- An unlikely bunch of larger-than-life characters have come together to save the Earth from destruction. No, it鈥檚 not the plot for the new Marvel superheroes blockbuster but a task force put together by Lord Rees of Ludlow, the Astronomer Royal, to conduct research into what to do in the event of disasters that threaten the entire human race, The Independent reported on 13 September. Presently a loose coalition of scholars, the Cambridge Centre for the Study of Existential Risk hopes to announce major funding and more research into various 鈥渄oomsday鈥 scenarios. Despite a distinct lack of special powers, Lord Rees鈥 team is stellar, with fellow cosmologist Stephen Hawking, Huw Price (Bertrand Russell professor of philosophy at the University of Cambridge) and Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn on board. Among the 鈥渓ow probability but catastrophic鈥 disasters under consideration are bioterrorist attacks, food shortages and fast-moving pandemics. There is no word yet on Hollywood鈥檚 favourite plot: alien invasion.
- Almost 拢18,000 was spent on a farewell party for former University College London provost Sir Malcolm Grant, London Student reported on 16聽September. About 拢2,000 went on 880 bottles of sparkling wine for the send-off on 19聽June, although 鈥減ictures suggest the bottles far outnumbered the guests鈥, the paper observed. Another 拢260 was spent on 200 moustache-shaped cookies in honour of Sir Malcolm鈥檚 famous facial hair, with the overall biscuit spend totalling 拢563, according to figures obtained via a Freedom of Information request. The Abba tribute band Bj枚rn Again was paid 拢8,225 to entertain guests (though a private donor contributed 拢3,500). UCL students鈥 union officer Hannah Webb called the expenditure 鈥渓udicrous鈥, especially when cleaners 鈥渁re still not being paid a聽living wage鈥. UCL said that all staff were invited to the event and that spending on food and drink equated to 鈥渓ess than 拢5 a聽head鈥.
- Queen鈥檚 University Belfast has waived a fine of more than 拢8,500 after a professor returned a聽library book that was 47 years overdue, The Independent reported on 16 September. John 鈥淛ack鈥 Foster, emeritus professor at Queen鈥檚 Institute of Irish Studies, found the book by Victorian poet Arthur Hugh Clough when he returned to Vancouver to clear out his locker at the University of British Columbia, where he had been teaching for several years. With a due date stamp of 11聽October 1966 and charges of 50p per day, the Queen鈥檚 alumnus was pleased that the university agreed to write off the 拢8,577.50 fine. 鈥淚聽suppose the moral of the story if you discover an overdue book is make sure it鈥檚 really, really overdue before you think about returning it,鈥 Professor Foster said.
- A postgraduate at the University of Lagos has claimed that his observations of magnets provide proof that homosexuality is unnatural. In a lengthy interview with Nigeria鈥檚 This Day Live website, chemical engineering student Chibuihem Amalaha said he made the 鈥渟cientific breakthrough鈥 after noticing that poles of magnets repel those of the same type. It 鈥渕eans that man cannot attract another man because they are the same鈥hat is how I used physics to prove gay marriage [is] wrong,鈥 he said. Mr Amalaha then turned to biology to confirm his theory. Cockerels tend to mate with hens, not other roosters, he noted, so QED. His work has apparently been lauded by his supervisors; he says they have told him that he may one day win a Nobel prize. Such claims and their 鈥渦ncritical and uninformed鈥 reporting are 鈥渓ikely to add to the ignorance and prejudice surrounding homosexuality in聽Nigeria鈥, Luiz DeBarros, of South African LGBT website Mambaonline, told 笔颈苍办听狈别飞蝉 on 16 September.
- The University of South Wales has been criticised for filming a promotional video over the border in Somerset, The Daily Telegraph reported on 17 September. In the 90-second film, actor Ioan Gruffudd, star of Fantastic Four and King Arthur, gives a speech as he strides across the Mendip Hills, rather than the Brecon Beacons near to USW鈥檚 Treforest campus, the paper said. 鈥淚t seems odd the university would choose a well-known Welsh actor to front their ad campaign but made it in England,鈥 said Lindsay Whittle, a Plaid Cymru Welsh Assembly member. A university spokesman said filming had taken place in Somerset to avoid 鈥渢ypically Welsh rainy weather鈥.
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