WANT to study at a university making scientific breakthroughs?
Whether it’s tackling violent crime, finding a cure for cancer or exploiting the power of the sun, we look at five institutions at the cutting edge of science.
1. Harnessing the sun, United Arab Emirates
Researchers from Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi have almost doubled the amount of energy obtained from solar cells.
The team discovered that the chemical element germanium works better in solar cells than silicon because the electrons move faster, providing more current.
It also absorbs more light than other materials, which means smaller quantities can be used, researchers found.
Until recently, the Masdar Institute conducted its experimental work in the United States and Turkey. But its own 300-square-metre clean room went operational in November, providing an ultra-clean environment with state-of-the-art equipment comparable to that found at Harvard or Stanford universities. The institute is also looking at ways to grow biofuel in seawater and harvest it from desert plants.
2. Cracking cancer - USA
A landmark study by the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT has discovered dozens of new cancer genes, laying the foundations for future cancer drug development.
The researchers analysed the tumours of thousands of patients with dozens of types of cancer and uncovered 33 genes with biological roles in cell death. In one fell swoop they increased by a quarter the list of known cancer mutations that have been identified over the last 30 years.
Their aim is to build a complete genomic picture of human cancer by analysing some 100,000 samples across about 50 tumour types. .
Founded in 2003, the Broad Institute seeks to transform medicine through research collaboration among Harvard University and MIT scientists.
It is home to many postdoctoral and graduate Harvard and MIT students and also provides research opportunities to undergraduate and high school students.
3. Solving violent crime – UK
A camera that can detect blood stains and accurately date them is being developed by Teeside University.
Researchers there have already created a prototype of the ‘hyperspectral’ imaging device, which looks set to revolutionise crime scene investigations, speed up police inquiries and ensure the right people go to jail.
The technology isolates different wavelength bands of colour so that it can distinguish blood from similar-looking substances. Month-old blood traces can be dated to within a day, fresh samples to within the hour. And the research team hopes the technology could be applied to other bodily fluids including sweat, saliva and semen, which could improve conviction rates for sexual assaults.
Teeside was the first UK university to start offering forensic and crime scene courses 21 years ago.
4. Mixing tablets with water - Denmark
A new type of touch screen that can function in the rain and underwater has been developed at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).
Scientists there say Wave Touch is both better and cheaper than the touch screens that have exploded onto the market recently with the advent of smart phones and tablets such as the iPad.
Wave Touch, they say, could be a useful component of outdoor digital boards as well as wet environments such as kitchens.
Currently it is only a prototype and researchers are working on reducing production costs.
They hope ultimately to develop screens that respond to touch from more than one finger as well as those that can interact without anything touching the surface.
DTU was founded in 1829 by H.C. Ørsted, the father of electromagnetism, to develop and create value using the natural and technical sciences to benefit society.
5. Eradicating HIV, UK
A groundbreaking trial begins this year to test a possible cure for HIV infection.
Researchers from five top UK universities have joined forces to conduct the research on 50 patients, with results due in 2017.
Curing HIV is a particular challenge because the virus can lie dormant and undetected inside blood cells. The researchers will be using two new weapons – a drug that reactivates dormant HIV and a vaccine that induces the immune system to destroy the infected cells. The hope is that within months, the stores of hidden HIV in the patients will be significantly reduced.
The trial is being conducted by CHERUB, a collaboration of researchers from the universities Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College, London, University College London and King’s College, London.
It will provide opportunities for scientists in many fields as it will require, amongst others, clinicians, virologists, immunologists, molecular biologists and mathematical modellers.
