Category: Science

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Ebola virus outbreak and how to fight it – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

In light of the UK’s Department for Health carrying out tests for the Ebola virus on the elderly female passenger who died after landing at Gatwick Airport from the Gambia on Sunday, today we share this infographic explaining how the Ebola virus propagates itself in the human body. Anyone reading this while eating may wish to check back later before proceeding any further. The Ebola virus hijacks human cells to inject its genome and turn the cells into virus factories. Recent advances in molecular biology suggest that gene-silencing drugs could block this process. Over 700 people have already died of … Continue reading Ebola virus outbreak and how to fight it – an annotated infographic

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#Nanomedicine futures – colon cancer camera pill approved by #FDA – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

A tiny indigestible camera pill that journeys through a patient’s large intestine, looking for polyps (tissue growths) and filming as it goes, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration agency. In this way, the early signs of colon and bowel cancer can be more easily detected. Down the hatch! E&T magazine covered nanomedicines recently in an article debating what nanomedicines will do for us – eventually. We also have a related feature from a few years ago, looking at quantum dots, nanoshells and nanorods. Click on the graphic for an expanded view.   Continue reading #Nanomedicine futures – colon cancer camera pill approved by #FDA – an annotated infographic

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What would you miss the most on Mars

E&T magazine

What would you miss the most on Mars? That was the question I asked my crew-mates before our departure from the Mars Desert Research Station after a two-week simulated mission. During those two weeks, though rather remotely, we have managed to get a glimpse of what life, or a mission, on Mars would be like. Most of the things my friends mentioned could seem rather plain – forests, seas and rivers, fresh air in the lungs and wind in the face.  Or more physical activity – as the Mars Desert Research Station habitat is not equipped with a treadmill or … Continue reading What would you miss the most on Mars

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Martian diary: how to pick crewmembers

E&T magazine

E&T reporter Tereza Pultarova is taking part in a simulated Mars mission in a Mars analog station in Utah, the USA. The crew has been on site for more than a week and has already settled into the daily routine. However, it has not been all plain sailing. Here is Tereza’s latest update: Going to Mars is not only about technical skills and scientific knowledge; the success or failure of any future mission would come down to psychological aspects – will the crew function as a team despite all the strains, discomforts and stresses, or will they start fighting? The … Continue reading Martian diary: how to pick crewmembers

Education, Science1 Comment

Mars day 1: 60 gallons for 6 people?

E&T magazine

By Tereza Pultarova It must have been some time in August when I received an email from a friend of mine, a Florida- Institute-of-Technology-based extreme environments architect Ondrej Doule. He was putting together a research crew to apply for a two-week rotation at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, the USA. He needed a journalist aboard to manage the communications. I didn’t have to think twice. I knew immediately that this is going to be a pretty extraordinary experience. Mars Desert Research Station, run by the Mars Society, is a Mars analog habitat in the middle of a high … Continue reading Mars day 1: 60 gallons for 6 people?

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Video: Sails for rapid satellite deorbiting

E&T magazine

We have visited the Space Traffic Control conference organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society in London. There was a lot of interesting stuff going on. At the end of the event University of Glasgow’s Patrick Harkness showed us how the sail technology would work for rapid satellite deorbiting – you can watch the video below. The sail is deployed in a fraction of a second but it takes ages to fold it back. Luckily enough, in space it will only have to deploy once. It is actually quite fascinating, using such sails, you can bring a satellite to re-entry in … Continue reading Video: Sails for rapid satellite deorbiting

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Rex, the million-dollar #bionic man on display in London – an annotated graphic

E&T magazine

Here, boy! Rex, the million-dollar, world’s most complete bionic man has been built using artificial limbs and organs borrowed from laboratories around the world. The idea is to show how technology is being used to replace missing or damaged parts of the human body. Rex boasts close to 70 per cent of his body built from artificial devices, including eyes, ears, heart, pancreas, kidney, hands, arms, feet and ankles. E&T news covered the story of bionic Rex going on show at the London Science Museum in more detail earlier this week. Click on the graphic for an expanded view. Continue reading Rex, the million-dollar #bionic man on display in London – an annotated graphic

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Top scientific achievements of 2012 – an annotated graphic

E&T magazine

It may well already be 2013 and naturally here at E&T Towers we’re all tremendously future facing, relentlessly pursuing the new and strange, but we can still find time to honour and celebrate the top scientific achievements of 2012 with this natty infographic. God particles, DNA, genomes, X-rays, Martian landings and robot hands – hats off to you all, boffins! Click on the graphic for an expanded view. Continue reading Top scientific achievements of 2012 – an annotated graphic

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NASA’s Mariner II Venus fly-past in 1962 – an annotated graphic

E&T magazine

On 14 December 1962, NASA’s Mariner II passed within 35,000km of Venus, becoming the first spacecraft to successfully fly by another planet. From this historic voyage, we learned that Venus rotates in a counter direction to most planets in our solar system, has a high-pressure carbon dioxide atmosphere and continuous cool cloud cover. Thanks, Mariner II! Whither Mariner II now? Endlessly circling the Sun, in a heliocentric orbit. Space debris: a serious problem for our immediate galaxy. Click on the graphic for an expanded view.   Continue reading NASA’s Mariner II Venus fly-past in 1962 – an annotated graphic