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Scientia News is full of STEM blogs, articles and resources freely available across the globe for students. Browse all of our fascinating content written by students and professionals showing their passion in STEM and the other sciences. Log In Welcome to Scientia News DELIVERING INFORMATIVE CONTENT Scientia News is full of STEM blogs, articles and resources freely available across the globe for students. Browse all of our fascinating content written by students and professionals showing their passion in STEM and other sciences. We hope this platform helps you discover something that inspires your curiosity, and encourages you to learn more about important topics in STEM. Meet the Official Team NAVIGATE AND CLICK THE PHOTOS BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT US! To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Latest Articles psychology Stockholm Syndrome - psychology’s ongoing debate View More chemistry The world of inorganic NMR View More psychology The Psychology of the Halo Effect View More biology Dessert deception: how junk food advertising affects public health View More CONTACT CONTACT US Scientia News welcomes anyone who wants to share their ideas and write for our platform. If you are interested in realising your writing potential with us AND live in the UK; and/ or would like to give feedback: Email us at scientianewsorg@gmail.com or fill in our GET IN TOUCH form below and we'll be in contact... Follow us on our socials for the latest updates. Comment, like and share! Join our mailing list below for latest site content. You can also sign up to become a site member . SUBSCRIPTION Join our mailing list to receive alerts for new articles and other site content. Be sure to check your spam/ junk folders in case emails are sent there. Email Subscribe GET IN TOUCH First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting!

And its chemical effects Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Exposing medication to extreme heat 09/07/25, 14:09 Last updated: Published: 08/10/23, 16:18 And its chemical effects Introduction The majority of us look forward to when summer is just around the corner. It is a time for parents to start planning days off to be able to go on holiday with their kids to relax from their studies and enjoy sunsets at the beach. But for people who take medication, whether this just be a week-long course of antibiotics or for long-term conditions, summer may also be a chance for some negligence to occur. Specifically, alongside making sure you have applied SPF to protect your skin from the sun’s rays, you should also protect your medicine as well. This applies to both oral and non-oral drugs. Experts at The Montreal Children’s Hospital say that “many prescription drugs are very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity”; in this article, we will therefore discuss the effect of extreme heat on drugs from a medicinal chemistry perspective. Factors affecting drug activity due to heat Certain drugs may begin to degrade before their expiry date if not stored appropriately. This affects the efficacy, which is the maximum biological response that is achievable with a certain drug. A dose-response curve can be plotted (see Figure 1 ) to show the relationship between the two variables; the label Emax refers to the efficacy. During hot weather, the structure of the drug can change and therefore unable to bind to its target, causing a lowered and shifted Emax to be seen. Simply put, the medication will not relieve your symptoms as effectively. Another physiochemical property of a drug that can be altered in the heat is the potency. Many people confuse this term with efficacy, but potency refers to the concentration of a drug required to achieve 50% of its maximum therapeutic effect i.e., half the Emax. Potency is therefore also known as EC50, which abbreviates for ‘half maximal effective concentration’. The lower the concentration needed, the more potent your drug is. Like reduced efficacy, the drug’s potency will also decrease in the heat due to altered chemical structure. For drugs like antibiotics, it is crucial to note that if potency is reduced significantly, it could risk infection spreading to other parts of the body as the medication will not fight off bacteria as well as it should. Potentially dangerous! Finally, drug absorption is when a drug moves into the bloodstream after being administered. The chemical structure of the drug and the environment in which it is present hugely affects this; for example, if a lipophilic (‘fat loving’) drug is also present in a lipophilic surrounding, fast absorption is seen as they work well with each other. As you have probably guessed, high temperatures outside of the body can reduce drug absorption due to the above factors mentioned, as the drug is not in its optimal structure to be absorbed effectively. Examples of medicine that are heat sensitive Here is a list of some medicines that require extra care to prevent the above: 1) Nitroglycerin – used to treat chest pains for those with cardiovascular disease. It is especially sensitive to heat or light as it degrades very fast. Dr. Sarah Westberg, a professor at The University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, says you should follow the storage instructions and replace them regularly. 2) Some antibiotics – research has shown that ampicillin, erythromycin, and furosemide show a reduction in activity in the heat, although this was found after storing them for a year in a car with a temperature exceeding 25 degrees Celsius. Other antibiotics such as cefoxitin are shown to have some “stability in warmer climates”. 