GOOD HYDRATIONS from Water to Wheatgrass Smoothies, What to Drink – and What to Avoid

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

GOOD HYDRATIONS from Water to Wheatgrass Smoothies, What to Drink – and What to Avoid ZIKA, SEASON 2 It’s back, and more dangerous than ever TYING THE KNOT String theory and loop quantum gravity get hitched PREHISTORIC ANTIBIOTIC Neanderthals knew the medicinal power of mold WEEKLY March11-17,2017 GOOD HYDRATIONS From water to wheatgrass smoothies, what to drink – and what to avoid Can tea prevent Is coffee bad cancer? for you? Does diet soda make you fat? Does juice count as a 5-a-day? No3116 US$6.50 CAN$6.50 10 Do you really need 8 glasses Science and technology news www.newscientist.com 0 70992 30690 9 a day? US jobs in science CAN YOU FEEL IT? Not everybody experiences emotions the same Intellectual stimulation Subscribe and save up to 76% Visit newscientist.com/9667 or call 1-888-822-3242 and quote 9667 FEEDING MINDS FOR 60 YEARS CONTENTS Volume 233 No 3116 This issue online newscientist.com/issue/3116 News Leader 5 Trump’s assault on climate science will not 8 make America great News Fresh Zika threat looms 6 UPFRONT CO2 forecast is worrying. Facebook’s suicide The virus is back prevention tools. China’s secret rocket launch 8 NEWS & TECHNOLOGY and more dangerous Black holes from a huge star. Neanderthals than we thought self-medicated. Robots learn when humans spot mistakes. OCD makes it harder to learn that things are safe. The best exercise to rejuvenate cells. Fuzzy pulsars could reveal UESLEI MARCELINO/REUTERSUESLEI quantum gravity. Brighter skies behind crop boost. Device translates one person’s emotions into another’s movements. App On the cover checks for Parkinson’s in minutes. Foam sucks up oil spills. Artificial embryo grown in 8 Zika, season 2 a dish. Bomb craters full of rare aquatic life 32 It’s back, and more 19 IN BRIEF dangerous than ever Plants with a sense of taste. A Shazam for Good hydrations 28 Tying the knot art. Autoimmune disease link to dementia Loop quantum gravity and From water to string theory get hitched Analysis 9 Prehistoric antibiotic wheatgrass, what to 22 Sea change Plankton can save the ocean, Neanderthals knew the drink and what to avoid but we need to save the plankton medicinal power of mould 24 COMMENT 40 Can you feel it? The sepia-tinged lure of old tech. Not everybody feels Is bringing back extinct species a dead loss? emotions the same way 25 INSIGHT Cover image Guillaume Kurkdjian Why we’re sending billionaires to the moon Aperture Features 26 The perfect fishy grin for crunching up prey 28 Features 28 Tying the knot (see left) Tying the knot 32 Good hydrations (see above left) 40 PEOPLE The unlikely marriage Lisa Feldman Barrett’s gamut of emotions of string theory and loop quantum gravity Culture 44 A tragedy looms? Individualism in the US will reshape the nation’s green thinking 45 Competition 48-hour flash fiction challenge 46 Strange futures What was hippie modernism? DOMENIC BAHMANN Regulars Coming next week… 52 LETTERS More than NASA depended on women What’s up with gravity? 55 CROSSWORD The cosmic force isn’t making sense 56 FEEDBACK Self-confessed liars More than a hound dog 57 THE LAST WORD Grain train What dog personality reveals about us 11 March 2017 | NewScientist | 3 INSTANT EXPERT: THE QUANTUM WORLD SATURDAY MARCH 11, 2017 Six leading quantum experts, one amazing day of discovery. Get to grips with the fascinating world of quantum physics and ask our speakers the questions you’ve always wanted answering. By the end of the day you’ll feel like an expert too. THE BIG THEMES: Learn about quantum computing and how to use quantum physics to power technology. Explore quantum weirdness, quantum gravity and much more. BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW: newscientist.com/quantumboston 10am-5pm Suffolk University Law School Boston, MA OUR EXPERTS: Seth Lloyd, Vladan Vuletic, plus 4 more speakers to be announced. Hosted by Lisa Grossman. LEADER LOCATIONS USA 50 Hampshire St, Floor 5, SCALZO/EPA LO JIM Cambridge, MA 02139 Please direct telephone enquiries to our UK office +44 (0) 20 7611 1200 UK 110 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6EU Tel +44 (0) 20 7611 1200 Fax +44 (0) 20 7611 1250 Australia Tower 2, 475 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, NSW 