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The Azolla Event: when is a fern not a fern?

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Betelgeuse, Gamow, and a Big Red Horse

There has been a lot of talk recently of Betelgeuse possibly going supernova this century or not...

Climate Change, the Walrus and the Carpenter

I have recently watched two videos on climate change by Sabine Hossenfelder.  The first one...

A Very Large Hadron Collider?

Frontpage image: Illustration of spherical explosion (kilonova) of two neutron stars (AT2017gfo/GW170817)...

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Robert H OlleyRSS Feed of this column.

Until recently, I worked in the Polymer Physics Group of the Physics Department at the University of Reading.

I would describe myself as a Polymer Morphologist. I am not an astronaut,

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Microbial Power For Schools

Microbial Power For Schools

Jan 18 2013 | comment(s)


Going round the exhibition of the Association for Science Education always leaves me with a few small challenges, such as “how much can I really take in of what an exhibitor is telling me?” and “how much school science do I really understand?”  For example, on the same table as the Toilet Roll Fungus, part of the NBCE exhibit, I came upon two fuel cells.  I’ve had to think quite hard before writing this one up
Delivering Bifidobacterium

Delivering Bifidobacterium

Jan 08 2013 | comment(s)

Some years ago, I was a bit mystified as to the distinction between prebiotics and probiotics. 

These days, one can easily look them up on Wikipedia, and find that prebiotics are meant to encourage the growth of ‘good’ bacteria in the gut, while probiotics are supposed to deliver the bacteria directly. 

Giant squid filmed at home

Giant squid filmed at home

Jan 08 2013 | comment(s)



Sub chases, films giant squid going to Pacific abyss


Scientists from the Japan National Museum and broadcasters from NHK and the U.S. Discovery Channel , said (Monday Jan 7th) they have captured footage of an elusive giant squid deep in the North Pacific that may have been up to 8 metres long before losing its two long tentacles.
Crustaceans In The Ring

Crustaceans In The Ring

Jan 05 2013 | comment(s)




Boxing has been in the news lately, what with this young lady (Nicola Adams) becoming the world’s first female Olympic boxing champion.  So when I saw claws like the ones in the next picture two days ago, I immediately thought they might be used for combat, like the outsize claw of the male fiddler crab. 


Gâteau extraordinaire?

Gâteau extraordinaire?

Jan 03 2013 | comment(s)

 
 
 
 
 

When I saw this this morning, my first impression was one of a cake produced in a television chefs competition.

But what is it?  Guesses welcome.  I hope to give you the answer by Monday. 


 
 
 
Pre-Cambrian Critter

Pre-Cambrian Critter

Dec 28 2012 | comment(s)

 
Recently on Science Codex there appeared A new fossil species found in Spain, which on reading turns out to be a new Cloudinid, an order of shelled creatures from the late Ediacaran.  Cloudina shells are of interest, showing bore holes made by predators, pointing to an evolutionary arms race which may have driven the great diversification of phyla in the early Cambrian.