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Bioscience Mastery

Benchtop centrifuge on lab bench with open lid to highlight important considerations for centrifugation.
Equipment Mastery and Hacks

Keep Calm and Spin On: The Whats and Whys of Centrifugation

ByKavya Ganapathy

Don’t let centrifugation scare you. Learn how to balance properly, when to use the brake, and what the difference is between RCF and RPM!

Read More Keep Calm and Spin On: The Whats and Whys of CentrifugationContinue

A woman balancing to depict Measurement Drift in Analytical Balances in the Lab
Equipment Mastery and Hacks

3 Easy Tips for Avoiding Measurement Drift in Analytical Balances

ByKevin Hill

The phenomenon of measurement drift can occur and adversely affect analytical balances when weighing compounds. Read on for our guide on how to prevent this!

Read More 3 Easy Tips for Avoiding Measurement Drift in Analytical BalancesContinue

An image of a man holding his hands up to say slow down to depict centrifuge care.
Equipment Mastery and Hacks

How to Keep Your Centrifuge Alive: 5 Easy Tips

ByDr. Omonse Talton

The more expensive your lab centrifuge, the more sensitive and the easier it is to break. What can we do to give these pricey monsters a long, successful tenure in the lab? Read our 5 easy tips.

Read More How to Keep Your Centrifuge Alive: 5 Easy TipsContinue

A girl in a gas mask pointing to this article: how to use a fume hood
Lab Safety

How to Use a Fume Hood: 10 Top Tips

ByJason Erk

Want to know how to use a fume hood? Keep your head out of it for starters. Here are 10 extra tips to keep you safe when using one!

Read More How to Use a Fume Hood: 10 Top TipsContinue

Patterns
Personal Development

Are Your Patterns Holding Your Research Back?

ByKenneth Vogt

We all have patterns for tasks. While good patterns are helpful, bad ones can sabotage your career. Learn to identify and destroy harmful patterns.

Read More Are Your Patterns Holding Your Research Back?Continue

A girl looking at chemicals with explosion residue on her face because she didn't read the safety data sheet
Lab Safety

Deciphering your Materials Safety Data Sheet

ByJason Erk

Safety Data Sheets tell us how to handle and dispose of every chemical we use. This article explains what they are and how to decipher them.

Read More Deciphering your Materials Safety Data SheetContinue

A bomb exploding to represent an accident in the case where nobody knew how to conduct a risk assessment
Lab Safety

How to Conduct a Risk Assessment: 6 Essential Steps to a Safer Lab

ByThomas Warwick

It’s crucial that we stay safe in the lab. To prevent accidents, we should risk assess our work. So here’s how to conduct a risk assessment in 6 steps.

Read More How to Conduct a Risk Assessment: 6 Essential Steps to a Safer LabContinue

Rusted metal to depict handling bases safely in the lab.
Lab Safety

How to Handle Bases in the Lab: Everything You Need to Know

ByThomas Warwick

We all know acids are dangerous chemicals, and you should handle them carefully. But how should we handle bases? Read on for top tips for handling bases safely in the lab.

Read More How to Handle Bases in the Lab: Everything You Need to KnowContinue

A man with bandages and plasters on suggesting he's had an accident because he committed PPE sins!
Lab Safety

10 Common PPE Sins

ByLaura Grassie

Laboratories brim with nasty chemicals and bugs. PPE protects you from them, but only if you don’t commit any of these PPE sins!

Read More 10 Common PPE SinsContinue

Gloved hand with OK symbol to show how a lab glove selection guide can help choose the perfect glove
Lab Safety

Guard Yourself with Our Great Lab Glove Selection Guide

ByMegan Cartwright

Gloves protect your skin from the numerous hazards lurking in labs. To help you stay safe, we’ll review the many lab glove types, then give you some handy tips on double-gloving, working with liquid nitrogen, coping with latex allergies, and how to best follow glove etiquette.