3) Levothyroxine – used to treat an underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism. This drug should be stored between 15 to 30 degrees Celsius, although even 30 is quite high so the lower the temperature the better. Interestingly, levothyroxine isn’t heat sensitive itself, it is the fact that the body becomes sensitive to the drug and may make a person feel strange in the heat. 4) Metoprolol succinate – used to treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, and heart failure in emergencies . The ideal storage conditions for this drug are 15 to 30 degrees Celsius, like Levothyroxine. Key things to look out for with your medicine in the heat Below are the 2 main things you should be checking for before taking your medicine in the summer: 1) Change in colour – Light can initiate all sorts of reactions, such as oxidation. If, for example, your medicine that is normally white has now changed into a different colour, this suggests that a reaction has taken place within your drug and will not be effective when administered. 2) Change in texture – Similar to change in colour, if a normally solid, oral tablet has become soft then this also suggests that the medication will not be as effective when consumed. How you can prevent your medicine from degrading To make sure you do not contribute to wasting medicine, you should do the following: 1) Check storage information – for any medication that you take, this will let you know how to store them correctly. 2) Travel with care – do not pack prescription drugs into your luggage, as it will almost always become very warm due to the surrounding environment. Instead, carry your medicine with you with the labels still on. 3) Do not leave medicine in any vehicle – everyday vehicles such as cars tend to get warm after a period , which can affect the colour and texture of your medicine. 4) Careful deliveries – for those who have their medicine delivered to them, you can request for your local pharmacy to deliver your medicine in temperature-controlled packages. Summary As discussed, chemicals in the majority of over-the-counter prescription drugs are heat sensitive and should therefore be handled with care, to prevent degradation of the drug. Changes in colour and texture are signs of degradation, which result in loss of efficacy, absorption, and potency. However, many other pharmacological factors interfere, so scientists especially involved in drug synthesis should (or continue to) take great precautions with the manufacturing process. Drugs are costly to make and require a lot of time, so the takeaway is to store them correctly! You should contact your pharmacist if you are still unsure about your prescription(s). Written by Harsimran Kaur Sarai Project Gallery

A CV entails a person's notable accomplishments. We check your CV for free! Our expert advisors offer to review your CV in a time-efficient manner, by providing quality feedback. Curriculum Vitae (CV) Looking to apply for a job after your graduation, internship, or placement? Read below our CV information and advice! What are CVs? A CV entails a person's notable accomplishments - for example, their education history, work experience, certifications, volunteering experience, projects, and more. They are normally made on Microsoft Word and should be one page long , however someone extremely experienced in their field of work may choose to make their CV as two pages. But isn't this a resumé? ... ... No. CVs contain a more comprehensive breakdown of education, work experience etc; a resum é is not as detailed. A resum é also excludes date of birth, address, and contact info, whereas a CV includes this. Why should you write a good CV? There are several reasons as to why you should write a good CV, with just a few listed below: Professionalism A well organised, polished CV reflects your attention to detail and makes you more likely to be considered by employers for the advertised job. First impression and employability Employers spend less than 9 seconds looking at a CV! Hence, a well-designed CV is important as it will make you stand out and increase chances of securing an interview. Career progression A CV is not only for getting a job. It shows how you have generally developed as an employee, from what new skills you have gained to the responsibilities you have picked up. Networking Having a strong CV will allow you to share your background in a quick and efficient matter at, for example, career fairs or industry events. How do I know if my CV is to the right standard? Read below to find out more. We can check your CV for free! 1. Style We will make sure your writing is coherent and flows in the correct way, such as in chronological order. We will also recommend fonts, font sizes, appropriate headings that employers prefer and more, as layout is incredibly important to consider. 2. Spelling, punctuation and grammar It is easy to make small errors that can be easily overlooked! However, we will proofread your work to make sure your sentences make sense whilst being straight to the point. 3. Sections to include More than one would think, some may include sections that are of no relevance to the employer or put lack of detail in the ones that matter most. We will help make sure you don't fall into this trap. 4. Helping you make a start It is completely normal to feel like you don't know where to start from, too! Our advisors can ask you personalised questions regarding your experience, education, and so on to give you a 'template' to work on. This can then be reviewed and personalised feedback will be given until you are satisfied. 5. Other neat tricks... There are some features of a CV that individuals may not focus on but employers actually look for (hint: super- and extracurricular). Find out more from us if you're interested! Browse some career roles and insights in jobs related to: statistics , nuclear medicine , clinical computer scientist Example universities where some of our advisors attend/have graduated from: Queen Mary University of London, Imperial College London, University of Liverpool and so on. Some of these students have secured placements, internships, and jobs with companies such as GSK and STATIC St. Andrews ! Just like personal statements , our expert advisors offer to review your CV in a time-efficient manner, by providing feedback on the following: Fill the form out below and we will contact you* * Alternatively, you can email us at scientianewsorg@gmail.com . Please keep the subject as 'CVs'. Email Subject Your message Send Thanks for submitting!

