Exciting lecture at Manchester University

On thursday 12th April, I was very excited to have attended a lecture at my university given by the youthful and inspiring Professor Brian Cox. I went straight from work so was a scruffy and nerdy as can be, and met my other half who was obediently waiting for me outside the visitors centre. There was a 30 minute drinks reception beforehand, I guess to allow people chance to arrive and relax. I had a free glass of white wine. During this time I was able to buy a copy of Prof. Cox's Book 'Why E =MC2 and why should we care?' I was thrilled about this and look forward to reading it, even if I don't understand it. The lecture was simply called The Universe, it lasted an hour and was wonderful. As soon as it began I noted that Brian's presenting style and manner is exactly the same as he is on tv. I feel silly writing that but it is true. It also seemed familiar but that is to be expected. It is the same lecture he has given at other venues around the UK and I have seen it on YouTube. This lecture was also filmed so I am hoping that it will also crop up there. In the meantime please enjoy this



The Q&A session afterwards was very interesting and entertaining and as we left the theatre some people were lucky enough to get their picture taken with Brian. I kicked myself as I'd forgotten my digital camera, and I kicked myself even harder after I'djust left, realising I could have had my book signed! As this was so popular and booked up rather quickly, (less than 12 hours) Brian is doing this again here in June if he can. So on the plus side I have a valid excuse to go and see it again ;) Thanks Brian for an interesting and educational evening.

Snottites anyone?

This post is inspired by the final episode of a brilliant new documentary series called Wonders of The Solar System which is presented by Professor Brian Cox of Manchester University. (You can find him on Twitter as @profbriancox). Until watching it I had never even heard of snottites so this is like a new discovery and exciting new learning experience for me. Thank you Prof. Cox for that!

So then, what on earth are snottites? Any chemist, geologist or person who likes to visit caves will undoubtably be familiar with stalagmites and stalactites. Those huge icicle like structures found in limestone caves which grow upwards from the cavernous floors and hang down from their ceilings. They are deposits of calcium carbonate, also known as calcite, which are formed because water rich in calcium carbonate drips through the ceilings of caves and thus onto the floor of the caves as well. As the water evaporates, it leaves behind  these deposits which slowly ‘grow’ giving stalactites that hang from the ceiling and stalagmites which build upwards from the cave floor. They take thousands and thousands of years to grow and are impressive to see and very many beautiful photographs of them have been taken.


(Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:USA_carlsbad_caverns1_NM.jpg)

This leads me on nicely to talk about snottites, which are also found hanging from the ceilings of caves. Their name is a clue to their characteristic features, namely they are rather more gluey and snot like than our calcium based friends. You could be forgiven for thinking that a giant bat had flown by and sneezed leaving its mucous gobbed all over the cave walls! So what exactly is this intriguing if disgusting looking stuff? Snottites consist of colonies of single celled extremophilic bacteria. Such extremophiles are so called because they can survive in conditions here on earth which would be hazardous if not fatal to human beings. They live in dark damp places beneath the surface of the earth and can live in extremes of temperature, pH etc. In sulfidic caves, these bacteria derive their energy out of the water which enters the caves from below or drips down from above. This water contains hydrogen sulphide which the bacteria metabolise using oxygen to produce energy and sulphuric acid as their main waste product. Thus snottites have a more fluidic consistency and are very acidic with a pH of between 0 and 1.

This photo courtesy of www.caveslime.org

Researchers are interested in studying the geochemistry of these microbes and understanding their sulphur cycle. There is now one much studied toxic sulphur cave in Mexico called Cueva de Villa Luz (Cave of the lighted house). This is the very same cave which Prof. Cox visited for ‘Wonders’ and is where these photo’s were taken. Snotites have also been found closer to home in some caves in Wales ;) I think a visit may be in order. Whilst I have seen stalactites and stalagmites, I have yet to see snottites. I don’t think I could bring myself to touch one though. As intriguing as they are, I mean yuk, just yuk! Perhaps I may change my mind on that if the times comes, all in the name of science and experience.


(photo credit: Dan S Jones-Penn State)

Interestingly,it is also not known where these microbes actually originate from. These organisms may perhaps be able to tell us more about the early microbes which existed on earth and even more excitingly, about the possibility of organisms which may live or have lived deep beneath the surface of other planets or moons such as Mars and Europa. Lets keep on investigating shall we? I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey. Thanks for staying with me through the gobs xxx

Happy new hairdo

Whilst everyone else has gone back to work today after easter I still have time off ;D So I treated myself to a long overdue hairdo. I love it and my new hairdresser. What do you think? I feel like I've been thrown back to the 1970;s ;p


And from the back..........



Fabulous huh? How is it possible to have a haircut and leave the salon feeling like you hair looks longer than it did when you went in? ;D

xxx

Big Bang Science Fair 2010!

Phew, I am late in posting this as this time last weekend it was all over! Many apologies for the delay, it was great fun but very tiring. This fair took place thursday 11th March to saturday 13th March at Manchester Central. I was there for 2 whole days on friday and saturday.



When I first walked through the door and had a walk round I was in total awe of the place and knew it was going to be exciting so much to see! I was here as a WISE woman rather than STEM Ambassador. Its the same thing really only we were encouraging young girls to think about taking up a career in science and they get to see that real female scientists exist. I spent most of my time working with 2 lovely indian girls and we all got to wear a lovely pink t-shirt.
                                                   

Flattered by the camera as usual! There were live shows going on but obviously I couldn't go to them so missed out on some good stuff and seeing/ meeting some well known shows and scientists. There was Brainiac Live, TED Talks, Bang Goes The Theory and The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures.
When I did get a chance to see some things there were all sorts of unusual and fascinating stuff, such as a coffee powered car! I got to make my own badge and do some welding too. I learn't that you can also weld with chocolate ;D I noticed a DNA model made entirely from pop tins, a great photo opportunity.

Its lovely to see everyone enthuse about science, having fun in what they do. I would do this again in a heartbeat. Nice to meet such lovely folks and to be involved in engaging the public in science! ;D I hope to do more of this.

Jeff Goldblum on Relativity and beer!

Love this ad from 1991



Apparently the Holsten Brewery is in Hamburg. I didn't know or realise this when I was holidaying there in 2007! All of the JG ads for this product were hilarious IMHO ;D

Sage advice and inspirational talk about achieving happiness

Hope you all enjoyed this talk as much as I did ;) xxx

Origin of The Faeces?

I thought it only fitting to post this around Darwin day ;p



( Thank you to Private Eye Magazine) Happy Darwin day  everybody ;D