Sally Davies is a journalist, editor, content creator and copywriter based in Barcelona, Spain.

Aliens, science and speculation in the wake of ʻOumuamua

17 Mar 2024  |  Aeon  |  English  |  Scientific Speculation

The article discusses the discovery of ʻOumuamua, the first known interstellar object to pass through our solar system, and the subsequent debate over its nature. Initially spotted by astronomer Robert Weryk in 2017, ʻOumuamua's unusual characteristics sparked widespread interest and speculation, including theories that it could be an alien artifact. Harvard professor Avi Loeb suggested that ʻOumuamua might be an extraterrestrial solar sail, a hypothesis that has been met with skepticism from the scientific community. The article also touches on the role of speculation in scientific progress and how personal beliefs can influence scientific theories. The upcoming Vera C Rubin Observatory could provide more data on interstellar visitors like ʻOumuamua, potentially settling the debate on its origins.

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Washington University in St Louis Queen's University Belfast University of Arizona Harvard University University of California, Los Angeles SETI Institute Breakthrough Starshot Instituto de Astrofísica Contact in the Desert

I have 15 years of experience at a daily newspaper in the Chicagoland market. I've written and reported thousands of articles. I've also made numerous television and radio guest appearances.

A highly magnetized and rapidly rotating white dwarf as small as the Moon

30 Jun 2021  |  Nature  |  English  |  Stellar Evolution

Observations reveal a white dwarf, ZTF J190132.9+145808.7, with extreme properties including a rapid rotation period of 6.94 minutes, a magnetic field between 600 and 900 megagauss, and a radius slightly larger than the Moon. This suggests the star's mass is near the Chandrasekhar limit. The white dwarf is likely cooling through Urca processes due to high core densities. The study involved contributions from multiple institutions and utilized data from various telescopes and space missions.

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National Central University of Taiwan Queen’s University Belfast University of Edinburgh Durham University Johns Hopkins University Caltech NASA NSF European Space Agency Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium Pan-STARRS1 Surveys Max Planck Society Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network Incorporated Space Telescope Science Institute University of Maryland Eotvos Lorand University Los Alamos National Laboratory Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

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Ashleigh Hamilton is a broadcast and video journalist based in Cape Town, South Africa.
Producer, Director, Fixer, Researcher, Writer, Photographer
Experienced freelance broadcast journalist, fixer and content production professional occupying
senior producing and directing roles with several ...

Cancer is becoming more common among adults under 50 years. And experts can’t figure out why

05 Oct 2023  |  ThePrint  |  English  |  Medical Research

Cancer is increasingly affecting adults under 50, with a 79% rise in early-onset cancer cases from 1990 to 2019. Breast cancer is the most common, while prostate and throat cancers are rising fastest. Deaths from early-onset cancers have also increased, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The causes remain unclear, though lifestyle factors and genetic conditions play a role. Greater awareness and urgent research are needed to address this growing concern.

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Queen’s University Belfast

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Coco is an award-winning journalist, writing primarily about energy and climate change for a global audience. She has reported from across Asia, particularly in China, on topics ranging from carbon trading to sustainable logging. Her work appears on the New York Times website and in Scientific ...

Retired wind turbine blades live on as park benches and picnic tables

25 Nov 2023  |  Lewiston Sun Journal  |  English  |  Sustainability

Benches outside the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, crafted from retired wind turbine blades by Canvus, highlight a sustainable approach to repurposing decommissioned blades. With a growing number of wind turbines reaching the end of their lifespan, companies like Canvus offer innovative solutions to prevent blades from ending up in landfills. Canvus, which started in 2021, transforms blades into products like benches and planters, often donated by corporate clients. The company has processed over 1,000 blades and sold more than 200 products. While turbine manufacturers are developing recyclable blades, startups like Canvus provide immediate repurposing solutions. The article also discusses the broader challenges and efforts in the wind energy sector to manage turbine waste sustainably.

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Queen’s University Belfast WindEurope Global Wind Energy Council Siemens SA Vestas Wind Systems MidAmerican Energy

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Brian Maguire is a journalist based in Brussels, Belgium.

Brian Maguire: Short Biography

Brussels-based journalist, producer and broadcaster, Brian Maguire, specialises in European politics and business; producing short documentary films exploring Europe’s competing policy dimensions. He ...

Irish hospital researchers discover new AMR bacteria

14 Feb 2024  |  www.euractiv.com  |  English  |  Antimicrobial Resistance

Researchers at the University of Limerick, in collaboration with University Hospital Limerick and Queen’s University Belfast, have discovered a new species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Pseudocitrobacter limerickensis, in a hospital setting. The discovery, which has implications for global health due to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), was published in the Journal of Hospital Infection. The study highlights the importance of addressing AMR, which the WHO has declared a top global public health threat. Ireland's approach to AMR includes a One Health National Action Plan, and the private sector is also taking steps, with Sandoz and Teva receiving AMR certification from the British Standards Institute. The European Commission is considering AMR in its reform of pharmaceutical legislation, with the pharmaceutical trade body EFPIA advocating for incentives to develop new antimicrobials.

