I hear it whispered over cadavers, Declared in lecture halls: Our bodies are architecture, Our lives but short-lived squalls. Our genes mere family heirlooms, Or chromosomal spelling errors. Your skin, so tender and sweet, Mere defence against infectious terrors. Your almond eyes – as still as morning mist – Just photon chaos tamed by a…
Science
The future of human spaceflight
This year marks 50 years since the Apollo 11 mission, but what is the future of human spaceflight over the next ten years? This talk, chaired by journalist Richard Hollingham, included a panel of guests all with different backgrounds in spaceflight: European space agency engineer Vinita Marwaha, science journalist Sue Nelson, extreme medical doctor Beth…
Science
Medical tech: a gimmick or the future?
Advances in the accessibility of online-based healthcare services has the potential to change how we use and access medical help. A Service called ‘Thriva’ offers online and postal health monitoring services. Pay somewhere between £24 and £69 per package and you can have your blood tested for cholesterol, liver function, vitamin D and more. The…
Science
Human model to test implants for cataract surgery
Cataract is described as the clouding of the lens in the eye leading to a deterioration in vision. It often develops with age, but trauma and exposure to intense radiation can also cause it to form. Easy preventions for developing cataracts include wearing sunglasses and abstaining from smoking, but the only known way to treat…
Film
Time, illness and Melancholia
Time. It’s our human instinct to fear it, to be cautious of it, to fight it. Our entire existences are dominated by time and influenced by change, so it’s not surprising that these themes show up repeatedly in cinema. Lars Von Tier’s Melancholia follows Justine (Kirsten Dunst), as she attempts to cope with her severe…
Travel
Hiking and Birdwatching in New Zealand
If there’s one thing that everybody says about New Zealand, it’s that it’s one of the most beautiful countries to visit, especially for the scenery. When I visited last Easter for my brother’s graduation, we decided to come early so we could hike along the Banks Peninsula. Offering a variety of hiking trails, we opted…