Science Archives – Page 2 of 41

Il-Qabru – King of Freshwater Habitats

Once engraved on the Maltese lira’s five-cent coin, il-Qabru, Malta’s freshwater crab, now threatens to vanish not just from our coinage but from our islands altogether. Classified as critically endangered some years ago, it is more pertinent than ever to understand the ongoing research into these crabs, what makes them special and what it will take to save them from extinction.

The Company that Cried Wolf – Part 4

De-extinction: The Case of the Dire Wolf? – The ‘de-extinction’ of the dire wolf has been one of the highest-profile scientific achievements of 2025. But the impression cultivated online is misleading – the dire wolf has not returned; it is being imitated. Five professors from the University of Malta have reacted to this complex story. In Part IV, Prof. Louis-F. Cassar considers the moral questions raised by a de-extincted future.

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The Company that Cried Wolf – Part 3

Ecological Perspectives on the ‘De-Extinction’ of the Dire Wolf (Aenocyon dirus) – The ‘de-extinction’ of the dire wolf has been one of the highest-profile scientific achievements of 2025. But the impression cultivated online is misleading – the dire wolf has not returned; it is being imitated. Five professors from the University of Malta have reacted to this complex story. In Part III, Prof. Sandro Lanfranco explores the potential ecological consequences of de-extinction’s logical conclusion: reintroducing dire wolves to the wild.

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The Company that Cried Wolf – Part 2

The Dire Wolf De-Extinction Project: Science, Significance, and the Ecology of Resurrection – The ‘de-extinction’ of the dire wolf has been one of the highest-profile scientific achievements of 2025. But the impression cultivated online is misleading – the dire wolf has not returned; it is being imitated. Five professors from the University of Malta have reacted to this complex story. In Part II, Chev. Prof. Renald Blundell recounts the science behind this achievement and what it may mean for science’s future.

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The Company that Cried Wolf – Part I

Questioning Genetics and Posing Ethical Questions – The ‘de-extinction’ of the dire wolf has been one of the highest-profile scientific achievements of 2025. But the impression cultivated online is misleading – the dire wolf has not returned; it is being imitated. Five professors from the University of Malta have reacted to this complex story. In Part I, Prof. Patrick J. Schembri and Rev. Prof. Ray Zammit speak on its science and ethics, following an introduction to the series by Jonathan Firbank.

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Unearthing Secrets: Popularising Scientific Research through Film

When film students from the University of Malta teamed up with scientists, they uncovered previously hidden stories and created documentaries that bring Malta’s lesser-known histories and research to life.

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We Have No Answers – A Look into the Maltese Knowledge Gap on Threatened Miscarriages

Lara Sammut is finding answers to a long-standing challenge in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at Mater Dei Hospital. Threatened miscarriage is a poorly understood condition that can lead to pregnancy loss, yet there is little data in Malta to help guide treatments and reassure families. Sammut’s research promises to change that.

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A Reactive Treatment: Using Non-Thermal Plasma Chemistry Against Cancer

Cancer remains one of the toughest challenges in medicine, especially in its late stages when tumours resist conventional treatments. But what if a specific kind of fluid could help doctors target cancer more precisely and with fewer side effects? THINK talks to researchers from the MIAPAM-CaT project, who are developing a new combination therapy to fight cancer.

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5G and Health: Should You Be Worried?

Since 5G was announced, it has polarised public opinion. Many claim that it will revolutionise the world, while others fear that it poses a threat to our health. In Malta, the installation of new antennas on rooftops and public spaces has fueled debate. But what is 5G, how does it work, and is it actually dangerous? THINK speaks with Dr Julian Bonello, a researcher from UM’s Department of Physics, to separate fact from fiction.

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