Professor Peter Doherty has certainly had an impressive and illustrious career as an immunologist. In 1996, he and his colleague Rolf M Zinkernagel were awarded a Nobel Prize for their work on how the immune system recognises virus-infected cells. In 1997, he was named Australian of the Year. Now an indomitable octogenarian, Doherty looks back at h…

How do you make wearable technologies comfortable and unobtrusive for people who need them? Professor Michele Barbour talks to Dr Zeke Steer about how personal experiences with his great grandmother influenced the development of SmartSocks™, an innovative technology aimed at supporting individuals with dementia. ⭐Highlights § Zeke shares his journe…

Women in STEM careers in Lebanon experience gendered microaggressions at work, including microinsults and microinvalidation. Dr Yasmeen Makarem and Dr Beverly Metcalfe conducted a qualitative study with 21 women in Lebanon working in STEM fields to better understand these experiences. Human resources professionals could use these findings to improv…

Health problems are not just health problems ; they embody politics, social status, history, money and more. Where there is inequality in those underpinning factors, inequity in healthcare access is sure to follow. Professor Leonard Egede from the Medical College of Wisconsin examines the extent of social biases and their impacts on health, and the…

Plasmapheresis, the exchange of infected plasma with fresh plasma from blood, is normally used at the far end of the treatment regimen in cases where no other medication is effective. Dr Kiprov’s research on the different immunoregulatory and neuroregulatory properties of plasmapheresis and its benefits establishes plasmapheresis as a prophylactic …

How can spin-outs leverage end user feedback to refine products and validate markets? Find out as Professor Michele Barbour talks to Dr Jenny Bailey, the CEO and Co-Founder of Ferryx, a biotech company focused on the commercial production of live bacterial products for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal inflammation in humans and anim…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the field of radiology, making faster and more precise diagnoses possible. However, most radiologists aren’t familiar with AI and report a fear of being replaced by it. Dr Jordan Perchik from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA, designed a free online ‘AI Literacy Course’ which has reached mo…

As a society, we have come to rely on smartphones to do far more than make a telephone call. However, concern is growing over the potential negative consequences of their over-use, such as distraction, forgetfulness and cognitive laziness. Led by psychologist Dr Andree Hartanto, researchers from Singapore Management University tracked how long stud…

Financial stress testing generally involves a team of modellers working closely together, applying complex mathematical models to large and granular datasets. So, how can data science support the management of complex mathematical models, such as used in the financial sphere? STAMP€ IT – a data-science platform developed by Dr Jerome Henry and his …

How can the UK address its technology skills gap? Professor Michele Barbour speaks with Kirsten Cater, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Bristol. Kirsten leads the skills and training aspect of the MyWorld project, addressing the significant skills gap in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. ⭐Highlights § Delve into the rela…

The process of obtaining FDA approval for a new drug costs an estimated $1.8 billion and can take up to 15 years. What’s more, only a small percentage of drugs that undergo human clinical trials are approved. To address this, Bartley J Madden, Research Fellow at the Madden Center for Value Creation at Florida Atlantic University, USA, has developed…

CEO impersonation scams are on the rise. So, how can employees be made alert to such a scam? Margit Scholl, Professor of Business and Administrative Informatics at TH Wildau, explores a novel approach to giving business employees a greater awareness of fraud. Together with her research team and two corporate partners, she developed both an analog a…

Across the world, as in Germany, many employees still want to work remotely at least one or two days a week despite offices reopening. However, many SMEs failed to think about the information security risks associated with home-working. Professor Margit Scholl of TH Wildau leads the ALARM, or Awareness Lab SME Information Security project. Using ga…

Elevated blood pressure, called hypertension, is the leading risk factor for death and disability worldwide. However, many patients find it is not possible to achieve a healthy blood pressure despite taking three or more blood-pressure-lowering medications; a condition referred to as resistant hypertension. Professor Markus Schlaich at The Universi…

Recent cybersecurity reports show that the security of firms’ online presences is under ever-greater threat from cyberattack. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are attacked disproportionately often. There is also a link between people’s level of knowledge and the number of attacks. Professor Margit Scholl and her team at TH Wildau have deve…

Recent research emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of information security teams, combining creative perspectives with technical expertise. The German “ALARM Information Security” project, led by Professor Margit Scholl at TH Wildau is part of her wide-reaching efforts to establish a landscape where digitization harmonizes seamlessly with robu…

How are novel quantum technologies being applied to meet market demands? Find out as Professor Michele Barbour speaks to Anthony Laing, Professor of Physics and Co-Director of the Quantum Engineering and Technology labs at the University of Bristol and CEO of Duality Quantum Photonics. Anthony outlines his career journey from mature student to CEO …

