Science

World-leading scientists have warned Theresa May not to allow Brexit to create new barriers to collaboration across Europe. Dozens of winners of the Nobel Prize have written to the Prime Minister and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker setting out their concerns. Their message was echoed by the London-based Francis Crick Institute, which warned that a hard Brexit could cripple science across the continent. World-leading scientists have warned Theresa May not to allow Brexit to create new barriers to collaboration across Europe. Dozens of winners of the Nobel Prize have written to the Prime Minister setting out their concerns (stock image) Nobel winner and Crick director Sir Paul Nurse, one of the signatories to the letter, said scientists feared a hard Brexit would 'seriously damage research'. The letter to the Prime Minister, signed by 29 Nobel winners and six recipients of the Fields Medal awarded to outstanding mathematicians, said 'creating new barriers' to … [Read more...] about Nobel Prize winners warn that a hard Brexit would ‘seriously damage science research’ in a letter to Theresa May

There is no evidence to suggest the power stance boosts people's confidence, according to a study. The wide-legged, chest-out pose – which has been used by Beyoncé, Cristiano Ronaldo and Conservative politicians in the UK – became popular in 2010. A study had claimed that adopting an expansive physical stance lowered levels of the stress-indicating hormone cortisol, raised testosterone and made you feel powerful. However, the findings were met with scepticism after other researchers were unable to replicate the results of the study. The controversy resurfaced when the authors published an updated analysis of both their original work and other people's posing studies to support their claims.  Now, a US researcher has analysed the body of existing research on power posing and found that most are poorly designed or found no meaningful effect. Scroll down for video Power posing does not work, with there being no evidence to suggest that the large stances give … [Read more...] about The power pose DOESN’T work: Wide stance adopted by politicians to make them look confident ‘is based on flawed science’

Researchers at the University of Washington have made an important breakthrough in robotic suction, a simple concept that's been difficult to master. The scientists took inspiration from the Northern clingfish, a species common in the Pacific Northwest known for clinging to the underside of slipper oceanic rocks. The fish has a suction cup on its belly, which uses small hairlike structures to create a powerful connection to the slipperiest surfaces. The Nothern clingfish (pictured above) is famous for being able to attach to the slipperiest and most uneven surfaces, something which made it a main focus of researchers. A half-pound fish can create suction strong enough to lift a rock twelve times its bodyweight, and the connection is so powerful it remains in tact even after the fish has died. Researchers realized the key was the irregular size and sheer number of the hairlike structures, which allowed the fish to attach to a wide variety of objects of all different sizes and shapes. … [Read more...] about Powerful new suction cup inspired by the Northern clingfish could help everything from underwater science research to keeping your shower caddy attached to the wall

The charity running the Edinburgh international science festival is to ban sponsorship from oil companies including Shell and Total after protests by climate campaigners. Edinburgh Science said on Wednesday it realised its commitment to educating people on climate change was substantially compromised by accepting money from fossil fuel companies. The charity said the oil industry “is not moving fast enough” to cut greenhouse gas emissions, adding that “climate change is without doubt an urgent threat of unprecedented magnitude”. Edinburgh Science has taken money from Total and Exxon to pay for its “Generation Science” tours of Scottish schools, promoting science as a career in classrooms, as well as from Shell and the Scottish Oil Club. Climate activists had warned Edinburgh Science it faced protests during this year’s festival, which starts this weekend. Protesters believe the festival does not do enough to educate visitors about the threats … [Read more...] about Edinburgh science festival charity bans fossil fuel sponsorship

The Big Forest Find, England Forestry England’s Big Forest Find is the country’s largest survey of forest wildlife. Volunteers can download the free iNaturalist app, then use it to take and upload photographs of animals and plants in their local forest, identifying the species they find. This can be anything from lichen and other fungi to birds, butterflies and mammals. These observations are verified by experts and added to national records on biodiversity. Accurate records help ecologists, scientists and rangers provide homes for wildlife and care for the forests. There are also expert-led activities, such as one in Savernake Forest, Wiltshire, on 5 October. The Big Forest Find is part of Forestry England’s centenary celebrations – the Forestry Commission was founded in 1919 to restore the nation’s woods and forests after the first world war, and is now focusing on preparing for the climate crisis. • Until 31 October, free, forestryengland.uk … [Read more...] about Good nature: citizen science trips and holidays in the UK