Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise estimated to be around 194 years old, has been studied by researchers who identified 287 gene variants linked to reduced effects of aging. His epigenome was found to be very similar to that of younger tortoises of the same species, offering new insights into healthy aging. The work, published in Science Advances, is a hopeful step for understanding longevity.
Researchers from the University of Bath are trialling a new machine at a lake in Warminster, Wiltshire, that uses bubbles to break down toxic blue-green algae. Early results showed up to 20% degradation of toxins and many algal cells destroyed. The team hopes to secure funding for a bigger version that councils could borrow.
A German submarine that went missing in World War Two has been identified about 20 miles off Salcombe in Devon, after divers found it at around 70 metres deep. All 52 crew members survived when the U-boat was scuttled after a Royal Navy attack, and the discovery has been welcomed by the divers and historians involved.
Dawn Aerospace and Spaceport Cornwall have signed an agreement for a project that could see reusable spaceplanes make regular, possibly daily, flights from Cornwall Airport Newquay. The unmanned Aurora spaceplane is designed for a quick turnaround and could support research, defence and commercial missions. Project leaders say it would open new possibilities for researchers and technology developers.
