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Not So Elementary (the Cosmos, That Is)

Recently there are appeared a paper showing how Physics - Iron–Helium Compounds Form Under...

Carbon — to capture or not to capture

This came up on 2nd November 2024 (give or take a day), a broadcaster objecting to a carbon capture...

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...

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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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Empty Viruses For Control Of Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Empty Viruses For Control Of Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Apr 10 2013 | comment(s)

In 2001 there was a massive outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the United Kingdom.  This caused, in terms of prices at that time £8bn / $13–16bn of loss to the UK economy, and much distress in agricultural communities.

 One of the most memorable things of that time was images of cattle and other carcasses being burned.


The Lid’s Tale

The Lid’s Tale

Feb 22 2013 | comment(s)

Not long ago, we acquired a range of inexpensive storage vessels, ideal for keeping leftovers in the fridge before they go into yours truly, the family dustbin. 

Here is an example: the steel dish is covered by a tight-fitting plastic (presumably polyethylene) lid.  Or it was tight-fitting when we bought it, but some of these lids are now so tight-fitting that they won’t even go on at all, and one or two have split in the attempt to force them on.
 

 
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.