From the Beatles to biologics – how Liverpool became a life science hotspot
The city has a long history with tropical medicine and is now home to one of the largest biotech clusters in Europe
UK can be ‘AI sweet spot’: Starmer’s tech minister on regulation, Musk, and free speech
Technology secretary Peter Kyle has the task of making Britain a leading player in the AI revolution, but says economic growth will not come at the cost of online safety
Collaborative research on AI safety is vital
Letter:If we are to take seriously the risk facing humanity, regulators need the power to ‘recall’ deployed models, as well as assess leading, not lagging, indicators of risk, writes Prof John McDermid
October 2024
‘They don’t just fall out of trees’: Nobel awards highlight Britain’s AI pedigree
Recognition for Demis Hassabis and Geoffrey Hinton marks moment when important ingredients came together
August 2024
Scientists enable hydrogel to play and improve at Pong video game
Nils Pratley on finance
Reeves should nail down UK AstraZeneca deal. A collapse would be embarrassing
Nils Pratley
May 2024
US and China need ‘climate armistice’ to meet net zero, says former head of CSIRO
Pass notes
The synthetic coffee revolution: are ground date seeds really as delicious as the real thing?
April 2024
Chinese students in US tell of ‘chilling’ interrogations and deportations
As tensions with China rise, scientists at America’s leading universities complain of stalled research after crackdown at airports
February 2024
Battery life
Greener ‘water batteries’ a step closer thanks to breakthrough by Melbourne researchers
RMIT team develops method that could replace common lead-acid batteries, offering a safer and more recyclable alternative
December 2023
Academic paper based on Uyghur genetic data retracted over ethical concerns
New Alzheimer’s drugs bring hope of slowing disease for UK patients
September 2023
What does rejoining EU’s Horizon scheme mean for UK research and innovation?
Scientists relieved they can once again apply for funding from world’s largest such programme after three-year hiatus
July 2023
Apocalypse not now? AI’s benefits may yet outweigh its very real dangers
A new Cambridge University institute will try to harness the good and anticipate the bad effects of artificial intelligence
June 2023
Flies like blue objects because they mistake colour for food, scientists say
Finding may help fight against diseases spread by flies and make traps more effective
May 2023
AI poses existential threat and risk to health of millions, experts warn
BMJ Global Health article calls for halt to ‘development of self-improving artificial general intelligence’ until regulation in place
March 2023
Novartis scraps cholesterol drug trial in blow to UK life sciences ambitions
Swiss firm’s withdrawal from Leqvio trial with NHS dents government plans to attract post-Brexit research and investment
Other lives
Emmie Lucassen-Reijnders obituary
Other lives: Research scientist whose expertise was in theoretical surface chemistry
Economics viewpoint
Want to properly plug the UK’s north-south divide? Look to Germany
Larry Elliott
Boosting spending power, increasing public funding for science and tech skills, R&D and infrastructure could work
February 2023
GSK boss warns UK life sciences at ‘tipping point’ despite Sunak’s R&D pledge
Emma Walmsley says ambition to be pharma superpower at risk unless improvements made in key areas
