Issue 18

ISSUE 18

Science And Technology News And Views Magazine

In this issue, we explore beautiful and mysterious OTHER WORLDS.

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CONTENTS

THE SATNAV TEAM: Chair Isabelle Hayden ILH600@student.bham.ac.uk Treasurer Emily Hayward ECH620@student.bham.ac.uk Secretary Claire Fletcher CXF717 @student.bham.ac.uk Layout Editors Luke Kurowski-Ford LSK709@student.bham.ac.uk Courtney Kousser CAK500@student.bham.ac.uk Life Sciences Editor Farhana Alam FXA576@student.bham.ac.uk Physical Sciences Editor Marriyum Hasany SMH656@student.bham.ac.uk Copy Editor Isabelle Hayden ILH600@student.bham.ac.uk Publicity Officer Abigail Joyce AXJ830@student.bham.ac.uk Website Manager Cameron Scott CXS792@student.bham.ac.uk

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ARTICLES

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A lesson in sustainability from India's sacred groves Joanna Chustecki How to explain your dragon: a biological study of magical creatures Abigail Joyce The Matilda Effect - The Forgotten Discoveries of Female Scientists Emily Hayward The hidden world inside your gut: the microbiome Elin Bevan Is there life on Mars and other worlds?

Amathur Musarrath NASA's TESS: Didn't she do well?

Adam Dorey Under the surface: the fantastical world of aquarium hobbyists Sophie Caprioli WISE inspire - an insight into the world of women in STEM Bethan Soanes Health vs. disease: when mutations take hold Bhavini Chauhan Moving on up: looking for a new planet to inhabit Oliver Ratcliffe The Many Worlds interpretation of Quantum Mechanics Patrick Regan Aliens on Earth: the mystery of the tardigrade Courtney Kousser EPS Trophy 2019

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A lesson in sustainability from India's sacred groves Joanna Chustecki advocates ancient practices, from a bygone world, in conserving natural resources.

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ast year, the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) Living Planet Report informed us that since 1970, there has been a 60% reduction in vertebrate population sizes and an 83% reduction in the freshwater species index. In just under 50 years, the impact of human activity has been phenomenal. With the exception of Antarctica, 77% of land and 87% of the oceans have now been modified by human activities. The world in which we now live seems a far cry from an older, other world; a place where nature was revered and kept sacrosanct in patches known as sacred groves, where deities were said to live and care for the land. Written about in Sanskrit and Greek classical texts, these groves were widespread, even across Europe, but now exist only in Asia, Africa and parts of the Middle East.

In India, as far back as 5000 BC, the belief in natural resources as being inherently precious was an important part of the cultural ethos; so much so that regions of land, areas known for providing a certain resource to the community, were preserved as sacred.

These groves became places of spiritual significance, where rituals were carried out, and protection was provided by the local villagers. The cultural significance of these groves is an important part of why these areas have been protected over the centuries.

There are also secular reasons for the conservation of these lands. Locals recognise the freshwater sources provided in these glades, and the ancient trees with their networks of roots provide rich and well-bound soil. Fruit trees such as cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera), walnut (Juglans regia), and Himalayan strawberry (Bent hamidia capitate) thrive, and medicinal plants are gathered. These groves are highly biodiverse, with species such as the endangered snow leopard (Pant hera uncia), and the vulnerable Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) calling these places home, as well as many bird, butterfly and reptile species. The land provides vital 4 | SATNAV | May 2019

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natural resources to local farms and settlements, such as homes for pollinators, unpolluted water resources, leaf litter for fertiliser and precious timber.

But these sacred groves are not immune to the threat of the 21st Century; logging, grazing, construction, invasion by non-native species, tourism and industrialisation all pose a threat to the land and its biodiversity. To increase preservation efforts for these spaces, researchers have called for better documentation of current species living in these groves, as well as research into the numbers of people relying on the resources that they provide. There have been some success stories, such as Chilkigarh in West Bengal – now under the care of the Kanak Durga Temple Trust; a collective of local village members who have taken on the responsibility for conserving and caring for the land.

These groves are under threat, but care and knowledge has been crucial in keeping these precious spaces flourishing; knowledge such as how and when resources are used, and the time required by each species to grow and thrive. There are still many lessons to be learned from these ancient practices.

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How to explain your dragon: a biological study of magical creatures Abigail Joyce uses real-world science to deconstruct dragon physiology.

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hroughout history, dragons have been amongst the most intriguing and enduring mythical creatures in the world, with references to these beasts found in ancient Greek and Medieval texts as well as many, more modern fictitious worlds. While the dragons in these depictions vary in temperament, size and physiology, could there be a biological explanation for the common characteristics of these reptilian beings?

The distinctive flaming breath of dragons is a trait that has prevailed through many portrayals

and could be explained by a number of phenomena. The fuel of choice for dragons could be derived from methane gas produced by the microbiota of the gut upon digestion; however, this would need to involve a high fibre intake, which carnivorous or omnivorous diets would be unable to provide in sufficient quantities. The other issues with methane are that it would have to be highly compressed for storage within the body and, upon release and ignition at high velocities and altitudes, it could blow back towards the dragon’s head, which would presumably not be biologically ideal.

