# data[].attributes.headline
Is it time to shut down the zoos or give them more support?

# data[].attributes.subject
Is it time to shut down the zoos or give them more support?

# data[].attributes.body
This week the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA) has its annual research conference - online 13-14 July 2021 - with the theme "Strategies for Zoo Research in a post COVID world" - some free sessions via their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/biazaresearch
What do you think - do zoos still play an important role in education, conservation and research, as well as entertainment for the public, or are they outdated?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The shooting of a gorilla earlier this year reignited the debate about whether animals should be kept in captivity, but we must remember the essential work that good zoos do
The Biologist 63(5) p9

This summer, a child fell into an enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo with a western lowland gorilla named Harambe, and to protect the child the gorilla was shot. This tragic and much-discussed event rekindled the debate over the role of zoos and aquaria - and much of the coverage was negative.

One would hope that zoos themselves would be proudly showcasing their work, but as I discovered while contributing to an Al Jazeera report on the incident, many are reluctant to speak up due to the barrage of attacks that Cincinnati experienced.

Zoos are not perfect. Should they continue to keep large predators or intelligent primates? Over the next few decades, probably not. Should large new animals be collected from the wild? No, unless there is a compelling case to develop a captive breeding programme.

But are zoos changing and developing? Yes. More than ever, good zoos are aware of their evolving role in conservation and responding to it.

Would I rather have a species in captivity, than not at all? One hundred times, yes.

Here are my eight reasons why zoos are critical to conservation:

1. There are 39 animal species currently listed by the IUCN as Extinct in the Wild. These are species that would have vanished totally were it not for captive populations around the world, many of which reside in zoos (or, for plants, botanic gardens).

2. For species whose survival in the wild looks in doubt, zoos often set up 'insurance' populations, captive groups of animals that could in a worst-case scenario assist in reintroduction to the wild should the original population become extinct. The Zoological Society of London, as an example, participates in more than 160 of these programmes.

3. Reintroductions. It is often argued that zoos are bad because so few reintroductions actually happen. I would argue that it's not the zoos that are at fault - a reintroduction can't occur if the reason a species was driven to extinction in the first place hasn't been resolved.

4. In 2014, 700 million people visited zoos worldwide. Not all zoos are good at engagement, and indeed not all zoos are good full stop. However, surely that number of visits created some sort of connection with the natural world that might not have occurred otherwise.

5. Zoos are a living museum. What we learn about wild animals in captivity can help us manage and conserve them in the wild - from animal behaviour, to reproductive rates, to dietary requirements.

6. Zoos raise money for conservation efforts. It's difficult to engage people with conservation taking place half a world away. But by enabling people to experience wildlife first hand, we can increase participation in international conservation activities.

7. Helping respond to emergencies. Chytrid fungus has emerged as a deadly threat to amphibian populations worldwide, and 168 species have become extinct in 20 years. Responding to threats such as this is surely one of the greatest uses of zoos around the world. Many have set up specialist amphibian centres and are pioneering treatment and breeding programmes.

8. They remind us that we can succeed. Conservation is full of bad news stories, yet on many occasions I have peered through glass or mesh at a species that shouldn't exist. For me at least, zoos remind us that conservation does work - we just need more of it.
www.jamesborrell.com
James Borrell MRSB is a conservation biologist and TEDx speaker

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
James Borrell: Eight reasons why zoos are good for conservation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Zoos aren't perfect, but we must remember the essential work the good ones do, writes conservationist and speaker James Borrell.

# data[].attributes.body
This interesting programme documenting the race to produce a COVID vaccine aired a few weeks back - what you you think of the different approaches?

The vaccine is not the only way scientist are helping to tackle the pandemic - some of our own team at Northumbria have been helping the cause by sequencing the virus - to learn more about the work going on follow the link.
Mapping Covid-19 - one year on (northumbria.ac.uk)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
BBC Two - Horizon, 2021, Horizon Special: The Vaccine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The extraordinary inside story of the vaccine scientists who took on Covid-19 - and won.

# data[].attributes.body
Please read and follow the guidance before you take part in the discussion

# data[].attributes.headline
Read through the news article and post your views. We'd love to hear what you think!

# data[].attributes.subject
Read through the news article and post your views. We'd love to hear what you think!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By James Waterhouse
Newsbeat Reporter

Bees, they make a buzzing sound, produce honey, and can sting you if they feel threatened.

But that's not all they can do it seems.

Researchers at the University of Cologne have successfully trained honey bees to tell the difference between heroin and cocaine.

They claim the insects could eventually replace sniffer-dogs at airports. Impressive, but Newsbeat wondered what else bees could do.

Thomas Nowotny is Professor of Informatics at the University Of Sussex, and really knows his bees.

Asked how bees could be trained, he said: "I suspect it's classical conditioning. Where the bees extend their proboscis [tongue] in response to one odour and not in response to another.

"They have been found to do this to all kinds of varieties of odours.

"They train the bees, they give them an odour and some sugar water with it [as a reward].

"Then they learn to use the proboscis to try and lick the sugar water, and later you give just the odour, and they will try to lick.

The good thing about the bees using their tongues is that humans can see it, so they know when the insects are near something they recognise.

