Around 2500 BC a whole civilisation disappeared. Was it religious extremism? Over development? Ecological devastation? Warfare? Disease? The fact is that we do not know. The latest issue of Think covers a project called FRAGSUS trying to solve this mystery.

Researchers from five institutions (inc. the University of Malta), seven countries, that involve over 80 people, are digging up old sites, this summer a team has been working on a rare settlement site at Tac-Cawla in Gozo, and drilling cores around Malta and Gozo to collect evidence. They are using a sleuth of the latest scientific techniques to recreate the ancient environment.

By having enough information to step into the past, they will be able to see what happened. The answer will cement the identity of Malta with these ancient temples.

Back to the future, Malta has a looming problem: dementia. In 2010 the number of people with dementia in Malta was 10,000. By 2030, it will double to 10,000. Malta is launching Malta’s National Dementia Strategy in 2015 to beat back the problem.

Another story talks about a pool party that will starts with the first rains around Malta and Gozo. Dr Sandro Lanfranco and his team of students write about rock pools. These species live on the wild side playing Russian roulette to survive in this extreme environment.

This issue is packed with stories. Colourful molecules could bring in a new wave of sensors to devices, new forms of concrete is being created that could better insulate our home, with Prof. Frances Camilleri-Cassar writing a timely opinion piece how the University of Malta should adopt a social-wellbeing policy to cope with a stressful university life.

Think magazine has a jam-packed fun section from comics to tech reviews and love letters. Students also tell their stories about Maltese olive DNA, better video streaming, and cleverer games.

Alumni talk about their careers in medical research and software engineering. There is something for everyone within its pages.

Think, the University of Malta’s magazine, may be picked up for free in newsagents around Malta and Gozo and in Agenda bookstores, it is now available online at http://www.um.edu.mt/think, available on Issuu http://bit.ly/ISSUUThink10, followed on Twitter @ThinkUoM http://twitter.com/THINKUoM or liked on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ThinkUoM.

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