Another approach to the fuel source could be a similar mechanism to the bombardier beetle, in which two glands containing a mixture of catalase and peroxidase enzymes are separated from chambers containing hydroquinones and

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hydrogen peroxide. Upon mixing, the resulting reaction decomposes hydrogen peroxide to steam, and oxidises the hydroquinones to produce an explosive exothermic expulsion of liquid at just under 100°C. This hypergolic spontaneous reaction would explain the damaging effects of dragon fire; however, the chemicals involved are not biologically “cheap” and would therefore require a high metabolism to produce within the body.

Many have hypothesised about the mechanism of ignition, and a common theory revolves around the dragon’s renowned teeth; while unlikely to generate a spark themselves, many believe that the ingestion of rocks, similar to the action of modern birds, could result in a coating of minerals on the teeth which, upon frictional force, would produce sparks and ignite the expelled fuel. If dragons followed the same evolutionary path as birds from a common ancestor, such as dinosaurs, they could have multiple stomachs and a gizzard to store rocks, which would aid in digestion. Rocks that have the ability to produce a spark often belong to the flint family, such as quartz, chert or obsidian.

Finally, presuming a dragon’s core body temperature, and its regulation, would be similar to that of lizards, their thermoregulatory mechanisms would have to involve long periods of quiescence to provide sufficient energy to hunt and propel their bodies through the air on large, bat-like, membranous wings. This theory coincides with the depiction of dragons as protective beings that hoard large volumes of precious rocks and jewels, and spend extended periods in a state of hibernation to conserve energy. However, this does raise questions about how an animal of such size and mass could generate sufficient energy for flight and hunting, without an endothermic regulatory mechanism.

Although the complexity of the hypothesised physiology of dragons may make their existence implausible, their representation in all forms of media continues to spark theories about how these otherworldly creatures could actually be residing within our world.

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The Matilda effect - The forgotten discoveries of female scientists Emily Hayward illustrates the blatant sexism within the scientific community throughout history.

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ccording to an UNESCO survey conducted in 2018, only 28.8% of researchers in the world are female, so it is no surprise that young girls struggle to find role models and inspiration to pursue a career in science.

This is accentuated by the history of science being dominated by men, but in truth, there have been many women who have contributed across the spectrum, they have simply been forgotten.

Unfortunately, the lack of recognition for women’s scientific contributions has been prevalent throughout history. So much so that 1993 the term ‘the Matilda Effect’ was coined by Matilda Joslyn Gage in her essay ‘Woman as Inventor’. The effect is described as ‘a bias against acknowledging the achievements of women scientists whose work is attributed to their male colleagues’, and examples of this are present within every field of science.

Perhaps the most famous example is Rosalind Franklin. Franklin’s research was essential in the discovery of the structure of DNA, but she was never given credit for her work as Watson, Crick and Wilkins received the Nobel Prize for the discovery. As it turns out, having died four years before the prize was awarded, Franklin was not eligible to win, as Nobel Prize awards are not awarded posthumously.

Perhaps a lesser known story is of astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell. In 1974, Anthony Hewish was awarded a Nobel Prize for the discovery of a neutron star called pulsars, one of the most important astronomical breakthroughs of the last century. However, it was Burnell who first observed the phenomena as a student at the University Cambridge but was not credited in the research paper. In 2018 Burnell was

awarded a Breakthrough Prize for her work, receiving £2.3 million in prize money which she chose to use to fund under-represented minorities to become physics researchers.

This goes to show how far the scientific community has come over the last few decades, but according to Burnell, it still has a way to go.

Someone with a very interesting take on sexism in science is Ben Barres, a transgender (FTM) scientist who has experienced being in the scientific community both pre and post transition. A story highlighting this is after presenting his first seminar he overheard another man saying ‘Ben Barres gave a great seminar today, but his work is so much better than his sister’s’ mistaking Barres before his transition as his own sister. This is a perfect example of cisgendered men have historically looked down on the research of those who do not fit the stereotypical image of a scientist.

These are just some examples of the sexism that women face in the scientific community, there are several other stories from women such as Lise Meitner, Chien-Shiung Wu and Ada Lovelace. The good news is that women are now being recognised for their work, including countless female researchers at the University of Birmingham, providing role models for young girls and giving them the confidence to pursue a career in science.

Furthermore, female scientists have been credited for their work posthumously. The question that I leave you with today is: what would the world we are living in today be like if women hadn’t been overlooked throughout history?

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The hidden world inside your gut: the microbiome Elin Bevan peers into the microscopic world that inhabits the human body.

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hen we think of other worlds, distant as soon as 20 minutes after birth, babies start to develop planets or alien civilisations often their own microbiome and, interestingly, this differs immediately spring to mind. However, depending on the mode of delivery; if birthed vaginally, there is a huge, concealed world right in front of us – in their microbiome resembles that of the mother’s fact, inside us! Over 70% of our body is not human; it is vagina, but if delivered by caesarean section, babies made up of microorganisms living in a variety of have a skin-like microbiome.

Gut microbiota play a huge role in digestion and habitats within us. They are collectively called the nutrition. The microbes present in the gastrointestinal human microbiome.

Microbiomes show great diversity, varying hugely tract help break down food (hydrolysing it) and, as the from one person to another; differing as much as 80– microbiota vary a lot between individuals, this can have 90% between individuals. There are estimated to be 10– differing effects. Some microbes are more efficient at 100 trillion microbial cells living on or in each person hydrolysis, so they can release more energy from food, and, genetically, they have a staggering total number of which leads to obesity in some people. Evidence to different genes. The human genome encodes 20,000 support this has come from research carried out in genes altogether – whether they are expressed or not – mice; when an ‘obese microbiome’ was transplanted but the gut microbiome alone encodes 3,300,000 non- into mice, they put on more weight than control mice, redundant genes. When considering their miniscule despite being given the same food.