Read More Guard Yourself with Our Great Lab Glove Selection GuideContinue

woman after chemical explosion having used ppe for eye and face protection.
Lab Safety

PPE for Eye and Face Protection—Better Safe than Sorry!

ByMegan Cartwright

To help you keep safe and sound, we’ll review the most common types of PPE for the face and eyes, and give you some pointers on when (and when not!) to use them.

Read More PPE for Eye and Face Protection—Better Safe than Sorry!Continue

thermometer to depict optimum temperature for enzymes
Basic Lab Skills and Know-how

Understanding The Optimum Temperature For Enzymes

ByDr Nick Oswald

Do you fully understand why enzymes have the best catalytic activity within a specific temperature ranges? Find out in our handy guide.

Read More Understanding The Optimum Temperature For EnzymesContinue

A clock on a stack of books to show how to read a scientific paper with limited time
Taming the Literature

How to Read a Scientific Paper

ByEllen Moran

We show you how to read a scientific paper efficiently to make the most of your reading time.

Read More How to Read a Scientific PaperContinue

A man covered in notes and paper indicating under preparedness for journal club
Writing, Publishing and Presenting

Journal Club: How to Prepare Effectively and Smash Your Presentation

ByThomas Warwick

Journal Club. So much more than reading a paper aloud. So many ways to mess it up. Got to present one? Then read our journal club toolkit.

Read More Journal Club: How to Prepare Effectively and Smash Your PresentationContinue

cartoon of two women detecting scientific fraud to depict the importance of post-publication peer review
Writing, Publishing and Presenting

Pre- and Post-Publication Peer Review and Why You Should Get Involved

ByDavid Galbraith

Getting involved in the post-publication review of scientific papers can seriously improve your critical analysis skills. Here’s how.

Read More Pre- and Post-Publication Peer Review and Why You Should Get InvolvedContinue

A researcher surrounded by numerous dangerous chemicals considering the 10 golden rules for working safely in the lab.
Lab Safety

10 Golden Rules to Working Safely in the Lab: What Chemists Wish Biologists Knew

ByThomas Warwick

Working with chemicals is dangerous and can lead to injury, or worse. Follow these ten broadly applicable golden rules to help keep you and your colleagues working safely in the lab.

Read More 10 Golden Rules to Working Safely in the Lab: What Chemists Wish Biologists KnewContinue

Learn how to calibrate your lab balance.
Basic Lab Skills and Know-how

How to Clean and Calibrate Your Lab Balance

ByOlwen Reina

Here’s an easy guide on how to maintain your lab balance. Following these tips will ensure your balance remains clean and perhaps most importantly, accurate.

Read More How to Clean and Calibrate Your Lab BalanceContinue

cleaning products to depict the process of cleaning pipettes
Basic Lab Skills and Know-how

Take Care of Your Tools: Cleaning Pipettes

ByCatriona Paul

Contamination in your pipette can mean contamination in your experiments, making cleaning pipettes regularly critical. Here’s an easy guide on how to do it.

Read More Take Care of Your Tools: Cleaning PipettesContinue

A hand in rubber gloves holding a selection of scalpels for performing various DNA gel extraction methods.
Basic Lab Skills and Know-how

Kit-Free DNA Gel Extraction Methods: 3 Old School Protocols to Save Money

ByVicki Doronina

Kits for DNA gel extraction are a great way to save time in the lab, but they are costly and produce much plastic waste. Discover three easy kit-free DNA gel extraction methods that can save you money and reduce waste in the lab.

Read More Kit-Free DNA Gel Extraction Methods: 3 Old School Protocols to Save MoneyContinue

A scientists at a laptop exploring what accessibility in science is and how we can all make science more accessible and inclusive.
Survive and Thrive

Accessibility in Science: How Can We Make Science More Accessible? 

