Science News
In the rapidly changing world of modern science, new ideas
and new technology are continually appearing. We'll try to
keep you up to date.
Antibiotic crisis on the horizon?
(added 28/09/03) Are doctors and vets prescribing
antibiotics too often? The number of types of bacteria that
are resistant (not harmed) to antibiotics is on the increase.
Professor Hugh McGavock has estimated that within 12 years,
all antibiotics could be useless leading
to unnecesary deaths from diseases that are easily treated
today . . .
The Mars Missions
(added 09/07/03) Four missions to Mars are currently
underway; two NASA missions using "Mars Exploration Rovers"
, a European Space Agency Mission entitled Mars Express and
an exceptionally slow (launched in 1998!) Japanese mission
called Nozomi. What are the objectives of the missions? What
do they hope to find?
DNA - 50 Years of the Double Helix
 (added
02/03/03) This year marks the 50th anniversary of one
of the most significant breakthroughs in our understanding
of life, how it functions and why we are the way we are. In
1953, James Watson and Francis Crick worked out the structure
of DNA, the molecule of the genetic code, the molecule
of life. They showed that DNA is a double helix. The
not-too-distant future will see genetic engineering on an
unimaginable scale and hopefully cures for diseases like cancer
and cystic fibrosis. Without the work of Watson and Crick,
none of this would be possible!
New fossil finds reveal secrets of bird origins
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Scientists have believed for a
long time that birds evolved from small dinosaurs.
The most famous fossil bird is called Archaeopteryx,
and shows some of the features of dinosaurs (including
teeth) and some of modern birds. Now, the discovery
of new fossils in China appears to support the
idea. The dinosaurs, belonging to a group called
the Dromaeosaurs, were about the size of a turkey
and sported tufts of feathers on their body and
four wings! [More
here] |
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Human Cloning
An organisation called ClonAid has announced that they have
created the first human clone - they say
that a child has been born who is the identical twin of her
mother! The claims may prove to be false (see here),
but cloning of human beings is going to be
possible soon. Should it happen? What are the problems? How
can it be done?
The site includes video footage of how cloning may be carried
out.
Great Britons - the Great Debate
The BBC have been running a series of programmes on the 'Greatest
Britons' in history. Winston Churchill emerged as the winner,
but two scientists made the top ten - Charles Darwin and Sir
Isaac Newton:
Charles Darwin
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When Charles Darwin published
'On the Origin Of Species . . . ' in 1859 the
controversy was immediate. Darwin dared to suggest
that animal and plant species had changed (evolved)
through Earth's history and that human beings
share common ancestors with other ape species
(chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans). These ideas
were hugely controversial. In the scientific community
Darwin's ideas are now largely accepted, but some
people still find them hard to accept. What do
you think? More
on Darwin here |
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Sir Isaac Newton
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Newton is most
famous for his ground-breaking work on the laws
of gravity and motion. He is famous for having
a 'flash of inspiration' concerning the laws of
gravity when an apple fell onto his head. Unfortunately,
this story is probably false! Newton was not a
pleasant man, but his contribution to modern science
was truly extraordinary. More
on Newton here. |
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