A similar experiment looked at IBS and anxiety. size, this is even more astounding.

Our bodies are home to many, varying microbiomes When faecal transplants were put into mice from (also called microbiota); on "There are estimated to be 10–100 trillion patients with these the skin, in the mouth, and – microbial cells living on or in each person" symptoms, they developed arguably most importantly – intestinal dysfunction and in the gut. A difference in the constituents making up anxiety-like symptoms, respectively. This is a huge the oral and faecal microbiomes was seen as early as the revelation, as it shows the gut-brain-axis goes both 1680s, and the term was first formally introduced in ways; we knew things like stress could upset the 2001. In the years since then, it has become a huge gastrointestinal system, but now we understand that research focus. The gut microbiome is sometimes called this can also happen in reverse. the “forgotten organ” of the human body. This indicates These studies, as well as other research into human how important it is for human health! For example, it microbiota, show that the factors influencing has been linked to obesity, gastrointestinal disorders susceptibility to certain illnesses are not just confined such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), and even mental to genetics and lifestyle, as previously thought; the health issues such as anxiety. microbiome has a huge influence. This hidden world is So how does this microscopic colonisation arise from key to our health and now that we have discovered it, a sterile foetus in the womb? Microbes are acquired we must learn all we can from it. from the external environment, and the first way this happens is through childbirth. Studies have shown that 8 | SATNAV | May 2019

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Is there life on Mars and other worlds?

Amathur Musarrath discusses the potential for having life on planets and other objects beyond earth.

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ust as the universe is expanding, so is the field of astrobiology. Life on other planets has long been speculated by many, and have gained public interest due to the work of well-known astronomers like Carl Sagan and Percival Lowell. I’m sure looking out into the vast expanse of the sky must have made you question the same thing at one point. The launch of SETI (search for extra-terrestrial intelligence) by founders Carl Sagan and Frank Drake gave rise to the scientific discussion of extra-terrestrial life.

Recent estimates of planets Earth-like planets have been calculated to about 1022, so there is a significant number of planets that could potentially contain life. However, accuracy of the of this estimate is constantly being challenged and refined. Although searching for life on other planets is a large aspect of astrobiology, the interdisciplinary field also involves the study of life on Earth and the origins of life itself.

The most speculated planet that is thought to have harboured life in the past is the red planet, Mars. From its discovery by Galileo in 1610 to the recent InSight mission lead by NASA, aiming to find further information about its interior, there is still a lot to discover about this planet. The presence of river valleys is the biggest indicator that life may have

“...there is a significant number of planets that could potentially contain life.” been present. This previously led to astronomer Percival Lowell mistakenly announcing life on Mars with very little evidence in his time. Water is a vital ingredient to life

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anywhere, making up around 60% of your body. It is an important solvent and key in metabolic processes; it’s one of the first on the checklist when searching for life elsewhere.

Another unlikely contender for life is Enceladus, one of the 62 moons orbiting Saturn. The discovery of organic molecules, the presence of water beneath the icy surface and the detection of molecular hydrogen are all key for life to thrive, which point in the direction that life may be present here. The presence of molecular hydrogen has been likened to the activity deep beneath the Earth’s surface where there are hydrothermal vents. It is now widely known that a wide variety of organisms, called extremophiles, manage to survive in these intense conditions, leading to the question of whether there are also extremophiles lurking beneath the surface of Enceladus.

Current research is expanding at a fast rate. In early January of 2019, many scientists were in awe of the furthest object reached by a spacecraft.

Ultima Thule, minor planet that is even further from the Sun than Neptune, consists of two bodies that were thought to have coalesced into one during the early formation of the Universe. Images will be refined throughout the year as scientists aim to study the surface to gain a deeper understanding of the conditions of the early Universe. This recent discovery and the many more to come will always be accompanied by the question of whether life could also be present.

It will undoubtedly take many space explorations to find an answer, but with the constant advancements in technology, we may be closer than we think.

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Didn’t she do well?

NASA’s TESS reveals new exoplanets Adam Dorey reports on newly discovered planets in 2019.

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anuary may seem cold and far away now but even colder and further away is NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). From its elliptical orbit around the Earth, TESS is searching for planets outside our solar system, referred to as exoplanets. At least eight exoplanets have been discovered, with details on another 20 to 30 planets nearing publication.

On January 7th, a new exoplanet discovery was announced – but the catchily named HD 21749b, which orbits the star HD 21749, has piqued scientific curiosity for three reasons. First, the planet is surprisingly cool, no similarly bright star hosts a planet as cool.

While scientists have a better understanding of planets with hotter atmospheres, this cooler planet offers an insight into a lesser known atmosphere. Second, evidence suggests a smaller, Earth-like planet also orbits the host star. If confirmed, it would be the first Earth-sized planet discovered

by TESS. Third, the two different planets form a peculiar system.

Scientists don’t understand how the larger planet’s long, elliptical orbit can occur alongside the smaller planet’s – the gravitational pull of the larger planet should disrupt

the smaller planet’s orbit. Researcher Xu Chelsea Huang, who presented the findings, claims ‘this is the most extreme system with this type of architecture.’

