Everything you ever wanted to know about the Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games organisers have produced a Glasgow 2014 Factsheet that outlines the history of the event, information on the participating countries and the venues for each event. There is also a Game On Scotland site that “aims to provide inspiration and learning and teaching opportunities related to Glasgow 2014 and other momentous events happening throughout Scotland in the coming years”.

Virtual surgery: How to dissect a digital cadaver

The Anatomage Table is the most technologically advanced anatomy visualization system for anatomy education and is being adopted by many of the world’s leading medical schools and institutions. Jack Choi lectures on the development of the table and some of the remarkable features it displays. St Mary’s Hospital in London has become the first hospital in Europe to purchase a digital anatomy table. It is changing the way surgeons teach anatomy, and even how they plan real operations.

Me and my PhD supervisor: tales of love and loathing

This week’s Times Higher Education takes a sideways glance at PhD supervision. How did the experiences of five postgraduates shape the way they later supervised the next generation? Included is a ready reckoner – How to help, or hinder – from an experienced supervisor highlighting the do’s and don’ts of mentoring.

Encyclopedia of Life

The Encyclopedia of Life has an ambitious mission statement to increase awareness and understanding of living nature through a resource that gathers, generates, and shares knowledge in an open, freely accessible and trusted digital resource. They remain committed to bringing you information on all organisms, as they say “Our knowledge of the many life-forms on Earth – of animals, plants, fungi, protists and bacteria – is scattered around the world in books, journals, databases, websites, specimen collections, and in the minds of people everywhere. Imagine what it would mean if this information could be gathered together and made available to everyone – anywhere – at a moment’s notice.”

No pain, no gain? Getting the most out of exercise

While all are agreed that physical activity and exercise are beneficial for health there is less consensus surrounding the length and duration this activity should take. The science journalist Catherine de Lange casts a critical eye over the pros and cons of some recent developments in this field. Whether it is the relatively leisurely jog or the more intense Tabata workouts, the mysteries of spinning classes or the enigma of Bikram Yoga, de Lange consults the various sports scientists to help throw some light on the heat generated.

JournalRate

Journal Rate is a searchable database of thousands of academic journals helping researchers in all fields find the appropriate journal to submit their research to. Academics can search by keyword or scope and refine their search by impact factor to help direct them to the leading journals in their respective fields. Additionally, researchers are encouraged to rate and review their experiences with each journal they have submitted to. By leaving feedback on aspects such as ease of submission process, the cost to publish, and the quality of peer reviews, other academics will be better equipped to make informed decisions regarding where they choose to publish.

Glasgow City of Science

Glasgow City of Science is a partnership of over 50 organisations including Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, universities, Glasgow School of Art, colleges, research pools and local industry. Their mission, “To inspire the curious, stimulate the creative, empower the wise and connect those with passion”, determines that their site has something for everyone with an interest in any aspect of science. Whether you want to keep up to date with current developments, or sign up for one of their Science Walks, the site has something for you.

The Science of Doctor Who

Professor Brian Cox takes an audience of celebrity guests and members of the public on a journey into the wonderful universe of the Doctor. He attempts to explain the scientific concepts at the heart of Doctor Who.

London 2012 athletes ‘had bad teeth’

It would appear that there is more than meets the eye in a winning smile. Dentists have found “striking” levels of bad teeth in athletes competing at the London 2012 Olympic Games. A fifth of athletes surveyed said their oral health actually damaged their training and performance. One in three said their oral health affected their quality of life and one in five said it affected training or athletic performance.
The report concluded that the oral health of athletes attending the dental clinic of the London 2012 Games was poor with a resulting substantial negative impact on well-being, training and performance. As oral health is an important element of overall health and well-being, health promotion and disease prevention interventions are urgently required to optimise athletic performance.

Blobfish named the world’s ugliest animal

After a public vote, the blobfish has been named as the mascot for the Ugly Animal Preservation Society. The competition aimed to celebrate the more asthetically-challenged threatened species. The society began as a science-themed comedy night, inviting support from comedians such as Stephen Fry and Simon Pegg. Professor Brian Cox also supported the campaign saying, “I support the ugly animal campaign, there are too many people trying to save cute animals. They get all the press, and all the attention. Ugly animals are more deserving than cute animals. So I think it is a superb campaign.” So congratulations to the blobfish, officially the world’s ugliest animal!