272 posts · 287,121 views
I am a freelance science writer based in Cambridge, England, I trained as a chemist and am a chartered member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Currently, I write for several magazines and websites on science, technology and medicine, covering everything from astronomy to zoology, with a special focus on all things chemical, which includes materials, pharma, nano, analytical sciences.
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- July 13, 2009
- 10:00 AM
- 941 views
Cooking up Solar Solutions
by sciencebase in Sciencebase Science Blog
Solar power need not be complicated. Research into complex materials that convert the energy from sunlight into electricity is well underway, but offers only low efficiencies.
In contrast direct heating of water sidesteps the intermediary of converting sunlight into electricity and then using that to power a heating element in a water tank. All you need [...]Post from: Sciencebase Science Blog... Read more »
Nitesh Rathore, & S.K. Shukla. (2009) Experimental investigations and comparison of energy and exergy efficiencies of the box type and Solar Parabolic Cooker. Int. J. Energy Technology and Policy, 7(2), 201-212.
- July 8, 2009
- 12:00 PM
- 972 views
The Three A’s of Food Security
by sciencebase in Sciencebase Science Blog
Famine, drought, disease, crop failure, they might afflict any one of us, but in the developing world and on the margins of urbanised regions, the issue of food security is paramount for survival. There are three main factors to consider when one thinks of food security each of which must be addressed to offer a [...]Post from: Sciencebase Science Blog... Read more »
Mieke Faber, Craig Schwabe, & Scott Drimie. (2009) Dietary diversity in relation to other household food security indicators . Int. J. Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health, 2(1), 1-15.
- July 7, 2009
- 12:00 PM
- 1,030 views
A Fresh Approach to Spam
by David Bradley in Sciencetext
In January 2004, Bill Gates famously promised us an end to spam – those unsolicited electronic mass mailings promising everything from effortless income and herbal panaceas to free vacations and cable TV unscramblers. Of course, it’s not well over five years later and my spam filters are still working overtime.
At around the same time, [...]Post from: David Bradley's Sciencetext Tips and Tricks
A Fresh Approach to Spam... Read more »
Adnan Omar, M. Khurrum S. Bhutta, & Gwénola Lepeu. (2009) Managing spam: a global challenge. Int. J. Management Practice, 3(4), 405-416.
- June 22, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 1,066 views
Life (and Death) on the Ocean Wave
by sciencebase in Sciencebase Science Blog
To predict the height of crests and the depths of troughs of ocean waves, scientists can turn to the well-known work of German mathematician and scientist Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss. The so-called Gaussian function provides a mathematical formula from which one can determine the normal distribution of wave heights based on probability theory and statistics.
Gauss [...]Post from: Sciencebase Science Blog... Read more »
Francesco Fedele. (2009) On the statistics of oceanic waves. Int. J. Reliability and Safety, 3(1/2/3), 258-266.
- June 19, 2009
- 10:28 AM
- 957 views
Aviation Radiation Redux
by sciencebase in Sciencebase Science Blog
In May, I reported that Russian scientists at the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics in Pushchino and the Institute of High-Energy Physics in Protvino, had investigated the chronic effects of the radiation to which we are exposed every time we fly in high altitude aircraft. They wanted to know if any putative damage [...]Post from: Sciencebase Science Blog... Read more »
S. Zaichkina, O. Rozanova, G. Aptikaeva, A. Akhmadieva, H. Smirnova, S. Romanchenko, O. Vakhrusheva, S. Sorokina, A. Dyukina, & V. Peleshko. (2009) Adaptive response and genetic instability induced in mice in vivo by low dose-rate radiation simulating high-altitude flight conditions. Int. J. Low Radiation, 6(1), 28-36.
- June 18, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 1,243 views
Trouble with Sex on the Internet
by David Bradley in Sciencetext
Attempts to design websites suited to men or women are misguided because they rely on social stereotypes, according to a recent study. Rather than focusing on gender, the study’s authors suggest that designers should optimize their sites for different character traits: personal autonomy, selfishness, compassion and for whether a person is a hunter or a [...]Post from: David Bradley's Sciencetext Tips and Tricks
Trouble with Sex on the Internet... Read more »
Maureen E. Hupfer, & Brian Detlor. (2009) Sex, gender and self-concept: predicting web shopping site design preferences. Int. J. Electronic Business, 7(3), 217-236.
- June 17, 2009
- 11:00 AM
- 1,236 views
Carrot Tops Healthy Veg
by David Bradley in SciScoop Science Forum
News from my Newcastle University published today reveals that cooking carrots whole and then chopping them before serving is better for your health than slicing and dicing before you boil.
