The future’s bright…
As a remedy for all the bad news out there, let us prescribe you a small dose of feel-good science. Each issue, we’ll give you a rundown of the latest breakthroughs that aim to solve humanity’s biggest problems. From resilient corals to lab-grown meat, here you’ll find many reasons to feel hopeful for our future…
Years to go: 25-20
Pink sea fan coral is more resilient than once thought. The soft coral is currently found across southwest Britain, the Channel Islands and northwest France, and despite rising temperatures, its habitat should remain safe at least for the next 60 years.
A dog breeder in the Netherlands is working to improve the health of French Bulldogs, a breed known for its short muzzle and breathing difficulties. Hawbucks Franse Bulldog Kennel hopes that by selectively breeding for wider nostrils and a longer nose, they’ll slowly be able to give their dogs a better life.
New research into our ageing bodies has uncovered changes to blood cells that happen when we hit 70 years of age. Further understanding of these cell mutations could help us minimise disease in an ageing population.
A study on obese mice has shown that a high dose of a molecule named Lac-Phe, which is naturally produced in humans during exercise, can halve their food intake. Researchers hope it could one day lead to a pill for people struggling to lose weight.
Years to go: 20-10
Scientists have developed a way to grow cow muscle cells using nutrients taken from plants. The growth medium, called ‘Beefy-9’, is much cheaper than the technology currently used to produce lab-grown meat, bringing no-kill steaks one step closer to our shelves.
Bristol City Council is now offering a licensed drug testing service, to check the chemical make-up of substances being used in the community and offer personalised healthcare to those in need. The hope is that offering a confidential and accessible service will reduce high-risk drug-taking in the long term.
A new supercapacitor – a battery-like device that stores energy – can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it charges. The CO2 then dissolves into a solution similar to seawater in the supercapacitor. The tech is a long way off being scaled up for use, though.
Years to go: 10-0
Engineering students at Johns Hopkins University have solved an age-old problem – stopping a burrito from falling open right before you take a bite. The edible ‘Tastee Tape’ keeps the fillings inside the flour tortilla, and is even vegan and gluten-free. Maybe one day you’ll be able to buy a roll of the tape from your local supermarket.
Engineers have designed a new wind turbine that mimics the way palm trees move in high winds. Currently, in areas prone to hurricanes, wind turbines must be built with strong and expensive materials to stop them being blown over. The new, lighter design is more able bend, rather than break, in extreme weather.
As lab tests have improved, women now only need to have pap smears every five years, instead of three.
A man whose hands were left permanently closed in the fist position has undergone a successful double hand transplant at Leeds General Infirmary. Steven Gallagher has scleroderma, a condition that affects the skin and internal organs, and is the first patient with the condition ever to receive the surgery.