Category Archives: Research

Introducing Humungous Biosciences

Posted on 13 April 2025 by Henry Gee

There has been much fuss and flapdoodle about a company called Colossal Biosciences that aims to use the wonders of modern genetic technology to call extinct species back from the other side of the rainbow bridge. Their latest scheme has … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The Importance of Manufacturing

Posted on 2 March 2025 by Athene Donald

How many factories have you visited in your life? Do you have any sense of what goes on there? When I was a postdoc in the Cambridge Materials Science Department, helping out with undergraduate projects, I was offered a chance … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in factories, food waste, Research, supply chains, Tim Minshall | Comments Off on The Importance of Manufacturing

The Origin and Extinction of Humanity FAQ

Posted on 15 February 2025 by Henry Gee

People often ask questions about the lifetime of our own species. Questions such as ‘how long have humans existed?’; ‘When will humans go extinct?’ and ‘Did humans ever nearly go extinct in the past?’ Another one is ‘how will humans … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in climate change, did humans nearly go extinct in the past?, evolution, extinction, future projections of human populations, Homo sapiens, how long have humans existed?, how will humans go extinct?, Politicrox, population growth, population trends, Research, Science Is Vital, space exploration, Technicrox, The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire, total fertility rate, when will humans go extinct?, why will the human population stop growing?, will humans colonise space?, will the human population ever stop growing?, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on The Origin and Extinction of Humanity FAQ

What Can I Do to Help?

Posted on 15 September 2024 by Athene Donald

Men who’ve heard me talk about my book (Not Just for the Boys: Why we need more women in science), or more generally about the issues facing women in STEM, not infrequently ask me this question: what can I do … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in ECRs, Erin Zimmerman, maternity leave, motherhood, Research, Science Culture, supervisors, Women in science | Comments Off on What Can I Do to Help?

Objects In The Rear-View Mirror

Posted on 11 September 2024 by Henry Gee

It was so long ago, that sometimes it feels like only yesterday. It was the end of 1987, and there I was, a graduate student in Cambridge, finishing my Ph.D. and minding my own business (see photo below) … when … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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In which I dream of escape

Posted on 14 July 2024 by Jennifer Rohn

Sometimes everything just seems too much. As the non-existent summer rolls on – 14C mornings of rain or overcast, wool sweaters taken back out from storage – I find my stress level to be the only thing heating up. As … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in careers, Gardening, Research, Science Funding, staring into the abyss, The profession of science, work-life balance | Comments Off on In which I dream of escape

In which I make the best of things

Posted on 6 May 2024 by Jennifer Rohn

Greetings from the tail end of a typical British bank holiday, where the big highlight was gardening in the rain. In all seriousness, it was rather lovely to be out tidying up the flower beds in the fresh air, among … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in academia, careers, Domestic bliss, Gardening, Research, staring into the abyss, The profession of science, work-life balance | 1 Comment

Stupid Chemists (perhaps)

Posted on 5 May 2024 by Athene Donald

I’ve recently returned from my annual visit to the High Polymer Research Group Conference, held at the picturesquely named village of Pott Shrigley at the Western edge of the Peak District. This is a conference about which I have written … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Moving On from a Victorian Ideal

Posted on 28 April 2024 by Athene Donald

I’ve recently been reading How the Victorians took us to the Moon by Iwan Rhys Morus. It’s an interesting book, but what particularly struck me was the Epilogue, which has reflections on how the Victorian way of doing science in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Amanda Solloway, incentives, lone genius, Research, reward, Science Culture | Comments Off on Moving On from a Victorian Ideal

In which I dream

Posted on 17 March 2024 by Jennifer Rohn

Last night I dreamt I was pipetting. It was a beautiful Gilson p200, the classic model of my formative years. The precision instrument felt reassuringly heavy and solid in my right hand. Despite its age, the movements were smooth and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in academia, careers, Nostalgia, Research, Scientific thinking, The ageing process, The profession of science | Comments Off on In which I dream