Welcome to Robotville
Humans met robots at a special four-day exhibition at the Science Museum in London this week, with 22 cutting-edge creations from laboratories across Europe to interact with, including ones which could tell jokes to those which read your emotions. The Robotville exhibition, which was only…
The economy may be dreary, but there’s good weather ahead for Surrey’s science
For many people around the UK, Tuesday’s (November 29) autumn statement from Chancellor George Osborne was not a cheery affair. But it heralded good news for science in Surrey, with a number of organisations set to get a slice of the extra £200 million the…
Richard Dawkins and the Magic of Reality
The third scientist ever to give a talk at the Royal Albert Hall in London made his debut on Wednesday this week (October 19), when Richard Dawkins took to the stage. Following in the footsteps of Albert Einstein, the first scientist to speak at the…
Tintin’s descent into the ‘Uncanny Valley’
Tintin, the quiffed young hero, will be making his UK debut on the big screen next week, but has the popular comic’s movie adaptation fallen into the ‘uncanny valley’, and how will this go down with audiences? The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn…
Dara O’Briain: ‘Don’t underpander to the nerds’
Comedian Dara O’Briain was in the hot seat at an evening of science-themed conversation at the University of Surrey this week, where he described his confusion at being a poster boy for physics. I popped along to the show, where the Mock the Week host was…
Science on trial
The decision to put six Italian seismologists and a former government official on trial for failing to predict an earthquake shows a fundamental failure to grasp the nature of science, according to researchers. The scientists are standing trial on manslaughter charges for allegedly failing to adequately warn residents…
Inside the Nobel Museum
Inside the entrance of the Nobel Museum Alfred Nobel’s decision to bequeath the lion’s share of his wealth to establishing a prize caused huge controversy in his native Sweden, but despite his own family opposing the establishment of the Nobel Prize, his enduring legacy has…
Funny science at the Edinburgh Fringe
For those of you who like a dash of physics and a smattering of biology with your chuckles, there are some good shows which should fit the bill at the Edinburgh Fringe. I’ve just come back from the festival after spending six days doing a…
When a wink is…just a wink
The kind of research much beloved by the media, and the stuff that makes lifestyle writers go wild, made an outing this week – a psychology study on flirting in the workplace. According to researchers at the University of Surrey, if a man flirts with…
Professor Brian Cox on physics, the Beatles and marmite at the University of Surrey
Professor Brian Cox’s visit to the University of Surrey for a Q and A on Wednesday (May 25) certainly inspired an eclectic range of questions from the packed auditorium – between ones on marmite, the number of stars in the universe, and of course the…