2067 Tel +61 2 9422 8559 Fax +61 2 9422 8552 SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE For our latest subscription offers, visit newscientist.com/subscribe Customer and subscription services are also available by: America last Telephone 1-888-822-3242 Email [email protected] Web newscientist.com/subscribe Trump’s assault on environmental science is self-defeating Mail New Scientist, PO Box 3806, Chesterfield, MO 63006-9953 USA One year subscription (51 issues) $154 A CHILL wind of change is blowing state, has made the right noises vulnerable to climate change, through climate research. To about a carbon tax, despite its whether it be droughts in the CONTACTS nobody’s great surprise, given appalling track record on climate west or storms in the east. Contact us newscientist.com/contact President Trump’s rhetoric to change. Such a tax would impose Trump can ignore this for now. Who’s who date, the White House is said to be rigour on carbon-intensive Given his gilded lifestyle, bluster newscientist.com/people ready to gut the National Oceanic industries – and Exxon thinks it and fondness for “alternative General & media enquiries [email protected] and Atmospheric Administration. would win out in the subsequent facts”, he may be able to keep Editorial According to documents seen competition. But rather than ignoring it indefinitely. Ordinary Tel 781 734 8770 [email protected] by The Washington Post,NOAA– putting pressure on it to act on Americans won’t. A new forecast [email protected] the federal government’s leading its words, Trump has applauded predicts that atmospheric levels [email protected] climate science agency – faces an its recidivist plans to expand its of carbon dioxide will rise by Picture desk Tel +44 (0) 20 7611 1268 overall budget cut of 17 per cent. Gulf Coast operations. 2.5 parts per million in 2017 (see Display advertising Its basic science arm, the Office In the time warp that is Trump’s page 7). This week, we report both Tel 781 734 8770 [email protected] of Oceanic and Atmospheric White House, the environment is the mystery of solar brightening Recruitment advertising Research, will lose more than a across the US corn belt (see Tel 781 734 8770 “Trump has cast himself [email protected] quarter of its funds. The money page 12) and worrying ways in as a modern King Canute, Newsstand will be diverted to the military, on which climate change is affecting Tel 212 237 7987 which the US already spends far whose wishful thinking oceans (see page 22). This is the Distributed by Time/Warner Retail Sales and Marketing, 260 Cherry Hill more than any other country. can hold back nature” kind of vital research Trump and Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054 Some in the Trump camp claim his cronies think does not matter. Syndication Tribune Content Agency they are not opposed to climate the enemy of commerce. On his One Twitter account parodying Tel 800 637 4082 science, just to the“politicised” first day in office, Trump signed a Trump has medieval king Donaeld [email protected] version of it now practised by death warrant for Barack Obama’s the Unready railing against a rival: New Scientist Live Tel +44 (0) 20 7611 1273 NOAA and other agencies. This Climate Action Plan, which would “Canute. What a loser. Can’t even [email protected] is nonsense. Climate science has have seen the US lead on efforts to hold back the sea. It’s just water. © 2017 Reed Business been politicised only by those slow and adapt to climate change. We’re going to be so tough on the Information Ltd, England. who deny its findings in the The Environmental Protection sea. Canute was too soft. Sad.” New Scientist ISSN 0262 4079 is published weekly except for the last service of an antiquated model Agency is facing even steeper cuts The real Donald has cast week in December by Reed Business Information Ltd, England. of US enterprise – one in which than NOAA – up to 40 per cent of himself as a latter-day King New Scientist (Online) ISSN 2059 5387 success depends on corporate its research budget (see page 6). Canute, deluding himself that he New Scientist at Reed Business freedom to trash the commons. And a raft of measures seek to is able to hold back the forces of Information 360 Park Avenue South, 12th floor, New York, NY 10010. Most of the world recognises remove the EPA’s ability to keep nature with an executive order. