A maverick’s self-inflicted snake bites could unlock breakthrough treatments – but they also reveal deeper tensions between noble scientific curiosity and cold corporate callousness, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Latest editorial
Science and Society
Science has always been mixed up with money and power, but as a decorative facade for megayachts, it risks leaving reality behind altogether, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
A small Japanese trial has reported some positive results for stem cell therapy to treat spinal-cord injuries
Man-made canals like Panama and Suez face unprecedented challenges from extreme weather patterns and geopolitical tensions that reveal the fragility of our global trade networks, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
It’s sunny times for the solar industry which is expected to continue to grow rapidly — but there are still major environmental issues with how solar cells are made, explain ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Fraud in Alzheimer’s research raises difficult questions about the current state of science, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
The new US administration’s policy decisions are already having seismic effects worldwide, argue ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Natural hydrogen gas could be a replacement for fossil fuels, but its extraction could see developing nations face familiar patterns of land loss and resource theft, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Despite miraculous trial results showing new treatment could halt transmission, corporate greed and patent laws condemn millions to preventable infection and death, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Rox Middleton, Liam Shaw and Miriam Gauntlett look at the history of lasers, from cat toys to modelling the explosion of stars
Lithium is crucial for batteries — but because deposits form only under rare geological conditions, its extraction is a geopolitical flashpoint between the imperial West and the rest of the world, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Genetic engineering to remove a structure from plant cells called the Golgi body sheds light on how leaves change with the seasons, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT examine how new genetic research reveals the rapid pace of human evolution in response to agricultural development, offering insights Marx would have found fascinating
Vegetation is growing at an alarming rate on Antarctica’s northernmost region, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Sand and gravel underpin almost all urban development — but the extraction of these vital materials is unsustainable and causes untold damage, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
The flexibility of the hormonal system in humans means that our biology is increasingly in our own hands, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT explore how metal nodules producing oxygen on the ocean floor complicate the search for extraterrestrial life and our understanding of Earth's early atmosphere
New research reveals how a billion-year-old antiviral defence links humans to deep-sea microbes, showcasing the remarkable conservation of life’s core machinery, explain ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Although the study of ants can be interpreted to suit any political or philosophical argument it can fuel organisational imagination, write Rox Middleton, Liam Shaw and Miriam Gauntlett
The news that a tiny fern on a Pacific island has the largest genome ever recorded demonstrates that bigger isn’t always better, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Industry insiders believe that Boeing, one of the world’s largest aeroplane manufacturers, has jeopardised passenger safety with its corporate strategy, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Coral reefs are currently undergoing the most extensive planet-wide bleaching on record, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
The low death toll and damage from a recent earthquake in Taiwan highlights global inequality in preparing for natural disasters, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
How do you end minority rule in science? The new funding agency, Aria, is proving that feudalism seems to be back in fashion in academic science – although perhaps it never went away, suggest ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Researchers have used techniques from epidemiology to estimate possible deaths in Gaza under different scenarios as the genocide continues, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Insect-watchers can make an important contribution to our understanding of local species populations and assist in conservation efforts – but this hobby is on the decline. ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT ask why that might be
Now that testing warheads has literally been forced underground, ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT explain how 'forensic seismology' is used by the British Ministry of Defence to monitor its atomic enemies
New research shows that the total air pollution from oil sands is far greater than official numbers suggest, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM HELLEWELL and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT take a look at what it means to live in an algorithmic society
A better understanding of the movement of magma at plate boundaries could help predict volcanic eruptions more accurately, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Reports of gigantic proteins in extremely tiny bacteria raise exciting questions, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
If there is an international ‘academic community,’ it is now that it must act in defence of our Palestinian colleagues, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Despite what military technology claims, invisibility remains a matter of perspective, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
The illegal deprivation of water supplies to Gaza is only the latest step in a decades-long water crisis, say SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
Breakthroughs in machine learning could be used to design new deadly chemicals - how should we respond when scientific information is kept secret in the name of global security, ask ROX MIDDLETON, JOEL HELLEWELL and LIAM SHAW
New research using satellite images shows that the impact of tropical mining on rivers has increased over recent decades, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
The increased risk of a measles outbreak in London highlights the need for more access to vaccination — not just in this country but worldwide, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Recent attempts in the US to manufacture controversy around a doctor’s refusal to debate anti-vaxxers tell us more about sophistry than science, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
An analysis of speech patterns by US police officers shows that escalation can be accurately predicted from the first words they speak to black drivers, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
In the climate crisis, the only thing that will control profit-driven fossil-fuel burning is international legislation to drive the replacement of infrastructure, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
A Marxist viewpoint suggests that class will influence scientific study
The announcement of a new power line reveals a lot about the government’s energy policy, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
A group constructing an accurate model of violent events using 3D imaging based on multiple kinds of input can help us discover the truth of situations the powerful want to keep hidden, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
A new drug is showing promise for an old disease — but elimination will require more than pharmaceuticals, explain ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
A planned carbon capture storage plant sits uneasily alongside continued inaction on home insulation — how can we make sure any new ‘efficiency’ does not lead to greater consumption — and should we, ask ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
In the wake of the Syria and Turkey earthquake ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL look at alternative building technologies that stood the test of time
Are ‘paradigm shifts’ on the wane? And what does this tell us about the way science is conducted ask ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL look at how British space technology came to be run by private companies like Virgin, despite a strong start with the state-built Goonhilly Earth Station in the 1960s