ByZandile Nare

Let’s be honest—we scientists don’t always present our science in ways that are accessible to everyone. Nor is lab-based science always accessible. Explore what accessibility in science is and how we can all make science more accessible and inclusive.

Read More Accessibility in Science: How Can We Make Science More Accessible? Continue

A skeleton wearing goggles being attacked by acid and piranhas thinking about how to handle strong acids.
Lab Safety

How to Handle Strong Acids in the Lab

ByThomas Warwick

Acids are common and essential chemicals in any research laboratory. In this article, you’ll get advice on how to handle strong acids safely to give you the confidence to routinely prepare, handle, and dispose of them in the lab.

Read More How to Handle Strong Acids in the LabContinue

Woman with poor pipetting to demonstrate the need to check the accuracy of your pipette
Basic Lab Skills and Know-how

How to Check the Accuracy of Your Pipette in 7 Easy Steps

ByCatriona Paul

I’d bet that your trusty pipette is probably one the the most often used tools in the lab. But do you have any idea how to check the accuracy of your pipette? We’ll take you though how to do this in just 7 easy steps.

Read More How to Check the Accuracy of Your Pipette in 7 Easy StepsContinue

Scientists with DNA to depict problems amplifying GC-rich regions
DNA / RNA Manipulation and Analysis | Lab Statistics & Math

Problems Amplifying GC-rich regions? 5 Easy Solutions

ByOlwen Reina

Are you having problems amplifying GC-rich regions in your PCR reactions? Read this article for 5 easy tips to address these issues!

Read More Problems Amplifying GC-rich regions? 5 Easy SolutionsContinue

artificial intelligence in biology
Software and Online Tools

Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Biology: An Easy Intro to AI for Researchers

ByHannah Gaimster

Get a short introduction to AI including key terminology, example applications of artificial intelligence in biology, and resources to help you get started.

Read More Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Biology: An Easy Intro to AI for ResearchersContinue

A boy with a parachute to represent boosting research by supercharging creativity in science.
Organization and Productivity

Creativity in Science: How a Good Imagination Can Help Your Research

ByJason Erk

It pays dividends to think creatively about your research. Here are 8 tips to supercharge creativity in science and ensure a great environment to help your imagination flourish.

Read More Creativity in Science: How a Good Imagination Can Help Your ResearchContinue

Several light fittings each with less tangled wires to depict how embracing simplicity in science can make you a more effective researcher.
Organization and Productivity

Simplicity in Science: How to Increase your Research Effectiveness by Doing Less

ByHannah Gaimster

Discover how embracing simplicity in science can make you a more effective researcher while reducing your workload.

Read More Simplicity in Science: How to Increase your Research Effectiveness by Doing LessContinue

Five wooden blocks with different expressions from happy to sad to represent applying feedback for scientists
Soft Skills and Tools

Tips on Receiving and Applying Constructive Feedback for Scientists

ByAdrienne Huntress

Are you looking to improve your lab work, publication record, and grant success rate? Then read our guide to feedback—what it is, where it should come from, and how to give it to others.

Read More Tips on Receiving and Applying Constructive Feedback for ScientistsContinue

Bag of lab waste to highlight the need for sustainable research
Equipment Mastery and Hacks

Sustainable Research: 12 Simple Hacks to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Your Research 

ByVicki Doronina

It’s a tough reality, but research can be damaging to the environment. Discover our simple tips and do more sustainable research.

Read More Sustainable Research: 12 Simple Hacks to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Your Research Continue

Happy researcher after organizing papers with Zotero reference manager
Taming the Literature

Zotero Reference Manager: A Super Simple Guide for Busy Researchers

ByZandile Nare

Organizing your files is simple with Zotero; we’ve got the lowdown on functionality, usability, and access.

Read More Zotero Reference Manager: A Super Simple Guide for Busy ResearchersContinue

Girl with too much to do needs to learn the art of delegation for scientists
Dealing with Fellow Scientists

The Importance of Delegation for Scientists

ByAdrienne Huntress

The art of delegation can help save time and give you a happy, more productive lab life. Discover how with our easy guide to delegation for scientists.

