I’m Free!

A Tin-uous The Scottish Brain Myths Wonders of Link Ten the Ythan

Happy tenth Dramatic digital Debunking the brain A country escape on anniversary documentation your doorstep

Produced by the Science Journalism Society at the University of Aberdeen Contents 02. Editorial It’s our anniversary 03. News Science in the Granite City 05. Events Happenings in the Granite City 06. Looking Back to the future Great Scott! 07. The Scottish Ten Dramatic digital documentation 08. Brain Myths Debunking the brain 09 & 10 Under the microscope A close-up photospread 11. The Tenth Element The Scottish roots of neon 12. A Tin-uous Link Happy tenth anniversary! 13. Giving nature a home Ten tips to help nature out 14. Wonders of the Ythan A country escape right on your doorstep! 15. Finding Napier’s Bones Looking at logarithms 16. book review The Science Delusion 17. Fun Stuff Puzzle and comic

01 Image: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/Goddard Space Flight Center Photograph: Twan Leedners Happy Birthday Au! It’s our party! ening presents, blowing out Editors-in-Chief candles, eating cake and throwing streamers, we’ve Anna Cederlund OP Bridget Murray been busy here at Au Science Magazine celebrating our tenth anniversary issue. Creative Editor Yes, that’s right, Au Science Magazine was founded ten issues ago. Since the Tom Mackenzie start we’ve covered topics ranging from News Editor sports and exercise to music and space. We sincerely hope that you have enjoyed Anna Pitchford each and every one of our issues and Web editor that you continue to enjoy them for much longer. Dean Brooks This issue deals with all things ten. Editorial Team Ten is all around us although it is not always obvious. Pop to page 11 to read Michael Graham more about the tenth element, neon. Did Cara Green you know that neon can sometimes be Christina Nikolova used as a refrigerant? Or why not try to Ali Thomson figure out the link tin has to ten before Creative Team opening up to page 06. We also have a fantastic photo spread from Aberdeen’s Vanessa De Mello own Kevin Mackenzie on page 9 & Terry Morton 10. There are also a few top ten lists News Team available throughout our pages, so why not see page 13 for a way to escape to Anna Ashton the wild. Shannon Smith Take a look at the photo to the left. Enigmatist Can you work out its link to 10? When you’ve got it, or when you’ve given up, Nick Payne pop over to our website, ausm.org.uk to Thanks uncover the truth. We hope you enjoy reading about Communications team, PERU ten as much as we have enjoyed Dr Heather Doran writing about it! If you’d like to join our Amy Hayward birthday celebrations, send us an email Shaunagh Kirby at [email protected]. There is always Iain Learmonth our twitter account, @ausciencemag Kevin Mackenzie or you can like our Facebook page. Dr Ken Skeldon, MBE We’re always looking for keen editors, designers, illustrators or writers. No Front cover image by Alisterio De Mello 01 experience is needed, we’ll help you on Comic by Vanessa De Mello your way! You should also quickly flip to our backpages, our own Vanessa De Copyright © 2014 Science Journalism Mello celebrates this issue with a full Society page comic. Want to know the full story Opinions expressed are not necessarily behind the comic? Well, you guessed it, those of the Society, the go to our blog! University of Aberdeen or our Sponsors.

Anna Cederlund and Bridget Murray, Editors – in – Chief

Au Summer 2014 Image: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/Goddard Space Flight Center 02 News Have news to share? Collected by Anna Ashford and Shannon Smith email: [email protected] University of Aberdeen Attracts Healthcare Funding Ongoing management of an aging confidence, knowledge and skills, and knowledge regarding thevalue and population with long term conditions will empower them to make informed support of self-management. This is putting an ever increasing strain on decisions about their own healthcare will provide valuable information for health service finances. Innovation in collaboration with healthcare NHS Commissioners and providers. is needed to support decision makers professionals. The long term aim is to improve within the NHS to identify, adapt and Dr Christopher Burton is people’s lives through supported self refine support for their patients. leading the work in Aberdeen and management. The Health Foundation (an he is looking specifically at how The research findings will be independent health charity) has people with chronic pain value self available early in 2016 and Dr awarded funding to the Universities management support that is tailored Burton said “we will examine how of Aberdeen, Sheffield and York to their personal needs. individuals with chronic pain value to look at patient preference in The three universities will work the ways in which self-management regards to self-management support. separately, however the combined support could be made personal to Self management will give people results will build up a base of them as individuals”. Zoology Museum Gets a New Look The University’s Zoology Museum by Dr Jonathan Pettitt, Reader in 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. Entry in the School of Biological Sciences Genetics, will explore concepts of is free. For further details contact on Tillydrone Avenue has been evolution and what genetic analysis [email protected]. undergoing a transformation for can tell us about the evolutionary the past 18 months. A £53,000 grant history of species. The display from Museum Galleries Scotland’s includes a fossil ichthyosaur from “Recognition Capital” project has the Geology Collections and a allowed the University Museum replica skull of a feathered dinosaur Service to upgrade the museum and (Deinonychus). include new displays. In addition, star items from the New lighting has improved collection - including a giant albatross conservation conditions for the – will be displayed in open storage collection, while the galleries have allowing visitors to see more of the been repainted and rearranged to museum’s fascinating collections. form a more welcoming space for New displays in the Zoology visitors. Museum open 9th June 2014. The An introductory display co-curated Zoology Museum is open to the public Tawny Owl Under Threat Researchers at the Universities of that ‘Tawny owls do take sabbaticals every three to four years. It consists of Aberdeen and Aix-Marseilles have from breeding if there is not enough a boom year where numbers increase warned that the tawny owl faces an prey, but our studies have shown that dramatically, and a crash year where uncertain future due to a substantial nowadays they are taking too many numbers fall but then recover as part decline in their main food source, the forced sabbaticals and not breeding of the ‘boom and bust’ cycle. Last year field vole. enough.’ it was reported that there were fewer The data analysed is from a study Vole population numbers usually ‘boom’ periods in vole populations of tawny owls and field voles in follow a pattern that repeats itself across Europe, something which the Kielder and Forest Park, is thought to be due to the warmer Northumberland and has been winters we have been experiencing. collected for over 27 years, mostly by If the balance of boom and bust amateur enthusiasts. The breeding years is not regained it could lead behaviour of tawny owls and the to the vole population becoming success of their offspring is heavily extinct, which would have devastating dependent on the availability of effects on tawny owls that feed on voles, but the study showed that the them. Other species that rely on this tawny owls are withholding from food source could also be affected, breeding due to insufficient numbers. including buzzards, foxes and Professor of Ecology at the University kestrels. of Aberdeen, Xavier Lambin, said