An individual may be restricted to a certain range of physical activities which they can participate in. Individuals are usually reliant on the surrounding environment and the maintenance of facilities. If they are not kept well maintained, individuals are usually discouraged. Go back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Influence of different environmental factors on exercise Last updated: 25/02/26 Published: 10/02/23 The characteristics of environmental factors: - Chemical safety - Air pollution - Climate change and natural disasters - Diseases caused by microbes - Lack of access to health care - Infrastructure issues - Poor water quality - Global environmental issues What are the impacts of these environmental influences on physical activity? An individual may be restricted to a certain range of physical activities which they can participate in. Individuals are usually reliant on the surrounding environment and the maintenance of facilities. If they are not kept well maintained, individuals are usually discouraged. The physiological effect on training: Climate change will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in our populations, including the very young, the very old, and those with pre-existing health conditions. Training adjustments to compensate for the influence of environmental factors on training: - Treatments for heat stress- stop exercising / move to a shaded or air-conditioned area / remove excess clothing or equipment / drink cold beverages / sit in front of a fan / put a cool piece of cloth around neck / place entire body in cool water e.g. cool bath or shower - Treatments for cold stress- move to a warm environment / remove cold and wet clothes / find access to warm air such as heaters, or fireplace / use electric or non-electric blankets / drink warm beverages There is also the concept of blue and green exercise. This refers to physical activity performed in natural environments, specifically in areas with vegetation (green) or water (blue). Combining both, such as running along a coastal path, maximises benefits, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression while improving mood, self-esteem and cognitive function. Written by Kushwant Nathoo Related articles: Impacts of negligent exercise on physiology / Physical and mental health / Environmental impact of EVs

Navigating the silence Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Unveiling the underreported challenges of endometriosis 09/03/26, 14:55 Last updated: Published: 25/11/23, 11:22 Navigating the silence What is endometriosis? Endometriosis is a chronic, neuro-inflammatory disease that affects 1 in 10 women in the UK. It is associated with debilitating chronic pelvic pain caused by tissue alike the lining of the womb (uterus) grows outside the uterus in other places like the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Endometriosis can affect any woman of reproductive age with a lifelong impact and can even lead to infertility. During a normal menstrual cycle, the body undergoes monthly hormonal changes. Natural hormonal release causes the uterus lining to thicken in preparation of a fertilised egg. If there is no pregnancy, the uterus lining will break down and bleed and is then released from the body in the form of a period. In endometriosis, tissue alike to the uterus lining tissue behaves in the same way the uterus tissue behaves every month during the menstrual period: building up, breaking down then bleeding. Unlike the womb tissue broken down blood, this blood has no way to leave. The internal bleeding causes inflammation, debilitating pain, and scar tissue formation. The symptoms are: · Painful, heavy, long periods · Infertility · Pain during or after sex · Painful bowel movements · Mood disorders like anxiety or depression · Chronic fatigue · Chronic pelvic pain The challenges of endometriosis Contrary to popular belief, period pain is not normal and can be experienced by those without endometriosis. The main point is if your period pain is interfering with your daily life, please consult your doctor. There are many challenges behind endometriosis from the hard time a patient has to get a diagnosis, to the severely under-research of the condition. Unfortunately, since endometriosis shares symptoms with many other conditions, diagnosis can be delayed and strenuous with recent research showing the average time to get a firm diagnosis being 7.5 years. A 2021 focus group in the Netherlands also shows the many issues with diagnosing endometriosis. Many of the focus group reported having a hard time finding a doctor who does not dismiss their concerns, undermine their pain, or dismiss them with paracetamol or ibuprofen which patients have reported as not strong for the pain endometriosis causes. Little research has been done on how effective paracetamol or ibuprofen is with endometriosis pain, but anecdotal evidence suggests it is not effective. Many of them reported their concerns being unheard, told to come back when they want to have a child and that their pain is normal, so they don’t need to see a doctor. Research for endometriosis is heavily underfunded; women reproductive health disorders are generally underfunded. There is a huge gender disparity with disorders that mostly affect men being over-funded while disorders affecting mostly women being underfunded. A 2018 analysis by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration reported findings of only 2.1% of public funded medical research going towards childbirth and reproductive health which is down from 2.5% in 2014. A 16% funding decrease over a 4-year period. The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has funded just over 40 endometriosis-related