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are growing concerned over business interruptions and cyberattacks, especially in Germany. There is a notable gap in organizational measures relating to information security despite current safeguards, particularly in the areas of awareness and emergency preparedness. Professor Margit Scholl from TH Wildau …

Transport sector sustainability is an important, topical issue that requires prompt and challenging solutions to accomplish the ambitious Greenhouses Gases and CO2 reduction targets. Dr. Dario Di Maio, a researcher of CNR-STEMS in the team of Research Director Dr. Carlo Beatrice, in collaboration with Prof. Daniela Misul and Prof. Mirko Baratta fro…

Electronic sports, or esports, have evolved the concept of ‘sport’, especially around the mental acuity needed to play. Professor Samantha Punch from the University of Stirling together with Dr David Scott at Abertay University, Scotland, have investigated what’s known as the sociology of mindsport. They have uncovered the intense physicality and t…

Professional dance takes a mastery of physicality and form - on top of the business stresses and social demands. So what are dancers to make of motherhood and pregnancy, when their physical form and social availability now comes with dependents? Professor Angela Pickard of Canterbury Christchurch University discusses the challenges facing the embod…

The destruction of plant crops from the propagation of plant pathogens, such as viruses, is a serious threat to global food security and human perpetuity. What's more, the world’s governing bodies lack the tools for standardised and accurate virus detection. The CEO and Founder of Multiplex startup, Dr Bernardo Pollak, and fellow researchers based …

Care, by itself, brings thoughts of warmth, compassion, and doing right by the people who need your help. As an employment Sector, it sees life or death stakes placed on a chronically undervalued staff, working under stringent budgets in high pressure working environments. What, then, can we learn from the fields of trauma research and community su…

What is the future of hydrogen as a renewable fuel source? Professor Michele Barbour talks with Dr Neha Chandarana, a Lecturer in Bio-based and Sustainable Composites at the University of Bristol. Neha explores the potential applications of hydrogen, from heating to various modes of transport. She also shares insights into her role as the Equity, D…

Weight lifter David Katoatau has already lost his home in Kiribati to coastal erosion, and faces the loss of his whole country to rising sea levels. Dancing at the 2016 Summer Olympics didn't stop the tides, but it grabbed attention across the world regarding his country's imminent fate, and raised awareness of the damages climate change is already…

Cyclic glycine proline, or cGP, is a very small molecule, but one with a profound impact on the body and mind, such as on the ageing brain and health. Dr Jian Guan, Neuroscientist and Chief Scientific Officer at The cGP Lab, New Zealand, focuses on understanding the role of IGF-1 hormone and cGP in brain health and cognitive function, and improving…

Active risks to children's health come in many shapes and sizes. While misinformation and bad advice won't turn up in a blood test, it can have just as damaging consequences as any infection. Dr Christie del Castillo-Hegyi's research into child wellbeing and nutrition, in addition to her Fed Is Best Initiative, flies counter to a lot of the “receiv…

Sir Paul Nurse, Director of the Francis Crick Institute in London, UK is a Nobel Prize winning geneticist and cell biologist whose research is recognised worldwide, particularly for his contributions to cell biology and cancer research. In this insightful interview with our sister publication, Research Features, Nurse discusses the institute’s crea…

How could a chance discovery in cuttlefish biology help protect our sight? Join Professor Michele Barbour in conversation with Dr Shelby Temple, the CEO and Co-Founder of Azul Optics, a medical device company focused on using innovative screening technologies to improve eye health. Hear about Shelby’s transition from academia to entrepreneurship an…

With the exception of a few hereditary cancers, there is currently no accurate method to predict whether someone is going to get cancer. Dr Andrew Teschendorff from the Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, in collaboration with Dr Chen Wu from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, has created a computational method called CancerStemID tha…

Traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States, and 80% of traumatic brain injuries are classified as ‘mild.’ But, these can have serious and long-lasting effects. Dr Jacyln Stephens, Associate Professor in Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University specialises in brain injury, rehabilitation, a…

In the digitalised world, citizens – while having control over their personal information – are increasingly exposing their data, and there are plenty of online platforms ready to collect this. Aigul Kaskina, in collaboration with the FMsquare Foundation, presents the concept of a fuzzy-based recommender system for user account privacy settings tha…

What can we learn from our history to make positive changes for the future? Professor Michele Barbour investigates this question with Dr Joanna Burch-Brown, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Co-Chair of the Bristol Histories Commission, and Co-Director of Bridging Histories. Joanna talks about her work to celebrate diversity, empower people, and foste…

