Solihull Widney

Science

The Science Group meets on the 1st Friday of the month from 2 – 4pm in members’ homes.

Anyone with an enquiring mind and an interest in science and technology is welcome whatever their background. Whilst some members have had a scientific education or career others do not.

Members often give a presentation on a topic which interests them and sometimes we watch relevant TV programmes or online videos such as TED talks. The subject matter is very wide ranging for example recently it has included Astronomy, Pharmacology, Developments in the Bicycle, Drones, Palm Oil, Green Energy and new materials.

We also allow time to discuss anything of scientific, technical or mathematical interest which has recently been in the news.

In the February meeting the group looked at how the electric cables in a Hi-Fi set up could influence the overall sound. This led us to looking at some YouTube clips that explained how electricity flows in a wire and the electric and magnetic fields that are produced. It was somewhat sobering to learn that electricity does not flow like water in a pipe with a stream of electrons as we had been taught in school. At the end it was easy to see how the interaction of the magnetic/electrical fields that surround a wire could interfere to affect the musical signal passing through.

The December Meeting

Peter Sloan had kindly prepared a presentation on Tree Diseases to give us a break from the constant coverage of the current human one. He started from the formation of the earth about 4.5 billion years ago to the present day. Bacteria started to form about 2.5 billion years ago which produced oxygen as a by-product. These evolved into more complex life forms and about 350 million years ago trees started to grow. The tree cell (picture below) is in some ways similar to a human cell and can therefore be attacked by viruses, bacteria and fungi. Tree disease such as Dutch Elm disease were discussed which is caused by the fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi. It is a type of disease known as a vascular wilt because the fungus blocks the vascular (water transport) system in the tree, causing the branches to wilt and die. It is spread by elm bark beetles. Most tree diseases are imported into the UK and run rife as our native trees have limited or no resistance just like our bodies response to Corvid-19. Australia and New Zealand have very strict controls to minimise the risk of diseases entering the country.

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More Group Pages
Art & Culture Book Group
Bookworms Bridge 2 - Affiliated to SWU3A - Widney
Canasta Coffee Club
Creative Writing Curry Club - for Widney Members
Discussion Group French - Language (Beginners)
Garden Group Interesting Places
Military & Social History Group Music Appreciation 1
Music Appreciation Group 2 Page Turners
Painting Photography
Poetry Railways and Steam Study Group
Science Short Walks Group
Spanish - Beginners Spanish - Intermediate
Square Heads Sunday Lunch Club
Walking Group Zingari Singers