Runway or run nay? The latest on the disagreement surrounding the Heathrow extension plans

On By Laura SaundersIn Hot topicLeave a comment

For years there has been talk of expanding Heathrow airport, a proposal which has been met with several challenges. The latest obstacle occurred on 27th February when the Court of Appeal ruled that the government’s decision to allow the expansion to go ahead was unlawful because the plans failed to take into account climate commitments. The court ruling has divided parliament and been met with both concern and elation by the public. The government will not be appealing the court ruling, saying it is now "for Heathrow and the courts to decide" whether expansion should go ahead. What are the expansion plans and what does this court ruling mean? Read on to find out...

Beggars can be choosers: Individual female preference in a jumping spider

On By Laura SaundersIn New publicationLeave a comment

If you read my post about my MSci research project, you’ll hopefully have learned a little bit about sexual selection… if you didn’t, why not go and check it out, it’s worth a read, I promise. Whilst doing some research for my project I came across a new journal article about female choice which could change the way we think about mate preferences and sexual selection and open doors to exciting new areas within this field of research.

Is he hissy fit? Hissing and sexual selection in the courtship of Giant Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches

On By Laura SaundersIn My MSci projectLeave a comment

My MSci research project involves investigating hissing in the courtship displays of Giant Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches with the hope of shedding more light on sexual selection and evolution in this intriguing tropical insect species. This blog will tell you what my research involves, why it is important and the problems I have faced along the way without becoming too hiss-terical (I apologise for the awful pun).