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Varsity Masthead

Monday 16 May 2022 | Cambridge, UK
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SCIENCE

  • Popular articles
  • Scientists are right to be excited about nuclear fusion
    2 May 2022
  • How much do calories really count?
    15 May 2022
  • How much do calories really count?

    How much do calories really count?

    Sambhavi Sneha Kumar discusses the good, bad and ugly aspects of calorie labelling on menus following recent policy change

    15 May 2022
    How much do calories really count?
  • Scientists are right to be excited about nuclear fusion

    Scientists are right to be excited about nuclear fusion

    Nuclear fusion has been back in the news recently. But why are scientists excited? Vyas Burra explains the principles underlying nuclear fusion and sheds light on the new milestones reached

    2 May 2022
    Scientists are right to be excited about nuclear fusion
  • Cancer, the ultimate malady across species

    Cancer, the ultimate malady across species

    22 April 2022
    Cancer, the ultimate malady across species
  • Binaural beats: a useful tool or another wellness fad?

    Binaural beats: a useful tool or another wellness fad?

    22 April 2022
    Binaural beats: a useful tool or another wellness fad?
  • How artificial intelligence is revolutionising drug design

    How artificial intelligence is revolutionising drug design

    22 April 2022
    How artificial intelligence is revolutionising drug design
  • The perfect fold does not exist

    The perfect fold does not exist

    3 April 2022
    The perfect fold does not exist
  • How can technology shape how we think about ourselves?

    How can technology shape how we think about ourselves?

    2 April 2022
    How can technology shape how we think about ourselves?
  • Butterflies Through Time exhibition launched at Zoology Museum

    Butterflies Through Time exhibition launched at Zoology Museum

    26 March 2022
    Butterflies Through Time exhibition launched at Zoology Museum
  • Understanding obsessive compulsive disorder through the lens of trauma

    Understanding obsessive compulsive disorder through the lens of trauma

    22 March 2022
    Understanding obsessive compulsive disorder through the lens of trauma
  • Plant extinction: St. Helena Olive

    Plant extinction: St. Helena Olive

    15 March 2022
    Plant extinction: St. Helena Olive
  • The proof that wasn’t

    The proof that wasn’t

    Nick Scott explains the story of a mathematical proof that has sparked controversy, questioning how extremely complicated work can be validated if few understand it

    11 March 2022
    The proof that wasn’t
  • Hearing without listening - the power of metaphor

    Hearing without listening – the power of metaphor

    Metaphors may seem like a simple stylistic device taught by your Year 3 teachers – but they are a lot more than that

    6 March 2022
    Hearing without listening – the power of metaphor
  • What does the future hold for healthcare?

    What does the future hold for healthcare?

    4 March 2022
    What does the future hold for healthcare?
  • Birds: Our modern day dinosaurs?

    Birds: Our modern day dinosaurs?

    4 March 2022
    Birds: Our modern day dinosaurs?
  • Probability puzzles and problems

    Probability puzzles and problems

    4 March 2022
    Probability puzzles and problems
  • The science of burnout

    Long read

    The science of burnout

    4 March 2022
    The science of burnout
  • Loving nature may be part of your DNA

    Loving nature may be part of your DNA

    2 March 2022
    Loving nature may be part of your DNA
  • The universal link between personality and musical preferences

    The universal link between personality and musical preferences

    23 February 2022
    The universal link between personality and musical preferences
  • The age of anti-ageing

    The age of anti-ageing

    19 February 2022
    The age of anti-ageing
  • To trust or not to trust in science, that is the question... 

    To trust or not to trust in science, that is the question… 

    18 February 2022
    To trust or not to trust in science, that is the question… 
  • Botched biology: how does Jordan Peterson use science to prop up his (mis)beliefs?

    Long Read

    Botched biology: how does Jordan Peterson use science to prop up his (mis)beliefs?

    Nieve Brydges offers her take on Jordan Peterson’s ideas regarding society and relationships

    18 February 2022
    Botched biology: how does Jordan Peterson use science to prop up his (mis)beliefs?
  • Plant extinction: the Ginkgo

    Plant extinction: the Ginkgo

    Starting with the Ginkgo tree, Nicholas Koenig kicks off a column involving stories of the complex and tentacular world of plant extinction

    18 February 2022
    Plant extinction: the Ginkgo
  • Small pharma is outperforming big pharma

    Small pharma is outperforming big pharma

    17 February 2022
    Small pharma is outperforming big pharma
  • Climate change causing plants to bloom a month early

    Climate change causing plants to bloom a month early

    13 February 2022
    Climate change causing plants to bloom a month early
  • The origins of writing in the mind

    The origins of writing in the mind

    12 February 2022
    The origins of writing in the mind
  • Saving bananas from extinction

    Saving bananas from extinction

    6 February 2022
    Saving bananas from extinction
  • A brief look into science denial: can celebrities help?

    6 February 2022
    A brief look into science denial: can celebrities help?
  • Food for thought on dementia: can different cultural diets strengthen brain health in different ways?

