science wire

Pilgrims and Boys arrive at the ADC
Dramatised and adapted by Mike Poulton, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales offers a humours and familiar collection of characters.

Innovative composer appeals for iPad and iPhone owners to join him in music collaboration
Owners of Apple iPads and iPhones are invited to be part of an open ‘iOrchestra’ next week and perform a large-scale composition by a University composer.

Spin-out secures record sales
A Cardiff University spin-out company which develops radio frequency equipment and device measurement to the semiconductor industry has secured $1.25M in sales of its technology.

£4.5M biomedical research boost
Leading university neuroscience and immunology research which helps translate new knowledge into improved clinical practice and treatments for the benefit of patients is set to receive a £4.5M funding boost. Cardiff University has secured funding from the Wellcome Trust's new Institutional Strategic Support Fund (ISSF) - a new fund designed to support major scientific research.

Under the Microscope #5 – Daisy
In this video Beverley Glover explains how a daisy is a collection of tiny flowers grouped together to make it look like a single big flower. " Under the Microscope is a collection of videos that show glimpses of the natural and man-made world in stunning close-up. They will be released every Monday and Thursday for the next couple of months and you can see them here: http://bit.ly/A6bwCE Glover: “The flowering plants (Angiosperms) form the dominant vegetation over most of the Earth's land surface.

£4m boost for asthma research
The Medical Research Council (MRC) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have co-funded a groundbreaking programme of asthma research at the MRC-Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma.

Plans for new childcare centre to be built on campus
Plans for new childcare centre to be built on campus The University is close to concluding an agreement with the Co-operative Childcare, part of Midcounties Co-operative, to secure the future of childcare on campus.

BBC Chinese broadcast from Leeds explores the city’s Olympic connection
With Leeds preparing to host the Chinese Olympic team as its training camp for the London Olympics, BBC Chinese will broadcast from the University of Leeds Refectory at 14.00 GMT on Sunday 5 February.

Canopy commerce: forest conservation and poverty alleviation
Innovative approaches for protecting the future of Sierra Leone's Gola Forest - globally important for its biodiversity and its carbon reserves - are being developed by a collaboration of conservation agencies and University of Cambridge researchers.

All set and ready to glow
A breakthrough technique for manufacturing LEDs on silicon is to be exploited in the UK, putting mass-produced, energy-efficient lighting within reach. —Colin Humphreys A new technique that paves the way for manufacturing affordable LED light bulbs is to be exploited in the UK, in a deal that researchers say could have a dramatic impact on carbon emissions.

Boost for bioscience doctoral training

Science writer ’wastes’ time in university library
Science writer 'wastes' time in university library In a book that comes out tomorrow (Saturday 4 February) on National Libraries Day, a local author tells of his frequent research visits to the University of Sussex Library.

Software to chart rise of Empire trade
A study of the rise of the British Empire is likely to show that mass global trading was big business at the time.

Blurting out answers in class can be good for learning
Blurting out answers in class can be good for learning Pupils who blurt out answers in class often learn more than their quieter classmates, according to new research. Test results from hundreds of schools across England show a surprising advantage for pupils with symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); pupils who shout out answers attain better results than pupils who have similar symptoms but remain quiet and interrupt less.

Adversity can be a catalyst for positive change
Tragedy, natural disasters, terrorism, divorce; 75 per cent of us will experience some form of trauma in life. But the experience can be a catalyst for positive change. In a ground-breaking new book an expert from The University of Nottingham , who has spent the last twenty years working with the survivors of trauma, challenges the conventional wisdom about trauma and its aftermath and demonstrates that rather than necessarily ruining one's life, a traumatic event can often improve it.

First international client confirmed for new marine facility at Plymouth University
A British-Italian wave energy company has become the first international client to inwardly invest in Plymouth’s burgeoning marine renewables sector. 40South Energy Ltd has signed a contract with Plymouth University to establish a base of operation in its new marine facility on campus. The deal is the first for the £19m new Marine Building, which will offer business collaboration space for marine-focussed enterprise when it opens later this year.

Scotland first to map wild land
In a first for the UK, a new map detailing Scotland's wild areas is being published today by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Some of the country's wildest landscapes are already identified and protected if they fall within national parks or national scenic areas. But many other wild areas are not identified in any way.

New investment aims to establish the UK as a global graphene research hub
Today sees the announcement of full details of how an additional £50 million will be spent to keep the UK at the forefront of research into ‘wonder material' graphene.

