Science Focus

Tom Ireland

Tom Ireland is a freelance science journalist, and editor ofThe Biologist, the bi-monthly magazine of the Royal Society of Biology.

Recent articles by Tom Ireland

Science Focus

Does all life need water?

When we look for extra-terrestrial life, we look for planets with liquid water. But are we overlooking places where life could thrive?

extraterrestrial-life

Science Focus

Artificial hearts made from magnets and titanium could save many lives

The revolutionary design, which was first patched together using plumbing supplies, could begin human trials soon.

how-the-body-works

Science Focus

The best way to kill a superbug? Weaponise a virus

With the medical world struggling to treat antibiotic-resistant infections, could scientists turn to a group of viruses that explode bacterial cells from within?

future-technology

Science Focus

Forensic science |What we still don't know

Forensic science is a mainstay in investigating crimes, but there's still a lot we don't know.

Science Focus

What is forensic science?

Crime scene investigators in plastic overalls are a common sight on TV dramas, but what's the science behind what they do?

Science Focus

Everything you need to know about COVID-19 immunity

Why does it affect people so differently? Does having antibodies mean you’re immune? How can you keep your immune system in good shape?

Science Focus

The history of cheating death |A timeline of cryonics

The important steps humanity has taken towards extending life span and cheating death.

future-technology

Science Focus

Cryonics |你能长生不老吗?

A new facility will store tens of thousands of cryogenically-frozen people. The hope is to one day bring them back to life, but just how realistic are its aims?

future-technology

Science Focus

Everything you need to know |Antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats to human life, but what can we do about it?

how-the-body-works

Science Focus

What is DNA?

We established DNA’s structure in the 1950s. Since then, we’ve cloned animals and mapped the human genome. We decipher the code that is key to understanding life.

how-the-body-works

Science Focus

Wild ideas in science |Mushrooms could save the world

蘑菇是相当good sprinkled over a pizza or served alongside bacon, but they’re even better when used to soak up toxic waste, create clothes, or revolutionise construction.

Science Focus

Wild ideas in science |There's an off-switch for ageing

Long and healthy lives are on the horizon.

Science Focus

Forbidden medicine |What do we do when medical breakthroughs are unethical?

From Nazi medicine to GM babies, unethical research has a deeply problematic history. But what should we do when the results of these studies could offer useful scientific insight?

science-history

Science Focus

Miracle microbes |7 types of bacteria fuelling our future

Microbes and disease go hand in hand, but bacteria sometimes get a bad rep - check out the fascinating ways we're using microorganisms to solve big problems.

Science Focus

In cold blood: how therapeutic hypothermia can save lives

We all know that hypothermia can kill – but increasingly, it’s also being used to save lives.

Science Focus

Artificial meat |What you need to know about your synthetic supper

In 2013 the first lab-grown burger was served up, so where are our synthetic steaks now? We look at the cultured meat market and the race to mass-produce in-vitro meat.

future-technology

Science Focus

Bacteria controls the weather

Could we end the threats of droughts and famine, by forcing rain to fall on demand?

Science Focus

Could legal highs soon be available on prescription?

In November, cannabis-based products were legalised for medicinal use.

science-in-2019

Science Focus

Is a cancer vaccine on the horizon?

For years immunotherapy has held huge promise. Finally, it seems to be coming to fruition with hopes for a cancer vaccine in the near future…

how-the-body-works

science-in-2019

Science Focus

Why personalised medicine is coming, and how it's going to help us beat disease

据估计,多达75%的癌症drugs do not work on the person they are prescribed for. This is because medicines are developed to work on 'the average person' when in fact all of us - and our diseases - are unique.