I, sThe cImperiali enceCollege science magazine Science Porn x-rated research! String Theory One ring to rule them all. Neanderthal Genome Did we interbreed? www.iscienceonline.co.uk Spring 2009 Issue 11 • SpringI, s2009cience 1 I, science Issue 11 • Spring 2009 From the Editor Editor-in-chief Welcome to the 11th issue of I, science. I am happy to report Mico Tatalovic that we were selected as the 2nd best student magazine in the country by the Guardian Student Media Awards last November. Managing editor This wasn’t the first time we were nominated for the best student Jovan Nedic magazine, though. Back in 2005, when the publication first be- gan, after just two issues we received our first nomination. Three years later, we were among the top five again, but this time we Editorial Team gained a ranking at second place. This is quite an achievement Jacob Aron given that I, Science is a specialist magazine covering what many Jessica Bland people see as a niche area of interest. As far as I am aware this Julia Bracewell is the first time any student science magazine has ever won such Umar Chaudhry an award. This should assure you, the reader, of the quality of the Jessica Hamzelou magazine you are holding in front of you and should also leave Umia Kukathasan us all feeling optimistic about the future of science journalism. Emma Quilligan In keeping with the tradition of the best student science journalism we bring you another ex- citement-packed issue covering various scientific and medical issues. Exploring the unexplored, Olivia Sharp we examine the unlikely bed fellows that are science and pornography. Refusing to be same as Chloe Sharrocks all the others by presenting you with yet another article on Charles Darwin and evolution we do Sam Wong something different to celebrate the 150th anniversary of his book On the Origin of Species: we bring you the story of his ancestor, the unsung hero that was Erasmus Darwin. We also look into Contributors why bees are dying across the planet: we investigate the menace of Colony Collapse Disorder. In Jessica Bland Stringing us Along we explore the science and philosophy of string theory: is this the theory that Maria Hogan will explain everything, and how can we know this if we cannot test it yet? For all the joggers and Catherine Jones runners out there we look into the best substrate to run on for your bones and joints. And finally, Tim Jones we bring you the amazing medical story of a Haitian boy who was saved by modern medicine and Flora Mactavish the will of good people willing to reach out and help others in distress. Alongside these features we also cover a variety of events, films and magazines in our reviews Geoffrey Marsh section. Enjoy your read! Arko Olesk Mico Tatalovic Graham Paterson Annabel Slater Louise Whiteley Katie Wookey The next issue is coming out on the 1st of May 2009. Please send your Images and Graphics article and photo submissions by the 1st April to: Graham Paterson [email protected] Gloria Jaconelli Design and Production In the next issue: Can we still save the planet? Read all about it in our Rira Kim Umia Kukathasan special Focus section on the alternative energy sources... Chloe Sharrocks Sam Wong Advertising Louise Hughes Cover art Kiss, © Studio Wim Del- voye, Belgium, www.wimdelvoye.be/ I,science is produced and published in association with Felix, the student newspaper of Imperial College Felix Newspaper Beit Quad Prince Consort Road London SW7 2BB T: 020 7594 8072 E: [email protected] Registered newspaper ISSN 1040-0711 Copyright © Felix 2009 I, Science team receiving our runner-up prize for the best student magazine at the Printed by Indigo Press Guardian Media Awards 2008 Cambridge Road, Southampton S014 6TB, 023 8023 1196 2 I, science Spring 2009 Issue 11 • Spring 2009 I, science 14 8 20 Features Regulars 8 | Plight of the Honey Bee Annabel Slater examines the mystery of the dying bees 04 | News and Events Stem cell breakthrough. Caffeine, Mars and more 11 | Science Pornography Mico Tatalovic peeks into the world of cheeky science 14| Neanderthal Genome Arko Olesk reports from the genome decoding lab in Ger- many 16 | The Other Darwin Genius Tim Jones explains why he prefers Charles Darwin’s Grandfa- ther 18 | Stringing Us Along? Jessica Bland seeks the theory of everything and ponders about the nature of science 24 | Reviews 20 | Should We Run on Roads? Darwin’s Big Idea in the Natural Geoffrey Marsh runs some biomechanics by us History Museum Popular Science Magazines 22 | Dumanel’s Luck Science Web-Comics Graham Paterson reports on an extarordinary medical story TV: Einstein and Eddington on BBC2 Film: Who Killed the Electric Car?, Sharkwater, XXY Japan Car exhibit at the Science Museum 26 Spring 2009 I, science 3 NEWS & EVENTS News from Imperial... Second Bacteria Bacteria Life Have Burglars New Imperial research published in Current Biology has revealed