Can wastewater be the solution to fight drug-resistant bugs?
Reading Time: 2 minutesMUNICIPAL WASTEWATER may become a key ally in the fight against antibiotic-resistant disease-causing bacteria and fungi, a new study at Stellenbosch University (SU) found. “Certain bacteria in municipal wastewater produce antimicrobial compounds or biosurfactants that can help prevent the growth of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms which cause serious infections in humans,” says Dr Thando Ndlovu a postdoctoral […]
Scientists reveal source of human heartbeat in 3-D
Reading Time: 2 minutesA PIONEERING new study is set to help surgeons repair hearts without damaging precious tissue. A team of scientists from Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), The University of Manchester, Aarhus University and Newcastle University, have developed a way of producing 3D data to show the cardiac conduction system – the special cells that enable our […]
Kenya approves trials for biotech corn, cotton
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE National Biosafety Authority of Kenya approved the applications for National Performance Trials (NPTs) of biotech corn and cotton, which will commence in October 2017. This was announced by NBA managing director, Willy Tonui, after a meeting with stakeholders, including Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Organisation (KALRO) and African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) who previously […]
Minister hands over UPM’s “E-Cutter” to FELDA settlers
Reading Time: 2 minutesHULU SELANGOR: Minister of Higher Education, Dato’ Seri Idris Jusoh handed over E-Cutter machines to Felda Hulu Selangor settlers at the E-cutter: Translational Research Programme of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in collaboration with the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA), Hulu Selangor zone. At the event, he distributed ten units of the machine as part of […]
The tragic story of Soviet genetics shows the folly of political meddling in science
Reading Time: 4 minutesA FEW years ago, one of us (Ian) was lucky enough to be invited to visit the N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry in St Petersburg, Russia. Every plant breeder or geneticist knows of Nikolai Vavilov and his ceaseless energy in collecting important food crop varieties from all over the globe, and his application of […]
Coconut: A promising new strategic crop in Malaysia
Reading Time: 6 minutesBY DR THEN KEK HOE COCONUT (Cocos nucifera) or commonly known as ‘tree of life’ with multifarious uses is an important oil and food crop that grows over 90 countries. Coconut is mainly planted in Asia, Pacific Islands and South America. The world coconut planted area in 2014 was about 12.20 million ha with total […]
Why don’t eyelashes and eyebrows grow long like hair?
Reading Time: 2 minutesMOST of us spend money on regular haircuts, but happily our brows and lashes are much lower maintenance. [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ] They grow a decent length and stay there. But have you ever wondered why our eyelashes and eyebrows don’t just keep on growing until they’re as long as the hair on our […]
New cassava varieties to ease hunger
Reading Time: 2 minutesBY WAHINYA HENRY RESEARCHERS say the Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa Plus (VIRCA Plus) disease resistant and nutritionally-enhanced varieties are expected to improve the livelihoods and health status of Kenyans and in Africa. Cassava mosaic disease (CMD), first reported in Tanzania in 1994, and the cassava brown streak (CBSD) have posed major constraints in making […]
Centre hosts talk on science communications
Reading Time: 2 minutesBY ELENA MAZLAN & MUNASHAMIRA OFFICERS from Bahagian Teknologi Pendidikan (BTP) Kementerian Malaysia convened for a talk on science communications delivered by the National Science Centre (PSN) on July 6. This is the first ever science communication programme held at BTP. A total of 30 officers from the BTP participated in the half-day talk. Among […]
UKM hosts space exploration and updates programme
Reading Time: < 1 minuteBY NADIA SAPUAN KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), through the Space Sciences Centre, organised the Space Exploration and Updates Programme in conjunction with the International Conference on Space Science and Communication (ICONSPACE2017), at the National Planetarium, recently. Four speakers were invited to share their experiences in the field of astronomy and space research, and […]