Objects of devotion
Why did Renaissance shoppers fill their baskets with rosaries, crucifixes, Christ-dolls and devotional paintings? A new study by historian Mary Laven investigates the significance of Catholic clutter, as she explains.

Q&A with Scott Centenary Tour composer
The Scott Polar Research Institute is proud to have provided the inspiration for a major new composition by leading British composer, Cecilia McDowall.

Watch the Sussex Conversations online

NHS Scotland a role model for reform, says study
PA 33/12 The NHS in England may be in turmoil, but a major new academic study claims its Scottish equivalent should serve as a role model for the public sector.

Oxford University access activity sees results
A flagship Oxford programme to attract students from educationally under-represented backgrounds is having a major impact on University entry, according to new figures .

Biodiversity conservation for life
This month, the University of Cambridge will be profiling research that addresses biodiversity conservation.

Children test the air for pollutants in Brighton science project
by Simon Levey Wednesday 1 February 2012 Children from Brighton have been testing the air quality in their school playgrounds to monitor how pollution from neighbouring roads might affect them and their environment.

University sailor to train with Olympic squad
A Plymouth University student is riding on the crest of a wave after being selected to train with some of the nation’s golden generation of sailors.

Tool is new weapon in fight against climate change
A new service, developed by experts at The University of Manchester and The Mersey Forest, will provide vital information to help urban neighbourhoods avoid the potentially dangerous effects of climate change.

‘Picture This #14′ Polymelus, Museum of Zoology
All British thoroughbred racehorses, including Polymelus, are descended from three stallions - the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerley Turk.

"How to Grow a Planet" on the BBC
Geologist Iain Stewart will demonstrate how plants are the “silent power” that has shaped the Earth, in a new three-part series for BBC2 starting this week. How to Grow a Planet will offer a totally new perspective on the world's history, and will document the crucial role that plants have played in its evolution.

Minister launches new forum set to forge innovation between universities and industry

African theologian to give University Sermon
Professor Musa W Dube of the University of Botswana will preach a University Sermon in Great St Mary's, the University Church, on Sunday 5 February at 11.15 a.m. The title of her sermo

Partnership gives a voice to pressure ulcer patients
A new survey aims to give patients and carers a voice in the search to find the most effective prevention and treatment for pressure ulcers.

The Rede Lecture 2012

Protein study helps superbug battle
Scientists have shed light on the way superbugs such as MRSA are able to become resistant to antibiotics. Researchers have mapped the complex molecular structure of an enzyme found in many bacteria. These molecules - known as restriction enzymes - control the speed at which bacteria can acquire resistance to drugs and eventually become superbugs.

Robot welding gets 5 times faster as €4 Million project replaces guess work with maths
Remote Laser Welding (RLW) is rapidly emerging as a powerful replacement for spot welding technology in vehicle manufacturing. It promises 5 times the speed of spot welding and far more efficiency – however this can only be achieved through a frustrating process of guess work and trial & error today.

Chemistry in schools comes alive through smartphones
A unique poster that brings flaming elements to life through a smartphone app has been distributed to schools across the UK and further afield as part of the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, using technology developed in the University's Department of Engineering.

Forging new research talent
The search is on for the next generation of talented researchers building their careers in Wales. Welsh Crucible, the development scheme for the nation's research leaders of the future, is recruiting for this summer's capacity-building programme.

Under the Microscope #4 – Liquid crystals
Tim Wilkinson is combining liquid crystals with nanotechnology to try and create 3D displays which would look like real life.

Is third party funding effectively regulated in the UK?
A study shows that the market for litigation funding, otherwise known as third party funding, is firmly established for commercial disputes in the UK and is extending into cases involving ordinary citizens, such as personal injury and group actions.

The Tremough Innovation Centre opens for business
A shipyard designer, a social enterprise tackling deforestation in South America, and a high-tech web architecture firm are among the first clients to move into Cornwall’s new state-of-the-art business innovation facility.

Food crops damaged by pollution crossing continents
Man-made air pollution from North America causes Europe to lose 1.2 million tonnes of wheat a year, a new study has found. The research, led by the University of Leeds and co-authored by the University of York, shows for the first time the extent of the Northern Hemisphere's intercontinental crop losses caused by ozone - a chemical partly produced by fossil fuels.

Project to improve radiotherapy planning
A collaborative project between physicists, oncologists and computer scientists at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, launched last month, will develop improved tools for the planning of high precision radiotherapy.

