Geminid meteor shower 2015: What causes it, where can I see it and when will it be at its peak? December 4, 2015 This evening, lots of shooting stars will appear in the sky, and will continue lighting it up for a good two weeks. The Geminid meteor shower is due to make its annual appearance over our heads from 4 to 17 December, and this year it promises to be as impressive as ever. At their peak [...]
British astronaut Tim Peake is going to run the 2016 London Marathon in space December 4, 2015 You don't have to actually be in London to run the London Marathon – in 2016, one British astronaut will be doing it from space. Tim Peake, who was is heading up to the International Space Station later this month, will take part in the Virgin Money Marathon using an interactive video app on Sunday 24 [...]
The pharmaceutical sector must start using data to bring down the cost of drug development December 4, 2015 Developing new pharmaceuticals is ever more expensive, with these costs reflected in drug prices. Plenty of viable drugs are not even profitable enough to justify development. Part of the reason is the exorbitant costs created by the high percentage of failures at late stage clinical trials. The pharma industry has a huge opportunity to reduce [...]
Feeling a bit glum? Maybe it’s because we just had the gloomiest November in 86 years December 4, 2015 November might not have been especially cold, but it was certainly very gloomy. According to the Met Office, we have just emerged from the “dullest” November in since 1929, and the dullest month overall since January 2013. They put this down to a “humid, cloudy south-westerly airflow”, which resulted in very low levels of sunshine, [...]
Nasa and Orbital ATK set to launch a Cyngus rocket to International Space Station today – but will the latest private-sector space mission succeed? December 4, 2015 The latest in a series of private-sector space missions will be launched today, in another effort to restock the International Space Station (ISS). Space technology company Orbital ATK is due to launch a Cyngus rocket packed with supplies from Cape Canaveral in Florida just after 5.30pm UK time. The craft will deliver 3.5kg of food, clothes, [...]
Cancer drug prices vary wildly across Europe, and Britain is paying much less than most of its neighbours December 4, 2015 When it comes to cancer medicines, there are no set price tags – the amount paid varies according to country. But the good news is that in the case of Europe, the UK fares pretty well. By looking at the average prices paid for 31 different cancer medicines across 16 countries in Europe, researchers in Austria [...]
Peter Hetherington appointed chief executive of online trading firm IG Group December 4, 2015 Online derivatives trader IG Group has appointed Peter Hetherington as its chief executive. Hetherington took on the role of interim chief executive at the company's AGM in October, after Tim Howkins's retirement in July. Before that, he was the company's chief operating officer, and has been a board member since July 2002. “I am delighted to take on the role of [...]
UK rail fares set to rise 1.1 per cent in the next year – the smallest rise since 2010 December 4, 2015 Rail fares in the UK will rise by an average of 1.1 per cent next year according to the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) – the smallest rise since 2010. The rail industry body said the change, which will come into effect on 2 January, will only apply to unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets. “We know that nobody [...]
Oldham West and Royton by-election 2015 result: Labour’s Jim McMahon wins and Jeremy Corbyn hails victory a ‘vote of confidence’ December 4, 2015 Labour has secured a victory in the by-election for Oldham West and Royton. The party's candidate, Jim McMahon, came in first place with a majority of 62 per cent – this was a bigger win for Labour than at the General Election in May The victory amounted to 10,835 more votes than Ukip candidate John [...]
Countdown to Christmas 2015: Six of the most amazing discoveries humans made this year December 4, 2015 This year, humans around the world have made big leaps forward in unravelling the secrets of the universe and answering some of science's most complex questions. From disease prevention to space exploration and artificial intelligence, pretty much every aspect of science has been lifted by an important discovery in 2015. And new findings are constantly coming [...]