03 Shrinking Fish in the North Sea A study published in April’s issue change is thought to be caused, at of Global Change Biology, led by least in part, by an increase in water Dr Alan Baudron at the University temperature of 1 or 2 degrees Celsius, of Aberdeen, has found that the due to climate change. maximum length of a number of fish It has previously been reported species in the North Sea, including that young fish will grow to a herring, haddock and whiting, has smaller adult size when in a warmer decreased by up to 29% over the last environment, although other factors 40 years. such as fishery-induced evolution, The study involved the analysis of intense fishing pressure and low food age and length data from commercial supply may also play a role. However fish caught between 1970 and 2008. there were also species which saw The reduction in size was common little or no change in size; female across a variety of fish species, sole sizes decreased by just 1%, and including those living at different cod sizes appear to be unaffected, the depths, eating different diets and reasons for which are unclear. with different rates of mortality. The Student Energy Understanding the Ocean’s Summit Carbon Cycle Aberdeen will take its place along- A study led by ocean scientists from side the international metropolises of the University of Aberdeen has Cape Town,New York, Shanghai and successfully balanced the supply Mexico City on June 19-20, 2014, as of food to midwater organisms in host of one of five Regional Student the North Atlantic. This offers the Energy Summits. potential for a greater understanding The paper, published in the journal The event will address regional of how carbon is stored and regulated Nature, sheds light on a region of issues while simultaneously giving in the planets oceans. the ocean where knowledge of the delegates a deep understanding of Dr Sarah Giering, a Postdoctoral consumption of organic matter has the role their region plays in global Research Fellow at the University been incomplete until now. The energy systems and dynamics. of Aberdeen and lead author of the findings of this research are described Student Energy is a grassroots project, explains that “Microscopic by Giering as “a major step forward, initiative turned into a global move- plants in the upper ocean convert allowing us to explore the role of ment by driven, passionate students. CO2 into organic matter. When these deep‐sea biota in regulating our It began with a simple idea – to put on organisms die they sink into the deep climate.” an energy conference “for students, ocean, carrying carbon with them The full paper, ‘Reconciliation by students,” to have experts from […this] locks CO2 away from the of the carbon budget in the ocean’s all over the world come together to atmosphere, helping to regulate the twilight zone’, can be accessed educate the leaders of tomorrow. climate.” through Nature’s online catalogue. Looking for the Link between Bone Shape and Disease A new study is underway in the environmental factors such as diet, development of new treatments and Musculoskeletal department at the lifestyle and other diseases associated lead to preventative measures to University of Aberdeen to investigate with aging. It will involve analysis of reduce the risk of developing them. what determines hip and spine shape. data from a medical cohort of 3000 Previous research conducted in people that has been collected over Aberdeen has shown that certain a period of 68 years, from birth to bone shapes are associated with the present day. It includes social, higher prevalence of osteoporosis, behavioural and biomedical data such osteoarthritis and lower back pain. as x-ray images. The study, led by Professor Richard Osteoporosis affects around 80% Aspden, in collaboration with of people over the age of 50, while collegues at UCL and Manchester osteoporosis leads to over 70,000 University, aims to understand hip fractures every year, however how the shape of the spine and it is not yet clear what causes these hips are determined by genes and diseases. This study may enable the News edited by Anna Pitchford Au Summer 2014 04 Events May Festival Cafe Controversial: ‘North Sea A wide variety of events that span the themes of Oil and Constitutional change’ Word, Music, Film, Science, Gaelic, Environment, Professor Alex Kemp Health & Wellbeing, Discover, the Centenary of World War I, and Sport. 13th May, 7pm 9th - 11th May Satrosphere Science Centre All over Aberdeen For more information visit: Cafe Sci Inverness: abdn.ac.uk/mayfestival ‘The Physics and Philosophy of Time Travel’ Dr Francisco Perez-reche and Dr Stephan Torre

Cafe Sci: ‘Science Non-Fiction’ th Dr Pippa Goldschmidt and Professor David 20 May, 7pm Godden Waterstones, Inverness 14th May, 7pm Scotland’s Waterstones, Aberdeen Cruickshank Botanic Gardens. An evening tour with Curator Mark Patterson and Head Gardener Richard Walker. Aberdeen Astronomical Society th Meeting and Observation 28 May, 6.30 – 8.30pm 27th May, 7pm £5 per person, inlcuding refreshments Bettridge Centre, Newtonhill Cruickshank Botanic Gardens

Café Controversial: Cafe Sci Inverness: ‘Is war good for science?’ ‘Diabetes: Bench to Bedside and Dr Donna MacCallum Back’ Professor Sandra MacRury 10th June, 7pm 24th June, 7pm Satrosphere Science Centre Waterstones, Inverness

European Student Energy Summit 19th – 20th June Elphinstone Hall. For more information visit: studentenergysummits.com