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and other mailing offices that cleaning up industry is not US air and water clean. Except, of course, that Canute was Postmaster: Send address changes only morally responsible, but In this, Trump is going against actually a wise ruler who wanted to New Scientist, PO Box 3806, Chesterfield, MO 63006-9953, USA. commercially sound too. Even the will of most Americans, few of to show his followers that he Registered at the Post Office as a ExxonMobil, from whose corner whom voted for more pollution. didn’t have dominion over nature. newspaper and printed in USA by Fry Communications Inc, office Trump plucked Rex And he is going against their best The chances that Trump is doing Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Tillerson to be his secretary of interests, too. Much of the US is the same? Zero. Sad indeed. ■ 11 March 2017 | NewScientist | 5 UPFRONT NOAA US budget cuts THE first draft of President Trump’s 90 per cent of weather forecasting proposed budget is heavy on cuts to data and is facing a 22 per cent cut.
Recommended publications
  • Faith and Thought
    1981 Vol. 108 No. 3 Faith and Thought Journal of the Victoria Institute or Philosophical Society of Great Britain Published by THE VICTORIA INSTITUTE 29 QUEEN STREET, LONDON, EC4R IBH Tel: 01-248-3643 July 1982 ABOUT THIS JOURNAL FAITH AND THOUGHT, the continuation of the JOURNAL OF THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE VICTORIA INSTITUTE OR PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN, has been published regularly since the formation of the Society in 1865. The title was changed in 1958 (Vol. 90). FAITH AND THOUGHT is now published three times a year, price per issue £5.00 (post free) and is available from the Society's Address, 29 Queen Street, London, EC4R 1BH. Back issues are often available. For details of prices apply to the Secretary. FAITH AND THOUGHT is issued free to FELLOWS, MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES of the Victoria Institute. Applications for membership should be accompanied by a remittance which will be returned in the event of non-election. (Subscriptions are: FELLOWS £10.00; MEMBERS £8.00; AS SOCIATES, full-time students, below the age of 25 years, full-time or retired clergy or other Christian workers on small incomes £5.00; LIBRARY SUBSCRIBERS £10.00. FELLOWS must be Christians and must be nominated by a FELLOW.) Subscriptions which may be paid by covenant are accepted by Inland Revenue Authorities as an allowable expense against income tax for ministers of religion, teachers of RI, etc. For further details, covenant forms, etc, apply to the Society. EDITORIAL ADDRESS 29 Almond Grove, Bar Hill, Cambridge, CB3 8DU. © Copyright by the Victoria Institute and Contributors, 1981 UK ISSN 0014-7028 FAITH 1981 AND Vol.
    [Show full text]
  • Planetarian Index
    Planetarian Cumulative Index 1972 – 2008 Vol. 1, #1 through Vol. 37, #3 John Mosley [email protected] The PLANETARIAN (ISSN 0090-3213) is published quarterly by the International Planetarium Society under the auspices of the Publications Committee. ©International Planetarium Society, Inc. From the Compiler I compiled the first edition of this index 25 years ago after a frustrating search to find an article that I knew existed and that I really needed. It was a long search without even annual indices to help. By the time I found it, I had run across a dozen other articles that I’d forgotten about but was glad to see again. It was clear that there are a lot of good articles buried in back issues, but that without some sort of index they’d stay lost. I had recently bought an Apple II computer and was receptive to projects that would let me become more familiar with its word processing program. A cumulative index seemed a reasonable project that would be instructive while not consuming too much time. Hah! I did learn some useful solutions to word-processing problems I hadn’t previously known exist, but it certainly did consume more time than I’d imagined by a factor of a dozen or so. You too have probably reached the point where you’ve invested so much time in a project that it’s psychologically easier to finish it than admit defeat. That’s how the first index came to be, and that’s why I’ve kept it up to date.