In fact, TESS’ discovery of an exoplanet forming a similar, mystifying system was amongst its first findings.

Scientists already knew of a Jupiter-like (but ten times larger) planet that orbits a star called Pi Mensae. Its orbit is very eccentric – at some points it is further away than Jupiter is from our own Sun, but at others it intrudes into the star’s habitable zone. This zone is where liquid water can exist on the planet without evaporating or freezing; Earth falls within the habitable zone of our Sun. TESS found a smaller exoplanet extremely close to Pi Mensae – another example of a small planet and a large planet coexisting with puzzling orbits.

Without TESS, researchers couldn’t have known this odd planet was actually part of an even odder planetary

system existing right under our noses.

On a two-year mission, TESS is scouring the orbits of some 200,000 nearby main-sequence stars – these are stars that generate heat through nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium, like our Sun. TESS uses the transit method: it looks for repeated, periodic decreases in the visible light of a star, indicating that a planet is passing in front of it.

After follow-up investigations confirm discovered planets are truly there (and not false positives), researchers measure their size and orbit using TESS and measure the planet’s mass using a ground-based telescope. This information will help to determine the planets’ compositions and atmospheres, filling

“TESS shines a beacon into the unknown” in intricate details of worlds above. Essentially, TESS shines a beacon into the unknown by measuring what shines back.

The details TESS receives allows scientists to understand planetary system formation and which types of planet appear around stars of different ages – information that could predict the future of planetary systems that may one day harbour life. Finding planets that might support life is one of NASA’s goals for its exoplanet exploration. We can calculate which planets live in the habitable zones around stars from orbit data, we can detect gases that could only be produced biologically through studying atmospheric data. With the first TESS conference scheduled to begin on July 29th and data pouring in, it s eems likely our knowledge of other worlds will lead us to f urther scientific discovery – whether learning more about our endless universe or even discovering other forms of life.

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Under the surface: the fantastical world of aquarium hobbyists Sophie Caprioli gives an insight into the allure of fishkeeping as a subculture.

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midst the coral polyp forest, an anemone creeps. So slow, its movement is almost imperceptible to the naked eye, the anemone moves by sliding along the surface using its pedal disc. It finally comes to a halt, finding pride of position resting atop the rock; its venom filled tentacles waving brazenly in the current.

This magical scene is not located beneath the ocean waves; this coral frag resides in the corner of my bedroom. The world of aquarium hobbyists is one of extreme dedication, whereby real fanatics will invest hundreds of pounds, committing their lives to the upkeep of nano reefs. Tanks as large as 536 litres are used to host a variety of different coral and fish species, such as mushroom corals (Actinodiscus genus) and blue tangs (Paracant hurus hepatus, better recognised as Dory from ‘Finding Nemo’).

The psychedelic colours of soft coral species are incredibly alluring; however, it takes careful planning and a lot of perseverance to care for such fragile creatures. Corals are highly susceptible to bleaching. Constant daily checks on salinity, pH, ammonia levels, and temperature need to be

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secretes poisonous pahutoxin from specialised skin cells. Although the mechanism by which this toxin works is not entirely understood, it is thought that the pahutoxin is haemolytic in function, popping red blood cells in the gills of unsuspecting predators. In the small enclosed system of an aquarium, the toxin is lethal enough to eliminate all other fish in the tank. A nightmare of an aquarium keeper, right? Apparently not; boxfish are popular among aquarium keepers!

Last year, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) released a report stating that if global temperatures increase by 1.5°C, coral reefs will "...if global temperatures likely decline by 70 to increase by 1.5°C, coral reefs 90%. Currently, reefs will likely decline by 70 to 90%" throughout the world are well-equipped with venom-filled in a state of decline, with sea surface glandular tissues, located in their temperatures having already dorsal, pelvic and caudal fins. Despite increased by 1°C in the last century. its samurai warrior bravado, the With the natural world of coral reefs lionfish has a gentle nature and, under threat, I call on coral lovers to although painful, its venom is not extend their passion beyond the capable of delivering a sting worse aquarium and into the ocean. than a bee.

Despite its endearing appearance and inconspicuous name, the boxfish partakes in acts of chemical warfare.

When injured or stressed, the boxfish

made and, even then, there may be some casualties.

Choosing fish friends to inhabit an aquarium is a strategic process. If predatory species, lurking in the tank, are desired, one must ensure that niches do not overlap. For example, the blue dot jaw fish and snowflake eel both inhabit the same cave territory, meaning keeping these two in the same tank would be akin to putting Tyson and Ali in the boxing ring.

Some of my favourite predators include the lionfish (Pterois genus) and the boxfish (Ostracion cubicus).

The lionfish is a member of the scorpionfish family (Scorpaenidae).

It lives up to its namesake by being

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WISE inspire – An insight into the world of women in STEM Bethan Soanes reports on the WISE Inspire event, featuring interviews with Sarah Cosgriff and Dr Maria Velissariou.

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n 27 February, in the lead up to International Woman’s Day, the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Society had the privilege to invite four speakers to talk at our biannual ‘WISE Inspire’ event. The purpose of this event is to allow the women making differences in the world of STEM to lead the discussion on improving diversity, opportunities and futures for women in science and technology going forward.