A failing steel industry and outdated technology will not guarantee long-term employment for the local community, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Mathematical modelling of past infectious disease outbreaks can shed light on both biology and history, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
The death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak due to mould should motivate an urgent campaign of repairs to poor housing across Britain, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Forecasting, predicting and manifesting the future is a fraught occupation, but we can’t afford to abandon the scientific endeavour to capitalists, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
By integrating networks of human and mouse neurons with computer hardware, a team of scientists believe that they have witnessed a 'sentient' game of the arcade classic Pong, report ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Genetic engineering adapts tools evolved by nature for human use — but whose, ask ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Science is often treated as if it’s apolitical, but swimming in money and influence, is that a realistic view, ask ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
As we pass global temperature tipping points, we face widespread ecosystem collapse and the development of self-sustaining destructive feedback loops, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
A new funding agency for science claims it will be tolerant of failure – but the signs are that it aims only to replicate existing venture capitalism, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Part of dealing with vast problems such as climate change and the new weather patterns it brings is making public decisions about the future, argue ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
How do we hold on to the belief in our own power to contribute to the world in a huge and complex society of billions of people? Sometimes it helps to watch ants, explain ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Medicine has long been able to guarantee HIV patients an almost normal life and now it can fully cure the virus too — but the treatment is not appropriate for all, explain ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
The majority of scientific research is carried out by PhD students who are not paid wages but a 'stipend' of £15,609 — and this year's increase is not in line with inflation — ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL report on their plight
Artificial Intelligence in the form of chatbots is convincing people it has feelings — it doesn't, yet the fact we are falling for it is terrifying in itself, as corporations cannot be trusted with this new weapon, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Why has monkeypox, which has been infecting people around Congo Basin at a low level for decades, suddenly become noteworthy in the West? Surprise, it’s racism!
New research into how proteins bind in cells offers exciting possibilities, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
New research uncovers the structure of the crystals inside Pepto-Bismol, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Heatwaves show the difficulty of assessing extreme weather events in a changing climate, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Working out the survival rates of medieval manuscripts needed surprise input from those studying animal diversity – and reminds us on the left to make sure we keep our own story safe, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
New research shows that energy could be extracted from the wifi waves that surround us, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Let's focus on how the genetic code provides the toolbox for the myriad possibilities in any person, or cat for that matter
The history of penicillin and Covid-19 vaccines shows how states desperately use corporations at times of crisis — and are used by them, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Are fungi friend or foe? Both, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL — but when they do more harm than good in our homes, we should take a page out of their book and create our own powerful networks
When Pluto was demoted from full planet status there was uproar — but as Engels warned us, science is a process where definitions change, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
New evidence suggests that hunter-gatherer societies smelted iron much earlier than believed, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
The Atacama desert and the Andean mountains are brimming with natural history and cutting-edge contemporary science
New research has identified GJ 367b, a super-dense planet orbiting a far-away star. Their discovery also touches on the uneven distribution of scientific resources — despite the centrality of internationalism to astronomy, explain ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
The Science & Society team respond to readers' thoughts on their previous column about sex and gender
Scientists don’t work in ‘ivory towers’ – they work with the political reality they perceive around them, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Does science 'disprove' transgender identity? No, argue ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Last week, the Nobel prize in chemistry 2021 was awarded for ‘the development of asymmetric organocatalysis’ — ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL introduce a greener way to build molecules
A new study calculates that the majority of fossil fuels must remain in the ground to limit climate change, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Understanding how light can be fused with matter is the key to a major new technology — but researchers in Southampton have found a limit to how small you can go, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
The links between interventionist wars and game theory
ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL make the point that protection of species needs to be an all-encompassing ethos beyond the media-focused panda, gorilla or rhinoceros
Watch out sunbathers: photons of ultraviolet radiation can directly change the DNA inside living cells — with deadly results, write ROX MIDDLETON, JOEL HELLEWELL and LIAM SHAW
In June a major centre for stargazing in Scotland burnt to the ground, reminding us of the importance of making knowledge accessible to everyone, write ROX MIDDLETON, JOEL HELLEWELL and LIAM SHAW
The present inquiry into contaminated blood products in Britain is just one aspect of an untold tragedy that includes Asia and Latin America
The half a millimetre-long creatures that look like a tiny eight-legged caterpillar are resiliant beyond imagination and fascinate scientist as much as science-fiction writers
Cleaners in Lewisham came out to protest after their contracts were slashed by an employer who intends to invest instead in automated cleaning machines. So where does the hope for cleaner, healthier hospitals lie, ask ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Researchers have found that a small migrating warbler flies to a height of over five kilometres above the Sahara Desert
Promising results from a new trial indicate we could finally be equipped with one of the tools needed to rid us of a disease that has plagued people since the dawn of humanity, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
The only reason we initially noticed gravity is thanks to the size of huge and easily observable objects like the planets — but all material possesses this force and scientists are determined to measure it, even at the atomic level. ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL report
New research suggests that peregrines which migrate long-distances have a superior long-term memory, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
As children return to the classroom, reassuringly some studies show that they have a very low transmission rate — but there is also evidence that closing schools is still the single most effective intervention measure, report ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
Mirrors are the technology behind modern lasers. New research shows that lasers can be made inside water droplets, using the reflective properties of water, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL
New research shows how alpha particles form in the ‘skin’ of an atom’s nucleus, write ROX MIDDLETON, JOEL HELLEWELL and LIAM SHAW
Machines have changed how we think about data. Will they make us think differently about matter, ask ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and JOEL HELLEWELL