05 looking back< to thefuture Fiona Mclean reflects on the past ten years in science

the 21st October 2015, fans of the Back to the Future Trilogy will wait with bated breath to see if the DeLorean comes crashing down with a cry of ‘Great Scott’ from 1985. Whilst we all know that Back to the on Future II was just a film, there are a few technologies the film correctly predicted the future would have, including handheld tablet computers and wall-mounted widescreen televisions. It is truly amazing how much science and technology has progressed even in a single decade. Let’s have a look at some of the highlights of the last ten years and what 2014 might hold in store. Illustartion: Alisterio De Mello 2011 In January researchers 2004 Whilst listening to Michelle examined seventeen different species McManus on our MP3 players, we of shark in Australia and they were were introduced to a form of social all found to be colour blind. Also media which would completely this year, scientists were able to revolutionise the way in which we manipulate light waves to create communicated and gave us the invisibility whilst others produced a ability to stalk people without getting bulletproof skin prototype from a restraining order. Facebook came genetically modified silkworm into our lives on the 4th February thread. So basically, 2011 was 2004, and now in 2014 it allows the year that you could become millions of people all over the a real superhero. world to show everyone else what their face looks like when taking a 2012 Physical feats of picture in a bathroom mirror. humankind were taken to a whole new level (quite literally) as Felix 2005 On April 23rd another Baumgartner jumped from the social media mammoth appeared Earth’s stratosphere and broke the with the first ever videos being world record for the highest jump at uploaded to YouTube. It debuted with 38,969.3 metres. He became the first some exciting videos such as “Me at ever man to break the sound barrier the zoo”, where a man at the zoo tells without the use of a vehicle. us that elephants have really long 2009 The beginning of 2009 kicks trunks. off the year by celebrating the birth of Charles Darwin 200 years previously. 2013 Scientists revealed they had stored large quantities of information 2006 In January, the first extinct animal After 16 years, the Human on a single strand of synthetic DNA Genome Project came to a close was cloned and born alive, however died seven minutes later due to a lung including an MP3 music file, a with the publication of the last JPEG image and every single one chromosomal sequence. defect. The animal was a Pyrenean ibex, a type of wild mountain goat, of Williams Shakespeare’s sonnets! However, one of the biggest findings 2007 Apple unveiled the first ever which was found to be extinct in 2000. This research gives hope that extinct that happened in 2013 was the iPhone on the 9th January. It was discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN. secretly created under the code animals will not be lost forever. This name “Project Purple” and there was is great news, as long as scientists do not try and clone dinosaurs. We have In the early months of 2014 there had apparently a sign on the door to the already been many achievements design room that said “Fight Club” all seen what happened in Jurassic Park. in science and technology; Google in reference to the first rule from the have announced the development film. Hopefully the other rules did 2010 Scientists discovered the of a glucose monitor in the form of not apply because I cannot imagine it a contact lens, an ancient mountain being particularly easy to work with first animals that can survive completely without oxygen deep in range was found in Antarctica under no shirts or shoes (I think I just broke several kilometres of ice and a Dutch the first rule). the Mediterranean Sea, Sony retired its cassette Walkman after 30 years on man who had lost his hand was given the market and one of Jupiter’s stripes a robotic replacement that allows 2008 The Large Hadron Collider him to feel varying pressures. So who at the European Organisation for went missing! These stripes are actually cloud belts and go missing knows where we will be in another Nuclear Research (otherwise known ten years?! Here’s hoping with a hover as CERN) started proton beam tests from time to time but usually turn up again at some point. Sort of like ‘that board! But maybe not surrounded by on the 10th September. However, it dinosaurs…■ then broke 9 days later… friend’ who can be a bit wayward on a night out. Or a cat. Fiona Mclean is a postgraduate in neuroscience and human nutrition

Au Summer 2014 06 St Kilda

Edinburgh The juxtaposition between the medieval old town and Georgian The Scottish new town is unrivalled anywhere else in Europe. This thriving city is a Cara Green discusses the future harmonious confluence of landscape, history and architecture, providing an Ten of 3D documentation outstanding cityscape for the project. ve you ever wanted to scanners, accurate to tens of microns, explore the ancient heart are used to image delicate details Scotland’s Haof Neolithic Orkney? Or on carvings. This allows experts to maybe you desperately want to visit monitor the decay and damage of the revolutionary“ role in this the remarkable Sydney Opera House? sites and plan specific maintenance. Capturing culture and immersing Scotland’s revolutionary role in this cutting-edge project yourself in history has never been cutting-edge project has made it a so easy thanks to the partnership world leader in documentation of has made it a world between Historic Scotland and the historic places and globally significant leader in documentation Digital Design Studio at the Glasgow sites. School of Arts. Together they are of historic places and working on an ambitious five year The Scottish Sites project, called The Scottish Ten, globally significant sites towards the digital documentation The Antonine Wall ” of ten UNESCO heritage sites (five This magnificent piece of Scottish and five international) construction was once the Roman Neolithic Orkney using laser scanning measurements Empire’s northernmost front Home to some of the best preserved and photogrammetry to produce (conveniently keeping out the Neolithic sites in Europe, some which photo-realistic models. Currently Aberdonians) which today stretches have survived for over 5000 years. nine sites have been completed. from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of This site comprises of the chambered Pulsed scanners map architectural Clyde. Completed in 154 AD, there is tombs of Maeshowe and Skara Brae, landscapes to an accuracy of four still evidence of forts, bathhouses and settlements, cairns and archaeological millimetres while triangulation camps along the route. landscapes.

New Lanark In 1785 David Dale founded a Eastern Qing Tombs, China novel type of industrial settlement, the cotton mill complex. This site contains river powered cotton spinning mills and local sandstone tenement style housing which, by 1820, was home to 2500 villagers.