The event started off with a talk from Sarah Cosgriff, a STEM consultant and Gender Balance Officer for the Institute of Physics. With a background in Cell migration research, Sarah is a co-founder of BrumSciComm, a collaborative platform for science communicators, and has given a TED talk in 2016 on why failure isn’t failure.

Her talk highlighted the barriers girls face in their early and late education. She highlighted the difference in experience, not just between girls and boys, but also students from different racial and economic backgrounds. She brought to our attention research into encouraging girls to become more active in lessons, and celebrated the

place outreach has in the fight for gender equality in STEM. Our second speaker, Dr Maria Velissariou, is an alumna of the University (she studied her biochemical engineering PhD here, graduating in 1992) and is the Chief Science and Technology Officer at the Institute of Food Technologists. She is an influential figure in the Chicago science community, with a background in science communication and mentoring with STEMconnector®, which promotes STEM education and careers among girls and women.

Her talk, not only deeply inspiring with regards to her incredible career, highlighted the importance of mentorship between women in science; a message that is profound and memorable. Our evening also gave a student the opportunity to find a mentor in Maria. We at WISE are proud that our event has allowed Maria to share her wisdom not just with the audience at the event, but form an important relationship with a future woman of science.

Our final two speakers shared their personal experiences in their respective fields, ending the evening with hope for positive change.

Jes Bartlett, a PhD student here at

the University of Birmingham and member of the University’s Equality and Diversity Committee, spoke of her academic career so far, examining the abilities of invasive insects to affect fragile Antarctic ecosystems. She shared her unconventional route into science, starting her undergraduate science degree in her mid-20’s with the desire to work in Antarctica, and reaching her goal nearly a decade later.

Promisingly, she told us of her many female colleagues in the field, a change from the stereotypical “Old Man’s Club” often associated with polar field work, and exemplified the positive change in gender equality in STEM. Our final speaker was Deborah Harris. Another UoB alumina from the School of Mechanical Engineering, she is currently a materials application engineer at Rolls-Royce. Deborah explained how, despite there still being more men than women in her workplace, that this difference was lessening with time. She shared with us how welcoming and supportive the industry has been for her and her colleagues, offering a hopeful outlook for equality in engineering going forward.

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After the event, we got the opportunity to interview Sarah and Maria: As a science communicator, how do you approach inspiring girls and women to pursue science?

S: In my work (at the Institute of Physics), I look at what there are within the school environment which may discourage girls from taking A level Physics. For example, one thing we have seen consistently is that boys are more likely to put their hands up and call out answers during a school lesson than girls (in a single sex schools, more confident boys/girls do this). If we rely on this approach to engage with them, you don’t have the same level of engagement with girls. Another thing we have observed is that with science practicals, boys are more likely to do the hands on work and girls are more likely to do the written work – which means both miss out on an important skill. One way of getting around this is giving the students role cards at random so that they develop skills in multiple areas. I try to apply similar principles within my science communication practice.

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The thing is we often assume that we need to attract girls and women to science, when they may actually like science already! What the ASPIRES longitudinal survey with 10-14 year olds showed is that a lot of young people do enjoy science and understand the importance, but much less wish to pursue it as a career, partly because of the stereotypical image of a scientist.

I have seen plenty of examples of where science is made to be ‘girly’ in order to attract girls and women.

Making science relatable is a good thing to do but making it stereotypically feminine shouldn’t be the blanket approach. The best thing to do when interacting with girls and women (and anyone in general) is to have a two-way engagement – ask them what they’re interested in and curious about rather than assuming Your work in outreach is incredibly important for righting the imbalance of gender in STEM right now. Are you hopeful for the future of girls in science?

S: As much as I think working with schools is really important (especially

for encouraging those who may not have considered STEM careers for whatever reason), what should also be included in this conversation is the journey after school – so thinking of things like further and higher education and the workplace. Our efforts with engaging girls and other underrepresented demographics in STEM will be wasted if employers and universities don’t make them feel included. Saying that, I know of some employers who are taking positive steps towards improving equality, inclusion and diversity within their organisation and that’s really positive to hear.

On the schools front, I am seeing more interest in improving gender equality (and equality in general) in schools so I am hopeful things are getting better from that perspective.

The IOP is one of four organisations who have recently founded Gender Action, an awards programme aimed to support early years, primary and secondary education with tackling gender bias and stereotypes. I recently went to the launch event and I could see there is definitely a growing

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appetite for this type of initiative. I think what’s really important is that it shouldn’t just be about girls and science – it should be about equal opportunity and a wide range of choice for every child.

What are your favourite memories of your time at the University?

M: There are so many...tea breaks were always welcome times to catch up and ideate, having the most amazing equipment creations by the famous glass blower at Chemical Engineering (a true artist) to idle talk in the University grounds on sunny days. But the fondest memory of all is meeting my husband there.

How do you feel being a woman influenced your experience of working in STEM? M: It has been a journey of discovery and change, from being a minority in class or the work place looking for the opportunity to make a mark to a much better participation of women. Those formative years at school and work sharpen your intuition and make you more determined to succeed. It was not always plain sailing but when you love what you do, surround yourself with

great mentors, women and men, and have a higher purpose you find a way forward.

So far in your career, have you noticed any changes to how women are treated in STEM, and what do you think the future holds?

M: The changes are generational and in many ways profound. We see so many more women enrol in STEM degrees, a lot more claim their rightful place in working life with confidence and in increasing positions of leadership.