projects since 2003. However, diabetes which has the same incident rate but affecting both sexes instead of one like endometriosis has been funded 1891 projects in the same time. Just over 1m was funded to 6 of the endometriosis projects compared almost 250 diabetes projected with more than 10 receiving funding greater than £10 million. In 2020 the UK’s All-Part Parliament Group (APPG) report on endometriosis calls the attention of the cause of the disorder being unclear: Historically, with limited investment in research into women’s health in general, there’s been so little investment in research into endometriosis that we don’t even know what causes it, and without knowing the cause, a cure cannot be found. The APPG called for more investment into the cause, diagnosis, treatment, and management options of endometriosis. Without investment in research, this condition will rob the next generation of women [of] the education, care, and support they deserve. With more awareness being brought up by endometriosis charities, researchers and the affected group, the hard work and motivation may pay off soon. That being said, relugolix combination therapy for this disease was approved in March 2025, with linzagolix being approved a few months later in May 2025- both under the NHS. Written by Blessing O. Related articles: Breakthrough in endometriosis treatment / Gynaecology Project Gallery

The endowment effect Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Behavioural Economics II 02/07/26, 20:09 Last updated: Published: 22/03/24, 19:51 The endowment effect This is article no. 2 in a series on behavioural economics. Next article: Loss aversion . Previous article: The role of honesty . In microeconomics, we say preferences are reversible. If you would pay £2 for a bar of chocolate, then you would be happy to sell a bar of chocolate for £2, especially if I gave it to you for free. Sounds reasonable? Well, in fact, this is not the case. Once again, consumers, just like you and me, are irrational, and thanks to what’s known as the endowment effect, classical economics falls flat once again. The endowment effect In an experiment conducted by Knetsch, participants were randomly allocated into three different categories. The first were given a coffee mug, the second were given some candy, and the third were given nothing. We say that the first two groups were endowed; they were given an item for free at no cost to them. Then the participants in the first two groups were given the option to either swap their item for either the mug or the candy or keep the item they were endowed with. The third group, treated as a control, was given the option to choose between the two and keep which they preferred the most. In the control group, we saw that about half of the participants chose the mug and half chose the candy. But in the endowed groups, an overwhelming majority decided to keep the item they were given rather than swapping! Therefore, as we can clearly see, when someone is endowed with an item, their perception of its utility (or benefit) seems to increase, so when given the opportunity to switch items, they often decline. Clearly, from an economic perspective, when endowed with an item, your utility curve for that item differs from when given the opportunity to choose. But why might that be the case? When you are endowed with an item, you own that item and, in a sense, hold responsibility over it. You become possessive, and this sense of ownership seems to have its own psychological value; therefore, the act of giving it up for something of equal worth is no longer treated as a fair trade-off. Whereas when not endowed, you have no sentiment value attached to the items, and for the most part, people are indifferent between them! A good example of this could be an old, run-down car. Buyers of this car see it for what it is—something that is barely functional. But owners of the car who have driven it for 20 years see it as more than that. There is an emotional attachment to the car that makes it more valuable in their eyes. Is the endowment effect always true? List conducted a similar experiment. A survey was undertaken by both unexperienced and experienced 'traders', and then after the survey, they were given trading cards as a reward. They were then given the opportunity to trade their cards if they wanted to. Non-experienced traders were subject to the endowment effect, so they kept the cards they worked hard for, but experienced traders knew that some cards may be more valuable, even if only slightly, which meant that they were able to overcome this effect. Additionally, what was found was that when participants were aware and went into the experiment knowing that there would be a trade, they had the intention to trade, which also managed to remove the endowment effect. In essence, the endowment effect serves as a reminder of the complexities inherent in human psychology and decision-making. There are many limitations in traditional economic models, which emphasises the need for behavioural economics and the inclusion of multidisciplinary thinking. To discover more about behavioural economics and in particular how honesty plays a big role in restructuring economic thinking, click here to read my prior article, and be sure to look out for more articles to come in the future! Written by George Chant Related articles: Explaining altruism / Mathematical models in cognitive decision-making / The halo effect References: Knetsch, Jack L. “The Endowment Effect and Evidence of Nonreversible Indifference Curves.” The American Economic Review 79, no. 5 (1989): 1277–84. John A. List, Does Market Experience Eliminate Market Anomalies?, The Quarterly Journal of Economics , Volume 118, Issue 1, February 2003, Pages 41–71,33 Project Gallery