    [Show full text]
  • Gresham College
    GRE SHA M . co Reproduction of this tefi, or any efiract from it, must credit Gresham College THE SKY’S THE LIMIT! A Lectire by PROFESSOR HEATHER COUPER BSC DLitt(Hon) FRAS Gresham Professor of Astronomy 16 November 1994 .,, . .. .,,... .,..’.. -. , i GRESH.4.bI COLLEGE Policy & Objectives h independently funded educational institution, Gresham College exists . to continue the free public lectures which have been given for 400 years, and to reinterpret the ‘new lehg’ of Sir ~omas Gresham’s day in contemporary terms; to engage in study, teaching and research, particularly in those disciplines represented by the Gresham Professors; to foster academic consideration of contemporary problems; to challenge those who live or work in the City of London to engage in intellectual debate on those subjects in which the City has a proper concern; and to provide a window on the City for le-ed societies, both national and international. GreshamCollege,Barnard’sInn Hall, Holbom, LondonEClN 2HH Tel: 020783 I 0j75 Fax: 02078315208 e-mail:[email protected] THE SKY’S THE LIMIT! Professor Heather Couper Why do astronomers do astronomy? A lot of people (especially cynical journalists) ask me this question. It’s often assumed that astronomy - at best - is the useless pursuit of measuring the positions of stars in the sky, or - at worst - is something to do with being engaged in a secret follow-up to President Reagan’s Star Was military prograrnme. Whatever, astronomy is believed to be other-worldly, irrelevant, a waste of money, and something that is only studied by old men with long white beards.
    [Show full text]
  • Reproductions Supplied by EDRS Are the Best That Can Be Made from the Original Document
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 471 391 CS 511 612 AUTHOR McClure, Amy A., Ed.; Kristo, Janice V., Ed. TITLE Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6. 13th Edition. NCTE Bibliography Series. INSTITUTION National Council of Teachers of English, Urbana, IL. ISBN ISBN-0-8141-0073-2 ISSN ISSN-1051-4740 PUB DATE 2002-00-00 NOTE 579p.; Foreword by Rudine Sims Bishop. For the 12th Edition, see ED 437 668. AVAILABLE FROM National Council of Teachers of English, 1111 W. Kenyon Road, Urbana, IL 61801-1096 (Stock no. 00732-1659: $29.95 NCTE members; $39.95 nonmembers). Tel: 800-369-6283 (Toll Free); Web site: http://www.ncte.org. PUB TYPE Books (010) Guides Classroom Teacher (052) Reference Materials Bibliographies (131) EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF03/PC24 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Annotated Bibliographies; *Childrens Literature; Cultural Context; Elementary Education; *Fiction; *Nonfiction; Picture Books; Poetry; Preschool Education; *Reading Material Selection IDENTIFIERS *Information Books ABSTRACT In this 13th edition of "Adventuring with Books," teachers and librarians will find descriptions of more than 850 texts (published between 1999 and 2001) suitable for student use in background research, unit study, or pleasure reading, and children will find books that delight, amuse, and entertain. The texts described in the book are divided into 24 general topics, including Science Nonfiction; Struggle and Survival; Fantasy Literature; Sports; Games and Hobbies; and Mathematics in Our World. To highlight literature that reflects the schools' multiple ethnicities, the booklist also introduces readers to recent literature that celebrates African American, Asian and Pacific Island, Hispanic American, and indigenous cultures. Each chapter begins with a brief list of selection criteria, a streamlined list of all annotated titles in that chapter, and an introduction in which chapter editors discuss their criteria and the status of available books in that subject area.
