A list of all SciBar events in reverse chronological order

  • 9th January 2006 – Nuclear Fission & Nuclear Fusion

    Nuclear Fission & Nuclear Fusion – What’s the difference and what’s the issue? Paul Howarth, from BNFL, has worked for some time on both nuclear fission and nuclear fusion and explained how the two entirely different processes create useable energy continue reading

  • 5th December 2005 – Virtual Reality

    Virtual Reality – what’s virtual about it? Terry Hewitt, Director of Research Computing at Manchester Computing, University of Manchester led our discussion. Terry explored the role of virtual reality, and some important perception issues were addressed. He also showed how virtual continue reading

  • 7th November 2005 – The Mind, The Self, The Brain

    The mind, the self, the brain – which is the real you? And who’s really in charge? Dr Martin Farrel of Manchester University led the discussion on “Self” – What does it seem to be? What is it? Exploring your view and continue reading

  • 3rd October 2005 – Ancient DNA and Archaeology

    Ancient DNA and Archaeology – What can we use it for? Dr Ken Brown from Manchester University led us into a discussion on ancient DNA.  How do we get this DNA? Where from? Is it any use? What can we continue reading

  • 5th September 2005 – Titan Landing & Deep Impact

    Landing on Titan and the Deep Impact comet mission Professor Ian Morison from Jodrell Bank returned to Knutsford SciBar after his very successful visit in December on “Hunting Aliens”. What an interesting job Professor Morison has; straight from hunting aliens continue reading

  • 1st August 2005 – Antimatter

    Antimatter – does it matter? Professor Roger Barlow of Manchester University High Energy Physics Department led the discussion on “where’s all the antimatter gone?”. Could we fly to another planet only to be annihilated  when we find it’s made of continue reading

  • 4th July 2005 – Ice Ages

    Ice Ages – should I buy a new anorak? Dr Simon Robinson from Manchester University led this discussion on the history and causes of various Ice Ages and their impact on climate. Are we heading for a new Ice Age continue reading

  • 6th June 2005 – Cloning

    A discussion on cloning – will there ever be another you? Dr Brian Lieberman from Manchester University St Mary’s hospital led us into a discussion on cloning and explained the principles and difficulties with reference to studies of twins brought continue reading

  • 9th May 2005 – Creative & Innovative Thinking

    Creative and innovative thinking – how do scientists and inventors do it? Kevin Byron  looked at how scientists and ourselves develop radical new ideas and at the techniques that can be used to flick our brain down strange and unusual continue reading

  • 4th April 2005 – DNA

    DNA – It blows your mind! Or does it? Professor John Quinn from  Liverpool University led April’s discussion on DNA; addressing questions such as “how does a cell know whether to make brains or bones?”, “what does it mean to continue reading

  • 7th March 2005 – Can Machines Imagine?

    Can machines imagine? Not just think – can they be conscious? In this session we were joined by one the foremost researchers into electronic consciousness who very kindly came up from Imperial College London to lead our discussion, Emeritus Professor continue reading

  • 7th February 2005 – What is the Universe Made Of?

     What is the Universe made of? Charmed quarks? Bits of string? The discussion, led by Dr Fred Loebinger from the High Energy Physics department at Manchester University, covered the history of fundamental particles – atoms, electrons, neutrons, quarks, gluons and continue reading