St Kilda Located 40 miles west off the Outer Hebrides this stunning landscape are the remains of a village abandoned in the 1930s on the main island of Hirta. This is the only site in Scotland recognised for both its natural beauty and cultural significance.

07 Can you count?

The International Sites Mount Rushmore, USA In May 2009 the presidential Brain Myths heads in South Dakota were the first international monument to Ten things you thought you knew about the brain be scanned. The Scottish Ten team worked with the Mount only use 10% of our brains. neurons. Long-term heavy drinking Rushmore National Park Service It is commonly reported can damage the brain through other and local specialists to produce We that we only use a small ways though, including by damaging 3D data which is now being used proportion of our brains, suggesting the connections between neurons. to conserve and manage the site. we possess an expanse of unlocked A virtual tour of Mount Rushmore potential. In reality if any part of your Memory is infallible. Experimental and the hall of records was brain were not used it would cease to psychologist Elizabeth Loftus has spent unveiled in 2012. exist; connections between the brain’s her career working on false memories, nerve cells (neurons) are maintained and has found that the process of Eastern Qing Tombs, China through their use, hence the phrase, recalling a memory can change it. The This imperial mausoleum “use it or lose it”. recollection of a memory is actually complex in Zunhua near Beijing like a construction process where is part of the Ming and Qing Creative people are right-brain pieces of information from different dynasties World Heritage site. dominant and logical people are left- experiences come together to form These tombs were in use from brain dominant. While it is true that the memory. This means that even a 1666 to 1911 and are the final some functions are located on one side suggestive question can alter what you resting place for some of China’s of the brain, there is no evidence that recall. best known emperors, reflecting people preferentially use one side of the importance of their belief in their brain and that this determines There are five senses.Right now the afterlife. their personality. A recent study lead by you can sense the position of your Jared Nielsen at the University of Utah body, and make seamless movements The Sydney Opera House, Australia which analysed the activity in over without a great amount of thought. Arguably one of the most iconic 1000 brains found no differences in the You owe this ability to proprioception, man-made landmarks built strength of brain networks between the the sixth sense. Proprioception last century, the Opera House two sides in different individuals. automatically monitors and adjusts is the most modern building to the position, tone and motion of your be scanned. Opened by Queen Listening to Mozart makes kids muscles and joints. Without it you Elizabeth II in 1973, the 3D smarter. This idea stems from a study wouldn’t be able to touch your nose version of the Sydney Opera house in the 90s which showed that when with your eyes closed. was unveiled for its 40th birthday university students listened to Mozart last year. for ten minutes, their performance on The brain is hardwired and cannot a spatial reasoning task temporarily change. The brain is capable Rani Ki Vav, India improved. The findings were grossly of changing the strength of the Also known as the Queen’s exaggerated by the media, who dubbed connections between neurons , this richly scultured it the ‘Mozart effect’. These results and creating new ones, known as momument near Patan, Gujarat, have yet to be replicated. neuroplasticity. This is essential for was built between 1022 and 1063 learning and memory, but has also AD. The site was rediscovered in Bigger is better. The largest brain been reported to contribute to the the 1950s, where silt deposition belongs to the sperm whale, weighing recovery of lost or damaged brain had resulted in magnificently about 8 kg, whereas the average functions. preserved ornate carvings. human brain weighs a mere 1.3 kg, yet humans have more complex abilities. The human brain contains 100 billion One of the international sites Brain size generally relates to body size neurons. This claim is based on a are still to be confirmed, making rather than intelligence, larger animals dubious estimation rather than an it in fact only nine sites so far. tend to have bigger neurons and actual laborious counting endeavour. It is believed that a database therefore have bigger brains. Other Scientists in Brazil have made a more with digital information about factors such as the density of neurons reliable estimation by making a brain historically and culturally are thought to determine intelligence. ‘soup’ to evenly distribute the neurons important places will help in and count them in representative their preservation for future The adult brain can’t make new brain samples. They found the brain actually generations. Pioneering this cells. Early neuroscientists thought contains an average of 86 billion vision is the non-profit American the adult brain was in a fixed state and neurons, so only a few billion off. ■ organisation CyArk which worked incapable of regeneration. It is now well documented that neurogenesis, with the Scottish Ten project in anna ashton is a postgraduate in neuroscience using this information to promote the production of new neurons, can interest in historic monuments occur in distinct regions of the brain. around the world. ■ Drinking alcohol kills brain cells. Website: www.scottishten.org There is no doubt alcohol temporarily Twitter: @scottishten impairs brain function, but evidence suggests alcohol does not directly kill cara green is a postgraduate in biological sciences Au Summer 2014 08 These incredible microscopic images were taken by Kevin UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Mackenzie who manages the Microscopy and Histology Core Facility at the University of Aberdeen’s Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS). The Facility offers a wide variety of imaging and microscopic techniques to researchers within the University. Kevin, who has worked at the University for over 30 years, started in Anatomy before moving to Plant Science, Zoology and finally to the IMS. He is always on the lookout for something new to capture under the microscope! Many people appreciate his microscopic endeavours - he’s even worked with Au in the past - and he recently had three of his images selected for the Wellcome Images awards 2014. This is not the first time Kevin’s images have received recognition - both 2012 and 2011’s Wellcome Images Awards featured his images, and many other journals have used them for their front covers. You can see his images online at wellcomeimages.org, or on display at the Glasgow Science Centre, the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Manchester, Techniquest in Cardiff and at W5 in Belfast. Contact Kevin Mackenzie at [email protected], or for more information about the Microscopy and Histology Deparment visit http://www.abdn.ac.uk/ims/facilities/microscopy-histology. You can also Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AberdeenMicro ■

