Humankind’s genetic links to long-extinct relatives are being mapped in a rapidly expanding research field called palaeoproteomics. By Michael Allen They are a fixture of almost every novelty T-shirt shop: humorous pictorials of human evolution, five figures in silhouette – from ape to human – usually with the last replaced by a skateboarder, Darth Vader … Read more
EU researchers are turning to the world’s top pollinator in an attempt to reverse biodiversity loss and help fruit growers. By Anthony King Think of wildlife tracking and what probably comes to mind are documentaries following the majestic movements of elephants through the savannah, the graceful migrations of sea turtles in the deep blue and … Read more
Two major illnesses in Europe have prompted EU researchers to hunt for cures by grouping affected people. By Anthony King Professor Rick Grobbee believes the key to better treatment for individual patients with heart disease is to look at large numbers of them. This approach can reveal different subgroups of disease. Grobbee, a researcher at … Read more
Minerals in ancient meteorites offer insights into the origin of almost three-quarters of the Earth’s surface. By Michael Allen Dr Alice Stephant, an astrophysicist, is helping to solve a longstanding mystery about water on Earth: where it came from. Scientists long thought that water, which covers 70% of the Earth, is probably rare or non-existent … Read more
Science lessons across Europe come to life through a push towards “open schooling”. By Andrew Dunne In a part of Sweden northeast of Stockholm, Nina Berglund likes trying out new ways to teach her science students aged 10 to 12. Berglund recently invited a physics professor named Staffan Yngve to her class in the municipality … Read more
Satellites and on-the-ground sensors are helping Kenya, Ghana and Zambia tackle inundation risks and farmers cope with drought. By Anthony King Like most people, Mark Noort reacted with horror to images last month of devastating floods in Libya. Unlike most others, Noort had a professional reason to follow the drama. An expert in Earth observation … Read more