    [Show full text]
  • April 2012 (PDF)
    The magazine of the University of Dundee • April 2012 www.dundee.ac.uk/pressoffice A snapshot of campus life contact•april 12 1 contents news.................. ....03 from the principal... As work continues on the new University strategy that will guide our development during the next few years, three enduring values crop up consistently. Examples of excellence, our role in transforming lives and commitments to equality can be found throughout our history from the inauguration of University College, Dundee, in 1883 right up to the present day. In this month’s column, I want to highlight three issues which show these values are at least as photo comp............14 relevant today. During the economic difficulties of the recent past, there had been Cassandra-like warnings of a meltdown in research funding, both in the charity and industrial sectors, and the University had been bracing itself for a tough ride. Whilst the competition for funding has clearly intensified and New phase of Medical School upgrade begins resource does seem to be spread much more thinly, particularly amongst the research councils and charities, the University nevertheless appears to be holding its own in winning significant The University is set to redevelop the School of Medicine at At the same time the School continues to build on its international grants from all the major funders. To be able to maintain large levels of funding in the midst of Ninewells with a major extension and refurbishment. reputation as a centre for research excellence, particularly in the an economic downturn is remarkable. It shows, too, that our research strengths are both real areas of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neuroscience and and enduring and also supports our strategy of excellence.
    [Show full text]
  • Cultural Services Annual Report 2012/13
    Cultural Services Annual Report 2012/13 The four service delivery areas are: The four main service delivery areas are now: Ÿ Halls and Music Development Ÿ Fine and Applied Art Ÿ Museum Services Ÿ Learning and Engagement Cultural Services provide the operation, management, development and promotion of arts, heritage, cultural and science services throughout the city through access to high quality educational resources, promoting inclusion in delivering outreach activities. Facts and Figures Ÿ The Caird Hall continues to deliver a varied programme of performances, conferences, events and graduations with 380 taking place. The total attendance of the Caird Hall was up for the third year with 147,916 a 9% increase on the previous year. Ÿ The McManus attendance figures were 168,173 which was 7% above last year. Ÿ Cultural Services hosted Ten Drawings by Leonardo – A Diamond Jubilee exhibition from the Royal Collection in The McManus and the second in a series of four partnership exhibitions with V&A London Selling Dreams: One Hundred Years of Fashion Photograph. Ÿ The Creative Learning programme delivered 334 events and activities to 5,205 children, young people and adults. Ÿ Museums Galleries Scotland funded “Driving Dundee Forward: The Dundee Transport Collection” to research and document transport related objects in the museum collection. www.leisureandculturedundee.com/culture Caird Hall The Caird Hall is Dundee's major arts, entertainment and conference venue staging a wide ranging programme of events throughout the year. The building is Grade A listed and has a four star theatre grading awarded by Visit Scotland. Despite being in the midst of a recession the bookings for the Caird Hall continued to be buoyant as well as attracting new event promoters to the city.
    [Show full text]
  • Report Annexes
