science wire

The Smiler showcases university Thrill Laboratory’s secret weapon
A new secret weapon in thrill-seeking designed by a University of Nottingham research team has been tested out on the world's loopiest rollercoaster which opens at Alton Towers later this week. The Smiler is a new and unique type of white knuckle ride which will be terrifying Alton Towers visitors with its record-breaking 14 loops and world-first optical and sensory illusions including water-spray, blinding lights and ‘virtual' jabbing needles.

What is English?
English speakers who are 18 or under use the word 'like' in conversation over five times as often as speakers who are over 70; 'because' is the most misspelled English word globally; the word 'love' is said and written over six times more frequently than the word 'hate'.

Multimillion pound project to develop next generation computing systems
14 May 2013 A national collaboration of electronic engineers and computer scientists is aiming to develop the next generation of energy-efficient computing systems.

Robotic dog visits Brighton primary school
Robotic dog visits Brighton primary school A member of the Centre for Research in Cognitive Science (COGS) recently gave Brighton pupils a taste of research in cognitive systems - but he wasn't alone.

Scientists develop device for portable, ultra-precise clocks and quantum sensors
Researchers have developed a portable way to produce 'ultracold' atoms for quantum technology and quantum information processing. The project was carried out jointly between University of Strathclyde, Imperial College London, University of Glasgow and the National Physical Laboratory. Many of the most accurate measurement devices, including atomic clocks, work by observing how atoms transfer between individual quantum states.

Living the ’Dream’ - University computer scientist at the BBC
What do you get if you mix a University computer scientist with the creative and technical power of the most famous broadcasting company in the world, the BBC?

Sanitation app wins World Bank competition
A mobile phone app designed by a University of Nottingham PhD student to give people in Africa the power to improve sanitation in their communities has won a major competition organised by the World Bank.

Why police stop-and-search young people
01 May 2013 Who young people hang out with, and what they have done in the past, is consistently more important than their recent offending in explaining why the police stop-and-search them.

Forging connections: digital humanities in Cambridge and beyond
To launch our month-long focus on digital humanities research, Professor John Rink and Professor Simon Goldhill - Co-Directors of Cambridge's Digital Humanities Network - explain how digital tools are transforming scholarship in Cambridge.

Power of cloud computing harnessed by Imperial collaboration
Realising the potential of cloud computing for businesses will be the focus of research carried out by Imperial College London and partners.

Shape-shifting mobile devices
Prototype mobile devices that can change shape on-demand will be unveiled today [Monday 29 April] and could lay down the foundation for creating high shape resolution devices of the future.

Computer scientists start second project to improve access to NHS patient database
Computer scientists start second project to improve access to NHS patient database Two Sussex academics have begun work on developing a system for assessing the quality of patient information held in a new NHS database.

Imperial staff at the forefront of big data
Imperial has long pioneered the use of infomation technology in university research and the recent rise of 'big data' is the latest example of this The rise of ‘big science' endeavours, su

From EDSAC to Raspberry Pi: 75 years of "computers that work"
Cambridge's Computer Lab marks its 75th anniversary this month, celebrating a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that has taken it from the age of vast mainframes to its modern day place at the heart of silicon fen.

Health experts from Manchester and Tokyo sign memorandum
18 Apr 2013 Experts in Tokyo and Manchester have formerly agreed to work together in informatics technology to improve patient care and population health.

European Commission must innovate to get value from €70 billion science funding programme
The European Commission needs to make some key innovations in its science funding programme if Europe is to enjoy the full benefits of the €70 billion to be spent on science research as part of the H

New app powers better sanitation in developing world
A new mobile phone app developed by a University of Nottingham researcher is changing the lives of millions of people in Africa by giving them the power to instantly report problems with poor sanitation.

Lego Rovers head to NASA’s International Space Apps Challenge
A system that imitates navigation of a space rover, originally intended for use in North West schools, will become part of NASA's International Space Apps Challenge later this month.

Tiny technology could spark revolution in house buying
The endless ranks of estate agents’ signs peppering towns and cities across the country could be a thing of the past thanks to scientists at Plymouth University.

University of Glasgow trialling text-message voting system
Computer scientists from the University of Glasgow are holding the first public trial of a cheap, reliable text-message voting system which could allow local authorities to more easily gather feedback from the public.

Swarming robots could be the servants of the future
Swarms of robots acting together to carry out jobs could provide new opportunities for humans to harness the power of machines. Researchers in the Sheffield Centre for Robotics, jointly established by the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University, have been working to program a group of 40 robots, and say the ability to control robot swarms could prove hugely beneficial in a range of contexts, from military to medical.

Nottingham-Australia collaboration on environmental conservation of the future
The national parks, nature reserves and wetlands of the semi-arid wheatbelt of Western Australia with their rich diversity of flora and fauna are the backdrop for new research to improve the management of natural resources in the 21st century.

Face of the future rears its head
Meet Zoe: a digital talking head which can express human emotions on demand with "unprecedented realism" and could herald a new era of human-computer interaction.

Cognitive science researcher to get award for lifetime’s work

UCL and IoE agree strategic partnership

Shape changing technology coming soon
A new project aims to ensure that the next generation of computer and mobile display surfaces will extend beyond the rigid, flat surfaces which people are familiar with and allow users to physically push, pull, bend, fold or flex the display.

’Wet’ computer server could cut internet waste
A revolutionary liquid-cooled computer server that could slash the carbon footprint of the internet is being tested at the University of Leeds.

Uncovering Britain’s hidden links to slavery
Historians from UCL have produced the first freely accessible database of Britons involved in slave-ownership.

Smart way for seafarers to track effects of climate change
The public science project will measure the amount of phytoplankton - minute organisms at the very start of the marine food chain - currently residing in the world’s oceans.

Efficient distributed quantum computing
A quantum computer doesn't need to be a single large device but could be built from a network of small parts, new research from the University of Bristol has demonstrated. As a result, building such a computer would be easier to achieve.

A class act: empathic robot tutors in classrooms to facilitate teaching and learning
A European project to develop robotic tutors that will support teachers and motivate students in secondary schools is being led by University of Birmingham engineers and computer scientists, in collaboration with Heriot-Watt University and other European partners.

The future of digital money: Business School academic shares his thoughts
The technological, social and economic future of digital money will be discussed at a symposium led by an Imperial College Business School academic.

Enhancing social interactions using information technology
Social pathologies, including schizophrenia, autism and social phobia, are mainly characterised by difficulties in interacting with other people.

Naked Scientists return to the radio this Sunday
We're really looking forward to getting our teeth into this new series.

Keeping to your New Year resolutions with PiFace
Sticking to it, however, is harder, with temptation around every corner and inside every cupboard.

Young diabetes sufferers sought for app and website competition testing
Young people dealing with diabetes are being invited to test six apps and websites designed to help them better manage their condition and improve the standard of care they receive.

Celebrating supercomputing fifty years on
03 Dec 2012 Developed at The University of Manchester between 1956 and 1963, the Atlas computer was at the time the most powerful in the world.