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Abracadabra for fragile scrolls
Pioneering dentistry X-ray technology and specialised software are making it possible to 'virtually' read fragile rolled-up historical documents for the first time in centuries.
Spacewire teamwork awarded
An international team, of which the University of Dundee is a leading member, has received a prestigious award from the ESA (European Space Agency) in recognition of its outstanding achievement in creating highly successful spacecraft technology.
Professionals join forces
An overwhelming majority vote from members at the IMIS (Institute for the Management of Information Systems), ratifies the proposal to merge with BCS (British Computer Society). With immediate effect the agreement will see all IMIS professional members transfer into BCS membership and the organisations work jointly to maintain standards and enhance the reputation of the profession, alongside law, engineering, accounting etc.
Graphene: 'surprising' architecture
A new transistor capable of revolutionising medical imaging or security screening has been developed by Universities of Manchester and Nottingham graphene researchers. EPSRC also funds Manchester University grapheme researchers with £3.5m to boost its graphene membrane programme that showed graphene oxide membranes as highly permeable to water, yet when dry, completely impermeable to gases and organic liquids. Both awards come only months after Manchester was allocated £2.2m to lead research into graphene batteries and supercapacitors for energy storage.
Diverse soils of Africa
The European Commission has presented the first Soil Atlas of Africa, that high-lights a vital natural resource which provides food, fodder, fuel wood, reduces flood risk and protects water supplies. With full colour maps and illustrations, the atlas explains in a simple and clear manner the diversity of soil across Africa's continent and emphasises the importance of this non-renewable resource.
Amantys IGBT monitoring on show
Amantys and EMEF (Empresa de Manutenção de Equipamento Ferroviário, S.A), a leading operator in the Portuguese railway maintenance sector, have deployed the Amantys Power Insight technology in a traction converter, part of a live trial demonstrating an innovative approach developed by EMEF, and leveraging the advantages of Amantys Power Insight condition monitoring.
Marine protection urgent
Important marine life in Scotland’s seas could be lost unless a network of key conservation areas is established as a matter of “urgency.” Scotland has over 60% of all UK waters to the continental shelf limits,60% of the UK coastline and 10% of Europe's coastline.
University science or reputation?
Scottish universities rank among the top 100 in a global Leiden rankings measuring scientific performance. St Andrews came 47th in rankings that measure the scientific impact of higher education institutions through publication citations. Dundee took 79th position, Edinburgh made 84th and Aberdeen 91st. Glasgow University was at 121st and Stratchclyde 308th in the 500 listing.
Elsevier takes Mendeley. And next?
Ironically, just as Institute of Knowledge Management coordinated with an EU project team and in cooperation with Mendeley, science software specialist, produces a world map of scientific collaboration, Elsevier has acquired Mendeley.
EU China netlink upgrade
Researchers, academics and students across Europe and China are set to benefit from a 10Gbps upgrade of the ORIENTplus research and education (R&E) Internet link, celebrated in London.
CLASS: Solving city floods
Scotland might be wise to watch how Finland and Sweden research the management of city flood waters. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is leading a project that seeks to identify flood water management solutions suitable for northern conditions through development of water permeable surfacing materials, technical design, and other means.
Gravitation micro-lensing net
Researchers at The University of Auckland have proposed a new method for finding Earth-like planets and they anticipate that the number will be in the order of 100 billion. The technique involves a network of the earth observatories.
Disabled: navigate & comfort
Big space organisations and Dundee University charity PAMIS are working to prove facilities for those paraplegics who require to navigate roads and pedestrian routes, or those who further require personal assistance to use public conveniences.
Big chemical vs bees, seeds and salmon
President Obama signed the Monsanto Protection Act, with no debate and no media coverage, but let it quietly slip it into the Agricultural Appropriations Bill, which passed through US Congress last week. The small provision is a big deal for Monsanto, as it protects genetically modified seeds from litigation even in the face of health risks.
Dundee gets ReNeuron clinical trials
With a Technology Strategy Board grant, Guildford-based ReNeuron has now received regulatory and ethical approvals for a Phase I UK clinical trial of its ReN009 stem cell therapy programme targeting the major unmet medical need, critical limb ischaemia (CLI).Subject to local R&D site approval, the Phase I clinical trial will be undertaken through NHS Tayside at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland.
Maths exam revision tool
Keele University Mathematics staff have developed a suite of videos to help A level pupils revise for their maths exams. There are currently complete answers to around 35 papers available. The answers are all endorsed by OCR and MEI and presented by experienced lecturers, teachers and examiners.
Sit back and consider the awesome stars
About 35 million light-years from Earth, in the constellation of Eridanus (The River), lies the spiral galaxy NGC 1637. Back in 1999 the serene appearance of this galaxy was shattered by the appearance of a very bright supernova. Astronomers studying the aftermath of this explosion with ESO’s Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile have provided us with a stunning view of this relatively nearby galaxy thanks to FORS (FOcal Reducer and low dispersion Spectograph) for the VLT.
QE prize for Engineering
Five engineers Louis Pouzin, Robert Kahn, Vint Cert, Tim Berners Lee, Marc Andreessen who created the Internet and the World Wide Web are joint winners of the inaugural £1 million Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering seen as comparable to the Nobel Prize.
Women in Science
Dundee celebrates Women in Science from March 8-24th where the achievements of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (`STEM') will be celebrated at 2013 Women In Science Festival.
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