Research impact and institutes
Examining zebra dung – it’s a dirty job but somebody’s got to do it.
Ever wondered how to tell if a zebra’s sad? Well, you could ask it “why the long face”, but for a more accurate answer, you need to get hands on with its poo. Yes, you read that right. New research has shown that examining an animal’s dung provides a unique insight into its state of […]
Science in the changing room
We’re sure you know your dress size, but do you find it changes depending on the shop you visit? Chances are the answer’s ‘yes’. But why is this? And who determines clothes sizing anyway? Well dress sizing appears to be a product of the age we live in; of fast fashion, greater resource and lower […]
Why dolphin culture really is some-fin else
The intelligence, culture and social relationships of whales and dolphins are so advanced, the only thing stopping them from building an underwater city is opposable thumbs. That’s the finding of the latest research from The University of Manchester, in collaboration with The London School of Economics (LSE) and Stanford University. The study, published this week […]
Squid – a 200 million-year-old delicacy
Ever wondered what was on the menu 200 million years ago? Well, if you like calamari, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover that not much has changed. New research by one of the leading experts in ichthyosaurs Dean Lomax has discovered the potential source of the newborn reptile’s diet: squid. What’s interesting is this isn’t […]
Unlocking the mysteries of our great scientific discoveries
Science has the power to unravel so many of the world’s mysteries – and yet it can still leave us scratching our heads. Luckily, our resident chemists are determined to demystify the subject for us. CAMERA (Chemistry At Manchester Explains Research Advances) is a new series of films from the School of Chemistry that aims […]
Intelligent energy: how smart districts could change the world
“HAL: I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I think that any conscious entity can ever hope to do.” Thankfully, we’re a little way off from having computers like HAL 9000 of 2001: A Space Odyssey in our houses, but our homes are becoming smarter. The realm of smart technology […]
In a New York minute: breakthrough could get us to NYC in 2 hours
A new breakthrough means that we could soon be jetting off from London and touching down in the Big Apple just two hours later. While Concorde may have taken its last flight some years ago, the research and development in hypersonic travel has never stopped. And now new research from The University of Manchester in […]
Nuclear power: playing the long game
When it comes to the nuclear power industry, you’ll always be playing the long game. So, when you’re considering its future, you need to think long-term. And one topic occupying the minds of people in the nuclear power industry right now is the future of its power source. Uranium, a silver-grey coloured heavy metal that […]
“Must go faster!” Could you outrun a T-rex?
Congratulations! Your time machine works! You’ve travelled back more than 66 million years and arrived in the Cretaceous period. But, oh no! You’ve barely had chance to admire your surroundings before a thumping shakes the ground beneath you. Suddenly you notice a shadow lurking in the forest. A large shadow. And then a Tyrannosaurus Rex […]
Could memes help to predict a zombie apocalypse?
Imagine waking up one morning to a silent world; there is no rumble of traffic, no aeroplanes in the sky; the general buzz of life has just stopped. You get out of bed and walk outside only to find a horde of crazed and decaying individuals walking towards you baying for brains. The end of […]