Its significant role in immunity Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The mast cell 14/07/25, 14:57 Last updated: Published: 05/08/23, 09:55 Its significant role in immunity The mast cell The mast cell is the first white blood cell to respond to infection or injury; they are located in many connective tissues throughout the body, especially in areas that introduce foreign bodies such as the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory epithelium and the skin. Mast cells are a crucial part in adaptive and innate immunity- in response to pathogens, allergens and toxin exposure they release chemicals and recruit other immune cells. They are created from pluripotent progenitor cells of myeloid lineages; these cells differentiate due to exposure and influence of stem cell factors. There are two types of mast cells in the human body, the first is called TC mast cells and contains tryptase, proteases and chymotryptic proteinase, the second is know as a T mast cell which contains only tryptase. The two types of mast cells are mucosal and connective tissue mast cells: mucosal mast cell are found mostly in the respiratory tract and the gut. Mast cells are found in three forms, granulated, spreading and intact. Intact mast cells lay in the epithelial tissue, the less common spreading mast cells are found in the connective tissues, and granulated mast cells are those which have released their mediators. These mediators reside in the cytoplasm of the mast cell- these include tryptases, heparin, histamine, cytokines, chymase, leukotrienes, TNF- alpha and many more. Mast cells are coated in IgE antibodies that crosslink (bind) to allergen proteins, which ultimately triggers degranulation. Mast cell disorders Abnormal growth of mast cells leads to a variety of issues. Mast cell activation syndrome in its primary state is caused by mast cell clone overproduction resulting in mastocytosis. This can lead to hives, gastric symptoms, and anaphylaxis. In some cases aggressive mastocytosis can lead to death. Cutaneous mastocytosis causes redden lesions of the skin and is most common in infants; systemic mastocytosis is most common in adults, led by the accumulation of mast cells in the intestines, organs, and bone marrow. Systemic mastocytosis includes the rare leukaemia and sarcoma forms. Mast cell activation syndrome in its secondary state is in an IgE -mediated hypersensitive response to external factors, that contributes to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increases blood flow. However, it is too abundant, as the mast cells trigger far more granulation than that which is required. Idopathic mast cell activation is severe responses to the exposure of pathogens, toxins and other triggers. In idiopathic mast cell activation many patients can develop anaphylactic allergic reactions, which can present as difficulty breathing, swelling and hives. Conclusion Mast cells play a crucial role in biological defence and are derived from stem cells in the bone marrow. They come in different forms and locations, delivering an efficient response to injury and infection. When unregulated, they can lead to the development of disorders- ranging from mild rashes to severe anaphylaxis. Written by Lauren Kelly Project Gallery

From confusion to career opportunities Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Unlocking the power of statistics 14/03/26, 19:56 Last updated: Published: 19/09/23, 16:23 From confusion to career opportunities During my time studying maths there was always one topic that would trip me up: statistics. Being an A-level physics student, I could understand why calculus is useful in real life, using differentiation to calculate the velocities of projectiles. And I could look and see how geometry is used in buildings and structures. However, statistics often made me feel unrelatable and lost, as I was unable to see real-world applications. But today, I wish to alter my old perspective. First and foremost, you might be pleasantly surprised to learn that statistics opens doors to some of the most lucrative careers available today. We'll delve into roles such as quantitative analysts, who boast a national average salary of £130,000 per year. But if finance is not your cup of tea, there are many other rewarding career paths to explore, from becoming a data scientist to forecasting the weather as a meteorologist. In this article, I wish to unveil the world of statistics, revealing its importance and shedding light on its real-life applications. My hope is to not only inspire those who are already passionate about statistics but also to ignite motivation in individuals who, like me, found themselves in a similar predicament a few years ago. The Actuary Less well known when compared to a banker or engineer, an actuary’s sole purpose is to analyse risk for multiple different scenarios. It may sound simple on first inspection, but being an actuary is a very well-established career requiring many years of learning followed by some of the most challenging exams in the job market. An actuary attempts to quantify the risk of an event happening so that financial decisions can be made with an objective view. A good and close-to-home example of this is being either accepted or rejected from a credit card. As a younger person below the age of 21, the chances of you getting accepted for a credit card are extremely and quite painfully low. This is because banks, and more specifically, credit score providers, deem you to be a high-risk person to lend to. They think this because you have a very short credit history, are unaware of how responsible you are with money, and are more afraid to lend