    Food for thought on dementia: can different cultural diets strengthen brain health in different ways?

    4 February 2022
    Food for thought on dementia: can different cultural diets strengthen brain health in different ways?
  • Plants in space – how our little green friends may be key to future missions

    Plants in space – how our little green friends may be key to future missions

    4 February 2022
    Plants in space – how our little green friends may be key to future missions
  • Environmental DNA - a tool transforming ecology and conservation

    Environmental DNA – a tool transforming ecology and conservation

    2 February 2022
    Environmental DNA – a tool transforming ecology and conservation
  • Men and the Human Papillomavirus

    Men and the Human Papillomavirus

    In cervical cancer awareness month, Yan-Yi Lee delves into the topic of HPV, exploring why heterosexual men in particular may be less aware of the risks and consequences.

    31 January 2022
    Men and the Human Papillomavirus
  • Learning from mimicry

    Learning from mimicry

    Lucie Gourmet explores how mimicry arises in nature, the lessons we have learnt from it, and how mimicry may influence robotics

    27 January 2022
    Learning from mimicry
  • The Flynn effect: has human intelligence reached its peak?

    The Flynn effect: has human intelligence reached its peak?

    25 January 2022
    The Flynn effect: has human intelligence reached its peak?
  • Personalised medicine: the science behind the hype

    Personalised medicine: the science behind the hype

    24 January 2022
    Personalised medicine: the science behind the hype
  • Taking on the pseudoscience crisis

    Taking on the pseudoscience crisis

    21 January 2022
    Taking on the pseudoscience crisis
  • Domestication on a molecular level – how cultivated meat could affect our relationship to food

    Domestication on a molecular level – how cultivated meat could affect our relationship to food

    21 January 2022
    Domestication on a molecular level – how cultivated meat could affect our relationship to food
  • Veganuary: are you doing it right?

    Veganuary: are you doing it right?

    11 January 2022
    Veganuary: are you doing it right?
  • The James Webb Space Telescope: looking back into the past

    The James Webb Space Telescope: looking back into the past

    11 January 2022
    The James Webb Space Telescope: looking back into the past
  • 326m year old fossil to go on display at Sedgwick Museum

    326m year old fossil to go on display at Sedgwick Museum

    26 December 2021
    326m year old fossil to go on display at Sedgwick Museum
  • Demystifying intersexuality

    Demystifying intersexuality

    26 December 2021
    Demystifying intersexuality
  • Facing a career in archaeology

    Facing a career in archaeology

    Evie Carter unearths what archaeology is really all about

    20 December 2021
    Facing a career in archaeology
  • 'Dragon Man' and its place in evolutionary history

    ‘Dragon Man’ and its place in evolutionary history

    In this exciting report of a new insight in palaeontology, Jonny Gathercole explores the story of how an unusual skull found in 1933 may shed light on the elusive Denisovans

    20 December 2021
    ‘Dragon Man’ and its place in evolutionary history
  • Varsity Explains: why a supervolcanic eruption wouldn't necessarily end the world

    Varsity Explains: why a supervolcanic eruption wouldn’t necessarily end the world

    20 December 2021
    Varsity Explains: why a supervolcanic eruption wouldn’t necessarily end the world
  • Thinking like an anthropologist in Cambridge

    Thinking like an anthropologist in Cambridge

    8 December 2021
    Thinking like an anthropologist in Cambridge
  • How much is too much?

    How much is too much?

    8 December 2021
    How much is too much?
  • Blue-balls, blood, and biological truths: when science isn’t what it seems

    Blue-balls, blood, and biological truths: when science isn’t what it seems

    8 December 2021
    Blue-balls, blood, and biological truths: when science isn’t what it seems
  • Imposter syndrome: the psychology behind feeling like you're not 'enough'

    Imposter syndrome: the psychology behind feeling like you’re not ‘enough’

    8 December 2021
    Imposter syndrome: the psychology behind feeling like you’re not ‘enough’
  • The so-called 'female athlete triad': the need to protect athletes' health in sport

    The so-called ‘female athlete triad’: the need to protect athletes’ health in sport

    26 November 2021
    The so-called ‘female athlete triad’: the need to protect athletes’ health in sport
  • To boost or not to boost?

