Polymers (solidified liquids) could make great cheap lenses because liquids naturally form spheres; however, after reaching a certain size, they flatten into a puddle because of gravity. But Prof. Moran Bercovici and Dr. Valeri Frumkin present a simple solution: injecting liquid polymers into other liquids (called buoyancy liquids) eliminates the effects of gravity, so they maintain their spherical shape. The buoyancy liquids just need to have the same density as the polymers; because polymers have similar density to oil, their buoyancy liquid is water mixed with salt, sugar, or glycerin. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here
Merv
February 1, 2023