you their cash. In other words, they don’t want you to spend their money on going out and drinking booze. The insurance industry is, however, the biggest industry when it comes to actuaries. Both life and non-life actuaries work in teams with insurance providers to establish whether a client, company, or investment is worthwhile. Actuaries apply both statistics and actuarial science (similar to applied statistics) to real-life situations, evaluate whether to offer a premium to a customer, and then establish what that premium is. You may see in advertisements that life insurance costs as little as £10 a month for a 20-year-old compared to someone who is 65. This is because the younger you are, the less likely you are to claim against your policy. Actuaries put together vast amounts of information about people, lifestyle choices, and other factors to help determine the probability that someone may claim, suggesting a ‘fair’ premium that an insurance company may offer. Without the help of an actuary, insurance companies would either charge too much, making people disadvantaged, or charge too little, in which case they would have to default on their policy and be unable to pay out any claims. Although this seems very specific, the role of an actuary is becoming increasingly important as people live longer lives and insurance companies become more fearful of defaulting.To put it into perspective, actuaries on average earn £85,000 working in London, putting you well in the top 10% of earners in the UK. The Quantitative Analyst Similar to an actuary, quantitative analysts do exactly what is said on the tin. They use quantitative methods to analyse data. Often, companies like investment banks, hedge funds, and pension funds will hire front-office ‘quants’. The aim of the game is to send out trades as quickly as possible before all the other trading offices do. These big companies have links directly to the trading floor, so every millisecond counts, and it’s a quant's job to devise a trading strategy that beats the rest and operates in the least amount of time. Quants are masters of statistics and mathematics, and for this reason, high-frequency trading firms like Hudson River Trading offer salaries to top mathematical minds in excess of $500,000. The role of quantitative researchers is to explore the latest statistical articles being published by top universities and generate strategies that can be implemented in the stock market. This job is not one to be taken lightly, as salary is often based on performance, but someone who is motivated to explore the ins and outs of statistics may find themselves loving the life of a quant. The Meteorologist Meteorologists are the people that we incorrectly blame for the bad weather that we have. And they are also the people we blame when we forget to take a coat and get soaked on the long walk back home. But what do meteorologists actually do? And is it any more than just an educated guess? Meteorologists, along with climatologists, collect millions of pieces of information every hour of every day across their 195,000 weather stations spread all around the globe. These stations collect key pieces of information, including atmospheric pressure, temperature, speed, rain, humidity, and many other components of current weather conditions. With this information, meteorologists begin to paint a picture of what the current weather climate is like and then use forecasting methods and statistical models to estimate how the weather is going to change. The probability that it might rain is much more than an educated guess; it is the probability that if this situation happened 100 times, it would rain the estimated number of times (i.e., if there was an 80% chance of rain, it would rain 80 times out of the hundred over a large enough sample). As a forecaster, you will collect this information and input it into very advanced systems to analyse and give an outcome, but as a researcher, you will help derive these statistical forecasting models and improve them so that our apps and news channels are even more precise. Not only that, but you may also find yourself researching the effects of climate change from the data that you analyse, and maybe even how the weather affects the spread of pollution and disease. Meteorologists get paid a modest salary of around £33,000 per year, which may seem small when compared to that of a quant, but the quality of life is far more generous than some careers in finance. To conclude In conclusion, statistics, once a perplexing subject for many, can offer an exciting and rewarding career. From the meticulous work of actuaries, assessing risks and financial decisions, to the world of quantitative analysts, where every millisecond counts, and even to the indispensable role of meteorologists, who help us navigate the weather and climate change, statistics holds the power to transform lives and industries. As we've explored, statistics is not just about numbers and formulas; it's about making sense of the world, predicting outcomes, and creating informed decisions. So, whether you're a seasoned statistician or someone who, like me, once felt lost in its complexities, remember that statistics isn't merely a subject to conquer—it's a key that unlocks doors to some of the most intriguing and well-compensated careers out there. Written by George Chant Project Gallery

