A list of all SciBar events in reverse chronological order

  • 3rd July 2006 – Relativity for Dummies

    Professor Jeff Forshaw from Manchester University introduced us to the basics of Relativity, the observations of light on which it is based and then some of the incredibly accurate but weird stuff that it forecasts – Big Bangs, curved space-time,… continue reading

  • 5th June 2006 – Synaesthesia

    Synaesthesia – What you see is what you hear Rob Black from Liverpool University will explore with us the overlapping of senses in affected people which is Synaesthesia. What colour is a C sharp? Synaesthesia is a fascinating positive abnormality… continue reading

  • 8th May 2006 – The Evolution of Brain Size

    Professor Robin Dunbar from Liverpool University will lead our discussion on what caused the incredibly fast increase in human brain size in such a very short evolutionary period of time. How do we compare with other animals? What did size… continue reading

  • 3rd April 2006 – How Memory Works

    Dr Lee Wickham from Manchester University helped us explore. How does the memory manage to store such prodigious amounts of information, most of which we will not consciously use again? Why does the brain bother? Is that word “consciously” significant.… continue reading

  • 6th March 2006 – The Sperm’s Tale

    The Sperm’s Tale – The Evolution of Promiscuity Professor Tim Birkhead from Sheffield University asks whether promiscuity is favoured by evolution and why sperm have to do battle in different ways to achieve success in fertilization in lots of different… continue reading

  • 6th February 2006 – Immortality and Control of the Ageing Process

    Immortality and control of the ageing process – when, not if. Dr Aubrey de Grey, Cambridge University, discussed the work to make Methuselah mice that live “forever“. What is the process of ageing? Can we control it and eradicate it… continue reading

  • 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