial skin brings robots closer to ‘touching’ human livesWhen we anticipate the different future innovative technologies we imagine that the manufacturing industry will be completely automated, routine medical procedures will be robot-assisted and the world’s most puzzling crimes… Read more: Robotic Touch: Artificial skin brings robots closer to ‘touching’ human lives
- Venus Flytraps Generate Measurable Magnetic FieldsMagnetic fields produced by the venus fly trap have been measured by an interdisciplinary team of scientists. Lily Sharratt-Davidson explores the impact these findings could have on plant diagnostics. The… Read more: Venus Flytraps Generate Measurable Magnetic Fields
- Should Scotland reintroduce the Eurasian lynx to its highlands?Samantha Dougary explores whether the Eurasian lynx should be reintroduced back into the Scottish Highlands, to once again be free to roam and thrive in their natural habitat for the… Read more: Should Scotland reintroduce the Eurasian lynx to its highlands?