Academic institutions, employers and government recognize the importance of women's participation in STEM as a source of economic and social enrichment. However we still have work to do to achieve pay parity, openly deal with implicit bias, reduce attrition, especially in the early career years, and ensure that women of all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds achieve their full potential. I see a bright future for women in STEM, even in fields that traditionally have lagged behind, with new paradigms being generated and equity gaps closing.

However, we should not take things for granted and our work is not done yet.

Girls and young women still need the institutional and personal support to pursue STEM choices on an equal footing as men.

What advice do you give to young girls wanting to work in STEM? M: I would encourage them to pursue their dreams without fear or hesitation, to listen to their instincts and allow themselves the space to grow, learn and improve; not to settle for second best.

After another successful WISE Inspire event, the excitement within our fellow students was palpable, but the journey of encouraging young and diverse people into entering STEM is far from over! Along with Inspire, WISE will continue to encourage young people by holding careers events, socials, and an award-winning outreach scheme, where we volunteer in local schools running an after-school club to encourage young girls to pursue science.

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Health vs. disease: when mutations take hold Bhavini Chauhan examines the ways in which genetic mutations can tip the balance of healthy cellular environments into altered, diseased worlds.

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e are all susceptible to illness and, whether it be minor or severe, a multitude of changes occur in our bodies with or without us noticing. A state of ultimate health sounds ideal but is often unattainable due to factors such as our own genetics and our daily choices. Disease can arise in the form of an infectious pathogen, a mutated cell, or even the lack of a certain essential component of the body. Once disease symptoms take hold in the body, its maintenance of a consistent and wellmaintained world can become severely altered. The perfect harmony, to which each cell is accustomed, becomes attacked and this can cause a variety of symptoms and ailments.

Cell mutation can be advantageous, as it is the basis of

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the well-known concept of natural selection; however, it can also cause significant difficulties.

Many people associate mutation with the induction of cancers, whereby the abnormal division rate of the mutated cell can cause exponential cell growth, eventually forming a

aid survival of the tumours rather than healthy cells. These processes can include angiogenesis, which is the formation of blood vessels to supply and sustain tumour growth, and even resisting cell death (also known as apoptosis). In this way, the formation of tumours, and alteration of the "Our bodies are often sustained in a processes that delicately-balanced, healthy world, allow the body to run smoothly, can but this can be quickly altered if completely change aggressive mutations take hold." the finely-tuned tumour. The specific internal balance usually employed by a environmental conditions, in which healthy body. the healthy cells were bathed, Another way in which mutations become susceptible to potential can modify a healthy body is via transformation by diseased cells. autoimmunity.

Autoimmune The once well-balanced body now conditions are diseases where a has its vital processes subverted to genetic mutation causes the

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immune system to attack the body’s proteins and molecular components impact of others can cause major own healthy cells. Autoimmune can induce a variety of diseases. health problems that drastically diseases include diabetes mellitus These can range from haemophilia, alter body physiology. Our bodies type 1, lupus and celiac disease. For which arises due to mutation in the are often sustained in a delicatelyexample, type 1 diabetes is a result factor VIII gene, thus impairing balanced, healthy world, but this of an environment within the body blood clotting, to cystic fibrosis, can be quickly altered if aggressive in which mutated pancreatic cells, which stems from a single mutation mutations take hold. Once they established, called beta cells, are "Many people associate mutation with the become mutations can generate destroyed. The cells induction of cancers..." and thrive in a are therefore unable to produce insulin, which is in the gene encoding the cystic completely different environment transmembrane to what is considered normal, essential for regulation of blood fibrosis sugar levels within the body. In this conductance regulator (CFTR) thereby creating their own little case, insulin needs to be injected to protein, which is required for ion world. recreate the healthy state that is transport across epithelial cells of the airways. vital for survival.

Although mutations can often Finally, mutations in a multitude of genes encoding be harmless and go unnoticed, the

May 2019 | SATNAV | 21

Moving on up: looking for a new planet to inhabit Oliver Ratcliffe investigates the factors that must be considered before moving to another planet.

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to consider is the temperature of the rexit bumming you out? Cliplanet, both at its perihelion and at its mate change keeping you up aphelion, meaning the closest and furat night? Fed up with Earth in thest points from the star, respectively. general? Sure, it was fine when we were For reference, Earth’s temperature is single-celled organisms getting our 288 Kelvin and only fluctuates start, but after 4.8 billion years aren’t by about 2.3 degrees you craving a taste of the exotic? And if throughout the year. Alwe do want to leave Earth, what do our though humans have options look like?

A useful resource for answering managed to carve such a question is the Habitable Zone out a sustainable Gallery: a well-curated database of exo- life across the planets (planets belonging to another many climates of solar systems than our own). Based on the Earth, the winthe work of astrophysicists Stephen dow of temperatKane and Dawn Gelino, the database ure in which we keeps track of the habitable zones of can survive is sursolar systems and is freely available at prisingly slim; espehzgallery.org. The habitable zone of a cially on the universal star refers to the optimal distance at scale where temperatures which a planet orbits a star, where it is vary from close to absolute zero all likely to be able to sustain liquid water. the way up to several thousands of deKelvin.

