Oil and gas deposits could be located with help of DNA soil analysis
Reading Time: < 1 minuteWHILE a lot of sciences are involved in finding oil and gas, biology might not be the first science that leaps to mind. But researchers at Repsol are working on changing that mindset. The team is focusing on the concept of “bioprospection,” studying how the presence of certain microorganisms on the surface can be an […]
Seagrasses greatly reduce bacteria, benefiting humans and marine life
Reading Time: 2 minutesSEAGRASS meadows reduce bacteria pathogenic to humans and marine life by up to 50%, a new study shows. What’s more, corals located near seagrass meadows exhibit only half the prevalence of disease. These findings highlight the importance of seagrass ecosystems to the health of humans and other organisms; not only could they help with improving […]
Rice-ing to achieve food security in Bangladesh
Reading Time: 2 minutesGAZIPUR, Dhaka: Bangladesh’s leading national rice research institute and the acclaimed International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) cemented their friendship recently with the reopening of the BRRI-IRRI Friendship Centre in Gazipur on Jan 16. Coined the ”Friendship Centre” during a recent meeting between IRRI Deputy-Director General, Jackie Hughes and Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Director General […]
Engineers shrink microscope to dime-sized device
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE University of Texas at Dallas have created an atomic force microscope on a chip, dramatically shrinking the size — and, hopefully, the price tag — of a high-tech device commonly used to characterise material properties. “A standard atomic force microscope is a large, bulky instrument, with multiple control loops, electronics and amplifiers,” said Dr […]
Non-browning GM apples approved for sale in the US
Reading Time: 2 minutesUSDA approved the sale of genetically modified (GM) apples that “stay fresh” up to three weeks after being sliced or bruised, which are expected to enter stores by March. This comes as an answer addressing the major problem of wasting apples, with nearly 40% of them being discarded due to superficial bruising and browning. Before […]
Genetically modified foods: Nothing to fear
Reading Time: 4 minutesGENETICALLY modified crops (GMOs or genetically modified organisms) have existed for thousands of years, but now that we know how to splice genes in the laboratory, there is concern over food safety. Much of that concern is unwarranted. Nevertheless, there are campaigns to require product labeling when some foodstuffs contain GMOs. The food industry is […]
PRINTABLE SOLAR CELLS JUST GOT A LITTLE CLOSER
Reading Time: < 1 minuteDr Hairen Tan and his team of University of Toronto, Canada have cleared a critical manufacturing hurdle in the development of a relatively new class of solar devices called perovskite solar cells. [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]This alternative solar technology could lead to low-cost, printable solar panels capable of turning nearly any surface into a […]
Science & tech community in tech-talk
Reading Time: 2 minutesPUTRAJAYA: The Science and Technology community from government agencies, academia, civil society, industries and students gathered in Tech Talk Mega Science 3.0 recently. The programme was co-organised by Ministry of Sciences, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM). The programme presented information sharing on the findings and recommendations arising from the Mega […]
Looking back at the Morocco meet
Reading Time: 4 minutesROBYN WILSON was a delegate representing Monash University Malaysia at the COP22 (Conference of Parties – UN Climate Change Conference) hosted at Marrakech, Morocco recently. In this piece she reflects on the sights, sounds and the social arithematic that made it happen. I WAS one of eight delegates selected to represent Monash University Malaysia at […]
So what do you want to be?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteBANGI: Students should know the careers related to their field of studies, since their first year in university, said UKM Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dato’ Seri Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali (pix). He said they should not wait until the final semester to get information about the career. “Students are encouraged to be aware of the requirements posed […]