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 […]
Celebrating Black history – and asking what we can do next
This year is the 30th anniversary of Black History Month in the UK. The occasion aims to give young Black people role models from similar backgrounds with whom they might share experiences. There was a great turnout for the event, where the audience heard from a range of guest speakers from across the Faculty and […]
Ada Lovelace – the original woman of STEMM
The School of Physics is the proud holder of an Athena Swan Silver Award. This award recognises the advancement of gender equality in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment, research and education. Nationwide, just 20% of students studying Physics at degree level are female. At The University of Manchester, this figure is higher […]
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 […]
100 years on, marking Rutherford’s breakthroughs
Did you know that Manchester is the birthplace of modern nuclear physics? It was created right here by Ernest Rutherford and his colleagues, and this year marks a century since Rutherford initiated the first artificial nuclear reaction. And that wasn’t the end of the team’s breakthroughs. Between 1914 and 1919, Rutherford led many experiments in […]
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 […]
Meet The University of Manchester’s famous alumni
If you’ve started a degree in science or engineering here at The University of Manchester this week, you’ve made a good choice – and you’ll be following in some very distinguished footsteps. You see, Manchester has been at the centre of the European scientific community for centuries. It was in this city that John Dalton […]
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 […]