    To boost or not to boost?

    23 November 2021
    To boost or not to boost?
  • Five unexpected ways your exercise routine could be changing your body

    Five unexpected ways your exercise routine could be changing your body

    15 October 2021
    Five unexpected ways your exercise routine could be changing your body
  • Music as a medicine

    Music as a medicine

    In this article, Aneesah Bari explores the power of music and how music therapy can benefit individuals in a range of different settings.

    15 October 2021
    Music as a medicine
  • A love letter to concrete

    A love letter to concrete

    In this piece, Tungsten Tang explores the history and background to our use of concrete in society, delving into the problems that have arisen and the future implications.

    5 October 2021
    A love letter to concrete
  • Want to change the world? Start with your university

    Want to change the world? Start with your university

    1 October 2021
    Want to change the world? Start with your university
  • Raunchy risks and rewards

    Raunchy risks and rewards

    1 October 2021
    Raunchy risks and rewards
  • A moon with a view

    A moon with a view

    27 August 2021
    A moon with a view
  • Why melanin matters, and the dangers of the skin lightening industry

    Why melanin matters, and the dangers of the skin lightening industry

    27 August 2021
    Why melanin matters, and the dangers of the skin lightening industry
  • Cambridge Spotlight: Diagnosing Dementia with Artificial Intelligence

    Cambridge Spotlight: Diagnosing Dementia with Artificial Intelligence

    14 August 2021
    Cambridge Spotlight: Diagnosing Dementia with Artificial Intelligence
  • Putting a price on CO2

    Putting a price on CO2

    16 July 2021
    Putting a price on CO2
  • Cambridge Spotlight: Artificial intelligence used to discover 200 new Covid treatments

    Cambridge Spotlight

    Cambridge Spotlight: Artificial intelligence used to discover 200 new Covid treatments

    16 July 2021
    Cambridge Spotlight: Artificial intelligence used to discover 200 new Covid treatments
  • Which species should we save?

    Which species should we save?

    22 June 2021
    Which species should we save?
  • Cambridge study questions ‘bullshit jobs’ theory

    Cambridge Spotlight

    Cambridge study questions ‘bullshit jobs’ theory

    Anthropologist David Graeber previously hypothesised up to 60% of the workforce have jobs that are completely useless.

    15 June 2021
    Cambridge study questions ‘bullshit jobs’ theory
  • Creating better hard disk drives with graphene

    Cambridge Spotlight

    Creating better hard disk drives with graphene

    In this Cambridge Spotlight, Izavel Lee explains new research from the Cambridge Graphene Centre on ultra-high storage density hard disk drives

    11 June 2021
    Creating better hard disk drives with graphene
  • The Problem of Patents

    The Problem of Patents

    4 June 2021
    The Problem of Patents
  • Anti-Vax: A Crisis of Trust

    Anti-Vax: A Crisis of Trust

    1 June 2021
    Anti-Vax: A Crisis of Trust
  • Homo Scientificus v. Homo Economicus

    Homo Scientificus v. Homo Economicus

    29 May 2021
    Homo Scientificus v. Homo Economicus
  • Solving climate change, one person at a time

    Solving climate change, one person at a time

    21 May 2021
    Solving climate change, one person at a time
  • The 'Future foods' which could combat malnutrition

    Cambridge Spotlight

    The ‘Future foods’ which could combat malnutrition

    18 May 2021
    The ‘Future foods’ which could combat malnutrition
  • The evolution of urban greening

    The evolution of urban greening

    11 May 2021
    The evolution of urban greening
  • Varsity Explains: Making Sense of Vaccine Efficacy and Safety

    Varsity Explains: Making Sense of Vaccine Efficacy and Safety

    7 May 2021
    Varsity Explains: Making Sense of Vaccine Efficacy and Safety
  • Archaeology and the climate crisis

    Archaeology and the climate crisis

    4 May 2021
    Archaeology and the climate crisis
  • How do machines translate linguistically distant languages?

    How do machines translate linguistically distant languages?