    International Astronomical Union XXVth General Assembly July 13-26 2003 Sydney, Australia Contents Annex 1 Timeline of Events Annex 2 National Organizing Committee Members Annex 3 Opening Ceremony Annex 4 Student-Volunteer Program Annex 5 Tours Program Annex 6 The Australian Festival of Astronomy Annex 7 Associated Public Events Annex 8 “Astronomy on the Go” Annex 9 Room Allocations Annex 10 Astro Expo Exhibitor listing Annex 11 Industry Day Annex 12 Delegate List Annex 13 The Australian Festival of Astronomy - Marketing Report ANNEX 1 INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMY UNION 25TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY Timeline of Events 1994 At Don Mathewson’s invitation, IAU Executive Committee members visit Australia Jeremy Mould heads move to bid for 2003 GA in Sydney 1995 Bid for 2003 GA in Sydney submitted to IAU 1997 Aug Sydney awarded 2003 GA during Kyoto GA Jeremy Mould calls for expressions of interest to form LOC (NOC) 1998 Apr John Norris convenes 1st meeting of NOC NOC decide on SCEC for GA venue Convention Centre booked for period July 13-26, 2003? Sep Lawrence Cram takes over Chair for 5th NOC meeting Sep NOC call for tenders for provision of PCO services Dec 7th NOC meeting spent visiting two candidate PCO companies 1999 Mar Raymond Haynes takes over NOC Chair for 8th NOC meeting Jun ICMS chosen as GA PCO at the 9th NOC meeting Jun Use of Sydney Opera House for Opening Ceremony considered Oct Preliminary budget tabled at 11th NOC meeting 2000 May Logo design selected at 14th NOC meeting Aug Sydney GA display and David Malin presentation at Manchester
    [Show full text]
  • September 2020
    Hampshire Sky Issue 34 - September 2020 Issue 34 - September 2020 Hampshire Astronomical Group 1 Front Cover Image Credit: John Tarling Hampshire Sky Issue 34 - September 2020 Gill England Editor’s Comments Editor’s Comments This edition of the Hampshire Sky is the first to be available to the public, and we hope you enjoy reading it. Although Covid-19 has made life difficult for everyone, amateur astronomers are still managing to observe and photograph the night sky. One exciting object that caught everyone’s attention was Comet NeoWise, which I hope many of you were able to see. Sadly, for me, the streetlight and houses meant I was not one of the lucky ones to view it. For those of us who were unable to see the comet, we do have some fantastic images which appear in this magazine. The HAG group were meant to celebrate our 60th anniversary this year, and Janet Turner has written about how it all started. We are extremely lucky in that some of the founding members are still with us today. Geoff Burt continues his brilliant article on cartoon astronomy, these cartoons can be seen in ‘The Universe Explained: A Cosmic Q & A’. If you wish to take part in science, then David Scanlan explains how you can get involved in observing Variable Stars, something that we can all get involved in, and no expensive equipment is required. We also have a detailed report on meteors seen in the first half of 2020. How to navigate Melanie Thorne tells us the story about her beautiful pictures of the Sun around the eZine and Moon taken in Antarctica.
    [Show full text]
  • Astrophysics for All
    ASTROPHYSICS FOR ALL Brian Le Background: Astronomy and Astrophysics are fascinating science subjects but why are they not included in the curriculum of Elementary or Middle Schools? A recent reading of Scientific American provided me with some inspiration to research more about the theories that relate to the Universe that we live in. How can these abstract concepts be explained through fun and easy-to-learn experiments to sparkle students’ interest in these fascinating science subjects? I would like to share this experience with other teachers and students in grade schools and hope that school boards will consider introducing these fascinating subjects in the curriculum. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to understand the theories of gravity and their applications to the universe that we live in, and to figure out how they can be integrated into the grade school curriculum. Hypothesis: My hypothesis is that it is possible for teachers to develop methods and experiments related to Astronomy and Astrophysics that are easy to understand for students in grade school. This project focused on one specific topic – gravity. The three equations that were tested and explained in this project are: 1. The Newton equation: a = 2∆d Ú (∆t)² where a is the acceleration of an object towards earth (-9.8m/s2), ∆d is the change in distance between the object and the ground, ∆t is the change in time. 08/02/05 Brian Le: Astrophysics for All Page 1 of 6 2 2. The Schwarzchild equation: Rsch=2Gm Ú c where Rsch is the radius of the black hole, G is the universal gravitational constant (6.67 x 1011 N m2/kg2), m is the mass of the black hole in kilograms, c is the speed of light in metres per second (3.0 x 108 m/s).
