15 May 2019

Guilt-free screen time is child’s play for Jenna

Hours of inactivity in front of a screen might be a thing of the past, thanks to a new playsuit developed by a University of Dundee student. Digital Interaction Design student Jenna Maudlin says that her interactive playsuit which allows children to control a video game with their movement will satisfy parents concerned with their offspring’s screen time. Jenna, who believes her prototype is the world’s first interactive playsuit developed for children, will reveal her final-year project to the public this week as it goes on display at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design and ...

14 May 2019

Antibiotic use can increase nerve damage risk

Research from the University of Dundee has shown that a commonly used class of antibiotics may increase a patient’s risk of suffering a serious and potentially permanent form of nerve damage by almost 50%. Peripheral neuropathy has long been recognised as a potential side effect of fluoroquinolone antibiotics but it was not known how strong this association was and how it could be affected by the length of treatment, or by age and gender. Researchers led by Dr Daniel Morales, of the University’s School of Medicine, looked at a database of 1.3 million adults issued one or more prescriptions of...

13 May 2019

Student’s vision for coffee grounds serves up glasses with specs appeal

A University of Dundee student is brewing up a fashion storm after creating a range of glasses made from coffee grounds. Product Design student Ryan Davren says that his brand ‘Flat White’ is a gold blend of style and sustainability that will satisfy fashionistas and environmental champions alike. Using grounds that would normally be sent to landfill to create the distinctive frames, the 24-year-old from Glasgow’s Bishopbriggs is preparing to showcase his bold concept at this year’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design and Architecture Degree Show. After developing h...

13 May 2019

Does DNA always hold the answer?

How important is DNA in court proceedings? While often cited in fiction and on screen, how reliable is an individual’s genetic code in securing a conviction or proving a person’s innocence? These are the questions that will be considered at the University of Dundee’s third and final Crime Café, to take place on Tuesday 14 May. Hosted by Dr Alexander Gray, Principal Investigator at the University’s Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, and Alex Prentice QC, the duo will also discuss examples of legal importance and what current scientific research could mean for f...

13 May 2019

Student’s concept gives oceans a kelp-ing hand against plastic pollution

The impact of plastic pollution on our oceans is one of the biggest challenges facing the planet. But one University of Dundee student is now letting the world’s waterbodies fight back by creating a sea-based sustainable material that could cut down man’s overuse of single-use plastics. Michael Anderson braved the freezing waters of the Firth of Forth to harvest kelp that he has transformed into a substance capable of producing a range of everyday items. The 21-year-old from Glasgow will be displaying some of his ‘Kelp-Weave’ creations at this year’s Duncan of Jordanstone S...