Renowned arts troupe ushers in Chinese New Year

Great handbags – but what about the politics?
Audiences are spellbound by Meryl Streep's performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. As a PhD student looking at British politics in the same era, Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite was keen to see how the movie portrayed the woman who changed the face of Britain.

Durham University receives national award for staff volunteering scheme

Stem cell awareness

Narratives of Conversion
A project concluding this weekend examines why women choose to convert to Islam - and what the experience is like.

Kelvin Hall Museum bid on track thanks to lottery support
An exciting proposal to transform Glasgow's historic Kelvin Hall arena into a publicly accessible collections facility for Glasgow Museums and The Hunterian has received first stage approval from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Bioscience investment for Manchester

New President of the British Sociological Association
Professor John Holmwood from The University of Nottingham has been appointed President of the British Sociological Association (BSA).

Life extinguished, life rekindled
This year's Darwin Lectures address the theme of life. Tonight's speaker, Cambridge academic Robert Macfarlane, will discuss "Life in Ruins" in art and literature.

King’s India Institute launch
King's College London held the official inauguration ceremony yesterday for its new India Institute, which is aiming to become the leading international centre for the study of contemporary India.

Research into acute asthma attacks boosted with £4m award
Research into acute asthma attacks has been boosted with a £4m award from the Medical Research Council (MRC) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

Brandwashed – A sign of the times?

In Search of Life at Lady Mitchell Hall
Darwin College continues the popular Darwin College lecture series this week on 27 January with Life in Ruins.

Supermaterial goes superpermeable
Wonder material graphene has revealed another of its extraordinary properties - University of Manchester researchers have found that it is superpermeable with respect to water. Graphene is one of the wonders of the science world, with the potential to create foldaway mobile phones, wallpaper-thin lighting panels and the next generation of aircraft.

Making sure the food we grow is good enough to eat
Producing enough food to feed the world's growing population is becoming a major concern. But making sure the food we grow is safe, nutritious and good enough to eat is also fraught with difficulty.

Under the Microscope #3 – mouse embryo
In this video, we see a mouse embryo developing. Erica Watson tells us that studying this process helps us better understand human pregnancy. We can get valuable information from a mouse model about how an embryo and its placenta develop over time." —Erica Watson Under the Microscope is a collection of videos that show glimpses of the natural and man-made world in stunning close-up.

Korean Culture after the Kim Dae-Jung Administration

New website matches ideas with investors
New website matches ideas with investors A new collaboration between Sussex and four of the south-east's other leading research institutions was launched on Monday (23 January).

Degree matter mimics stars
Extreme conditions of temperature and pressure found in stars have been recreated on Earth using the world's brightest X-ray source.

Using real-time road traffic data to evaluate congestion
A new project has shown that by using existing sources of information about traffic flow it is possible to create a minute-by-minute image of congestion in cities. Most cities have the types of data we have used in Cambridge and the approach could be used more extensively by Cambridge County Council and extended nationally." —Professor Jean Bacon Britain's roads are getting more and more congested.

University leads the way on high performance computing
The University of Manchester is heading up a large interdisciplinary network focusing on numerical algorithms and high performance computing.

Making a ‘contract’ with society: GlaxoSmithKline’s research and development head discusses the company’s ethos
By Tanya Gubbay Wednesday 25 January 2012 The Chairman of Research and Development at one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies last night shared his insights into the philosophy behind its work, in a distinguished guest lecture at Imperial College Business School.

Conquering the Antarctic: The Scott Centenary Concert Tour
City of London Sinfonia, in collaboration with the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI), will embark on an ambitious concert tour in February to celebrate the centenary of the British Antarctic Expedition of 1910-12.

Learning to ’talk things through in your head’ may help people with autism
Teaching children with autism to 'talk things through in their head' may help them to solve complex day-to-day tasks, which could increase the chances of independent, flexible living later in life, according to new research from Durham University, the University of Bristol and City University London.

Courts endangering religious freedom, academic claims
Religious freedom in Europe and North America is being endangered by the courts, an Oxford University academic has claimed in a new book.

Nigerian writer reads new work at University
A leading Nigerian writer is to read from his new collection of short stories at the University of Manchester tomorrow (26 January) Chuma Nwokolo's book, The Ghost of Sani Abacha, deal with the traumas endured by Nigerians following three decades of military rule.

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.

History holds key to future energy policy, says report
History holds key to future energy policy, says report Policymakers should look to history to learn how best to tackle the challenges of a low carbon economy, says a new report co-authored by University of Sussex energy analyst Professor Jim Watson.

