It’s hard to deny that over the past hundred years or so, humans have made a bit of a mess of the planet; air pollution, deforestation, and (of particular interest in the news right now) the vast quantities of plastic that are we are throwing away, and that are carried by ocean currents to the […]
From Heatwaves to Hurricanes
What is ‘climate change’? Is it fact or fiction? Emergency or exaggeration? And can climate change really be responsible for the weird weather that we’ve seen over the past year? Climate change is the large-term, long-scale shift in the planet’s weather patterns, including rainfall, sea level, and average temperature. In scientific circles, the fact that […]
The science of origami
Origami (the Japanese art of paper folding) is appreciated just as a type of arts-and-crafts type thing. Paper cranes, airplanes, and fortune tellers. However, scientists and engineers alike use origami for an incredible range of applications. The way that a ladybird folds down its wings can be used to make an origami pattern for an […]
Why are we ditching diesel?
It is no secret that pollution is a serious problem. Visit any major city for a day, and as well as soaking up the culture, you are sure to be will be inhaling a myriad of toxic chemicals. Now, the governments of Paris, Madrid, Mexico City, and Athens are taking a stand against air pollution […]
Donald Trump vs Climate Science
Ayesha Tandon gives us her opinions of Trump’s take on climate change. The first 100 days in the Oval Office is said to be a very telling time for any President, and Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States, is no exception. Since 20th January, when Trump took up office as arguably the most powerful figure […]
Oxygen levels in our oceans are dramatically dropping
The phrase ‘Global Warming’, is often linked to the ocean, conjuring up images of polar bears clinging to melting ice caps, rising sea levels flooding into low-lying cities, or rivers that once flowed freely into the ocean drying up to nothingness. 71% of the surface of our planet is covered with water, and 97% of […]
Want to try lab-grown meats?
In 2013, a team of scientists from the University of Maastricht made history by producing the world’s first synthetic meat burger. It was grown entirely from stem cells over the course of three months. The 142g beef patty cost £215,000 to produce, and was cooked and eaten in London by a panel of three food […]
The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle: Solved?
At 2:10pm on December 5th 1945, a group of five US torpedo bombers collectively known as ‘Flight 19’ set out on a fateful flight, seeding a mystery that to this day remains unsolved. In spite of the apparent simplicity of their routine task, as the flight progressed, the crew became increasingly disorientated, and their communications […]
Small but Deadly: The Dangers of Microbeads
Since their first synthesis in 1907, humans have been reliant on plastics, and it is no secret that in the 21st century they make up a huge part of our everyday lives. One of the main reasons for the success of plastics is that they are hugely versatile, and come in many different forms. These […]
Ice Flows Game – Intro to Climate Modelling
For many years, photographs of emaciated, bedraggled polar bears clinging desperately to melting ice sheets have been circulating the internet, as newspapers wield headlines proclaiming record-breaking high temperatures, collapsing ice sheets, and rising sea levels. Dr Anne Le Brocq of the University of Exeter is taking a different approach to climate change awareness; the creation […]