    Yan-Yi Lee explains how the diversity of languages creates challenges for machine translation, and how scientists might close the gap between distantly related ones

    30 April 2021
    How do machines translate linguistically distant languages?
  • Cambridge researchers develop new approaches to fight cancer

    Cambridge researchers develop new approaches to fight cancer

    Izavel Lee explains how two teams of scientists from Cambridge have found different ways of treating this complex disease

    30 April 2021
    Cambridge researchers develop new approaches to fight cancer
  • Two great minds of Cambridge: Darwin and Newton

    Two great minds of Cambridge: Darwin and Newton

    30 April 2021
    Two great minds of Cambridge: Darwin and Newton
  • Introduction to Birdwatching

    Introduction to Birdwatching

    23 April 2021
    Introduction to Birdwatching
  • Reasons for hope this Earth Day

    Reasons for hope this Earth Day

    23 April 2021
    Reasons for hope this Earth Day
  • Why you should be paying attention to NFTs

    Why you should be paying attention to NFTs

    16 April 2021
    Why you should be paying attention to NFTs
  • Lighting for a cleaner, more energy efficient future

    Lighting for a cleaner, more energy efficient future

    2 April 2021
    Lighting for a cleaner, more energy efficient future
  • Varsity Explains: Bayes' Theorem and COVID-19 testing

    Varsity Explains: Bayes’ Theorem and COVID-19 testing

    2 April 2021
    Varsity Explains: Bayes’ Theorem and COVID-19 testing
  • English: the not so universal language of science

    English: the not so universal language of science

    2 April 2021
    English: the not so universal language of science
  • Neanderthal brain organoids throw light on human brain evolution

    Neanderthal brain organoids throw light on human brain evolution

    2 April 2021
    Neanderthal brain organoids throw light on human brain evolution
  • How long is now?

    How long is now?

    Moments in time are ever fleeting – Imogen Scott considers just how inaccurate our perceptions of current events may be

    26 March 2021
    How long is now?
  • Budget 2021: the real cost of a green economy

    In the wake of the recent Budget, Kate Howlett explores the UK Government’s response to the climate emergency

    26 March 2021
    Budget 2021: the real cost of a green economy
  • To save forests, individual action isn’t enough

    To save forests, individual action isn’t enough

    19 March 2021
    To save forests, individual action isn’t enough
  • Remembering Freeman Dyson, legendary scientist and rebel with a cause

    19 March 2021
    Remembering Freeman Dyson, legendary scientist and rebel with a cause
  • Rising above the misinformation crisis

    Rising above the misinformation crisis

    16 March 2021
    Rising above the misinformation crisis
  • The Dasgupta Review: Should we put a price on nature?

    The Dasgupta Review: Should we put a price on nature?

    12 March 2021
    The Dasgupta Review: Should we put a price on nature?
  • Is empathy uniquely human?

    Is empathy uniquely human?

    12 March 2021
    Is empathy uniquely human?
  • Is peer review the way forward?

    Is peer review the way forward?

    5 March 2021
    Is peer review the way forward?
  • Why your birth assigned sex may not match your genetics

    Why your birth assigned sex may not match your genetics

    2 March 2021
    Why your birth assigned sex may not match your genetics
  • The lingering heritage of imperialism in engineering

    2 March 2021
    The lingering heritage of imperialism in engineering
  • Cerebral organoids: Fact and fiction

    Cerebral organoids: Fact and fiction

    Laura Ryan explains how these “blobs of neural tissue” have revolutionised neuroscience research, and the critical ethical challenges that they face

    26 February 2021
    Cerebral organoids: Fact and fiction
  • The banking industry’s role in the biodiversity crisis

    Emily Sissons explains how ‘banks are actively and knowingly exacerbating the biodiversity crisis’

    19 February 2021
    The banking industry’s role in the biodiversity crisis
  • The maths of COVID-19

    The maths of COVID-19

    16 February 2021
    The maths of COVID-19
  • The doors of perception: LSD sheds light on altered consciousness

    The doors of perception: LSD sheds light on altered consciousness

    16 February 2021
    The doors of perception: LSD sheds light on altered consciousness
  • The story of canine domestication, and why it’s important to every human

    The story of canine domestication, and why it’s important to every human

    16 February 2021
    The story of canine domestication, and why it’s important to every human
  • Varsity Explains: The chemistry of chemistry, the science of love

    Varsity Explains: The chemistry of chemistry, the science of love

    12 February 2021
    Varsity Explains: The chemistry of chemistry, the science of love
  • Is there gender bias in cardiovascular medicine?

    Is there gender bias in cardiovascular medicine?