Apparently, less of the “anticancer” compound falcarinol leaches out of the carrots and into the cooking water if carrots are boiled whole. Of course, the truly [...]... Read more »
Christensen, L., Vach, W., Ritskes-Hoitinga, J., & Brandt, K. (2005) Inhibitory Effects of Feeding with Carrots or (−)-Falcarinol on Development of Azoxymethane-Induced Preneoplastic Lesions in the Rat Colon. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 53(5), 1823-1827. DOI: 10.1021/jf048519s
- June 11, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 859 views
Horseless Carriages and Talking Telegraphs
by David Bradley in Sciencetext
What you see in the rear-view mirror of invention may be closer than you think, at least when it comes to developments in online advertising. As advertising has evolved from the simple banner ads of the mid 1990s to the more absorbing, but often just as annoying as some ads today, those in marketing could [...]Post from: David Bradley's Sciencetext Tips and Tricks
Horseless Carriages and Talking Telegraphs... Read more »
Susan B. Barnes, & Neil Frederick Hair. (2009) From banners to YouTube: using the rear-view mirror to look at the future of internet advertising. Int. J. Internet Marketing and Advertising, 5(3), 223-2399.
- June 8, 2009
- 12:00 PM
- 1,352 views
Silver Surfer Franchise
by David Bradley in SciScoop Science Forum
Forget the image of Grandma tracking down the latest cutting edge technology news in mobile feed reader, or Uncle Joe whose retirement has been filled with Diggs, Tweets, and Facebook pokes. According to Mark McMurtrey, Ronald McGaughey, and James Downey, in the Department of MIS, at the University of Central Arkansas, Conway, the silver surfer, [...]... Read more »
McMurtrey, M., McGaughey, R., & Downey, J. (2009) Seniors and information technology: A potential goldmine of opportunity?. International Journal of Intercultural Information Management, 1(3), 300. DOI: 10.1504/IJIIM.2009.025371
- June 5, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 966 views
Can Death be Sustainable?
by sciencebase in Sciencebase Science Blog
A case study
Few people like to dwell on the subject of death, but it’s up there alongside taxes with life’s inevitabilities. But, consider it we must, for the sake of the environment.
At some point in our primordial past the dead were left to the scavenging dogs, the vultures, the flies, and the microbes. There were [...]Post from: Sciencebase Science Blog... Read more »
Eva Collins, Kate Kearins, & Helen Tregidga. (2009) Exiting in a State of Grace: can death be sustainable?. Int. J. Sustainable Strategic Management, 1(3), 258-284.
- June 2, 2009
- 10:00 AM
- 1,507 views
Hockey and Math
by David Bradley in SciScoop Science Forum
Sports commentators on soccer and hockey games will often make their winning predictions as soon as the first goal is scored. Now, Canadian mathematicians have worked out a formula for spotting the winning team that could make the pundits redundant. In a paper of two halves, they reveal all in the International Journal of Operational [...]... Read more »
Jack Brimberg, & W.J. Hurley. (2009) A note on the importance of the first goal in a National Hockey League game. Int. J. Operational Research, 6(2), 282-287.
- June 2, 2009
- 07:00 AM
- 1,178 views
Who Owns Your Avatar?
by David Bradley in Sciencetext
Do you have a parallel existence in Second Life, or another virtual world? Do you spend hours dressing and preening your avatar in a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG)?
Lots of people do!
Do you design and make virtual stuff for other players? Do you offer virtual services or play out an engaging role that [...]Post from: David Bradley's Sciencetext Tips and Tricks
Who Owns Your Avatar?... Read more »
Angela Adrian. (2009) Intellectual property or intangible chattel? . Int. J. Intercultural Information Management, 1(4), 331-343.
- May 28, 2009
- 12:00 PM
- 1,003 views
What is Spyware?
by David Bradley in SciScoop Science Forum
Spyware refers to computer software, programs, that are installed, usually without the computer users knowledge and gather information about how the computer is being used and the websites the user visits.
The simplest and most insidious form of spyware are so-called “cookies” although not all cookies are bad. These tiny pieces of computer code are loaded [...]... Read more »
Daniel B. Garrie. (2009) Spyware and national privacy laws: consumer education is empowerment. Int. J. Intercultural Information Management, 1(2), 177-190.
- May 28, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 1,341 views
Students and Cybercrime
by David Bradley in Sciencetext
At the height of an economic recession when computer security is high on the agenda the last thing we should do is to forget the future. To ensure we can address future cybercrime, now is the time to educate the next generation of computer professionals into the ways of the cyber world.
