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THE MATERIAL WORLD
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Quentin Cooper reports on developments across the sciences. Each week scientists describe their work, conveying the excitement they feel for their research projects.
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LISTEN AGAIN 30 min |
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PRESENTER |
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"For me science isn't a subject, it's a perspective. There are fascinating scientific aspects to everything from ancient history to the latest gadgets, outer space to interior decorating; and each week on The Material World we try to reflect the excitement, ideas, uncertainties, collisions and collaborations as science continues its never-ending voyage into the unknown".
Quentin Cooper |
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| Arabidopsis thaliana experiments |
Arabidopsis - a weed at the frontiers of science
Gardeners may have noticed the weedy arrival of mouse-eared cress in their herbaceous borders. But, weedkiller in hand, how many green fingered Britons appreciate the contribution this plant (Arabidopsis thaliana) makes to genetic science.
Thousands of researchers worldwide are currently studying every twist and turn of DNA along the weed's five chromosomes, for genetic insights that could benefit crops. But a new study, revealing that Arabidopsis possesses extraordinary powers to repair damaged genes, suggests important benefits across the plant and animal kingdoms.
Quentin Cooper discusses the massive contribution of this humble weed, with Dr Sean May of Nottingham's Arabidopsis Stock Centre, and Mike Holdsworth, Professor of Crop Science, at Nottingham University.
Food Shelf Life
Salting, pickling and canning may have preserved food for our forebears, but modern consumers want long lasting fresh food on the supermarket shelves.
Banks of extreme food experiments at Nottingham University's new food shelf life laboratories suggest new ways of preserving food for longer, point to powerful new preservatives from plants, and offer new technology to spot stale food before it fails the taste test.
At the Institute of Food Research, keeping food safe from bacteria is key. There the emphasis is on understanding how microbes spread in food and then preventing this happening.
Quentin Cooper discusses how to extend food's 'best before' and 'use by' date with Nottingham University's Prof of Flavour Technology, Andy Taylor, and food microbiologist Prof Tim Brocklehurst of the Institute of Food Research.
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RELATED LINKS
About Arabidopsis
New Genetic Discovery
Nottingham University - Flavour Technology Group
Institute of Food Research
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