The pick of the science news
Time to pay attention
The Pay Attention initiative at Dublins Science Gallery continues with a discussion tonight about the drugs used to treat attention deficit/ hyerpactivity disorder.
On Saturday see magician and psychologist Prof Richard Wiseman explain the science of sorcery (€5 admission), and on Wednesday October 29th find out how advertisers set out to grab our attention and control our minds.
All events take place in the Gallery on Pearse Street and start at 7pm. To book tickets, see www.sciencegallery.ie
Obesity rockets
Obesity looms as one of the greatest threats facing health officals around the world - particularly in the west. Rates of obesity are rocketing and childhood obesity is now commonplace, bringing associated diseases including cancer and diabetes. Ireland also faces these medical challenges. In an Irish Times/RDS Ireland in 2030 lecture in association with the Institute of Biology of Ireland, Prof Niall Moyna of DCU and Dr Donal O'Shea of UCD will jointly present a talk at 7pm on November 4th at the RDS Merrion Room entitled Obesity- Treating the Epidemic, Preventing the Pandemic. For free admission tel: 01-2407289 or e-mail science@rds.ie
By numbers
8
The expected delay in months before the Large Hadron Collider at Cern will restart following a helium leak.
2,000
The age in years of a carved figurine unearthed at Stonehenge in Britain.
39
The age above which fine-motor skills, such as quickly tapping a finger, have been found to decline in men.
Claire O'Connell
e-mail: 1000.claire@gmail.com