Margaret Ross, Geoff Staples, [...]Post from: David Bradley's Sciencetext Tips and Tricks
Students and Cybercrime... Read more »
Margaret Ross, Geoff Staples, & Mark Udall. (2009) Cybercrime – raising awareness for future professionals. Int. J. Electronic Security and Digital Forensics, 2(2), 228-238.
- May 27, 2009
- 12:00 PM
- 948 views
Fear of Flying
by sciencebase in Sciencebase Science Blog
Personally, I’ve never had a problem with a fear of flying, a lot of people suffer from this often debilitating phobia though despite reassurances about road death statistics being much worse than air crashes. That said perhaps there is one aspect of flying that should be of concern - exposure to radiation from outer space, [...]Post from: Sciencebase Science Blog... Read more »
S. Zaichkina, O. Rozanova, G. Aptikaeva, A. Akhmadieva, H. Smirnova, S. Romanchenko, O. Vakhrusheva, S. Sorokina, A. Dyukina, & V. Peleshko. (2009) Adaptive response and genetic instability induced in mice in vivo by low dose-rate radiation simulating high-altitude flight conditions. Int. J. Low Radiation, 6(1), 28-36.
- May 22, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 1,024 views
Pathogen Insecurity and Bio WMD
by sciencebase in Sciencebase Science Blog
Marc Ostfield is the Senior Advisor for Bioterrorism, Biodefense, and Health Security, US Department of State, Office of International Health and Biodefense in Washington DC and believes that the concept of biosecurity as a primary strategy to combat terrorism is nothing more than an illusion.
As a concept biosecurity, also known as pathogen security, suggests that [...]Post from: Sciencebase Science Blog... Read more »
Marc L. Ostfield. (2009) Pathogen security: the illusion of security in foreign policy and biodefence. Int. J. Risk Assessment and Management, 12(2/3/4), 204-221.
- May 19, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 1,258 views
Metallica, Napster, and Marx
by David Bradley in Sciencetext
A quite bizarre research paper appears in the inaugural issue of the International Journal of Critical Accounting, coincidentally the month the Metallica Guitar Hero pack is released. The paper is entitled: “Structural change in the music industry: a Marxist critique of public statements made by members of Metallica during the lawsuit against Napster”
The research paper [...]Post from: David Bradley's Sciencetext Tips and Tricks
Metallica, Napster, and Marx... Read more »
Kieran James, & Christopher Tolliday. (2009) Structural change in the music industry: a Marxist critique of public statements made by members of Metallica during the lawsuit against Napster. International Journal of Critical Accounting, 1(1), 144-176.
- May 19, 2009
- 06:00 AM
- 1,040 views
Testing Pandemic Screening
by David Bradley in SciScoop Science Forum
Four major US national laboratories have worked together to develop a computer model to help airport authorities screen passengers for pandemic influenza. The tool can detect false negatives, people with influenza who slip through the screening process, and so cut the risk of infected passengers unknowingly spreading disease across the nation.
During a confirmed outbreak of [...]... Read more »
Robert T. Brigantic, John D. Malone, George A. Muller, Russell Lee, & Jim Kulesz. (2009) Simulation to assess the efficacy of US airport entry screening of passengers for pandemic influenza. Int. J. Risk Assessment and Management, 12(2/3/4), 290-310.
- May 15, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 1,086 views
Heavy Metal Packaging
by sciencebase in Sciencebase Science Blog
Researchers in Argentina have developed a new approach to testing food packaging for trace amounts of the toxic heavy metal cadmium.
Cadmium is one of several additives used extensively in the manufacture of plastics. Regulations limit the concentration of cadmium allowable, of course. In the European Union that limit is 100 milligrams per kilogram. But, the [...]Post from: Sciencebase Science Blog... Read more »
Martinis, E., Olsina, R., Altamirano, J., & Wuilloud, R. (2009) On-line ionic liquid-based preconcentration system coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrometry for trace cadmium determination in plastic food packaging materials. Talanta, 78(3), 857-862. DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2008.12.051
- May 13, 2009
- 12:00 PM
- 1,056 views
Undiagnosed Diabetes
by David Bradley in SciScoop Science Forum
Image via Wikipedia
Apparently, there are more than 6 million American adults completely unaware that they have diabetes mellitus. And, according to a report in the research journal Population Health Management their undiagnosed health problems cost an estimated $18 billion each year.
Yiduo Zhang from the Lewin Group, Falls Church, Virginia, and colleagues at Ingenix Pharmainformatics, Cary, [...]... Read more »
Zhang, Y., Dall, T., Mann, S., Chen, Y., Martin, J., Moore, V., Baldwin, A., Reidel, V., & Quick, W. (2009) The Economic Costs of Undiagnosed Diabetes. Population Health Management, 12(2), 95-101. DOI: 10.1089/pop.2009.12202
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