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Bitcoin Uses More Electricity Than Many Countries. How Is That Possible?

Bitcoin Uses More Electricity Than Many Countries. How Is That Possible?

The most popular cryptocurrency wastes energy by design. Why is that, and could it ever be greener?

Air Pollution is Cutting More Years from People's Lives Than Smoking, War or HIV/AIDS

Air Pollution is Cutting More Years from People's Lives Than Smoking, War or HIV/AIDS

Air pollution is slashing years from billions of people's lives around the world and is a greater threat to life expectancy than smoking, HIV/AIDS or war, a report published Wednesday shows.

Ten (basic) Points About Demand for Higher Education This Year

Ten (basic) Points About Demand for Higher Education This Year

These are my remarks from yesterday's UK Student Accommodation Forum on demand for higher education in 2021/22 and on, hosted by Unipol. The event also saw the launch of an excellent new paper on International Students and Factors Affecting Accommodation in the UK. When it comes to demand from home students, the naysayers were wrong in 2020 and […]

Rafia Zakaria: 'A Lot of White Female Professors Told Me to Quit'

Rafia Zakaria: 'A Lot of White Female Professors Told Me to Quit'

The activist and author discusses why there is no one-size-fits-all feminism and her aim to create work that comforts women of colour who have been 'gaslit'

White House Sets R&D Priorities Across Agencies

White House Sets R&D Priorities Across Agencies

The Biden administration's first annual list of R&D priorities includes an emphasis on bolstering pandemic preparedness and climate mitigation efforts, strengthening domestic manufacturing, and incorporating equity considerations across federal programs.

Scientists Need to Better Communicate the Links Between Pandemics and Global Environmental Change

Scientists Need to Better Communicate the Links Between Pandemics and Global Environmental Change

The pandemic and global environmental change are intimately intertwined at multiple levels, and this must be more clearly articulated to the public and in policy.

A Science Advice Network for Francophone Countries

A Science Advice Network for Francophone Countries

A leading science policy group has launched a science advisory network for French-speaking countries, enabling researchers across the francophone world to share ideas and best practice.

Afghanistan's Terrified Scientists Predict Huge Research Losses

Afghanistan's Terrified Scientists Predict Huge Research Losses

For 20 years, science has blossomed in Afghanistan. Now many researchers are fleeing and those who remain face lost funding and the threat of persecution.

Without a Clear Sense of Purpose, What is the Future of National Research Assessment Exercises in Australia?

Without a Clear Sense of Purpose, What is the Future of National Research Assessment Exercises in Australia?

Australia’s ERA and EIA research assessment exercises lack a clearly defined purpose, or return on investment for Australian universities. In a climate of declining trust in the Australian Research Council, together with a confused idea about how research should be funded, the assessment regime itself is at a critical point of juncture.

The World's Scientific Panel on Biodiversity Needs a Bigger Role

The World's Scientific Panel on Biodiversity Needs a Bigger Role

IPBES, the international panel of leading biodiversity researchers, should be consulted on how best to measure species loss.

Swiss Exclusion from Horizon Europe Set to Last at Least Two Years, Universities' Chief Predicts

Swiss Exclusion from Horizon Europe Set to Last at Least Two Years, Universities' Chief Predicts

Switzerland will be excluded from Horizon Europe for at least two years, fears Yves Flückiger, president of the country's university association, swissuniversities and rector of the University of Geneva.

The Lack of Languages ​​other Than English in STEM Publications Undermines Diversity

The Lack of Languages ​​other Than English in STEM Publications Undermines Diversity

With today's existing translation tools to overcome language barriers, global collaboration should not be a major feat for researchers. However, through the COVID-19 pandemic, articles published in Chinese journals focusing on important aspects of the disease were never cited by English journals.

Mini Brains Grown in the Lab Sprout Primitive "eyes"

Mini Brains Grown in the Lab Sprout Primitive "eyes"

Researchers have grown mini brains with light-sensitive eye structures that could lead to breakthrough treatments for vision disorders.

One in Three Trees Face Extinction in Wild, Says New Report

One in Three Trees Face Extinction in Wild, Says New Report

Experts say 17,500 tree species are at risk around the world, including magnolias, oaks and maples.

Toxic 'forever Chemicals' Contaminate Indoor Air at Worrying Levels, Study Finds

Toxic 'forever Chemicals' Contaminate Indoor Air at Worrying Levels, Study Finds

Food and water were thought to be the main ways humans are exposed to PFAS, but study points to risk of breathing them in.

New Research Shows Promise for Osteoarthritis Cure

New Research Shows Promise for Osteoarthritis Cure

Osteoarthritis is a crippling, incurable disease. But scientists behind a new large-scale study say their findings could help pave the way to a cure.

Five Hundred Days Between Pay Cheques: the Road I Took to Revive My Career

Five Hundred Days Between Pay Cheques: the Road I Took to Revive My Career

A global career move left one member of a scientist couple unemployed during the pandemic. Here's what he learnt.

Why I shared my experiences of homophobia with my academic colleagues

Why I shared my experiences of homophobia with my academic colleagues

I pride myself on coming from a place of “yes.” So it was uncharacteristic that, when my department head asked me to share my experiences of homophobia at a recent virtual diversity town hall for faculty, my first reaction was to decline.

University department administrators are freaking heroes

University department administrators are freaking heroes

This month, Joan Miller retired. You probably haven’t heard of Joan. Joan was the administrator for my grad school department who, for 48 years, made sure everything ran smoothly and—stunningly—never appeared the slightest bit ruffled by the depth or breadth of these demands.

The Electromagnetic Force of Fridge Magnets

The Electromagnetic Force of Fridge Magnets

Science is not just something we do at school or professionals undertake in labs. It is at the heart of how everything works.

COVID: Artificial Intelligence in the Pandemic

COVID: Artificial Intelligence in the Pandemic

A global early warning center in Berlin will use artificial intelligence to predict the next pandemic. But AI's already helped us fight COVID-19.

Brazilian Viper Venom May Become Tool in Fight Against COVID, Study Shows

Brazilian Viper Venom May Become Tool in Fight Against COVID, Study Shows

Brazilian researchers have found that a molecule in the venom of a type of snake inhibited coronavirus reproduction in monkey cells, a possible first step toward a drug to combat the virus causing COVID-19.

70 Percent of Adults in the European Union Have Been Fully Vaccinated.

70 Percent of Adults in the European Union Have Been Fully Vaccinated.

After a fumbling start, the European Union overtook the United States in vaccinations last month.

After Long Months of Disruption, Universities Get Ready to Start 'normal' Academic Year

After Long Months of Disruption, Universities Get Ready to Start 'normal' Academic Year

With 70% of the EU population now fully vaccinated, European universities are planning to welcome students back to lecture halls and seminar rooms for the 2021-22 academic year, after long months of disruption and distance learning.

Science Advisors Gather in an International Call for Evidence-Based Policy Making

Science Advisors Gather in an International Call for Evidence-Based Policy Making

The largest-ever independent gathering of interest groups, thought-leaders, science advisors to governments and global institutions, researchers, academics, communicators and diplomats is taking place in Montreal and online.