09 Top Left: Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) of male midge antennae, mag x200, (EMBO Journal cover image, 2 October 2013)

Top Middle: SEM of scales from a Madagascan moon moth, mag x500, (Wellcome Images 2011)

Top Right: SEM of kidney stone, mag x10, (Wellcome Images award 2014)

Bottom Left: SEM of head of a moth (drain) fly, mag x50, (Wellcome Images 2012)

Bottom Middle: SEM of head louse egg attached to a human hair, mag x100, (Wellcome Images 2014)

Bottom Right: Light Micrograph of daphnia, mag x50, (Microscience 2008)

Au Summer 2014 10 The Tenth Element A guided walk down the dazzling neon lit streets, conducted by Michael Graham

with many great scientific first neon light. The element was about neon signs are dependent on the discoveries outlined within christened neon from the Greek ratios of the other noble gases. Asour pages, neon was neo, meaning new. The number Neon does have many other discovered by a Scot! His name was Sir of positively charged protons in its important applications as a result of its William Ramsey, and he collaborated nucleus accounts for neon’s atomic properties. It is used in televisions and with Morris Travers (hailing from number being ten. It falls into the lasers, and neon bulbs can be used to south of the border) to uncover this noble gas group within the periodic create basic Geiger counters. Owing noble element while at University table, group 18. Noble gases are in to neon’s low melting point it can also College London. Sir Ramsey was an incredibly stable state and with be used as a refrigerant. already a prolific chemical discoverer, the exception of some very rare, Purification of air remains the having fellow ‘noble gas’ argon theorised occasions, do not form true method for retrieving the relatively amongst other elements under his compounds with other atoms. rare neon for these applications. belt. The discovery of neon came Neon only makes up a measly when Sir Ramsey and Travers froze a 0.00001 % of air, thus making it sample of argon using liquid air. They This multicoloured expensive compared to the other noble then slowly boiled it, and collected the image“ is, however, not an gases. The procedure is largely the gas produced. The gas’s absorption same as the one used by Ramsey and spectrum was obtained by applying entirely accurate picture Travers, who truly made a timeless a high voltage to the gas encased in a of true neon signs discovery the day they uncovered vacuum tube. neon. ■ Co-discoverer Travers reported: An automatic association with” the “The blaze of crimson light from the word neon would be the dazzling Michael Graham is a postgraduate in Biological tube told its own story and was a sight lights of the Blackpool strip. This Sciences to dwell upon and never forget… For multi-coloured image is, however, the moment the actual spectrum of not an entirely accurate picture of the gas did not matter in the least, for true neon signs. A sign with just nothing in the world gave a glow such neon would be reddish orange, or as we had seen.” as Travers himself described it, Ramsey and Travers had “crimson”. The variety of colours inadvertently created the world’s we are familiar with when we think

Property Neon

Density (g/dm3) 0.9002 Boiling Point (K) 27.3 Melting Point (K) 24.7 Enthalpy of vapourisation (KJ/mol) 1.75 Solubility in Water at 20oC (cm3/kg) 10.5 Atomic Number 10 Atomic Radius (calculated) (pm) 38 Ionization energy (KJ/mol) 2080 Allen electronegativity 4.79

11

Elementary A Tin-uous Link Gwen Keimpema reflects on the historical uses of tin e original list of ‘traditional’ west and north, remaining popular Though the archaeological record anniversary gifts comes in Europe up until the 18th century. shows pewter present in Ancient Thfrom Etiquette in Society, Tin has many other uses too; if you Egypt, it was during the medieval in Business, in Politics and at combine tin with copper, antimony period that the use of pewter became Home, published by Emily Post in and lead you can make pewter. extensive in Europe. 1922. This appears to be the first By the beginning of the twentieth reference to tin as the traditional century most tin was used in the tenth anniversary gift. Although many manufacture of tin plate. In the case books and websites will explain that It was the addition of tin cans, a thin sheet of tin can the malleability of tin represents “of tin to copper that adhere to steel, protecting it from a fundamental quality of married attack by acids in food. Tin plating couples, Ms. Post dismisses the first, ushered us into has served many purposes in addition fifth, and tenth gifts quite summarily: the Bronze Age in to this, including the creation of tin “the paper, wooden and tin wedding whistles, and in roofing. During the presents,” she writes, “are seldom Mesopotamia, around beginning of World War II, tin was anything but jokes.” 3000 B.C. used as tinfoil and as collapsible Tin has not, however, been so ” containers. Yet here, the spectre of easily laughed off throughout human resource acquisition loomed again; history. It was the addition of tin when the tin supply came under to copper that ushered us into the threat, other materials were sought. Bronze Age in Mesopotamia, around Thus today we have aluminium foil 3000 B.C. The proportions were and plastic tubs instead of lead or tin. small – only five to ten percent tin But in soldering, tin alloys could not to copper, but the bronze which be replaced, and even today it is one resulted was harder than copper of the single greatest uses for tin. alone, with a lower melting point From mining to trade, from ancient making it much easier to work with. history to present day, tin has held a Tin’s comparative rarity made bronze place far beyond that of merely a joke expensive to produce; Mesopotamia gift. Though valued for its ‘flexibility’ itself had no metallic resources and only comparatively recently, it is ancient cuneiform texts from the area difficult to deny the durability of tin repeatedly mention the import of as an essential component of human metal and other materials from the industry, either alone or in an alloy. east and south. It has produced bronze and brass, tin The use of tin in the production plate and alloys for soldering, and of bronze both in Mesopotamia even organ pipes and other musical and later in ancient Mediterranean instruments. ‘Traditional’ may be cultures tells only half the story. something of a stretch, but since tin’s Trade between ancient civilisations many qualities have allowed it to in the Bronze Age was clearly mould itself into our history, who’s prolific as high bronze production to say it cannot also form itself to a often occurred in areas which lacked sincere and symbolic anniversary natural tin deposits. Some scholars gift? ■ even argue that tin acquisition led to outright exploitation of foreign lands gwendolyne KEIMPEMA IS A university of aberdeen graduate by the emerging political states. Even after the Bronze Age had ended, the mining and trading of tin remained significant to the economies of our ancestors. Not only did tin continue to be used for the production of bronze, but tin oxide became a key element in pottery glazes. The evidence for the earliest tin- glazing comes from 9th century Iraq, but over the course of the following centuries it spread ILLUSTRATION: ANGELA CARVALHO