    [Show full text]
  • THE UNIVERSE EXPLAINED a Cosmic Q & a Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest
    ASTRONOMY THE UNIVERSE EXPLAINED A Cosmic Q & A Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest Answers to the most popular astronomy questions of today. Over the course of their illustrious work in astronomy, Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest collected hundreds of the most popular astronomy questions that they’ve been asked. In this book they explain the scientific answers to these questions with expertise and a healthy dose of humor. Below are just a few of the 185 questions they answer: • What would happen to an astronaut exposed to space? • Can people live on Mars? • Can an amateur astronomer make useful discoveries? • Why do we have leap years and leap seconds? • What are the most extreme conditions life can survive? • Is there an edge to the Universe? • What happens inside a black hole? • Is Pluto a planet? The Universe Explained answers questions about space travel; telescopes; the solar system; comets, asteroids and meteors; stars; FIREFLY BOOKS 288 pages black holes; the Milky Way and other galaxies; the big bang and space 7½ × 9¼ and time. As well, Couper and Henbest explore the possibility of life 978-0-2281-0082-9 color illustration and beyond our planet with up-to-date space discoveries and debunk paperback persistent myths and legends. $19.95 US / $24.95 CDN photography throughout, glossary, index Ctn qty: The Universe Explained is a fun and informative book for anyone curious about astronomy. AUGUST Rights: World Heather Couper studied astrophysics at Oxford University. She ran the Greenwich Planetarium and is a past President of both the British Astronomical Association and the Society for Popular Astronomy, as well as a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and the Institute of Physics.
    [Show full text]
  • Celebrating the Silent Teacherscontact•February 12 1 Contents News
    The magazine of the University of Dundee • February 2012 www.dundee.ac.uk/pressoffice Celebrating the silent teacherscontact•february 12 1 contents news.................. ....03 from the principal... It’s probably a bit late in the year by the time you read this to wish you all a Happy New Year, but let me do so all the same. As those of you who read my blog will know, I’ve set myself three resolutions for 2012: to complete and implement a new strategy and vision for the University; to improve internal communication; and to agree criteria on which to base rewards for teaching excellence. The first is, of course, well underway, and there has been a lot of very in memoriam..........14 useful feedback which we are putting to good use in making revisions to our approach for the new strategy. The last will be one for Senate and its committees to debate through the course of the year, but I am determined to see it through and ensure we have a meaningful framework for recognising and rewarding excellence in learning and teaching. Before Christmas, the University received its indicative grant letter from the Scottish Funding Council. We don’t usually get confirmation of the funding for the next year until March, but in the past two years, given funding uncertainties, changes to funding mechanisms and the direction of the Scottish Government, the SFC has given us early indication of the level of funding we can expect for the following year. For 2012/13 the outcome looks better than the sector had anticipated, and the teaching funding reductions that we are experiencing this year are to be in effect reversed, particularly when one takes into account the potential additional funding that south georgia..........20 could be gained through the introduction of fees for students from the rest of the UK.
    [Show full text]
  • Putting the Heavens to Order
    _NA~r~u~RE~v_o_L~~~~-~~RI_L_I~------------------------SPRINGBOQKS,------------------------------------~7" magnetic waves, whether transverse or First World War, put a temporary stop to longitudinal, pulse-like or periodic. He most experimental studies of the particu­ Putting the heavens stresses the key role that the pulse inter­ late aspects of radiation (with the notable pretation played in the transition between exception of Millikan's work on the photo­ to order classical and quantum viewpoints. Once electric effect). The great successes of the Owen Gingerich the wave view predominated, studies of the Bohr theory from 1913 on in understand­ ionizing properties of the new radiation ing atomic structure and identifying atomic Ptolemy's Almagest. confronted physicists with what Wheaton energy levels posed most acutely the ques­ Translated and annotated calls the paradoxes of quantity and quality: tion of the photoelectric effect and its byG.J. Toomer. how could any wave-like disturbance, X-ray andy-ray analogues. Post-war work Duckworth, London/Springer-Verlag, whose energy spreads out spherically from on these problems made it more and more New York: 1984. Pp.693. £55, $64. a central target, ionize only a few of the difficult to avoid facing up to the wave­ atoms in the surrounding region; and how particle paradoxes, first glimpsed over a could secondary electrons so produced decade earlier. Maurice de Broglie's group CLAUDIUS Ptolemy's geocentric system has each have about as much energy as the in Paris, which included his younger long since been dumped into the dustbin of primary electrons whose deceleration at the brother Louis, played a prominent role in discarded theories.
    [Show full text]