Science & Technology

Few would argue that the discovery of penicillin, and the antibiotics revolution that followed, was one of the most far-reaching breakthroughs of twentieth-century medical science. But infection treatment itself has[...]

‘Forever' Chemicals, otherwise known as PFAs, are a large group of synthetic organic compounds that have been around – literally - since the 1930s, when they were discovered, quite by[...]

In 1953, the scientific world was abuzz with the discovery of the structure of DNA by James Watson & Francis Crick, but back then, few were aware that it was[...]

Over the next decade, AI is set to transform healthcare by introducing machines with human-like intelligence that operate with greater speed and cost-efficiency than traditional methods. This technological shift spans[...]

This month, we welcome guest speaker Dr Ian Goodall, to talk to us about the invention of DNA fingerprinting, and the British scientist who pioneered the technique, back in the[...]

Memory: What and where is it, how does it work, what can we do to improve it, and why is it sometimes so tantalisingly elusive? In this intriguing, interactive presentation, Sue[...]

In 1929, Edwin Hubble established a correlation between galactic redshift and distance. For nearly a century, the prevailing scientific consensus has attributed this redshift to cosmic expansion, forming the foundation[...]

For over a century, the ultimate recognition of ground-breaking scientific research has been the award of a Nobel Prize. But there’s another series of annual awards, less prestigious but no[...]

Armed with a deeper understanding of the drivers of antibiotic resistance, covered at last month’s meeting*, Beryl Oppenheim (York u3a) will now explore the challenges faced in preventing it or[...]

While most people are aware of the huge concerns about antibiotic resistance, there are often misunderstandings regarding what it means and how it works. In this talk – the first[...]

When, exactly 200 years ago in 1825, the young Charles Darwin arrived in Edinburgh to train to be a doctor, little could he have imagined that, just six years later,[...]

Ever since the advent of agriculture, our ancestors needed a way to measure the passing of time; not just the time of day but, more importantly, the time of year[...]

This month's talk, by Claudio Elgueta of Abingdon U3A, is based on a famous lecture from 1943, given by the great Erwin Schrodinger in Dublin, where he'd fled from Nazi[...]

'Fast Fashion Fuelling Global Waste Crisis, UN Chief Warns' was the shocking headline of a recent report from the UN. But that's only part of the story, because the clothing[...]

When we think about what's really essential for human survival, it's air, food and water that immediately spring to mind. But there's a fourth one, something else we also can't[...]

If you were living in Sheffield fifty years ago, you'll be familiar with this image. It's an artists' impression of how the city's revolutionary new driverless mini-tram monorail system would[...]

Have you ever thought about whether you got your amazing intelligence from your parents? Or maybe you've been wondering whether that grumpy old git in your local u3a group got[...]

Geology, so they say, is as old as the hills, but it's a very broad field, and the planet we call home is blessed with some very odd geological quirks.[...]

For over a century, the ultimate recognition of ground-breaking scientific research has been the award of a Nobel Prize. But there’s another series of annual awards, less prestigious but no[...]

It was around 150 years ago that Lewis Carroll published ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’, his fantastical tale of a strange world where everything is reversed, as if in a[...]

Our speaker this month, Michael Wright, convenor of the High Wycombe u3a Science group, was placed on the liver transplant waiting list in 2022.  This talk is based on what[...]

Over 7000 extra-Solar planets have already been located, in ca. 5000 planetary systems, thanks to space science missions designed and launched to detect and characterise them.  The ultimate prize would[...]

The 'One Health' concept, a global initiative developed over the last 20 years, involving a wide range of scientific disciplines and approaches, seeks to integrate human and veterinary medicine, food,[...]

Around 90% of over-65's take prescribed medication (often several), and, for at least some of these patients, the combination remains appropriate, year in, year out. However, this cannot be assumed,[...]

These large, complex molecules are involved in almost every function of living cells, yet, until very recently, their spatial configurations – the key to their versatility – had been resolved[...]

Think about self-experimentation, and it probably conjures up an image like this... Robert Louis Stevenson's classic yarn of the mad doctor and his evil alter ego. But just occasionally, truth[...]

Ever thought of getting your DNA tested (or maybe your pet's)? How do you go about it? What can you learn? What do you need to consider before going ahead[...]

Once only the stuff of science-fiction, recent advances in technology – and our concerns about the long-term habitability of Planet Earth – have made the colonisation of space not just[...]

by Ian Hawker (East Suffolk u3a). Hydroelectric, tidal, and wave power are all forms of renewable energy that harness the power of moving water to generate electricity. Hydroelectric systems extract[...]

For over a century, the ultimate recognition of ground-breaking scientific research has been the award of a Nobel Prize. But there's another series of annual awards, less prestigious but no[...]