Au Summer 2014 12 Mark Gurney (rspb-images.com) Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

Giving Nature a Home Kirsty Nutt talks about the art of wildlife

Urban areas now account for more on your efforts. If flower beds just than 10% of the United Kingdom’s aren’t your bag, try planting , total land area, so our gardens and especially those that produce fruit parks can be important homes for or . Or switch to pots of many species as their natural wildflowers, they tend to require less are encroached upon. The RSPB’s weeding; just remember to use peat- (Royal Society for the Protection of free compost. Birds) Big Birdwatch is the world’s largest annual wildlife survey. REDUCE INVASIONS A number Last year, the results showed that of invasive plants in the UK came Passer domesticus, more commonly from gardens. A few are such a known as the humble House Eleanor Bentall (rspb-images.com) risk to our biodiversity that it will Sparrow, were the most common LEAVE THE WEEDS and give be illegal to sell them after April garden visitors in Aberdeen and the mower a rest. If you can, leave 2014. Visit http://www.plantlife. Aberdeenshire. But with an estimated a long patch on your lawn; this is org.uk/campaigns/inns/ for further decline of 71% in visits between 1977 great for butterflies, moths and even information. and 2008, affecting both rural and grasshoppers. ‘Weeds’ can also be urban populations, House Sparrows important sources of food for insects. are not doing so well and now have the RSPB ‘red’ status. Sturnus WATER Whether you have the vulgaris, more commonly known as space to put in a , a bird bath, or the Starling, have also seen massive just a small shallow dish, providing declines across northern Europe; fresh water for the wildlife in your numbers have declined 66% in garden can make a real difference. Britain since the mid-1970s. And it’s not just birds; hedgehog numbers WILDFLOWERS Grow as many have declined 66% in the last 13 years flowering plants as you can. Whether too. it’s a wildflower patch, a hanging Eleanor Bentall (rspb-images.com) basket, or just a pot to sit outside your So, what can we do about it? Well, door. They provide pollen, MAKE A CONNECTION whether you’ve got ten acres or just and shelter for insects. You can even Your garden is part of a much bigger a gravel driveway there’s lots you get specifically designed mixes for home for wildlife. Gaps beneath can do. Here are my top ten tips for butterflies, bats and birds. fences and shrubby borders allow wildlife gardening. wildlife to move between gardens, IVY IS ACE! Leave ivy running over helping all garden wildlife. NESTBOXES Providing somewhere fences and . It provides shelter If your outside space (or your secure for your garden birds to nest for birds like wrens, and it’s great for landlord) means that you can’t give is a great way to help wildlife in your insects too. nature a home at home, think about outdoor space. getting involved as a volunteer with PROVIDE SHELTER Why not try your local park, or a conservation

FEED THE BIRDS As the Sherman your hand at building a bug hotel? Or charity such as the RSPB which is brothers hit from Mary Poppins says get a hogitat for your local hedgehog. working together with partners “Come feed the little birds, show them Providing shelter, whether artificial or to give nature a home. For more you care”. Feeders can be attached natural, is a great way to support the information about what you can do to to trees, windows or walls, and these wildlife that lives in your garden. be part of the biggest home building days come in all sorts of funky shapes project in the United Kingdom visit and sizes. You could even put them DON’T PAVE THE WAY A low- http://homes.rspb.org.uk ■ outside your office window at work. maintenance paved garden might kirsty nutt is a university of aberdeen graduate, Put out a variety food all year round be high on your wish list, but spare now employed as a Communications officer for the and make sure you keep the feeders a thought for the wildlife that relies clean to prevent disease. rspb in east scotland