how a path- Summit Built-in ogen is able to initiate speck disease in ©J tomato plants. OHN The bacteria work by disarming the L plant’s receptor system, much in the same ESTER Compass way a human intruder can deactivate a burglar alarm. The plant’s defences are then down so that the bacteria are able It has been proven that bacteria possess- to quickly spread and feed off the tomato ing crystal chains with magnetic proper- plant, resulting in black lesions on the ties called magnetosomes could use them leaves and fruit. At the beginning of December scientists to navigate their environment. Understanding how the bacteria by- from around the world participated in a Magnetosomes were first discovered pass the plant’s immunity is an important conference on climate change and carbon three decades ago, but previous stud- step in disease control and producing less dioxide storage organised by Imperial ies have suggested that the crystals have harmful pesticides. and the Nature Publishing Group. Unlike the wrong properties to be used for Chloé Sharrocks usual conferences however, this one was navigation. held in the virtual online world Second Imperial College researchers, collabo- Life rather than in real space. rating with the University of Edinburgh, Organised by Dr Tara LaForce, the vir- claim that their mathematical model con- tual conference hoped to broadcast the firms that the crystals do in fact have the benefits of scientists meeting online. By correct magnetic properties. staying at their respective universities More sophisticated animals like birds rather than travelling, the scientists saved use the Earth’s magnetic field to navigate about 1.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which their environment; researchers believe is roughly equivalent to the amount pro- magnetosomes may be the first step in the duced by one London commuter in a year. evolutionary mechanism to allow this. Chloé Sharrocks Seth Bell Sleep could help diabetes patients ©M A Y treat these conditions. demonstrates that abnormalities in the R The study, published in Nature circadian rhythm may partly be causing Genetics, analysed the genetic makeup diabetes and high blood sugar levels.” He of non-diabetic volunteers from across believes that stabilising these rhythms in Europe and identified a mutation associ- patients may help improve their condi- ated with high blood sugar levels. They tion: “We hope it will ultimately provide then compared the genes of those volun- new options for treating people.” teers with normal blood sugar levels to The study forms part of a wider series a genetic analysis of patients with type 2 of research into the genes linked to dia- diabetes and confirmed that the mutation betes, which includes the discovery of was also linked to this condition. key genes associated with increased risk The mutation is near the gene of developing type 2 diabetes. As well MTNR1B, which forms part of the regu- as leading to new therapies, Professor A good night’s sleep could help improve latory pathway for the hormone mela- Froquel hopes the programme may help diabetes and higher than normal blood tonin. This hormone controls the body’s towards achieving earlier diagnosis: “We sugar levels, research has revealed. circadian rhythm: the internal clock that are also nearing the stage when we can Imperial College scientists and a group controls sleeping and eating patterns in develop tests that can identify the peo- of international colleagues have identi- response to daylight. ple at most risk of developing high blood fied a genetic mutation linked to diabetes Professor Philippe Froquel from sugar and diabetes later in their lives, so and increased blood sugar, near a gene Imperial College, one of the research we can intervene to improve their health involved in regulating sleeping patterns. team leaders, says these new findings before they reach that point.” The researchers say that in the future, im- suggest sleep problems may be contrib- Catherine Luckin proving patients’ sleeping habits may help uting to the conditions: “Our new study 4 I, science Spring 2009 NEWS & EVENTS ...and elsewhere Insight Caffeine The Spirit into and Men Lives On NASA Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity have dumbfounded sci- © J entists by clocking up five years on the Dementia R A 7 Martian surface. The mission, originally American scientists now have more in- scheduled to last just ninety days, has formation about the genetic nature of the now beamed back over a quarter of a mil- neurodegenerative disease Alzheimer’s lion images of the ‘Red Planet’ thanks to new high-resolution research. The plucky pair’s story is even more re- Studying over 900 people (half of whom Caffeine has a greater effect on men, say markable due to the harsh conditions they have the disease) the researchers were the surprising findings of the first gender have endured.