Blog posts
The Royal Bath & West show – brilliant and wet!
Blogging science to life
Fri 4 June 2010, Written by: Nicole
At-Bristol team have returned from a lovely day at the Royal Bath & West show! The sun and At-Bristol were out in force yesterday on the Destination Bristol stand of the Bath & West show.
We had lots of fun chatting to the crowds, showing them science tricks and giving them the chance to try their hand at design and engineering with the ‘tin foil boat’ challenge!
Everyone got a square of tin foil the same size with which to make a boat, of their own design. The first test was to see if the vessel floated and after that the real challenge began; to see how many marbles the boat could hold before sinking and meeting a watery end! It was great to see family members battling it out against each other and good to know good old-fashioned sibling rivalry isn’t dead!
Thanks to everyone who had a go - there were some really impressive scores, and by the end of the day the leader board looked like this:
1. Jake - 60 marbles
2. Josh - 48 marbles
3. Thomas – 43 marbles
4. Jessica – 41 marbles
5. Henry and Charlie – 35 marbles
7. Harry – 33 marbles
8. Lucy and Milly – 29 marbles
10. Catherine and Emily – 28 marbles
Well done to Jake for his whopping score and to Josh and Thomas – you all win a family ticket to At-Bristol!
Question of the fortnight: Why do some people sneeze when they look into the sun?
Blogging science to life
Sat 28 May 2011, Written by: Nicole
Question via twitter from @WalkSnap
Interestingly enough this is a question that has been puzzling people for centuries; even Aristole asked why the heat of the sun prompts us to sneeze and that was in 4th Century BC! The ‘photic sneeze reflex’ (‘sneezing when looking into the sunlight’ to you and me) is actually quite common - 10% of the population are photic sneezers as it is a genetic trait.
Sneezing is controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system which feeds into the part of the brainstem called the medulla oblongata. The problem which arises when trying to answer the question is that the way the nervous system coordinates a normal sneeze it is still not fully understood.
Yet there are a couple of explanations for why photic sneezing happens, it might be that nerve impulses from the different nerve endings around the nose and eye could become mixed up and the brain could get confused where the impulses came from, which would also explain why some people sneeze when they tweeze their eyebrows!
Another theory is that the nerves at the base of the medulla are a tangled web of nerve wires, when bright sunlight hits our eyes the parasympathetic system’s usual response is to constrict the pupils and so limit the amount of light entering the eye, but for some people whose medullas are wired differently sunlight triggers a different reflex – a sneeze!
Are you a photic sneezer?
If you sneeze a set number of times on exposure to light, you sneeze depending on light contrast i.e entering bright sunlight, the sneeze takes time to ‘recharge’ and if you have a close family member with a similar sneezing reaction to light – you are probably a photic sneezer!
If you are why not come out of the dark and let us know!
Thanks to New Scientist for the answer
Remember every fortnight, we are answering your science questions about the human body. It's all part of finding out how amazing you are, in the run up to the opening of our new exhibition All About Us in February 2011.
Do you have a science question about the human body?
Tweet your question to @atbristol using the hashtag #QF and we’ll answer one question every fortnight!
Find out more information about our new exhibition All About Us opening in February 2011
Professor Richard Gregory 1923-2010
Blogging science to life
Wed 19 May 2010, Written by: Nicole
It is with deep sadness we share the news that Professor Richard Gregory, founder of the first hands-on science centre in the UK, passed away this week.
A keen promoter of science education, Richard founded the Bristol Exploratory in 1978. During its time up until it closed in September 1999, it attracted over 2million visitors who for the first time were able to ‘play with science’.
After the closure of the Exploratory, Richard was a leading advisor of the development of At-Bristol, sitting on the Board during 1997 and 1998. More recently he appeared in the Alice Through the Looking Glass exhibition in a ‘meeting him’ style interview on video that was about his passion; visual perception illusions. This video is being adapted into At-Bristol’s latest exhibition, All About Us, opening in February 2011.
Trainee science communicators had Richard as their role model and many of At-Bristol's staff talked about him with reverence and love, making it even more special that he was still such a key part of the development of the new centre.
Dr. Goéry Delacôte, CEO of At-Bristol, said: “Richard is a character who will be missed, not only for his love of science, but also his personality and humour that was an integral part of him. It is also with sadness that he will miss At-Bristol’s 10th Birthday celebrations this July, but a man who will be very much remembered during the time, and through the work he has left behind.”
Question of the fortnight: What causes a stitch and what is the best way to get rid of it?
Blogging science to life
Tue 18 May 2010, Written by: Nicole
Question via twitter from @SouthvilleRC
The exact cause of a stitch isn't known, but it is thought that it may occur when blood is diverted from the stomach to the muscles which have a greater demand for blood when exercising. If the stomach is digesting food it may go into spasm due to the lack of oxygenated blood.
To ease off a stitch you have to lower the intensity of exercise, this means blood can be diverted back to the stomach to allow it to finish digestion. Deep breathing and stretching your arms above your head also helps.
Jules Richards
Personal Trainer Dip PT, Cert SMT
Core Fitness Consultancy
Thanks to Jules for the answer which has certainly given us food for thought!
Every fortnight, we are answering your science questions about the human body. It's all part of finding out how amazing you are, in the run up to the opening of our new exhibition All About Us in February 2011.
Do you have a science question about the human body?
Tweet your question to @atbristol using the hashtag #QF and we’ll answer one question every fortnight!
