What is Sports Science?

Sport Science and Health is all about understanding how the human body works, moves and performs and using science to make people healthier, stronger and fitter. At DCU, you’ll dive into biology, psychology, nutrition and biomechanics to see how muscles respond to exercise, what drives people to stay active, and how science can help athletes reach their peak.

The BSc in Sport Science and Health also gives you real-world experience through a six-month INTRA work placement, plus lab sessions and fieldwork where you put your knowledge into practice. Graduates go on to exciting careers in sport performance, health promotion, rehabilitation, research, and education, helping people of all ages live healthier, more active lives.

Find out more: dcu.ie/DC202

#DCUScienceWeek #SportsScience

First Chemist: A Female Perfumer

In ancient Mesopotamia, the art of perfume may have given rise to the very first chemist—a woman whose skills in distillation and scent creation bridged ritual and science. From those early experiments with fragrant oils emerged the foundations of modern chemistry, as alchemists and artisans explored how to extract, transform, and combine materials.

Today, the science of scents has evolved into a sophisticated discipline where organic chemistry meets neuroscience, allowing us to map fragrance molecules in the brain and design synthetic aromas that mimic nature. What began as ritual perfumery has become a cutting-edge field that shapes everything from fine fragrances to food, medicine, and memory.

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#DCUScienceWeek #DCUChemistry

Google Cars Map Urban Air Trouble

Researchers in Dublin are using mobile sensors mounted on Google Street View cars to measure air quality with unprecedented precision. By gathering data block by block, they discovered that nearly half of the recorded days exceeded World Health Organisation limits for nitrogen dioxide. The most polluted areas were concentrated along the city’s busiest routes, including the quays and central corridors where traffic congestion is highest.

This hyper-local mapping doesn’t just show where pollution is worst, it reveals when it peaks, highlighting patterns tied to commuting, weather and street design. With this level of detail, city planners and policymakers can design smarter interventions to cut emissions, improve air quality and protect public health.

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#DCUScienceWeek #Pollution

Mars: Hidden Life Possible?

Mars may look barren, but new research suggests it could still host life beneath its dusty surface. Scientists studying the planet’s chemistry and geology have found clues that subsurface areas might provide enough warmth, radiation shielding and chemical energy for microbes to survive. Frozen water deposits, periodic methane releases and ancient riverbeds all point to a world that was once more hospitable and perhaps still is in hidden pockets.

While no direct evidence of life has yet been found, upcoming missions are designed to probe deeper than ever before, searching for organic molecules and signs of biological activity. Each discovery brings us closer to answering one of humanity’s oldest questions: are we alone in the universe?

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#DCUScienceWeek #LifeOnMars

From Supernovae to Us

The universe’s most powerful explosions, supernovae and neutron star mergers, create many of the elements that make up our bodies and planet. These cosmic events forge heavy atoms like gold, platinum and uranium, scattering them across space where they eventually become part of new stars, planets and even life. They are a dramatic reminder that we are quite literally made of stardust.

Yet astronomers have discovered that these known sources can’t account for all the elements we observe. Some are still missing, hinting at mysterious cosmic processes yet to be understood. Studying these gaps helps scientists uncover the hidden mechanics of the universe and the origins of the matter around us.

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#DCUScienceWeek #Supernovae

Move to Learn Science

Research shows that learning isn’t just about the mind, it’s also about the body. Embodied cognition suggests that physical movement and gestures can help students understand and remember scientific concepts. By linking action to thought, students can engage more deeply, making abstract ideas easier to grasp and retain.

In classrooms, this can mean using hands-on experiments, miming scientific processes, or incorporating movement into lessons. These approaches don’t just make learning more interactive, they actually strengthen the connection between brain and body, improving comprehension and problem-solving skills.

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#DCUScienceWeek #STEMEducation