science wire

Flumes and lasers test elite sportswear
Fabric used to make what is believed to be the fastest swimsuit to ever go on the market was tested Leeds researchers who simulated conditions close to those experienced by elite swimmers. A team led by Sedimentologist Jeff Peakall developed a methodology using lasers and flume tanks contained in a giant black box to accurately measure the speed of fabric through water.

How wings really work
A 1-minute video released by the University of Cambridge sets the record straight on a much misunderstood concept - how wings lift.

Seeing Quantum Mechanics with the naked eye
New research lays groundwork for new generation of ultrasensitive gyroscopes to measure gravity, magnetic field, and create quantum circuits Just to see and prod quantum mechanics working in front of your eyes is amazing." —Dr Gab Christmann A Cambridge team have built a semiconductor chip that converts electrons into a quantum state that emits light but is large enough to see by eye.

Manchester jet engine project takes FLITES
01 Dec 2011 The University of Manchester is leading a £2.7m research project to create a key component in reducing jet engine emissions.

Documentary Hub Focuses on Success
An unlikely mix of weightlifting pensioners, Jedis, and one corner of the University has changed Scottish film culture.

J K Rowling marks start for clinic
The author J K Rowling will bury a time capsule to mark the start of building work on a new research clinic.

Royal visit for new chair in motor neurone research
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal attended a lecture today to mark the appointment of Professor Kevin Talbot to the new Chair of Motor Neuron Biology at the University of Oxford. The position will support research into motor neurone disease with the aim of increasing understanding of this complex disease.

Imperial gets revved up over sustainable car challenge
Monday 31 October 2011 by Colin Smith From competing in an all-electric supercar to helping to calculate who has won the race, Imperial College London is involved in many facets of one of the UK's premiere “green” motoring events.

Boeing funds strategic collaboration for carbon fibre recycling
In desert ‘aircraft graveyards', where retired planes often go when flight service ends, good parts are removed and sold and many materials are recycled.

Blimp to fly at proposed wind turbines site
A blimp is to be flown at the site of a proposed wind turbine development in Nottingham to help interested parties gauge the scale of the project.

University gives project managers a boost with joint Masters course

New project drives towards cleaner, greener cars
by Colin Smith Creating the tools to help the UK automotive industry to develop the next generation of low emission vehicles will be the focus of a new £3.5 million academic consortium, which starts work this month.