Oxford's biggest student newspaper, produced by and for members of the University of Oxford, since 1991.
We were warned this might happen – pandemics are not new, and we should have been ready. Yet, why were we left so unprepared? With the NHS having only 5,000 intensive care beds, one of the lowest rates per heads in Europe and half that of Italy, it will inevitably be overwhelmed soon. The number […]
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When we say ‘think global’ we mean ‘think big’. The coronavirus (COVID-19) has revealed, if we did not know it already, that, in perspective, the world is small. The global map showing distances of 1000s of miles is suddenly seen differently if you reflect on just how easily those distances reduce and everything seems much […]
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Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, viable nuclear fusion has been seen as the ‘holy grail’ of scientific discovery. It is toted by supporters as nuclear fission, of Chernobyl and Fukushima fame, without any chance of a meltdown. In theory, these marvels of technology could produce enough energy to power the burgeoning human race for […]
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And breathe…the value of the natural world to the health of the planet and us. If you consult your doctor, you would probably not expect them to advise you to take a walk in the park. But the value of immersing yourself in the natural world has been recognised by a recent report from Griffith […]
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For almost the entirety of human history we have been exploiting the properties of metals and, with the development of metallurgy, carrying out extensive mining operations. Our quest for precious metals has taken us as deep underground as 2.5 miles where the rocks around us are a balmy 66oC! However, the minerals and ores in […]
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You may have heard the saying “go West, … go West! There is health in the country…!” and that may well be true provided you are not talking about the typical western diet. This diet, followed inadvertently by millions, features some of the highest levels of processed and refined foods with high sugar, salt and […]
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Since the dawn of humanity, we have decorated our walls and created striking artwork using vividly coloured compounds. From earliest cave paintings to Michelangelo’s masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel, the appeal of a brightly coloured pigment or dye often caused us to overlook the potential toxicity of a compound. Here are some of the poisonous […]
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With St Valentine’s Day upon us, our thoughts turn to love – and chocolate! For some chocolate lovers, Shakespeare might have had a premonition when he composed the lines “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day”? It gives a buzz that, in many cases, lasts four times as long as the most passionate kiss […]
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Some have labelled the era in which we are currently living as a psychedelic renaissance: this is thanks to the substantial research that has been occurring before and after the destructive ‘war on drugs’. Both at Imperial College London and Johns Hopkins institute, there have been promising experiments in treatments of various forms of addiction, […]
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A couple weeks ago the National Weather Service in Miami tweeted “This isn’t something we usually forecast, but don’t be surprised if you see iguanas falling from the trees tonight as lows drop into the 30s and 40s. Brrrr.” The tweet came with a wave of videos of iguanas lying in gardens, roads, and pathways […]
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Amongst the more attention-grabbing recent headlines: the Coronavirus, Trump impeachment and Brexit, you may have overlooked the more pedestrian announcement (pun intended) by Oxford City Council of its plans for a zero emission zone or ‘ZEZ’ for short. Entry to this zone, which includes Ship Street, St Michael’s Street, New Inn Hall Street, Queen Street […]
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Six in ten UK adults have raised cholesterol levels with 8 million having to take statins – an anti-cholesterol drug. Many people assume this is solely down to a diet containing too much fat however, genetics can also be to blame. Familial high cholesterol is a congenital condition where the gene responsible for the production […]
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As some of the most prolific users of social media and the internet, young people in the UK have essentially limitless access to information and may not fully appreciate it as a privilege. However, many developing countries have an Internet uptake in the range of 0-9% of the population with data costing a significant proportion […]
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Chances are that you have never heard of the African clawed frog. This little creature has three short claws on each hind foot, is tongueless, toothless and uses its hands to tear food and push it into its mouth (although it also has a hyobranchial pump to draw or suck things into the mouth – […]
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In the scientific community, Chemistry is often thought of as the ‘smelly one’ and these compounds prove that to be true! Butyric acid – Ever experienced the smelly aftermath of spilt milk? Well, butyric acid is to blame! This simple carboxylic acid is produced in the breakdown the triglycerides commonly found in dairy and can […]
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Image Description: Brussels sprouts Brussels sprouts are the same species as cabbage, cauliflower, kale, broccoli and kohlrabi (among others). They are all different parts of the wild cabbage (Brassica oleracea) plant, which have been selectively bred for different exaggerated traits. Brussels sprouts are the bud. Cabbage and kale are both leaves, but cabbage leaves […]
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Image Description: T.rex at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History The Museum of Natural History is one of Oxford’s finest landmarks, housing over seven million specimens in its expansive collection. Last week the museum opened its doors at night to allow visitors to see the ongoing First Animals exhibition with museum director Professor […]
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Image Description: green aliens. The moon landing was a hoax. There are no stars in the photographs of moon landing, as they were removed by NASA to prevent astronomers from identifying that the photos were in fact taken on Earth. Astronauts couldn’t have survived the radiation, heat and solar flares they encountered, and the […]
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Image Description: cast of the skeleton of Lucy, an Australopithecus afarensis fossil Researchers have discovered a new species of ancient ape that provides hints as to how bipedal walking evolved in modern humans. The species, given the scientific name Danuvius guggenmosi, was found in clay pits in south-eastern Germany, in the state of Bavaria. […]
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