reellifescience 2015 Research Article

Science in Space: Seeing the Invisible Universe

In the final Research Article for 2015, Dr. Neil Trappe, Senior Lecturer in Experimental Physics in  Maynooth University  writes about how his research helps scientists ‘see’ much more of the universe than previously possible.

Starsinthesky
Stars in the sky (Image credit ESA/Hubble)

Background

When you look outside at the clear night sky you will see many thousands of stars overheard which is, of course, a beautiful sight. The Moon, stars, planets, comets and galaxies can all be observed if you know where to look just using your eyes. But if you have a pair of binoculars or a telescope these optical instruments also you to see much more detail and many fainter objects you would not be able to see with just your eyes. The telescope gathers more light and magnifies the objects letting you see more and enhance your view.

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Enda O'Connell 2015 Research Article

Heroines of Science: The story of Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin

In the latest of our series of articles, Linda Connor, an MSc student working with Advance Science and the Glycoscience Research Group, tells the story of the remarkable scientist Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin.

Dorothy Hodgkin © Peter Lofts Photography, National Portrait Gallery, London
Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin
© Peter Lofts Photography, National Portrait Gallery, London

The story of Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin begins in Cairo, Egypt where she was born May 12, 1910. Her parents were John Winter Crowfoot, who worked in the Egyptian education service, later retiring to focus on archaeology, and Grace Mary Hood Crowfoot who was a botanist and illustrated a lot of the different flora found in Sudan.

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Enda O'Connell 2015 Research Article

What is a Medical Device?

In the third of our series of Research Articles for 2015,  Claire Riordan, Science Engagement Officer with the CÚRAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices in NUI Galway, writes about the history of medical devices and tells us about some of the exciting research being carried out at CÚRAM.

What is a Medical Device?

When you think of a medical device, what do you see? An inhaler? A stent? An artificial hip or a wound dressing?

 

Surgery
Reza Estakhrian/Getty Images

Actually, one of the very first medical device inventions was the magnifying glass! It was designed in 1250 by Roger Bacon. It was the first convex lens designed for scientific purposes. In 1280, these lenses were used to correct farsightedness. Now, they are crucial in any surgical procedure.

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