Read More The Importance of Delegation for ScientistsContinue

A bowl of peas as a visual metaphor for the letter P in the question: What is pH?
Basic Lab Skills and Know-how

The Definitive Guide to pH, pKa, and pI

ByThomas Warwick

We all rely on pH, pKa, and pI for a vast amount of our research. But what is pH? How does it relate to pKa and pI? Read the definitive guide.

Read More The Definitive Guide to pH, pKa, and pIContinue

Man holding papers representing peer review in science
Taming the Literature

How Does Peer Review in Science Work? 

ByDr. Omonse Talton

If you’re unsure as to how the peer-review process works, the difference between open and double-blind peer review or are wondering if peer review is broken, read on.

Read More How Does Peer Review in Science Work? Continue

An abstract drop of ink as a play on the name nanodrop spectrophotometer
Equipment Mastery and Hacks

Strengths and Limitations of the Amazing NanoDrop™ Spectrophotometer

ByJason Erk

With the NanoDrop spectrophotometer, quantifying a DNA, RNA, or protein sample concentration is as easy. Here’s everything you need to know about the strengths and limitations of this handy spec.

Read More Strengths and Limitations of the Amazing NanoDrop™ SpectrophotometerContinue

Two piggybanks on the beach wearing sunglasses to represent getting science research grants
Getting Funded

Top Tips for Getting Science Research Grants

ByEllen Moran

Getting science research grants is becoming increasingly competitive and difficult. Read our top tips to maximize your chances of success.

Read More Top Tips for Getting Science Research GrantsContinue

Coffee being poured through a filter to demonstrate filtration
Basic Lab Skills and Know-how

How Filtration Works: A Short Guide for Biologists

ByAdrienne Huntress

If you’ve worked in a lab, odds are you’ve had an encounter with filtration of one sort or another. Do you understand exactly how filters work, though? Or have you wondered why certain filters are used for certain lab applications?

Read More How Filtration Works: A Short Guide for BiologistsContinue

A woman with a large red textbook covering the bottom half of her face to represent the top features of ReadCube Papers for scientists
Taming the Literature

How To Get Organized With Reference Managers for Science—ReadCube Papers

ByZandile Nare

Discover more about how ReadCube Papers can help you keep on top of your references.

Read More How To Get Organized With Reference Managers for Science—ReadCube PapersContinue

Image of a filing cabinet with open drawers and lots of coloured files to represent the reference manager EndNote
Taming the Literature

How to Get Organized With Reference Managers for Science—EndNote

ByZandile Nare

Learn more about the key features of EndNote to work out if it’s the right reference manager for you.

Read More How to Get Organized With Reference Managers for Science—EndNoteContinue

A stack of books with a pair of glasses on top and library shelves in the background to represent the reference manager Mendeley
Taming the Literature

How To Get Organized With Reference Managers for Science—Mendeley

ByZandile Nare

Learn how Mendeley allows you to organize a library containing your favorite articles and generate citations and bibliographies while writing papers.

Read More How To Get Organized With Reference Managers for Science—MendeleyContinue

An image of a collection of candy to depict the process of biocuration of data into databases.
Career Development and Networking

A Beginner’s Guide to Biocuration—and How to Become a Biocurator

ByHeinz Reiske

Discover more about biocuration, why it’s so important, and what it takes to become a biocurator. It turns out that biocuration as a career choice is easier than you might think!

Read More A Beginner’s Guide to Biocuration—and How to Become a BiocuratorContinue

Scary pumpkin to represent the perceived dangers of ethidium bromide
Lab Safety

Ethidium Bromide: Understanding the Dangers

ByDr Nick Oswald

This article reassesses the dangers of using ethidium bromide and compares some supposedly safer alternatives

Read More Ethidium Bromide: Understanding the DangersContinue

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