Today 23rd October 2015.
We covered a wide range of topics, from solar power to the brain.
On 12th October a carload from the Science Group went to Rotorua to listen to a lecture sponsored by the Royal Society. The Speaker was Dr Heather Hendrickson from the Albany Campus of Massey University who spoke about her group's research into bacteriophages.
Bacteriophages are viruses that attack bacteria, and they could be the answer to the increasing number of bacteria that are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Here is a Bacteriophage: 
Looks a bit like a baby Darlek!
It injects its DNA into the bacterium and reproduces itself until there are enough to burst the bacterium, thus releasing more phages into the world.
On 22nd October anothe group went to Rotorua, this time to hear Dr Justin Hodgkiss talk about solar energy. He is working on 3D production of flexible solar panels, and as well as those he talked about developments in the future of electricity. He said that the latest Tesla car, which looks like a luxury sedan, could reach 100km/hour in 3 seconds. It competes more than well against Maseratis and Ferraris!
Both speakers were part of the Royal Society of New Zealand's lecture programme. Anyone can join the Royal Society; you don't have to be a scientist to join. Learn more about joining by clicking here: http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/membership/.
"The Brain that Heals Itself" is one of two excellent books on the brain by Norman Doidge. They are available from amazon.com, both in soft and hard cover and for Kindle. They cover the topic of brain plasticity, and show how remarkable our brains really are.
To end up, we watched a TED video clip about a tour of the international space station, given by the departing commander Sonny Williams. A fascinating insite to ordinary living in a space station, from eating, exercise, sleeping, toileting amongst a few.
Some of us are a tad tardy about letting the host know that they will not be attending. This is hard for the host to cater for: does he/she provide for a multitude or a few? You are reminded of the U3A rule that if you do not apologise for non-attendance for three consecutive meetings, the convener may summarily remove you from the group. Whilst we in U3A are inveterate overseas travellers, some of us disappearing for weeks are a time, when you read a notice of meeting you should act on it. Those who don't do so after the next meeting notice will be removed from the mailing list.
Our next meeting will be on Friday 27th November 2015.