"They have the receptors to do explosives and illegal substances, so it doesn't surprise me that they can smell it [drugs]."

Thomas knew of a group in America that had trained bees to extend their tongues when explosives were nearby.

"They actually tried to sell it to the military as a device.

"It was a bit comical actually because the device they came up with they just put three bees in a box, then they had a camera watching them from above,

"You could have just watched the bees really but they made it like this to look more professional!

Thomas said that bees can also perform mental tasks, as shown by a group of researchers he knows in France.

He says they trained bees to recognise a fruit like strawberry. When faced with a choice of between, say, apricot and strawberry, they would act on their training and fly towards the strawberry.

"If they do that with odours, they could also know it about colours or patterns.

"Bees are also well known to be able to [go] home in complex environments.

"They fly out, easily hundreds of metres, then they come back and find their hive. If you think, bumble bees live in the ground in a little hole. They also find that back."

There are other clever insects out there, but Thomas believes bees are up there with the best of them.

"They are high-end, because they have quite a complex life. They're social insects!"

Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram, Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube and you can now follow BBC_Newsbeat on Snapchat

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Honey bees trained to detect illegal drugs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
By James Waterhouse Newsbeat Reporter Bees, they make a buzzing sound, produce honey, and can sting you if they feel threatened. But that's not all they can do it seems. Researchers at the University of Cologne have successfully trained honey bees to tell the difference between heroin and cocaine.

# data[].attributes.body
Some of you might have been interested in this series that's showing on BBC2 now. Tell us your thoughts!
Has watching the programme been an eye-opener? Do you think having seen what these scientists do will help you have a better understanding of your degree?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Multiple cameras follow serious crime investigations in real time.

# data[].attributes.body
Is ultra-processed food causing obesity in children, and could it even be addictive?  We'd like to read your views on this really important issue.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Is ultra-processed food causing obesity in children, and could it even be addictive? Dr Chris van Tulleken investigates as he undergoes an experiment that shocks the scientists.

Is ultra-processed food causing obesity in children, and could it even be addictive? Dr Chris van Tulleken investigates as he undergoes a gruelling self-experiment that even shocks the scientists.

Across the world, childhood obesity rates have risen tenfold in 50 years. In the UK, 21 per cent of children are living with obesity when they leave primary school - that is the highest it has ever been. Despite decades of trying, why do we seem unable to tackle this problem?

In the last 40 years, our shopping trolleys have been taken over by ultra-processed food, and it now accounts for the majority of our calories - for children it is 64 per cent, and teens eat 67 per cent. It is cheap, convenient and, alarmingly, scientists know very little about exactly how it affects children's bodies. Increasing numbers of public health experts think we are eating far too much and are worried because when eaten in high proportion, it is linked with obesity. France and Canada have become so concerned, they recommend people limiting their ultra-processed food consumption.

Ultra-processed food is now so embedded in UK diets, it is hard to see the impact of it clearly. But can we learn from places where it has been introduced much more recently? Dr Chris travels to the Amazon Basin and discovers that in rural Brazil when consumption of ultra-processed food doubled, obesity rates tripled. The arrival of this food in these remote regions did not happen by accident. A floating supermarket that delivered packaged convenience food could have contributed to the dramatic change in diets.

Dr Chris asks why this food can be so irresistible. Could it even be addictive? There are no clinical studies showing the effect on children's bodies, so he experiments on himself. For one month he eats the same diet eaten by one in five of us - 80 per cent ultra-processed food. The results are utterly shocking and surprise even the scientists he is working with.

Dr Chris is concerned the effects on children whose brains and bodies are more vulnerable could be even greater. He concludes by asking if ultra-processed food could be a major reason why more and more children are living with obesity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Is ultra-processed food causing obesity in children, and could it even be addictive? Dr Chris van Tulleken investigates as he undergoes an experiment that shocks the scientists. Is ultra-processed food causing obesity in children, and could it even be addictive? Dr Chris van Tulleken investigates as he undergoes a gruelling self-experiment that even shocks the scientists.

# data[].attributes.body
Some very innovative 'stuff' happening within our chemistry group - have a look at these news items and let us know what you think...

https://www.facebook.com/john.dean.3511041/posts/10222549360897572

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Department of Applied Sciences has an exciting and extensive portfolio of subjects including biology, biomedical sciences, chemistry, forensic science, food and nutritional sciences.

This is the place to find all the latest news releases, feature articles, expert comment, and video and audio clips from Northumbria University

Open Days are a great way for you to get a feel of the University, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the course(s) you are interested in.

Research is the life blood of a University and at Northumbria University we pride ourselves on research that makes a difference; research that has application and affects people's lives.

If you would like to know more about our courses, or life in general as a student at Northumbria, then we can help you.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Innovative antiviral coating to reduce spread of Covid-19

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Department of Applied Sciences has an exciting and extensive portfolio of subjects including biology, biomedical sciences, chemistry, forensic science, food and nutritional sciences. This is the place to find all the latest news releases, feature articles, expert comment, and video and audio clips from Northumbria University Open Days are a great way for you to get a feel of the University, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the course(s) you are interested in.