Find out more information about our new exhibition All About Us opening in February 2011
Put the experts Under Pressure!
Blogging science to life
Mon 12 April 2010, Written by: Nicole
Are you confused about fantastic forces? Well head down and pose your questions to the experts! Engineering experts from University of Bristol will be coming to At-Bristol Friday 14 May from 10am.
In particular they will be looking at pesky pressure and the problems it produces so come take part in the demos and activities and put the experts under pressure!
Then you can wonder around At-Bristol putting your new knowledge to the test on the exhibits!
Question of the fortnight: Is a brain transplant possible?
Blogging science to life
Thu 6 May 2010, Written by: Nicole
Are brain transplants a possibility in the future?
This all depends on what you count as a brain transplant, as transplant is already possible for some parts of the brain. The retina, which is at the back of your eye, is technically part of the brain and retinal transplants are already carried out - some blind people have even had their sight restored as a result.
There is also lots of research going into stem cell transplants. Stem cells are essential repairing cells which can be used to replace lost cells in the brains of individuals with Parkinson’s disease. But this is still in the experimental stage.
In regards to a complete brain transplant there are still lots of interesting questions surrounding it, such as if you transplanted your brain it would also transplant your memories which could be very strange.
There is also a function of the body called proprioception, which is how your brain can tell where parts of your body are, such as where your arms and legs are. If you had a brain transplant at 20, it could take 20 years for the new brain to relearn its new body – how does that sound?!
Nadine Becker and Pete Etchells
University of Bristol Neuroscientists (from At-Bristol's Brain Awareness Week)
Thanks to Nadine and Pete for that brain boggling answer!
Do you have a science question about the human body?
Tweet your question to @atbristol using the hashtag #QF and we’ll answer one question every fortnight!
Find out more information about our new exhibition All About Us opening in February 2011
Richard Holloway lecture in memory of Louis Sherwood in At-Bristol
Blogging science to life
Wed 4 May 2011, Written by: Nicole
As part of the Festival of Ideas season on 19 May, At-Bristol will be holding a lecture in memory of businessman and entrepreneur Louis Sherwood. Remembered for many things, notably his involvement in businesses and cultural initiatives around the Bristol area such as At-Bristol itself, he was also an invaluable member of the Wessex Water Services Board and the RSA Council and because of that, the evening has been generously sponsored by Wessex Water and the RSA.
Richard Holloway, writer and former Bishop of Edinburgh, will be exploring the role of disloyalty within society which allows new values to come through and understanding of those values being accepted into the mainstream. He will be exploring the role of disloyalty in the creative arts and how it can also be an important virtue in religion.
Set to be interesting and thought-provoking, we ask that you make a £10 minimum donation and all proceeds of the evening will go a worthy cause chosen by the Sherwood family.
Please call 0845 345 1235 to book tickets.
Cost: £10/ £8 Time:7.30pm – 9.00pm
The low-down from At-Bristol’s Sky News media hub
Blogging science to life
Thu 22 April 2010, Written by: Nicole
Phew – what an exciting week! From Tuesday 20 April At-Bristol’s top floor began its transformation into Sky’s news media hub for the Leadership election debate. With metres of electric cable, flood lights and plenty of plasma screens to install the Venue hire team were kept busy!
.JPG "Jounralists gather in At-Bristol")
Then Thursday saw the arrival of journalists from the country’s media and politicians from all the political parties who gathered in At-Bristol to watch the eagerly anticipated Bristol leg of the election debate. The atmosphere in the room was excited and tense as the live feed from the Arnolfini showed the Leaders going head to head. As the debate ended things were only just starting in At-Bristol as the journalists posed question to politicians on ‘spin alley’, speculated as to whom had won and live media feeds went out to over news programmes.
Outside the atmosphere on Millennium Square was amazing as people from all over the city came and settled down watch the debate on the big screen. Mr Incredible and Captain America turned up and one person even felt the need to streak to release the tension!
.JPG "Crowds watch the debate in Millennium Square")
Just all in a week’s work for At-Bristol staff!
Looking for somewhere to watch the big Bristol election debate?
Blogging science to life
Thu 22 April 2010, Written by: Nicole
Well head down to Millennium Square today for 8pm where the Sky Leadership debate will be shown on the Big Screen. Perfect if you want to get into the Bristol spirit as you will be moments away from the Arnolfini, where the live debate is taking place and all the important questions will be asked. Even more exciting is the fact that At-Bristol is hosting the Sky News media hub so you will be right in the middle of all the action!
So bring your deck chairs to Millennium Square and settle in for one of the most politically stimulating things to happen in Bristol in a long while.
At-Bristol & Full Beam Visual Theatre present The Lesser Spotted Collectors’ Club
Blogging science to life
Wed 21 April 2010, Written by: Nicole
The year is 2050. Mankind awakes from a virtual coma to find the automated systems that it relied on have devoured the natural world.
Come see At-Bristol as you have never seen it before as Full Beam Visual Theatre presents an immersive show that is part adventure and part performance. With an engaging and unique fusion of soundscape, film, puppetry and live action to create a richly evocative experience not to be missed. Full Beam Visual Theatre explores the beauty, fragility and wonder of our natural world through a thought-provoking cautionary tale within the exciting environment of At-Bristol – a special guest is also going to be involved…
Running from: 04 – 09 May. Time: 8 pm. Simply call 0845 4586 498 to book tickets. Cost: £9.50. Suitable for ages aged 14+
Please note this is an evening event and At-Bristol will be open its usual hours during the day.
