Super shoes: Explaining athletics’ new technological arms race

On:
In: Science

Newscom/Alamy Stock Photo In the 1960s, when traditional cinder athletics tracks were replaced by spongy, synthetic surfaces, endurance running experienced a revolution. Long distance runners began clocking far faster times on the synthetic tracks, smashing multiple world records in the process. Today, another revolution is afoot: the development of the so-called “super shoe”, which is driving another spike of record toppling in endurance running. The new shoe technology was introduced to road running in 2016 and track running in 2019, and since those key dates virtually all endurance running world records, from the 5,000m to the marathon, have been broken. This has divided opinion in the athletics world, with some arguing the shoes are unfair while others argue they’re justContinue Reading

On:
In: News

Two senior appointments at Falmouth Docks & Engineering Company (FDEC) and A&P Group are set to help the business capitalise on new opportunities in the Group’s port operations.  Mike Spicer, A&P Falmouth’s former Finance Director, has been made Director of Operations for Falmouth Docks & Engineering Company and Financial Director (Falmouth) at A&P Group, while Drystan Jones, former Director at FDEC, assumes the role of FDEC’s Port Development Director and General Manager FDEC.   Mike’s appointment will support A&P Group’s move to bring FDEC operations under A&P Falmouth’s direction which will strengthen links between both entities, whilst affording greater strategic decision making between the two organisations.   Drystan’s new role will give greater focus to port development and capitalise onContinue Reading

The Conversation

On:
In: Politics

Tensions are running high in Hong Kong after the pro-Beijing government charged 47 democracy activists and politicians with sedition under the controversial new national security law. The group is accused of running what has been described as an unofficial “primary” poll in July last year in which more than 600,000 Honkongese voted to select candidates for a legislative election which was due to be held in September. The election was subsequently postponed by Carrie Lam, the territory’s pro-Beijing chief executive, who cited the coronavirus as the reason for delaying the vote. The charges come just days after the Hong Kong government introduced new oath requirements for public officials – swearing loyalty not to their constituents but Beijing and the CommunistContinue Reading

Lifting lockdown: how much should we listen to the views of business?

On:
In: Health

Problems inside problems inside problems. Evgeni Tcherkasski/Unsplash After the long COVID winter, there has been a cautious sense of turning the corner in the UK. The vaccination programme has progressed better than many might have expected, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now unveiled his “roadmap” for unwinding restrictions in England over the next four months. Inevitably, however, some camps received the news less well than others. Business leaders in sectors like hospitality, travel and retail were worried about the prospect of several more months in lockdown, saying it could sink companies that were already on the verge of going under. A year after lockdown measures began in most western countries, it was a reminder of the gap that hasContinue Reading

Scientists in a lab using a pipette

On:
In: COVID-19

As a middling but competent clinician-scientist, I feel desperately sorry for the general public trying to make head or tail of some of the scientific discussions on the pandemic right now. Science is being done, disseminated, argued about – sometimes peer-reviewed if we are lucky – and then immediately rewritten days later. Even with some experience, it’s hard to keep up. Data and reports come thick and fast, with little time to assess what they really mean. One particularly fast-moving topic at the moment is vaccine efficacy. The emerging data from vaccination programmes looks great and seems to strongly back up the findings of clinical trials. However, in keeping with these frenzied times, on closer inspection what’s being presented isContinue Reading

The Conversation

On:
In: Politics

When Saudi Arabian dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, had not expected the outcry that would follow. For perhaps the first time in recent history, Saudi critics and Saudi supporters were united in their condemnation of the extrajudicial killing. The allegations – that Khashoggi, who had disappeared after entering the embassy on October 2, had been murdered and his body dismembered and disposed of by Saudi agents – sparked a diplomatic crisis in Istanbul, Riyadh and London, but not in Washington DC. The then US president, Donald Trump, continued to publicly support Saudi Arabia and Prince Mohammed, its de facto ruler. Two-and-a-half yearsContinue Reading

On:
In: Sport

IND vs ENG: Mayank Agarwal dives to catch the ball during training.© Twitter The Indian cricket team is gearing up for the fourth and final Test in the ongoing series against England in Ahmedabad. Although India are leading the series, there is plenty on the line for the hosts in the final game, as they look to book their berth in the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship in June. The Indian cricket board on Tuesday took to social media to share pictures as the team underwent some fielding drills ahead of the fourth Test. Fielding drills @Paytm #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/fAdEKZ2YYA – BCCI (@BCCI) March 2, 2021 In the pictures, batsman Mayank Agarwal, pacer Umesh Yadav andContinue Reading

Only 2% of conversations end when we want them to – here's why that's cause for celebration

On:
In: Science

Prostock-studio/Shutterstock Everyone’s familiar with the sensation of being trapped in a conversation for too long – be that over the garden fence or by the office water cooler. On the other end of the spectrum, we’ve also experienced conversations that seem to end prematurely, leaving us dissatisfied and maybe even a little hurt. Now, a Harvard study has found that this conversational disappointment may in fact be incredibly common. Involving 992 participants taking part in two-way discussions, the study found that less than 2% of conversations ended when both partners wanted them to. This figure was remarkably stable, irrespective of whether people were talking to a stranger or a lover. The authors of the study believe this discrepancy is theContinue Reading

On:
In: Sport

IND vs ENG: Axar Patel picked up 11 wickets in the third Test against England.© Twitter While former England cricketers raised questions over the quality of the pitch in the recently concluded third Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Australia cricketers were left impressed with the spin it witnessed with the pink ball. Australia spinner Ashton Agar on Monday said he loved watching Axar Patel bowl in the third Test, that ended within two days. Agar, who is also a left-arm spinner, was specifically impressed with how Axar used the shiny part of the ball to bowl straighter ones which turned out to be the most lethal deliveries. “Have loved watching Axar Patel bowl. There was an article recently thatContinue Reading

On:
In: People

The South West’s Goldmine Legendary radio presenter, Chris Dinnis joins The South West’s Goldmine to host the DAB radio station’s ‘The Saturday Breakfast Show’. Taking to the air from Saturday 6th March, Chris will be behind the mic from 8am – 10am, bringing music from the 50’s to the 80’s, local features and more to listeners of Cornwall’s only independently owned county-wide radio station. Hailing from the south west, Chris brings a wealth of experience to the station including a music journalism career and 40 years spent on the radio. Interviewing everyone from David Dimbleby to Beyonce, he’s also performed in front of senior royals and hosted numerous outdoor headline acts. With a passion for 60’s and 70’s music ChrisContinue Reading