‘It could be ready in 12 to 18 months. That is great if it happens’

Main difficulties centre around demonstrating safety, efficacy and scaling up manufacturing

Scientists believe humans and Neanderthals merged in Europe to become one new species

The big change driving new outbreaks is humans disturbing bats’ habitats

The possibilities are thrilling but Ireland is not a Cern member so our researchers cannot work there

Long road from animal trials to trials on humans, let alone bringing drugs to market

There are numerous beneficial outcomes to living near greenery, especially if there are trees

A Trinity neurogeneticist’s book may become highly influential in the field and beyond

State is still learning about infrastructure costings. Hospital is dear but valuable lesson

‘BepiColumbo’ must beat complex gravity and speed challenges on its €1.6bn mission

Nobel Prize winner predicts that in 50 years, robot ‘surgeons’ will be injected into veins

The immune system is recognised as being involved in cancer and depression

Dr Leroy Hood blames a lack of progress on health systems obsessed with money and conservative physicians

Prof Pääbo has resurrected the Neanderthal genome by sequencing DNA from tiny bone fragments

Microplastics can break down into nanoplastics, which can permeate human cells

Rodents on islands in Indian Ocean decimate seabird populations, new research shows

Ivan Oransky shines light on papers pulled for mistakes, miscalculation, fakery or fraud

Car makers and tech firms rely on cobalt mined in Katanga, the unstable province where Irish soldiers were attacked in 1961

Dinosaurs are depicted as naked, scaly reptiles, but evidence shows they were much more bird-like

Study indicates 400 breeding pairs across Ireland of the fastest bird in the world

Treatment ‘almost miraculous’ in successfully targeting childhood leukaemia

The absence of an interactive science museum sets Dublin apart from most European capitals – but there might be an upside to Ireland’s tardiness

You can’t choose your parents, so the genetic path to athletic prowess might be blocked, but you can at least eat correctly in order to optimise your performance

Animals are used all the time for research in Ireland but scientists are split about whether or not to talk openly about it

An asteroid 10km in diameter wiped out the dinosaurs and extinguished life on Earth. The scientific community is working to avoid a repeat