Opting Out: The Future of Organ Donation
Organ donation has long been considered an important and cost-effective treatment for a variety of conditions which lead to organ failure. For many patients suffering from such conditions, transplantation is the only chance for survival. Since 2010, approximately a million…
The Promise of Microdosing
Microdosing, the secret of Silicon Valley, is spreading. Using drugs to increase our capacity to be creative or work harder is not a novel phenomenon. Most of us consume caffeine throughout the day in our coffees and energy drinks, it…
The Failing System of Sexual Education in Ireland
The Irish Sex Education system is failing its students. Its shortcomings are vast and the government’s lack of intervention in this programme means that students are leaving schools with a woeful knowledge about sex and sexuality. It is shocking that…
ADHD and the Forgotten Gender: Why Is ADHD Underdiagnosed In Girls?
Noisy, fidgety, impatient, hyper: this is what the average person imagines when they think of a child with ADHD. They normally also imagine that the child is a boy. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, characterised by a persistent…
Should We Expect More Extreme Weather Events As The Climate Changes?
About two weeks ago, I planted a gorgeous purple and white winter heather in a pot next to my front door. The daffodils in there had long died off, and my mother found a lovely plant for me that would…
As White As Coal: The Subjectivity of Colour Perceptions
Imagine two young children are being taught the names of the primary colours. They are each presented with a tomato. One child sees a blue object and the other sees a yellow object. Both, however, are told that tomatoes are…
Why Commerical DNA Tests Are Not As Harmless As You Might Think
Genetics is having a bit of a moment as of late. What was previously a mysterious and unexplored field has exploded in recent years, thanks to dedicated expert research and innovative technology. However, this ground-breaking scientific revolution brings a plethora…
How The Science Of Memory Can Help You Ace Your Degree
How did you learn to speak English? How did you learn that five times ten equals? How did you remember the way to get into college today? Did you find yourself consciously think about which turns you were taking or…
Cannabis & Cancer; The Never Ending Saga
Ex Editor Rachel O’Neill examines the claim that cannabis cures cancer when in fact, the evidence is yet to be produced. Having a parent that suffers from cancer is never a fun experience. Having a parents that suffers from cancer…
The Tale of The Male Contraceptive
After 80 years of research into male contraceptives, the prospect of a viable alternative to condoms and vasectomies is finally on the horizon. Why has it taken so long? And was the wait really necessary? Sceptics argue that further birth…
Tide Pods: Food Or Foe?
2017 was a wild year for all of us. One special example of this is the phenomenon that swept the internet around December, called the ‘Tide Pod Challenge’. This was a meme which spread, particularly around teenagers, who, to various…
The Bee’s Needs
A green, manicured lawn is lauded as the mark of a well kept garden. The desired aesthetic of open golf courses, sports pitches and posh gardens formed by planting turfgrass is now quite typical of homes, businesses and even roadsides….