For Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy
Abstract In the 1960s Stonehenge and many other British prehistoric monuments were interpreted as “ancient observatories” — ideas that generated a huge wave of popular interest but also proved highly controversial among academics, pitting astronomers against archaeologists as they reached fundamentally different conclusions on the basis of the same evidence. Read More …
In this talk I will discuss how we have discovered over 6000 planets in star systems beyond our own, and how we hope to determine if any of them hold life. Mark Noris is a Senior Lecturer in Observational Astronomy at the University of Lancashire. Mark runs Alston Observatory which Read More …
Abstract We often hear it said that our Sun is an ordinary, unexceptional star, but in fact, both it and our Solar System may be highly unusual. In this talk I will discuss what we understand about the still unsolved problem of how stars – both like our Sun and Read More …
A British-built instrument has launched today as part of NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission, which will help scientists better understand the protective magnetic bubble surrounding our solar system. Professor Silvia Dalla from JHI is involved in this achievement. IMAP will act like a weather station in space, studying the solar Read More …
35-metre scientific marvel modernised by University of Lancashire to showcase Earth’s rotation as part of £19 million cultural transformation. The Harris Museum & Art Gallery has demonstrated the UK’s longest Foucault pendulum, marking a significant milestone in both scientific education and cultural heritage preservation. The impressive 35-metre pendulum, which surpasses the Read More …
Astronomers at the University of Lancashire have announced this week that in 2025 Preston enjoyed its driest August in over 20 years and one of the driest in 175 years since records began. The weather station at the Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory in Moor Park has been recording the weather in Read More …
Front cover of the recently published Issue 7, (Vol 61), of the IEEE Transactions on Magnetics: The image shows the simulated recording of a track on the magnetic layer of a Hard Disk Drive (HDD). Current HDD technology is reaching its physical limit in terms of the amount of data that Read More …
Everyone is taught as a child that the Sun is 150 million km away from the Earth. But how do we know that? Have a look at the Sun at sunset sometime. Is it obvious to you how far away it is? The Sun is half a degree in angular Read More …
The biennial Lancashire Science Festival was held at the University of Central Lancashire from 15–17 May 2025. Aimed at inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers, the event attracted around 10,000 visitors. Young children and their families enjoyed a wide range of exhibitions and hands-on experiences. At the JHI Read More …
We invite expressions of interest to apply for the Ernest Rutherford Fellowship (ERF) to be held at JHI. These are individual fellowships with a duration of 5 years, typically awarded to researchers with a few years postdoctoral experience. For more information see the UKRI website: “Ernest Rutherford Fellowships enables early Read More …