Beavers alter their landscape through dams, canals, and felling trees Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Beavers are back in Britain, ‘wood’ you like to know why? 08/03/26, 18:09 Last updated: Published: 03/12/24, 12:05 Beavers alter their landscape through dams, canals, and felling trees This is article no. 3 in a series on animal conservation. Next article: Pangolins: from poached to protected . Previous article: Conserving the California condor Eurasian beavers ( Castor fiber ) transform freshwater habitats so dramatically that they are nicknamed ‘ecosystem engineers’. Their dam-building and tree-felling activities could reduce flood risk and increase biodiversity. After being hunted to extinction centuries ago, beavers have been reintroduced to Britain in both organised and illicit ways. This article will describe where they have been reintroduced in Britain, and the impact they could have. Ecological importance of beavers By building dams, Eurasian beavers alter their habitat - often for the better. Beaver dams are made from wood, stones, and mud. They control the flow of river water, reducing the risk of floods and droughts. The resulting slower water is a good place for amphibians to lay eggs and undergo the aquatic part of their life cycle. As water builds up behind the dam, it converts the area into a wetland - a source of drinking water for animals like bats and an excellent carbon sink. Meanwhile, invertebrates can lay eggs or hide from predators in the spaces within beaver dams ( Figure 1 ). Further up the food chain, beaver dams have complex effects on fish. Although the still water provides habitat for overwintering and rearing young, dams restrict the movement of fish species like salmon. However, most studies have concluded that beaver dams benefit freshwater biodiversity. Dams are not the only way Eurasian beavers improve their landscape. To access food and construction materials easily, beavers dig canals – which make the habitat better drained and more complex. Moreover, beavers gnaw at tree trunks and branches, sometimes knocking over entire trees. This creates deadwood where terrestrial invertebrates can live. Felling trees also allow sunlight to reach the river surface, promoting aquatic plant growth. When beavers gnaw at willow trees, they create propagules, which disperse along the beaver-made canal network and grow downstream. These new willow trees stabilise the river bank and further reduce the flood risk. Humans often trim back trees to stimulate their growth – called coppicing – but beavers do this free of charge. Coppicing, dam building, and canal digging are just a few ways beavers save the human costs of restoring and protecting natural habitats. Extinction and reintroduction However, Eurasian beavers used to be more exploited than appreciated. They were hunted for their fur, meat, and a secretion called castoreum, which is used in perfume and pharmaceuticals. Exactly when and how the beaver population went extinct from Britain is unclear, but the last written record of a beaver is from 1526 in Scotland and 1780 in England. Since then, the British turned wetlands into farmland and forgot about beavers … until recently. After centuries, beavers returned to Scotland in the late 2000s. A handful of beavers were spotted in River Tay about 15 years ago, after either an enclosure escape or an illegal release. There are 114 families in this illegal population, which has genetic origins in Germany. The first official beaver reintroduction occurred in Knapdale Forest, Scotland, in 2009 – but this population did not grow as quickly as the River Tay one. With scepticism, the reintroduction of Eurasian beavers to Scotland was deemed a success, and they became a ‘European Protected Species’ in Scotland in 2019. Seeing Eurasian beavers thriving in Scotland encouraged reintroduction plans in England. In the English county of Devon, River Otter showed signs of beaver presence since 2008 and breeding since 2013. Authorities were worried these illegally released beavers would spread foreign diseases to local wildlife, but the public campaigned to let the beavers be. Public affection for beavers led to the River Otter Beaver Trial in 2015, where two breeding pairs were released into the river after thorough health checks. By 2019, the number of breeding pairs grew to seven ( Figure 2 ). Therefore, beavers have successfully returned to England. Encouraged by the unofficial projects, in February 2025 the UK government announced a new programme to officially re-introduce beavers to England. This programme ensures existing beaver populations are carefully managed and new reintroductions are licensed. Since then, beavers have been legally released in Dorset (March 2025) and Cornwall (February 2026). Thus, the UK government has joined the British public in returning Eurasian beavers to their ancestral home. Conclusion Beavers alter their landscape through dams, canals, and felling trees. However, in Britain, they were hunted to extinction a long time ago. Although beavers first returned to England and Scotland illegally, they now live in healthy, growing populations supported by the government . Hopefully they will remain protected and loved by the public, helping us to restore wetlands and improve British freshwater biodiversity. Written by Simran Patel Related article: Vicuna conservation REFERENCES Andersen, L.H. et al. (2023) ‘Can reintroduction of beavers improve insect biodiversity?’, Journal of Environmental Management , 337, p. 117719. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117719 . Brazier, R.E., Elliott, M., Andison, E., Auster, R.E., Bridgewater, S., Burgess, P., Chant, J., Graham, H., Knott, E., Puttock, A.K., Sansum, P., Vowles, A., (2020) ‘River Otter Beaver Trial: Science and Evidence Report’. Brazier, R.E. et al. (2021) ‘Beaver: Nature’s ecosystem engineers’, WIREs Water , 8(1), p. e1494. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1494 . Campbell-Palmer, R. et al. (2020) ‘Beaver genetic surveillance in Britain’, Global Ecology and Conservation , 24, p. e01275. