From bomb threats to civil research: exciting developments of the week

From bomb threats to civil research: exciting developments of the week

In the past few weeks, several train stations in Austria have received numerous bomb threats, which led to considerable tensions for passengers and the emergency services. From Klagenfurt to Bregenz, travelers had to wait for hours for the all -clear police for hours, while the surrounding area was thoroughly searched. The investigation into the author of these anonymous threatmails is intensively, whereby the state security is included in order to clarify possible backgrounds.

terrorist expert Nicolas Stockhammer said that the situation had been tense in the past twelve months. Such threats have to be taken seriously, regardless of whether it is a single offender or a terrorist group. This raises the question of how well the existing warning system of the population works in the event of a crisis. On October 5, a new alarm system, AT-Alert, will be tested in a nationwide civil protection sample alarm to check the efficiency of these warning methods.

cluster headache and new therapies

Another important topic concerns the therapy of cluster headaches, which are often described as extremely painful and disabled. Bettina Odreitz, who has suffered from it since her youth, tells of her years of struggle against the disease, which is also known as "suicide headache" from a humiliating perspective. Often her symptoms were not taken seriously until she finally found help with an expert who suggested a combination of medication and new therapies.

Anonymous patient, on the other hand, reports failures in conventional therapies and has used psilocybin for two years, a psychoactive active ingredient from certain fungi. According to his statement, this active ingredient helped him to relieve his pain so that he no longer needs any other medication. Nevertheless, psilocybin is illegal in many countries as a psychoactive substance, which complicates the discussion about alternative treatment approaches.

Citizen scientist in action

More and more research projects are focusing on the help of so -called Citizen Scientists. These citizens offer their time and skills to collect and analyze scientific data, often without being paid for. Luise Losert from Vienna Simmering is an example of such a lay scientist. It enters important data for plant growth in an app of the geosphere Austria every day. Your contributions are not only important for research, they also help to document changes in nature.

The phenomenon of the Citizen Scientists is increasingly spreading, not only in botany, but also in areas such as bird observation and even in historical science, where laypeople can give valuable impulses with their knowledge and observations. Such initiatives show how important the cooperation between laypersons and professional scientists has become to address current issues and challenges.