Last week, Professor Wolfgang Schmitt, Dean and Vice-President for Research at Trinity, welcomed the launch of the Creating Our Future campaign, and urged more individuals to submit their ideas before the closing date of November 30 .
In July of …
SciTech
Sunday Longread: Studying STEM through Irish Sign Language
Learning technical or scientific subjects through ISL presents unique challenges, says Trinity graduate Micheál Kelliher
Irish Sign Language (ISL) is used as a first language by around 5,000 people in Ireland, and approximately 45,000 hearing people also use ISL to some extent. However, the nuanced and historic language, and its speakers, are not always given …
Artificial Intelligence: How far is too far?
While there is a natural fear of futuristic technology rendering human workers obsolete, there are limitations that will keep AI in check for years to come
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is an area of technological advancement that’s gaining interest in various sectors to make daily life more convenient and efficient. While AI may come with the typical “sci-fi” fantasies portrayed by the media, in reality, it …
Society’s fast food addiction: it’s not you, it’s your brain
The neurochemistry of why you’re lovin’ it
The saying goes: “We all want what we can’t have”. Unfortunately, food is not an exception to this idea. Humanity as a whole has become addicted to the very thing capable of nourishing us, yet killing us: food. This is …
Basking sharks not basking in the limelight
The Irish government must pass environmental legislation to protect these vulnerable creatures
In Ireland, we have many graceful creatures; however none have proven to be quite as mysterious as the basking shark.
Basking sharks are the second-largest living shark at nearly 12 metres long, sporting large gaping mouths. Despite their fearsome exterior, …
Squid Game: NUIG Researchers solve puzzle of cephalopod taxonomy
A new Irish study proposes a reordering of our conceptual framework for oceanic squid evolution
Researchers at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) have identified new relationships between different species of oceanic squids, solving a longstanding mystery.
A multinational study from 2018 described relationships between different cephalopods as “difficult to resolve” and said that …
The grim reality of soft plastic waste
Is recycling this material the solution we think it is?
On September 6, it was announced that soft plastics could be accepted into household recycling bins. This announcement came three days before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an analysis of Ireland’s recycling failures. This news seems to be happily …
Booster shots for Covid-19: the science of vaccine inequality
Unequal vaccine distribution will only be heightened by boosters in high-income regions
After an 18-month saga of trials and testing, delays and divisive arguments, the vast majority of the Irish adult population are now doubly vaccinated against Covid-19. We’ve done the waiting, got the badges, and had the side-effects. But in all …
Novel stem cell research could provide hope for Type I diabetes patients
Is a cure for the chronic health condition in sight?
Just reading the words “injections” and “needles” is usually enough to make anyone squirm uncomfortably. However, for Type I diabetics, insulin injections are their lifeline. Type I diabetics must meticulously count carbohydrates, monitor their blood glucose levels, calculate and inject …
The pattern seekers’ songbook and the neuroscience of imagination
A Trinity study explores what it is that we love about music
“I certainly like pauses in DJing,” the electronic music pioneer Sam Shepherd (who releases under the pseudonym Floating Points) says in his label biography. “Especially in all-night sets where I assume dancers would welcome moments of calm…I’ve found that with …