Free online tool calculates risk of COVID-19 transmission in poorly-ventilated spaces

The vital role of ventilation in the spread of COVID-19 has been quantified by researchers, who have found that in poorly-ventilated spaces, the virus can spread further than two metres in seconds, and is far more likely to spread through prolonged talking than through coughing

 Weird and wonderful

This year’s consumer electronic show, CES2021, was a virtual affair with an array of new products including 8K TVs, rollable tablets, affordable 5G smartphones,  drones, and faster laptop chipsets. All a bit dull? Well how about a smart toilet, a furry therapeutic robot or a flying taxi. You know you want one.

NASA plans to put the first woman on the moon in 2024. 

Gravitational waves indicate the 7 million year old merging of two black holes about 85 and 66 times the mass of the sun.

UK-based computer chip designer ARM Holdings is being sold to the American graphics chip specialist Nvidia. If approved, the deal would be the largest semiconductor acquisition in history.

2016-20 is set to be the warmest five year period on record with the average global temperature 1.1 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures.

Who were the Vikings?

Research debunks the modern image of Vikings, including the conclusion that many Vikings actually had brown and not blonde hair.

Noble beasts?

I presume that no animals were harmed in the doing of the research, this year the Ig Nobel Prize Winners have a beastly feel. From getting crocodiles to breathe helium to vibrating earthworms. Also, there was some ‘crap’ science.

 Did a taste for fat make us human?

Long before human ancestors began hunting large mammals for meat, a fatty diet provided them with the nutrition to develop bigger brains, posits a new paper in Current Anthropology.

NASA will get paid about $128,000 for filming some skin care products on the International Space Station. The footage will be used by a cosmetics company for promotions and advertisements. My initial reaction was somewhat negative ... because you’re earth it? ... in space no one can hear your cream? ... Houston we’ve had a perfume? However on reflection I feel more sanguine, as well as generating income, it further engages NASA and space exploration with the wider public and is a bit of fun. The later perhaps being in short supply at the moment.

Happy New Year

We would like to wish our customers and contacts a happy, peaceful and fulfilling new year.