New scientific trends are hardly unfounded at the British Science festival. It is here that the term “scientist” was coined and the word “dinosaur” was first used. Brand new research showcased at this years festival:
Popular cosmology model needs revision
Our view of the cosmos might need correction. Four per cent of our universe is formed of matter, 21 per cent is dark-matter and the rest is dark energy. All experiments looking for direct evidence of dark matter are based on the standard model of cosmology. This model doesn’t stick in the simulation of dwarf galaxy formation (believed to be made up of dark matter) created by Durham scientists. Announcing the results of their study, Prof. Carlos Frenk expressed his concern over inconsistency of the standard model and indicated it needed revision before any dark matter was to be found.
Rare elements
growing sparse
Rare earth elements used in manufacture of mobile gadgets will soon be in short supply. To meet future demands these elements will need to be mined at undiscovered locations or recycled from electronic waste. China supplies 97 per cent of the world’s rare earth elements.
Technology needs sport
The gradual fall in performance times of athletes can be directly attributed to use of technology in sporting events. Prof. Steve Haake of Sheffield Hallam University warned sport-governing authorities of stagnation in world sport records as a result of banning new technology. His work reveals the lack of any new records since the ban on the hydrodynamic swimsuits after the Beijing Olympics. If the ban persists and records are not re-set, these records could remain “untouched for decades”.
War on terror
was a mistake
The outcome of the over-militarised reaction after 9/11 has been radically different than expected. Prof. Paul Rogers from Bradford University presented results of his study on post-9/11 events.
“The analysis of the first ten years of the ‘war on terror’ after 9/11 examines the expected outcomes of the war, including a defeated Al Qaeda movement, stable and pro-western states in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a diminished Iran. It contrasts these with the actual outcomes, including over 2000,000 people killed, over seven million refugees, and an unstable Iraq, a more influential Iran and a war in
Afghanistan about to enter its second decade.” He suggested 9/11 should have been treated as an event of “transnational criminality” and dealt with action by a stronger Interpol and a decisive international justice system.