The sensation of pain warns us about impending peril and injury, but individuals differ in their capacity to modulate pain. EU-funded researchers investigated sensory input and pain perception to understand the reason for intra-individual variations in pain modulation.

Scientists at the University of Reading have led development of a new material that can repair itself at body temperature. The new polymer material opens the door to new self-healing wound dressings for use in medicine. While self-healing plastics have been developed before, the new material is remarkable because it is safe to humans and works at temperatures as low as 37 degrees Celsius, making it ideal for use in healthcare.

A study has shown that planes flying between Europe and North America will be spending more time in the air due to the effects of climate change. By accelerating the jet stream - a high-altitude wind blowing from west to east across the Atlantic - climate change will speed up eastbound flights but slow down westbound flights, having implications for airlines, passengers and airports.