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University Hospital Limerick Queen’s University Belfast University of Limerick Health Service Executive World Health Organization Department of Health Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine British Standards Institute European Commission EFPIA

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Christian Moore is a freelance journalist and social media manager based in Berlin, Germany.

He holds a BA (Hons) in English Studies and an M.Phil in Creative Writing from Trinity College, Dublin.

Blast from the past: Hear how music sounded and spread in 17th century England

27 Mar 2024  |  www.euronews.com  |  English  |  Cultural Studies

A UK study titled 100 Ballads by Christopher Marsh of Queen’s University Belfast and Angela McShane of the University of Warwick explores the commercial music market of 17th century England. They collaborated with The Carnival Band to recreate top ballads from that era, which are available for free on the project's website. The study reveals that songwriters earned a penny per sheet, a rate that remained constant despite inflation, drawing a parallel to modern royalty models like Spotify's. The research also indicates that English ballads were preserved better than their European counterparts, though there was significant overlap in tunes across the channel. Ballads from the project tell stories of European events and reflect the cultural exchange of music between England and the continent.

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University of Warwick Queen’s University Belfast The Carnival Band

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Diane Shipley is a journalist based in Sheffield, United Kingdom. She specializes in books, pop culture, and health (especially unusual conditions, revolutionary treatments, and how technology intersects with our physical and emotional well-being). Her bylines include The Guardian, The Washington ...

Mark Smith is a freelance journalist, copywriter and digital content writer based in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

He has written for the Guardian, BBC, Daily Mirror Online and Express Online as well as Very.co.uk and Littlewoods. 

Areas of expertise include all aspects of business and ...

Should universities do more to encourage student entrepreneurs?

01 Mar 2016  |  www.theguardian.com  |  English  |  Enterprise Education

The article discusses the entrepreneurial spirit among university students and the level of support they receive from their institutions. Research by Santander indicates that while many students engage in entrepreneurial activities during their studies, only a small percentage continue after graduation. Johnny Luk of the National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs suggests that universities should offer more support for student entrepreneurs. The article highlights the University of Leeds and University College London as examples of institutions providing substantial support. Personal experiences of entrepreneurs like Abesh Thakur of Two Big Ears and David Williams of Independent Liverpool are shared, illustrating varying degrees of university support. The piece also mentions initiatives like Young Enterprise and the work of Professor David Gibson, who advocates for integrating entrepreneurial skills into university curricula. The article suggests that while some universities and initiatives provide support, there is room for improvement in encouraging and nurturing student entrepreneurship.

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Queen’s University Belfast Liverpool John Moores University University College London University of Leeds National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs Edinburgh Research and Innovation Lab Launch.ed Young Enterprise University of Derby Guardian Small Business Network

Lea Surugue is a journalist based in Madrid, Spain.

Family of 4-billion-year-old asteroids reveal secrets of the early solar system

04 Aug 2017  |  www.ibtimes.co.uk  |  English  |  Asteroids

Scientists have identified an ancient family of asteroids in the Main Belt between Mars and Jupiter, estimated to be about 4 billion years old. This discovery, published in the journal Science, offers significant insights into early planet formation and asteroid birth. Using a novel method, researchers found a group of dark asteroids with related orbits, suggesting they originated from a single collision early in the solar system's history. The study also indicates that many large asteroids over 35 km in diameter have survived since the solar system's birth, supporting the theory that asteroids are born large.

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Queen's University Belfast Astrophysics Research Centre

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Cyril Zenda is an African freelance journalist based in Harare, Zimbabwe. His work, which covers southern Africa and focuses on development, social justice, human rights, climate change and the environment, has appeared in several international publications such as TRT World Magazine, African ...

Study confirms massive elephant die-off in Botswana was caused by toxic algal bloom due to climate change

02 Dec 2024  |  www.downtoearth.org.in  |  English  |  Toxic Algal Bloom

A study led by King’s College London confirms that the massive die-off of nearly 400 elephants in Botswana's Okavango Delta in 2020 was caused by toxic algal blooms in stagnant waterholes, exacerbated by climate change. The research highlights the increased risk of harmful cyanobacteria blooms due to drastic shifts in climate conditions, such as those between 2019 and 2020. The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive water quality surveillance to prevent similar ecological disasters, as the region faces ongoing drought conditions. The study involved multiple international research institutions and emphasizes the broader impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem health.

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Queen’s University Belfast University of Botswana King’s College London Plymouth Marine Laboratory Natural History Museum

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