Once imagined only by the most speculative science-fiction writers, the idea of ‘mind control’ using technology has been around in popular culture at least since the beginnings of the Cold War, where paranoia surrounding control of people by governments was at an all-time high. The mainstream view was that controlling people’s actions and thoughts was much too far-fetched to become a reality in the near future. This perception, though, may be starting to change as scientists in recent years have made pioneering advances into fields such as optogenetics, a technique which allows precise control of how neurons fire by using flashes of light from a laser – all very space-age!

Human beings seek the thrills of life. We enjoy pushing our bodies to the limit, conquering challenges, exposing ourselves to potential danger. Rollercoasters? We love the adrenaline rush. Mountain climbing is one such challenge. Find out what happens to the body as mountaineers ascend to the heavens, why athletes train at high altitude and some of the ground-breaking work in Medicine on cells and oxygen availability.