Report outlines measures to cut carbon emissions from buildings
A new report from the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University today outlines its strategy to transform the UK's built environment.

Viking mass grave linked to elite killers of the medieval world
A mass grave found in Dorset could belong to a crew of Viking mercenaries who terrorised Europe in the 11th century - according to a new documentary on National Geographic which pieces together the story behind the burial. Clearly these men had shown a level of bravery similar to the Jomsviking code." —Britt Baillie A crew of Viking mercenaries - some of the fiercest and most feared killers in the medieval world - could be the occupants of a mysterious mass grave in the south of England, according to a new theory.

Fiona Powrie wins top European prize for medicine

Spin-out targets better cancer treatment
A new Oxford University spin-out firm, Oxford Cancer Biomarkers Limited, is to develop technology to ensure that only patients who are likely to benefit from anti-cancer drugs will receive them and that the best treatment for each person can be quickly identified. Isis Innovation, the University's technology transfer company, has licensed the CancerNav biomarker technology to Oxford Cancer Biomarkers Limited (OCB).

Major new grant funding for cultural institutions

Thoroughbred speed gene has its origins in native breeds
Research by a team of scientists suggests that a variant of the so-called speed gene found in top racehorses can be traced back to a single British mare living around 300 years ago. That mare may have had a similar genetic make-up to today's sturdy native ponies.

Museums recognised by major Arts Council grant

Arts Council England to support University of Cambridge Museums partnership

UCL and partners win £5.4 million for PhD studentships

South West researchers awarded £4.2m to improve our understanding of life on Earth
A new partnership, announced today by the Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, aims to establish the South West of England as a centre for international excellence in training for bioscience and food security research.

’Timely and welcome’ report on women’s empowerment presented at the House Of Commons
'Timely and welcome' report on women's empowerment presented at the House Of Commons The Pathways of Women's Empowerment research and programme, headed by Sussex Professor Andrea Cornwall, held

Imperial and partners receive £4.5million from the BBSRC to equip the life scientists of the future
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has awarded approximately £4.5 million to Imperial College London, Royal Holloway, University of London and the Research Complex at Harwell to establish a joint Doctoral Training Partnership.

Weaving electronics into the fabric of our physical world
The integration of electronics with materials opens up a world of possibilities, the surface of which is just being scratched. Professor Arokia Nathan has joined the University to take up a new Chair in Engineering, where he will be exploring the application of research that allows us to glimpse a world rivalling our wildest dreams of the future.

Ageing UK infrastructure systems need to be more joined up
A research consortium led by Oxford University warns that significant investment will be needed in many cases to replace the UK's ageing infrastructure systems.

SEI Co-Director visits Croatia ahead of EU referendum
SEI Co-Director visits Croatia ahead of EU referendum A Sussex specialist on European referendums and East European politics visited Croatia last week just days before Croatians voted to join the European Union.

Scientists produce world’s first magnetic soap
A University of Bristol team has dissolved iron in liquid surfactant to create a soap that can be controlled by magnets. The discovery could be used to create cleaning products that can be removed after application and used in the recovery of oil spills at sea Scientists from the University of Bristol have developed a soap, composed of iron rich salts dissolved in water, that responds to a magnetic field when placed in solution.

Revolutionising the early detection of cancer
The world's first centre of excellence specialising in pioneering research into the early detection of cancer will be officially opened at The University of Nottingham on Thursday January 26 2012. The Centre of Excellence for Autoimmunity in Cancer (CEAC) will lead research into the early detection and management of cancer and push forward the introduction of a blood test which can pick up the first signs of cancer as much as five years before a patient presents with any symptoms.

1.66m to explore the challenges and opportunities of making science public
Climategate, Nuttgate, opposition to GM crops, the MMR and BSE health scares: over the last 30 years high profile political crises surrounding the integrity of research, the status of expert advice a

UK government backs Imperial researchers in drive to eliminate neglected tropical diseases
By Sam Wong Renewed support from the British government will enable research groups based at Imperial College London to distribute an additional 100 million treatments for schistosomiasis in Africa.

China in perspective
Professor David Goodman, Professor of Chinese Politics at the University of Sydney, will speak about Chinese perspectives on globalisation at Leeds on 1 February 2012.

9/11 spurred thankful end to radical theatre
A study of British contemporary theatre has found that the radicalism of the 1980s and 90s has been largely replaced by small c conservatism.