13 Science Au Natural Wonders of the Ythan Top ten reasons to visit your local National Nature Reserve Escapism Bird diversity Wild Teeming with wildlife, Ythan There have been 225 species Ythan estuary has escaped the 1 Estuary is a hidden gem right on 5of birds recorded at Ythan 8 impact of human interference our doorstop. It is the perfect place Estuary, creating a rich, diverse and is claimed to be one of the least to escape the noise and greyness of environment for everyone, not just modified estuaries in Britain. A day Aberdeen and enjoy the peace and bird-enthusiasts. There is the largest trip to the Ythan estuary can give quiet of nature. Exchange the sound breeding colony of Eider ducks found you a true sense of being in amongst of sirens for the distinctive calls of in the UK. The males have the more wildlife and nature. It is worth the Eider ducks, cries from the orange- colourful plumage, with black and journey to this estuary rather than legged oyster-catchers and the white patches and a yellow beak, taking a walk in the more urban wonderful sound of seals, grunting at making an impressive sight displaying environment of the Aberdeen City each other from the other side of the to the females. Females are a more beach. At Ythan estuary, pollution bay. drab brown compared to the males. and litter is controlled and kept to an During the summer, the numbers absolute minimum to prevent damage Accessibility of these ducks can build up to an to the wildlife. It is easily accessible from the astonishing 4000 to 5000 birds. 2 city centre; buses are available Conservation on a regular basis or it is only a 12 Terns Forvie is internationally mile drive. You will alight in the Along the sand dunes and beach 9 recognised as one of the best picturesque town of Newburgh. A 6four species of terns can be found places in Britain for close encounters track next to the bus stop will take using this for nesting. It is a with wildlife. As such it is protected you through the gorse and into the lovely sight, watching terns spiralling by a plethora of legislation and sand dunes. If you have time for a through the sky and agilely plucking included in the European Natura 2000 longer walk, follow the road across fish from the sea. The most common network of protected areas, which to the other side of the estuary and of these is the sandwich tern, with an includes bird life and habitats. There explore the Forvie National Nature average of 1000 breeding pairs every are also laws which protect certain Reserve. year. Unfortunately other species of species that can be found on the terns do not fare so well. The little reserve. It is an example of an area Walks tern is the rarest species of tern in the which is of high conservation value, There are three different options UK, Ythan estuary contains 25% of the and management strategies which 3 for walking. A short walk takes entire UK population, which is just 15 help to maintain the high levels of you onto the beach, which is the to 35 pairs each year. diversity. best viewing point for seals. A medium length walk is around the Seals and otters Reconnect nature reserve and in between the Ythan estuary is also home to one In a culture where being sand dunes. The third walk, for the 7 of our most charismatic marine 10 indoors in the norm, it is easy sportiest of you, is a 12 mile walk mammals, the seal. Both grey and to forget the benefits of being outside from the mouth of the River Don, common seals can be found here and connecting with nature. Studies along the entire length of the beach – in large numbers, sometimes over have proven that nature benefits our best at low tide – and returning by bus 500 seals, and the noise they make mental health and well-being. When from Newburgh. is extraordinary. The large empty you are struggling with deadlines or expanse of beach at the very mouth of assessments, being in the outdoors Dunes the river Ythan provides an excellent can help to reduce your stress levels. There is a spectacular sand dune haul-out site for the seals. They are There is nothing more enjoyable than 4system, reminiscent of a North extremely curious animals and will being active outdoors in a beautiful African desert. Bare sand dunes pop their heads out of the water as place, and according to Natural starkly contrasted to the heathland close as they can to observe you – and England, people who live near a behind them, with ripples of sand for you to observe them. The estuary green space can actually live longer. constantly changing shape and is a perfect haul-out site for seals So if you have a spare day at the patterns. This is a highly unusual because they are easily disturbed weekend, take a pair of binoculars, a environment as generally sand dunes and require easy access to the open flask of coffee, some lunch and go and are covered in Marram grass. This is sea. The seals haul-out for resting, explore the wonders of nature at your one of the best examples of a mobile reproduction, moulting and giving local nature reserve. dune system in the UK, as the sand birth. The river Ythan also hosts a dunes are not rooted together by healthy population of otters and, For information on how to get to the plants they are constantly shifting if you are lucky, you may catch a reserve, and more details please visit: with the wind. The unpredictable glimpse of one. Otters can live happily nnr-scotland.org.uk/forvie/ ■ nature of the sand has led to a village in the river and in the sea. Although and church being consumed by it they can be referred to as ‘river’ and Sarah Brady is an Undergraduate in Zoology during the 15th century, giving the ‘sea’ otters they are actually the same Ythan Estuary cultural importance. species.

Au Summer 2014 14 Finding Napier’s Bones The rise of the logarithm is explored by Michael Stringer

you walk down Edinburgh’s considered the construction of appears in perhaps the most beautiful Princes Street, past Waverley logarithms as a question of dynamics, equation in mathematics, Euler’s If Station and beyond the Scottish defining his log as y=”Nap.log” (x). identity, eiπ+1=0. National Gallery, you will eventually Around 10 million entries had to be Napier may also be largely credited find yourself overlooking St computed to complete his table of with popularising the notation of Cuthbert’s Church. It lies below the logarithmic values, taking some 20 the decimal point as we know it Castle, unnoticed by the passing years. The power of simplification today. Written calculations were crowds; the real interest however is in was considerable, taking one of often of some length, particularly a memorial plaque within to Scottish Napier’s own examples, consider in astronomy and mathematics. mathematician John Napier. But what √(1000000×500000), conventionally After a while handwritten numbers is it about this 16th century figure this would be solved by multiplying in dense script might blur without that merits such importance? As it the numbers and extracting the root, a convenient notation to separate happens, quite a lot. to reach the approximate solution them - the decimal point. In addition His greatest claim to fame is 707106.78. With Napier’s table Napier can lay claim to providing the invention of logarithms. In the however: the first example of a binary system, Descriptio, published in 1614, Napier giving algorithms to convert between expounded a system which reduced decimal and binary, as well as much of the burden of multiplication demonstrating how to perform binary and division to addition and arithmetic operations. Lastly, Napier’s subtraction. As he put it: The value 346573 is then the Nap. bones, or numbering rods, provided a log of the required value 707106, portable aid for multiplication using Seeing there is nothing requiring only addition and division, the Arabian lattice method, and were “ along with the rules of logarithms. introduced in his Rabdologiae of (right well-beloved students These rules of logarithms remain 1617, and extended further with his of the Mathematics) that in use today. Napier also recognised calculating machine, the Promptuary. the potential utility of a base ten To demonstrate the impact of is so troublesome ... nor logarithm, particularly with log(1)=0, Napier’s work we trace one example: that doth more molest and however ill health prevented Tycho Brahe, the astronomer with him from doing all the necessary the false nose, encouraged Napier in hinder calculators, than the calculations personally, and much of his work. Kepler, who collaborated multiplications, divisions, this work instead fell to the English with Brahe, made extensive use of mathematician Henry Briggs. logarithms in carrying out his own square and cubical extractions When computational power is as calculations, fêting them as a great of great numbers…I began cheap as it is now there may seem invention. The work of Kepler was less need of logarithms to ease the developed in turn, being used by therefore to consider in my computational burden. Nonetheless Newton to underpin his theory of mind by what certain and uses still abound; the Richter, decibel gravity. and pH scales are all given in terms The 400th anniversary year of ready art I might remove of logarithms and log graphs are Napier’s seminal publication is those hindrances frequently used for experiments certainly an apt time to reflect on his ” involving large quantities. Meanwhile work, which has had, and continues The present definition of the natural log often appears in to have, such influence. Certainly he logarithms is that the log of a number mathematics, for example it is was one of the giants. As Laplace put is the power to which the base of the natural log that we may use to it, Napier “by shortening the labours, the log must be raised to obtain x, determine the time taken for a given doubled the life of the astronomer”, e.g. working base 10 the log of 1000 amount of growth, whether in finance no mean feat. ■ is 3 since 103=1000. The original or radioactive decay. Further, Euler’s logarithms introduced by Napier number, e, though not explicitly Michael Stringer is a Posgraduate in Medical would today be considered as the stated, is first used by Napier in Sciences quotient of two logarithms. Napier calculating his logarithms, and

