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Breath-taking image: Helen’s honour as NASA celebrates astronomy landmark

NASA is today celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory. It also has special significance for University of Nottingham astronomer Dr Helen Russell – together with her collaborators, she captured this breath-taking image being shared around the world by NASA to illustrate a landmark in furthering our understanding of the cosmos. Dr Russell, …

The dangers of everyday noise levels

This blog has been written by Dr Rebecca Dewey, a neuroimaging expert at the University of Nottingham. She is collaborating with the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre (SPMIC) in the School of Physics and Astronomy, the Hearing theme of the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre and the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD) at …

British Science Association Media Fellowships 2019 – applications for UoN placement open 11 March

For the fifth year running the University of Nottingham is funding a place on the British Science Association’s (BSA) Media Fellow Scheme. All the details are here. What the experts say “The beauty of this scheme is that it is not trying to ‘turn’ scientists into journalists.  But instead it is trying and succeeding in …

Snowmen and Rubber Ducks: Why does humanity keep encountering amusingly bizarre objects in our Solar System?

By Ian Sheard, BSc (Hons), Physics – University of Nottingham 2014-2018. Media/Admin Assistant in the UoN Press Office. Frosty the Snowman may well have been cold but he was nowhere near as frigid as Ultima Thule, the trans-Neptunian object (TNO) formally known by the less enticing moniker of 2014 MU69, which was visited by NASA’s …

£50 note – Sir Peter Mansfield on the list of nominations

Sir Peter Mansfield is on a list of eligible names nominated in the first week of the Bank of England’s search for the face of the new £50 note. The Bank of England wants to feature someone who has contributed to science. The list of all eligible nominations will be posted once the nomination window closes on Friday …

Astrophysics to Westminster to influence evidence based decision making

Attending and speaking at the All-Party Parliamentary group on Data Analytics has been one of the highlights, so far, of Christopher Conselice’s week in Westminster. He was the only academic to attend the meeting and after making his own contribution he’s convinced more scientists and academics can make a real contribution to future policy. In …

“And a pint and half of Mansfield, please” ….

…. the phrase of the day at the Vat and Fiddle in Nottingham to launch the new ‘Sir Peter Mansfield’ beer – Castle Rock’s autumn season Nottinghamian Celebration Ale.  The beer, to honour the Nobel laureate, physicist and Nottingham-based MRI pioneer, Sir Peter Mansfield, is a traditional Nottingham-style five malt bitter.  The unique recipe was created …

Banging the drum for quantum physics! 

‘When the Uncertainty Principle goes to 11’ or ‘How to explain Quantum Physics with Heavy Metal’  Yes, a professor of physics at the University of Nottingham, has published a new book which provides an ‘entertaining’, ‘enlightening’ and ‘metal-sci’ view into the mysterious and mind bending world of Quantum Physics! Philip Moriarty in the School of Physics and Astronomy, says chugging guitars, choked cymbals, artificial harmonics and mosh pits each have their own parallels in the physics …

Prof Brian Cox gets his brain examined!

Brian’s brain activity was put to the test yesterday when he dropped in on the University’s Quantum Sensing the Brain team at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition. Professor Brian Cox was doing a tour of the annual event which showcases some of the best research being done right now in the UK and brings hands …

The Ada Lovelace effect

The Ada Lovelace effect Ada Lovelace, the ‘Countess of Computing’, was born in London on 10 December 1815. The daughter of Lord Byron, Ada Lovelace was a gifted mathematician recognised for creating the first computer programme and forseeing a digital future. Every year scientists across the world mark Ada Lovelace Day – which is being …