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01275 . Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Natural England (2025) Wild beavers: Nature’s engineers to return to English waterways , GOV.UK . Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/wild-beavers-natures-engineers-to-return-to-english-waterways (Accessed: 7 March 2026). Gaywood, M., Batty, D. and Galbraith, C. (2008) ‘Reintroducing the European Beaver in Britain’, British Wildlife , 19, pp. 381–391. Halley, D.J., Saveljev, A.P. and Rosell, F. (2021) ‘Population and distribution of beavers Castor fiber and Castor canadensis in Eurasia’, Mammal Review , 51(1), pp. 1–24. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12216 . Harris, S. (2025) ‘Wild beavers make historic return to England at Dorset nature reserve’, BBC News , 5 March. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwygxvzpkevo (Accessed: 7 March 2026). Hooker, J. et al. (2024) ‘Re-establishing historic ecosystem links through targeted species reintroduction: Beaver-mediated wetlands support increased bat activity’, Science of The Total Environment , 951, p. 175661. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175661 . Robinson, C. (2026) Two pairs of beavers released in Cornwall by wildlife trust , BBC News . Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2x9ndl4l9o (Accessed: 7 March 2026). Wilson, J.B., Bradley, J. and Bremner-Harrison, S. (2024) ‘The short-term impact of Eurasian beavers ( Castor fiber ) post-reintroduction on amphibian abundance and diversity in a lentic environment’, The Glasgow Naturalist , 28(2). Available at: https://doi.org/10.37208/tgn28224 . Project Gallery

The future of precision healthcare: nanocarriers Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Nanomedicine and targeted drug delivery Last updated: 17/07/25, 10:53 Published: 17/07/25, 07:00 The future of precision healthcare: nanocarriers In recent years, nanomedicine - the application of nanotechnology in healthcare - has emerged as a powerful and versatile area of research and is rapidly developing with many promising opportunities in the medical sciences. Nanocarriers are being developed for pharmaceuticals for example, with uses in cancer treatment and in particular targeted drug delivery. In nanomedicine, the materials are engineered at the nanoscale, with sizes ranging from 100 to 1000 nm, and can be used to perform specific biomedical tasks. These nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles, are often made from crosslinked polymer chains and can encapsulate therapeutic molecules for delivery within the body. Their small sizes give them unique properties, as they can interact with cells at a molecular level, and be designed to respond at specific times and locations, which can be directed to specific tissues or environments. Since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, nanoparticle-based drug delivery platforms have been widely studied - lipid nanoparticles were used in the vaccine to combat the virus. Being highly successful, and looking ahead, research and development in nanomedicine-based drug delivery is expected to keep growing, as the interest in more precise and effective treatments continues to rise. How can nanoparticles be used for drug delivery? A significant challenge in conventional drug therapies lies in their limited solubility, which can reduce the effectiveness of a drug and cause harmful side effects. Nanoparticles offer a solution to this: they can encapsulate poorly soluble drugs, protecting them from degradation in the body, and this allows them to be carried safely to the targeted tissues. This localised delivery improves the drugs’ biodistribution, and reduces systemic toxicity, which is a common concern in treatments such as chemotherapy, where healthy tissues in the body are damaged. Nanoparticles in particular are exciting as they have tuneable surface properties and a high surface to area volume ratio. This means their physical and chemical behaviours can be adjusted - for example through changing their sizes, shapes, or surface chemistries - to match a specific medical application or target. In addition to this, nanoparticles undergo the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect; a phenomenon where they naturally accumulate in tumour tissues due to the leaky nature of tumour blood vessels. This effect improves the targeting precision, and drugs can be delivered more efficiently to cancer cells, while sparing healthy ones one, avoiding unnecessary damage and side effects to the patient. While drug delivery is a major focus, nanomedicine research also plays a role in diagnostics. Nanoparticles can be engineered to function as contrast agents in medical imaging, helping doctors detect diseases earlier and monitor treatments more accurately. There is also a growing interest in using nanomaterials for tissue regeneration, by creating scaffolds that support the repair and regrowth of damaged tissues. As research continues, nanomedicine holds promise for tacking some of the most pressing challenges in modern healthcare - from treating cancer more safely to developing new vaccines and personalised therapies. Though there are some hurdles, particularly around large-scale manufacturing and regularly approval, the path ahead for nanomedicine has huge potential. As the field of nanomedicine continues to grow, it shows great promise in reshaping healthcare with treatments that are smarter, safer, and more effective - ultimately improving patient outcomes and transforming the way we fight disease. Written by Saanchi Agarwal Related articles: Nanomedicine / Nanoparticles and diabetes treatment / Nanoparticles and health / Nanogels Project Gallery