Depending on the planet’s route of or- grees Another is surface gravity. Here on bit, it may stay in this zone for a variable proportion of its year. The planets Earth, gravitational strength, or g, is most likely to harbour water are those 9.81 metres per second squared. The planet Wasp-47b‘s that spend 100% “if we do want to leave surface gravity, for of their orbit within their hab- Earth, what do our options example, is estimitable zone. ated to be over twice look like?”

However, the habthis, at 21.23 metres itable zone is not the only requirement per second squared. Experts suggest for a planet to be considered friendly to that humans could plausibly survive at life. It turns out that there are several a g up to four times that of Earth’s, but other factors to consider. they emphasise that you would need One of the most important factors above average muscle strength. You

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also don’t want the gravity to be too low, however, as surface gravity is essential for maintaining an atmosphere; without a strong enough pull, gas molecules will be able to escape the planet.

An atmosphere is desirable as it allows for increased protection from cosmic radiation, as well as having a host of other benefits, such as allowing for liquid water.

Surface gravity is partially dependent on the planet’s mass but mass is also important on its own. There appears to be a ‘Goldilocks’ line to walk, in which the planet can’t be too large or too small. If the planet has too small a mass, it is more likely to be geologically dead i.e. it lacks the tectonic plate activity present here on Earth. These tectonic movements are crucial for the recycling of certain minerals and resources and they also contribute to the Earth’s magnetic field which helps protect us from high frequency radiation out of space. On the other hand, an overly large planet will likely produce a very powerful surface gravity and have a very oppressive atmosphere Finally, the planet’s rotation should

not differ too much from that of Earth’s. Ideally, any new home would see an Earth-like moderate change of seasons which prevents extremes of temperatures occurring at any one point on the planet. The tilt leading to our 24-hour day-night cycle should also resemble Earth’s. Our circadian rhythms are finely tuned to such a cycle and are vulnerable to disruption – think of jet lag – but also as nights become longer, the temperature difference between day and night increases.

If night lasts too long, any life on the dark side of the planet will struggle to survive.

Investigation into this topic demonstrates just how many necessities there are for any prospective planetary home, and without even considering actually travelling there.

Hopefully, as it did me, it leaves you with an appreciation of just how uniquely suited Earth is to life and indeed how suited we are to Earth.

May 2019 | SATNAV | 23

The Many Worlds interpretation of Quantum Mechanics Patrick Regan demystifies the Many Worlds theory.

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rom ‘Doctor Who’ to ‘Narnia’, ‘Back to the Future’ to ‘Rick and Morty’, parallel universes are a mainstay of pop culture. The concept is now so ubiquitous that everyone has a notion of what it entails. But do parallel universes really exist? Is there another version of you who has had an identical life up until this moment, the only difference being that you chose to read this article and they didn’t?

Imagining multiple universes can be difficult to understand. Think of it like this: for any given interaction, there are a variety of different outcomes. Before the interaction, any of the outcomes is possible. A popular thought experiment demonstrating this is Schrödinger’s cat. Imagine that you have a cat locked inside a box with a vial of poison, the poison will be released and kill the cat at a random time. The only way we can know whether the cat has been poisoned is by interacting with the box by removing the lid. In Quantum Mechanics this means that the cat is in a superposition of states – the cat is simultaneously both dead and alive at the same time.

By opening the box, we see one of these results but not both. So how does the cat go from being in a combination of

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two states at once to being in just one?

The Many Worlds interpretation of Quantum Mechanics tells us that whenever different outcomes to an interaction are possible, our universe splits into a number of parallel universes, each with corresponding to a different outcome. In the case of Schrödinger’s cat, both possibilities happen; there is a universe where the cat died, and one where it lived. The timeline of history branches in order to accommodate every possible result.

Theoretical Physicist Brian Greene described the Many Worlds interpretation like this: “every potential outcome sees the light of day; the daylight each sees, however, streams through its own separate universe”.

This idea was first proposed in 1957 by a graduate student named Hugh Everett. He believed that the Many-

many different worlds, wherein each of the likely outcomes occur.. These different worlds exist simultaneously but can never interact. So unfortunately, physics won’t ever find a way of transporting you to a parallel universe where you’re a rockstar. Many people are irritated by this concept, as it suggests that what we see is only a small sliver of all of existence It’s worth noting that Everett’s view is, of course, one of many interpretations of Quantum Mechanics. It agrees with the data and there is mathematics which supports it, but there are also several other theories such as the Copenhagen Interpretation which go against the Many-world theory.

There is currently no majority consensus as to which “every potential outcome sees the light interpretation of of day; the daylight each sees, however, Quantum Mechanstreams through its own separate uni- ics is correct. Each is merely a different verse” way of interpreting worlds interpretation was the best way the results of experiments, but the to explain the phenomenon of wave- model you believe in makes no change functions collapsing upon observation. to the hard data. Many scientists beThe wavefunction—a mathematical de- lieve that this makes the Many-worlds scription of all the properties of a wave interpretation more philosophy than —can collapse into one of many differ- physics. ent states. The act of observing and measuring the wavefunction, causes this collapse leading to the creation of

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Aliens on Earth: the mystery of the tardigrade Courtney Kousser considers whether tardigrade physiology could signal the existence of extra-terrestrial life.

