When Cassini was being designed in the 1980s, an innovative plutonium energy source was developed to sustain it’s long journey. A source that would and still does carry considerable ethical considerations.
ethics
Can neuroscience help explain corporate scandals?
David Walker takes a look at how neuroscience may explain personal levels of morality.
Transhumanism: An immor(t)al future?
Ever thought about the ethics and philosophy behind our technological progress? Our author Silvia Lazzaris tackles the daunting topic of transhumanism.
Science on Myself
Considered risky by some and essential by others, self-experimentation has a long history in medical science. Emerging in the scientific revolution, self-experimentation became increasingly popular towards the early 20th century. From cardiology to pharmacology, there are countless examples of scientists using themselves as guinea pigs in search of answers.
The Great Debate: Should we sequence our genome?
Tom Gordon argues in favour of having our genome sequenced and Faiza Peeran argues against.
The Moral Compass
Robyn Hopcroft explores the muddled world of morality
London Thinks: A Scientist, an Atheist Biblical Scholar and a Vicar walk Into An Ethical Society
Dr Adam Rutherford, Prof Francesca Stavrakopoulou and Rev Giles Fraser in conversation about Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Openness on Animal Research
A concordat on animal research has been signed by Imperial College and 72 other organisations …
Night at the museum
Science lovers take over the Natural History Museum for the 2013 Science Uncovered event …
Sanger Institute
At the Royal Society Summer Exhibition we talked to Will Hamilton from the Sanger Institute about applying genome research …
Biotech Beasts
Emily Anthes writes about the implications of biotech in her book ‘Frankenstein’s Cat: Cuddling Up to Biotech’s Brave New Beasts’ …
Dual-use dilemma: Bird Flu
A year after the publication of breakthrough bird flu research was delayed due to bioterrorism concerns, Jenny Mitchell explores the dual-use dilemma of continued research …
Synthetic Biology: GM, all over again?
This new technology presents huge – but not insurmountable – policy challenges…
Action to Protect UK Animal Research
A concordat has been agreed by universities, medical research charities, pharmaceutical companies and the government to create greater transparency in animal research. This is a step toward …
Just Good Friends?
If opposites really do attract, then industry and academia must be made for one another. But should we be paying closer attention to the businesses that our best-loved institutions are getting into bed with? Today, in case you hadn’t noticed, marks the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Athletes from around the globe […]
Man, Remade
Are we on the brink of a future society, or already living in one? Michael Cook looks at the relationship between human and machine. Back in 1998 Kevin Warwick, now Professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading, underwent an operation to have an RFID chip inserted into his own body, a small piece of […]