    9 February 2021
    Is there gender bias in cardiovascular medicine?
  • How biomolecules from red blood cells could improve battery performance

    How biomolecules from red blood cells could improve battery performance

    9 February 2021
    How biomolecules from red blood cells could improve battery performance
  • Trust me, I’m a scientist: public attitudes towards science

    Trust me, I’m a scientist: public attitudes towards science

    5 February 2021
    Trust me, I’m a scientist: public attitudes towards science
  • Here’s why 2021 is set to be an exciting year for Mars exploration

    Here’s why 2021 is set to be an exciting year for Mars exploration

    2 February 2021
    Here’s why 2021 is set to be an exciting year for Mars exploration
  • New fossil reconstructs the origins of starfish

    Cambridge Spotlight

    New fossil reconstructs the origins of starfish

    In this installment of Cambridge Spotlight, Izavel Lee explains how research on a starfish-like fossil shines a light on their evolutionary history

    2 February 2021
    New fossil reconstructs the origins of starfish
  • Science you should know about in 2021

    Science you should know about in 2021

    Grace Blackshaw, Sambhavi Sneha Kumar and Izavel Lee take a look at some of the most important science stories this year

    29 January 2021
    Science you should know about in 2021
  • CERN’s grand ambitions: are particle accelerators worth it?

    CERN’s grand ambitions: are particle accelerators worth it?

    26 January 2021
    CERN’s grand ambitions: are particle accelerators worth it?
  • Modified crops – modified perspective

    Modified crops – modified perspective

    26 January 2021
    Modified crops – modified perspective
  • Celebrating five years of the Paris Agreement

    Celebrating five years of the Paris Agreement

    22 January 2021
    Celebrating five years of the Paris Agreement
  • What is Life? A Crash Course to Autopoiesis

    What is Life? A Crash Course to Autopoiesis

    22 January 2021
    What is Life? A Crash Course to Autopoiesis
  • Why a newly permitted insecticide will be bad for bees

    Why a newly permitted insecticide will be bad for bees

    15 January 2021
    Why a newly permitted insecticide will be bad for bees
  • We must not overlook the dark side of electric vehicles

    8 January 2021
    We must not overlook the dark side of electric vehicles
  • Making sense of the English COVID variant

    Making sense of the English COVID variant

    8 January 2021
    Making sense of the English COVID variant
  • A possible gamechanger - the record-breaking mRNA vaccine that could help us end the COVID-19 pandemic

    A possible gamechanger – the record-breaking mRNA vaccine that could help us end the COVID-19 pandemic

    29 December 2020
    A possible gamechanger – the record-breaking mRNA vaccine that could help us end the COVID-19 pandemic
  • A Love Letter to Arecibo

    A Love Letter to Arecibo

    Following the recent collapse and closure of the Arecibo observatory, Jake Rose remembers its past contributions and why it is truly irreplaceable for the field of astrophysics

    21 December 2020
    A Love Letter to Arecibo
  • The ethics of contact tracing apps

    The ethics of contact tracing apps

    In light of the COVID outbreak, Shazia Absar gives an overview of contact tracing apps and the complications behind their usage

    21 December 2020
    The ethics of contact tracing apps
  • Why our brains need a break from food and drink advertising online

    Why our brains need a break from food and drink advertising online

    15 December 2020
    Why our brains need a break from food and drink advertising online
  • ‘Scientifically problematic and unethical’ - why the World Health Organisation is wary of using herd immunity to tackle COVID-19

    ‘Scientifically problematic and unethical’ – why the World Health Organisation is wary of using herd immunity to tackle COVID-19

    13 December 2020
    ‘Scientifically problematic and unethical’ – why the World Health Organisation is wary of using herd immunity to tackle COVID-19
  • What does the new SARS-CoV-2 strain from Danish mink mean for future coronavirus mutations?

    13 December 2020
    What does the new SARS-CoV-2 strain from Danish mink mean for future coronavirus mutations?
  • Earthquakes with a chance of… volcanoes?

    Earthquakes with a chance of… volcanoes?

    13 December 2020
    Earthquakes with a chance of… volcanoes?
  • In mathematics, what counts as a proof?

    In mathematics, what counts as a proof?

    13 December 2020
    In mathematics, what counts as a proof?
  • Is science in trouble? An insight into the reproducibility crisis

    Is science in trouble? An insight into the reproducibility crisis

    27 November 2020
    Is science in trouble? An insight into the reproducibility crisis
  • Not all bugs are bad: Development, the gut-brain axis and mental health

    Not all bugs are bad: Development, the gut-brain axis and mental health

    13 November 2020
    Not all bugs are bad: Development, the gut-brain axis and mental health
  • The first COVID-19 ‘human challenge’ studies may take place in the UK

    The first COVID-19 ‘human challenge’ studies may take place in the UK

    13 November 2020
    The first COVID-19 ‘human challenge’ studies may take place in the UK

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