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he Earth has experienced five major mass extinction environment. Giraffes evolved long necks, allowing them to events in its history, and humans are inherently fragile, reach the leaves of tall trees. Camels gained the stereotypical vulnerable creatures. Wars, climate change, and diseases humps on their backs as a fat reserve, which reduces fat could all eliminate humanity. However, when life as we know it is throughout the body, keeping them cooler and providing eradicated, one lonely organism may remain: the tardigrade. emergency fuel in the desert. . Zebras developed their stripes These tiny, plump animals have baffled scientists for years and because they confuse predators in long grass, and polar bears have proven to be the world’s most unnecessarily resilient evolved white fur, as it helps them hide from their prey. animal. Tardigrades, also adorably known as water bears or moss However, the tiny tardigrade, with their abundance of piglets, reside in almost every corner of the planet; from the adaptations to extreme conditions not present on Earth, peaks of the oxygen-deprived Himalayas, to the high-pressure challenge Darwinian evolution. These facts have led to the abyss of the deepest ocean, to the frozen tundra of Antarctica. hypothesis that tardigrades evolved elsewhere in the Universe.

They live in mundane back gardens, busy rainforests, and This has provided support for the theory of panspermia; the idea that life on Earth originated extra-terrestrially. While some everywhere in-between.

When put to the test, tardigrades appear miraculously scientists argue that evidence places tardigrades’ origins firmly Earth, others propose fascinating invincible. For example, water is "...life is able to exist in the most on theories about tardigrades coming to essential for all animals, and humans inhospitable environments." Earth by hitchhiking on comets, or as can only last up to 100 hours without it. However, some species of tardigrade can survive for decades passengers on passing stardust. While we may never know if life without water. Experts believe that this is due to the animal’s on Earth originated from another planet, the existence of ability to enter a ‘tun state’ whereby they shrivel into a ball, tardigrades provides comfort in knowing that life is able to exist reducing their water content by 97%. In this condition, they are in the most inhospitable environments. Tardigrades could be technically dead, with their biochemical and metabolic processes considered as evidence that humans are not alone, and that somewhere in the vast void of the Universe resides another world being suspended until they are rehydrated.

Dwelling deep in oceans, tardigrades can withstand incredible in which animals such as these could still thrive. levels of pressure. Their endurance reaches further than this; they can cope with over 6,000 times the pressure exerted at the bottom of the Marianas Trench. On the other hand, tardigrades are the first animals able to withstand the extremely low pressure within the vacuum of low-orbit space. In 2014, tardigrades frozen in Antarctic moss for over 30 years were resuscitated and even able to produce viable eggs. Beyond this, they can live after several minutes at temperatures almost reaching absolute zero (-273.15 degrees Celsius), whereas the coldest recorded temperature on Earth is around -90 degrees Celsius. Conversely, they can withstand being boiled at temperatures up to 150 degrees Celsius.

Tardigrades can also survive impossible amounts of radiation, up to 5,000 times stronger than any animal on Earth can tolerate.

This is due to a tardigrade-unique protein that shields DNA from damage and deactivates reactive oxygen species.

Darwin’s theory of natural selection dictates that most adaptive attributes make sense in the context of their

May 2019 | SATNAV | 25

EPS Trophy 2019

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n Sunday 10th March, the second multidisciplinary sporting event occurred within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. After receiving both interest and support from all 33 EPS societies, the EPS Trophy was made a reality thanks to the generous support and funding from the Alumni Impact Funding scheme, who aim to support many different activities and groups within the college.

The day consisted of tournaments for football, netball and this year, touch rugby was also added.

The winner of each tournament received a trophy but the most important and most coveted prize was the EPS Trophy itself for the team with the most combined points across all competitions.

Astoundingly, there were over 300 competitors who played throughout the day from 14 different student EPS societies and even 1 alumni team.

These teams were: Alumni EPS, BUCES, BUMS, Brum Eco Racing, ChemSoc, CivSoc, CSS, Eagles Hockey, EPS Mixed Netball, MathSoc, MechSoc, NucSoc, PPS, WISE and UBRacing.

In contrast to last year’s event, the sun was shining, temperatures were mild and there was a great music playlist blasting through the speakers adding to the positive and energetic atmosphere on the pitches. Many people were smiling and laughing with their peers throughout the day and despite it being a competition, there was a definitive sense of community and comradery.

The EPS Trophy is quite a unique and special event due to the fact that it brings people from the entire College together.

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Of course, we have to mention the ultimate winner of the EPS Trophy 2019...and in fact, this year, for the first time ever, there was a joint winner.

Congratulations to MathSoc and MechSoc for their tremendous win (35 points)! Upon this announcement, there were cheers all around, lots of hugging and jumping and the bubbly was opened too.

The EPS Trophy truly is a fantastic celebration of the skills, diversity and charisma within the College. We spoke to some of the organisers of the event who said that the event was ‘a true celebration of college spirit’ and ‘a privilege to organise and witness so many people enjoying themselves’. They would like to extend their gratitude once again to the Alumni Impact Fund, as ‘the event could not have taken place without them. Without their generosity, [they] wouldn’t have been able to make the event as successful as it was.’

There are several other groups and individuals who were important and need to be thanked. The event was attended and assisted by Teach First, St John’s Ambulance, Tech Services, Red Bull, with Josh Hinds as the official photographer and 9 student referees.

SATNAV would then love to extend our sincere congratulations and give a massive shout out to those that helped organise the event. Along with this, they organised a pub quiz back in January where they managed to raise £106.93 for Cardiac Risk in the Young. They have done such a fantastic job and should be very proud. We wish them all the best of luck with continuing this legacy next year and for many years to come.

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