The international monetary system is the unquestioned common ground for all economic activities. Stefan Brunnhuber, trustee of the World Academy of Art and Science and member of the Club of Rome asks: how and why will an upgraded financial system be a game-changer? Are we ready to think and act outside the box? Do we need a new, green Bretton Woods…

How much of the plastic we generate in our cities every day ends up in natural water ecosystems? And what are the paths for pollution to enter these systems? Using a combination of environmental monitoring, laboratory analysis, and computer modelling, a team led by Dr. Mauricio Arias and his Watershed Sustainability lab at the University of South F…

In Western Sydney, Australia extreme temperature days pose serious health and socio-economic threats to its population. Dr Milton Speer and colleagues from the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Australia aim to quantify and explain what is driving the increasing disparity in extreme maximum summer temper…

For Story Telling Week 2024, we've revisited some past episodes to see how else stories can help summarise science. Listen to the original episode of Dr Angelica Hagsand of the University of Gothenburg here: https://researchpod.org/behavioural-sciences/eyewitness-testimony-much-alcohol-too-much Read their original article: https://doi.org/10.1080/1…

Welcome to the Enterprise Sessions How do you launch a new business without the necessary infrastructure to support it? If you’re Dr Harry Destecroix you build it yourself. Professor Michele Barbour sits down with the Science Creates Founder to talk about the remarkable success of an ecosystem that combines specialist incubator facilities, a networ…

Nanomaterials are small particles that can be found everywhere, including in the air we breathe, which can have detrimental effects on health and the environment. Dr Ernesto Alfaro-Moreno of the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory in Braga, Portugal, has been involved in continued research on the toxicology of nanomaterials, with promis…

On the face of it, investment management is purely a numbers game. But behind the scenes, equity analysts require a lot of people skills to get an accurate stock valuation out to the fund management community. Dr An-Ping Lin, Associate Professor at Singapore Management University, and colleagues from the US and Canada have produced the very first l…

Many of the latest anti-cancer drugs are targeted towards the tiniest molecular differences in cells. But even if you know the genetic make up of a tumour, getting medicines to - and then in to - the affected area is a different challenge. Dr Moutih Rafei at Defence Therapeutics reports on a novel drug technology that gets more treatment to the cel…

Mobile devices have become pervasive in reach and constant in attention. What role does that availability have as a cause of, and potential solution to, crises in mental health and the care profession? And who falls between the cracks where technology falls short? Dr Dianne Wepa from Charles Darwin University joins us again along side Dr Jabin from…

Cigarette smoking increases the risk of developing lung cancer and other diseases, but how effective are public health strategies? Professor Theodore Holford at the Yale School of Public Health, USA, is part of the CISNET Lung Cancer Working Group. His work uses population health models, such as the Smoking History Generator, to show age-period-coh…

While Scotland has been a beacon of hope for many Syrian refugees, resettlement can create a grievous sense of loss and emptiness for many. Associate Professor Fawad Khaleel of Edinburgh Napier University and Dr Alija Avudukic of Al-Maktoum College, Scotland, UK, examine the challenges faced by people from Syria, who experienced forced displacement…

Does a firms age and size matter in the world of Initial Public Offerings? Smader Siev from Ono Academic College and Mahmoud Qadan from the the University of Haifa, have explored the dynamic landscape of Initial Public Offerings, and demonstrated how age and size play pivotal roles in the IPO world. Read the original research: doi.org/10.3390/jrfm1…

How a member of the public reacts to health crises depends on a lot of differing factors, including perceived risk or resistance to the disease, trust in the government, and general anxiety levels. Since media, including government-sourced information, can also determine how individuals respond to health messages, the impact of crisis communication…

Myocarditis is the inflammation of the heart wall tissues that can affect the heart’s ability to pump blood, and sometimes cause an irregular or pathologically rapid heartbeat. Dr. Sandeep is a general paediatric and fetal cardiologist and is currently the Medical Director of his practice Pediatrix Northwest Congenital HeartCare in Seattle and Taco…

New technologies like Artificial Intelligence bring new perceptions, new practices and new understandings. Stefan Brunnhuber, the head of an initiative of the World academy of Art and Science, questions whether AI is just another trend, or whether it will change how humans are able to generate information, knowledge, even wisdom, like we never expe…

The distribution of parcels from local distribution centres to customers can be met with hiccups, as customers may be unavailable to receive packages at optimal delivery times. Jhonny Pincay-Nieves and colleagues, have developed a framework for improving first-try success in last-mile delivery, demonstrating how complex processes and improvements c…

Large pension funds are not just financial giants; they also serve as catalysts for climate action. In Denmark, these pension funds are not only influential but have also committed to reducing emissions as outlined in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. The research of Dr Paul Klumpes and Jesper Lindgaard Christensen of Aalborg University focuses on …