Industrial-grade silicon caused a global public-health scare – whose fault is it?

We know a lot about our celestial neighbourhood. The galaxy in which our solar system resides has been the focus of many outstanding minds for many generations.

The Montreal Protocol – which came into force in 1989 – banned or phased out CFCs and HCFCs because they damaged the ozone layer. However a new UN report has revealed that their replacements are themselves greenhouse gases and – although not at damaging levels yet – could be a cause for concern in the future

At the tail end of last year – a time that tends to be fairly quiet in terms of news worthy events in the science community ­– several momentous announcements came across the LN news desk. Those industrious particle pushers at CERN told the world that they are nipping at the heels of the elusive Higgs boson, the Government put its hand in its pocket as it promised to stump up some serious incentives for the life science sector – but most enticing of all, for me at least, was the news that the UK Biobank was revealing details of how researchers can get their hands on all that lovely data.

Just what is the point of an IQ test – should we bother with them and are they accurate?

The moon, it seems to me, has been somewhat hidden in plain sight over the past 40 years. Since the Apollo missions ended, the space community have had their sights firmly set on goals further afar with a lunar destination for science slipping from favour.

Nobel Prizes are traditionally not awarded posthumously, so what happens when one of the laureates dies just before the prize announcements?

Here in the UK we have always enjoyed a fine reputation for our science – “and rightly so” pipes up my supercilious inner scientist – yet many a reputation is based more on hearsay than direct evidence. As such it is hard not to take pride in a recent report suggesting that the UK research base is one of the most productive in the world.

Halloween is fast approaching and we know exactly what’s on your mind – which is the best apple for apple bobbing?

In today’s hi-tech world, where new technology is out of date almost as soon as it hits the shelf, isn’t it wonderful that scientists are attempting to make contact with a satellite launched 40 years ago.