798 search results

Legitimate or illegitimate: Fracking
Society, Politics & Law

Legitimate or illegitimate: Fracking

...energy production and energy independence, driving down gas prices. Opponents point to environmental and health concerns: small earth tremors, high water requirements, and possible water and chemical contaminations. The debate on the real need for shale gas is ongoing. So, what is your opinion on fracking? Take part in our interactive tool 'Shades of grey - legitimate or...
Explainer: Einstein's Theory of General Relativity
Science, Maths & Technology

Explainer: Einstein's Theory of General Relativity

...energy, thanks to E = mc²) follow these straight paths in curved space. The experimental proof of this occurred during a solar eclipse in 1919 where starlight was observed to be bent by the sun. The amount of bending was predicted by Einstein, and not by the standard “Newtonian” theory. So matter follows the curvature of space, but we know matter is the source of...
The relativistic Universe
Science, Maths & Technology

The relativistic Universe

...energy must exist? This album is an introduction to The Open University course S383 The relativistic Universe... The Relativistic Universe An introduction to this album Telescopes and the universe's evolution The latest technology can look almost all the way back to the Big Bang, and may soon identify the first stars and galaxies Cosmic Microwave Background radiation The...
Why do we feel happier in the spring?
Science, Maths & Technology

Why do we feel happier in the spring?

...energy levels, and an increased desire to spend time outside and to see friends and family. But why is this?...Find out more about The Open University's Health Sciences courses and qualifications. For many people in the Northern hemisphere, the colder and shorter days of the winter months can be a more challenging time of the year and the arrival of spring brings a...
Earth's physical resources: fossil fuels
Science, Maths & Technology

Earth's physical resources: fossil fuels

...energy is the only way to secure a sustainable future. This material forms part of the course S278 Earth's physical resources: origin, use and environmental impact... Fossil Fuels An an introduction to this album Declining Oil and Gas Reserves How long have we got before all the Earth's fossil fuels are depleted? What will happen to gas prices when the North Sea gas...
Exploring mathematics: maths in nature and art
Science, Maths & Technology

Exploring mathematics: maths in nature and art

...solar system. A chaotic universe A mistake in calculations leads to a revolutionary discovery. The power of computers The benefit of using a computer for iteration calculations. The lure of fractal images Mathematicians have been fascinated with creating fractal patterns on a computer. Natural mathematics How close examination of a fern reveals the geometry of fractals....
Climate change and the built environment
Science, Maths & Technology

Climate change and the built environment

...energy efficiency of new buildings has improved, and emissions per square metre have been reduced. However, we replace our building stock in Europe very slowly, at less than 1% per year. This means over 80% of our existing building stock will still be standing in 2050. Regulation on the whole still ignores embodied carbon impacts (although this has recently been debated...
Dallas Campbell meets Frank Drake
Science, Maths & Technology

Dallas Campbell meets Frank Drake

...energy as though little piece was a nuclear bomb. It destroys your mission. So all it takes is something a few millimetres in diameter to actually destroy your mission. So probably a tenth of speed of light is the highest that you can go without really, really being in great danger. Anyway that’s an aside so to speak. But let’s imagine you could go that fast. And say...