15 Illustration: Joe Kern Log Book The Science Delusion Au reads Rupert Sheldrake’s new book

ovocative from the title is coming home. It’s easy to scoff at Science has historically faced onwards, Sheldrake’s popular such thoughts, but Sheldrake’s book many challenges far greater and Prscience book tackles ten core is based around these ideas, which more vociferous than Sheldrake’s beliefs which most scientists take science cannot yet fully explain. while continuing to make new and for granted. These beliefs, or as he The tenth of Sheldrake’s scientific fascinating discoveries the world over, refers to them ‘assumptions’, he feels dogmas states, “Mechanistic medicine everyday. I don’t doubt for a second have hardened into dogmas. It is his is the only kind which really works”. that Sheldrake means well, but it opinion that if these assumptions I have to say that I myself hold this is little surprise that Sheldrake has were cast aside it could make science belief, perhaps I am exactly the come into huge criticism for this book “freer, more interesting and more kind of person this book is aimed and is now a controversial figure. fun.” at. Sheldrake turns ten dogmas into This book makes for an Pretty bold. But who is Rupert questions, thus forming the chapters entertaining, thought-provoking Sheldrake, and what is he talking of the book, so this dogma becomes: read which is very accessible to a lay about? “Is mechanistic medicine the only audience. But it should be taken with Rupert Sheldrake, 71, has an kind which really works?” a pinch of salt. Although compelling, impressive resume. He studied Accepted assumptions are it is naturally blinkered. Reading Biochemistry at Cambridge and was transformed into the beginning of it probably won’t change your life awarded a fellowship at Harvard each enquiry. Sheldrake’s patient but or alter the way you carry out your before returning to Cambridge for charismatic in his outline of each research but I would say this; it could his PhD. He then worked as a plant dogma, and he provides the reader potentially equip you with some left physiologist in India before his career with thought-provoking questions field discussion points to allow you began a new phase - parapsychology. which are taxing, particularly those to play Devil’s advocate at your next He became interested in the concerning consciousness, since journal club or tutorial. ■ unexplained powers of animals such science is thus far largely unable to as whether dogs know if their owner answer them. Michael Graham is a Postgraduate in Biological Sciences

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[email protected] S CE for more information! for science! Au Summer 2014 16 Payne’s Chain Reaction The Chain Continues! This is a quiz with a difference; each answer links to the next forming a chain which can provide clues to any questions you get stuck on. The links range from as obvious as a shared word to more obscure facts and play- on-words. Finally, in the spirit of scientific research, collaboration is encouraged!

1. In which Microsoft Windows game are your default opponents “Pauline”, “Michele” and “Ben”?

2. Which children’s programme, first broadcast in 1965, had characters called Dougal, Zebedee, Brian, Ermintrude and Dylan?

3. What geological term is given to a political victory in which one candidate or party receives an overwhelming majority of the votes? 4. John Pasche designed the logo for which band?

5. Which 2003 film sees Dewey Finn (Jack Black) pose as a teacher and enter his class into Battle of the Bands?

6. What is the name of the aperture formed by the iris?

7. What type of lemur fills the same ecological niche as a woodpecker using its long, thin middle finger? 8. Who is the archenemy of Peter Pan?

9. Which J. D. Salinger novel of 1951 has sold 65 million copies with its protagonist, Holden Caulfield, becoming an icon for teenage rebellion?

10. Manna, supposedly given to the Israelites by God, is a type of what staple food?

11. What can also be referred to as a “sarnie” or a “butty”? 12. If Paris has a “metro” and London has an “underground”, what does New York have?

13. What did Bruce Reynolds mastermind in 1963? 14. Up to 1981, what was London’s BT Tower known as?

15. Who was born on 22 July 2013? 16. What drinking game is won by the first team whose members have sequentially consumed their beverages?

17. What is “Prosopagnosia” an inability to recognise?

18. Who has appeared on the cover of “Sport Illustrated Swimsuit Issue” a record five times?

19. Created by Tyra Banks, which reality television programme is sometimes abbreviated to “BNTM”?

For all the answers go to 20. In the 2007 film “Hot Fuzz” where does lead character and exceptional policeman, Nicholas Angel, get told to go if he wants to be www.ausm.org.uk! 17 “a big cop in a small town”? Puzzle: Nick Payne Au Summer 2014 Interested in science? Interested in journalism? Interested in neither but want to be part of a magazine designed and produced by students? If you answered “yes!” then we may have what you’re looking for! Au Science Magazine and its accompanying website is produced entirely by the University of Aberdeen Science Journalism Society, so every aspect of the magazine is run by students — that’s from editing and writing to design and publishing. How to get involved with Au magazine SCIENCE

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