Earth and Environmental Sciences
Why fighting gives lefties the upper hand in evolution
We’re celebrating International Left Handers Day – a day human evolution and natural selection dictates should not exist. And yet it does. We find out why.
We’re flying to the Moon – and it’ll be sooner than you think
After almost half a century, we’re heading back to the Moon. In an international effort led by NASA, the return will provide scientists with clues to Earth’s past and hope for its future, as Dr Jim Green, NASA’s Chief Scientist, explains.
On a mission to uncover the secrets of the Jurassic Mile
There’s something exciting going on in the Badlands of Wyoming, and we’ve dug up a few clues for you. Join us as we introduce the real Jurassic Park.
Newly discovered jumping spider is master of disguise
Research impact and institutes
A new species of spider discovered in Hong Kong cannot only jump and dance up a storm – it’s a master of disguise too.
‘Mother of the Sea’ – How Kathleen Drew-Baker saved sushi
Discover the extraordinary story of Manchester researcher Kathleen Drew-Baker, and how her work saved a multi-billion pound food industry.
Sir William Boyd Dawkins – an extraordinary study
Discover the extraordinary story of academic and explorer William Boyd Dawkins, the first Professor of Geology and Palaeontology at Manchester and former Curator of Manchester Museum, whose incredible study is recreated at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery.
Famous big-head solves co-fossil mystery
A detailed digital 3D model of a colossal skull has been created – and the creature it came from is the key to unlocking one of the UK’s longest standing dinosaur mysteries.
Why ‘Phantom’ Archaeopteryx discovery has scientists in a flap
Since its discovery 150 years ago, scientists have heralded Archaeopteryx as the ‘missing link’ in the evolution of dinosaurs to modern birds. A transitional fossil, the species was commonly referred to as Urvogel – meaning “first bird”. But as is so often the case, once something reaches such lofty heights, it’s human nature to want […]
The very rocky horror show
When an event is known as the ‘Great Dying’, you know it’s fairly serious – as in, the end of almost all life on Earth serious. That was the extent of the damage wrought by the End-Permian Extinction, which wiped out 70 per cent of species on land and up to 96 per cent of […]
Great balls of fire
Goodness gracious – two great balls of fire have been spotted in the skies over Manchester. But there’s no need to run for higher ground quite yet – while fireball events aren’t always caught on camera, they are fairly common. In the last month alone, a brand new meteor camera located here on The University […]