19 Sep 2016

‘Molecular origami’ enables scientists recreate RNA process in lab

University of Dundee scientists have used nanotechnology to perform ‘molecular origami’ in order to replicate naturally occurring genetic processes, research that may one day help enable the precise, targeted delivery of drug molecules in humans. Nanotechnology is engineering at an unimaginably small scale, that of individual molecules. Nature has led the way with this, constructing complex structures and functioning machines inside living cells, and scientists are taking a lead from this to engineer molecular-scale objects using natural molecules as building blocks. Professor David Lilley,&n...

15 Sep 2016

Fire investigation experts from across Europe to gather in Dundee

Fire investigators from more than 20 countries will descend upon the University of Dundee next week to take part in the 19th European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) fire and explosion investigation working group meeting. Dozens of experts from across Europe will be taking part in the event, which will be hosted by the University’s world-renowned Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID), from Tuesday 20th-Friday 23rd September. ENFSI is a network of 63 Forensic Science Institutes across Europe who link together to develop policy and practice across a wide range of forensic...

14 Sep 2016

Students have the bottle for art

An art collective formed by students from the University of Dundee is taking art to the public in a novel way this Thursday. Selection Box, led by fourth-year Illustration students Jasmine Holt and Kali Wallace, ran a competition get fellow students and budding artists into the public eye by exhibiting their submissions on 60 beer bottles during their event ‘Art on Beer’. The 60 unique bottles, sponsored by Eden Mill and Abernyte Brewery, will be revealed in The George Orwell on Thursday night, all proceeds going to the charity HELM. Kali said, “Whilst art on beer bottles isn’t e...

14 Sep 2016

10th anniversary of Dundee Literary Festival

Dundee Literary Festival 2016 is celebrating its 10th birthday in style, pulling in an A-list actor, internationally acclaimed songwriter and a party fit for The Broons and Oor Wullie. The Festival will take place from Wednesday, 19th October to Sunday, 23rd October, with additional events on 24th September and 25th November.  Critically acclaimed writers who will be appearing include James Kelman, Don Paterson and Jenni Fagan. Singer-songwriter Roddy Woomble will be talking about his book, Instrumentals, and former Makar Liz Lochhead will be joined by saxophonist Steve Kettley for a spellbinding pe...

14 Sep 2016

Dundee researchers contribute to `open science’ project for malaria drugs

Malaria remains one of the world’s leading causes of mortality in developing countries. Last year alone, it killed more than 400,000 people, mostly young children. This week in ACS Central Science, an international consortium of researchers, including scientists at the University of Dundee, unveils the mechanics and findings of a unique “open science” project for malaria drug discovery that has been five years in the making. The current gold standard antimalarial treatments are based on artemisinin, a compound developed in the 1970s in China, combined with a partner drug. Yet, resistance...