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Sat, Dec 07, 2019 12:43 PM All times are UTC Edition :

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Rob Hammond

Lecturer, Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester
My research focuses on the evolution of complex traits.

I am interested in the organization of social insect societies with projects on the genetic changes underlying differences in social organisation, how social traits influence the genome, and the diversity and role of bacteriophages in social insect nests. Also in social insects, I am interested in the evolutionary consequences of haplodiploidy - males having a single genome but females having two.

Outside of social insects I am interested in the effects on the genome when sexual mode switches from males and female mating to produce offspring to hermaphrodites self-fertilizing to produce offspring.

Six amazing facts you need to know about ants

Jun 23, 2019 13:57 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Have you have seen ants this year? In Britain, they were probably black garden ants, known as Lasius niger Europes most common ant. One of somewhere between 12,000 and 20,000 species, they are the scourge of gardeners ...

Economy

Black Friday: a logistical nightmare that’s bad for the environment

Black Friday and the ensuing Cyber Monday are once again upon us. Billions will be spent trying to snag a bargain in the approach to Christmas. But as scrutiny turns to whether or not the deals on offer are genuine...

How to pick the 'right' amount to spend on holiday gifts – according to an economist

Gift giving is a big deal this time of year. To find the perfect gift, Americans will spend about 15 hours shopping. Women will do about twice as much as men. And theyll shell out about US$1 trillion on gifts. While...

Poverty: what low-income countries need is not more economic growth, it’s less shrinking

It is widely accepted that countries are poor because their economies dont manage to grow sufficiently. But, perhaps surprisingly, the ability to create growth is not what most poor countries are lacking. In fact, all...

The city of Akure is developing fast. But citizens aren't having their say

Akure, the medium-sized capital of Ondo State in Southwest Nigeria, has seen its population increase by more than 54% in 13 years. Akures population growth is explained by two factors. Ondo State is a part of the Niger...

Capitalist creep on campus: the largest, quietest privatisation in UK history – it's why we're striking

For the next week and a half, many UK university lecturers will be on strike again, but who outside of academia really cares? After all, university academics have great jobs. Indeed, every June to September, I get asked...

Politics

Michelle Obama did not favor the initial draft of Barack Obama's official portrait, artist reveals

It has been more than a year since the official portraits of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama were unveiled. However, a piece of interesting behind-the-scenes information was revealed on Monday by Kehinde Wiley, the artist...

Melania Trump reportedly lives a floor above where Donald Trump is sleeping in the White House

There has been so much interest around the marital status of Melania Trump and Donald Trump. Though the first couple has maintained their relationship is going well, it never stopped reports that they are sleeping in...

Do politicians break their promises once in government? What the evidence says

The conventional wisdom holds that politicians cant be trusted to keep their promises, yet decades of research across numerous advanced democracies shows the opposite. In truth, political parties reliably carry out the...

Women have been a lot less visible in this UK general election campaign – why?

Every general election is haunted by the ghosts of campaigns past. The most significant spectre in 2019 has to be Nancy Astor, who on December 1 1919 was the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons as an...

How many voters really switch parties in British elections? What the evidence tells us

With the 2019 election campaign in full swing, there is little evidence in the polls that things are changing. The overall picture shows both the Conservatives and Labour are both gaining support but the Conservatives...

Science

Mars 2019: Living organisms can potentially survive and thrive in the Red Planet's conditions

Scientists and space agencies have long been studying and testing theories regarding the possibility of being able to survive on Mars. One scientist, in particular, made a discovery that can potentially hold the answer to...

NASA: Asteroid bigger than five double-decker buses to pass by Earth

Another asteroid is coming in within the vicinity of the Earth. NASA says that an asteroid larger than five double-decker buses is going to pass by the planet. Many asteroids have been spotted passing by the planet this...

NASA: Conflict emerges with India over Vikram Lander

Many space enthusiasts or those who have closely followed the activities of space agencies might be rejoicing at the good news of finally sighting Indias Vikram Lander on the moon. However, there now seems to be a conflict...

Asteroids: Apophis asteroid can potentially cause environmental disasters

From all the asteroids that have made a close encounter with Earth and passing through the planets orbit, this may be potentially the most dangerous one yet. In the event that this particular asteroid passes into Earth,...

Black Hole: Magnetic fields may be responsible for what makes them shine

It is common knowledge that the gravitational pull of black holes is incredibly strong, so strong that not even light could escape. But a new discovery reveals how the magnetic fields play a part in what makes black holes...

Technology

‘PUBG Mobile’ v0.16.0 arrives on December 11 without Erangel 2.0

The 0.16.0 update is the most awaited content for PUBG Mobile right now. Luckily, gamers will no longer have to guess when the patch is arriving, but they should also not expect the Erangel 2.0 map to launch with...

iPhone 12 paves way for Touch ID’s return

Apples next premium line of smartphones, now widely dubbed as iPhone 12, is anticipated to be the highlight of a new decade for the tech industry. Apple fans will be more excited about it as several sources claim that the...

Why Pixelbook Go is not ‘Pixelbook 2’, Google explains

Many Chromebook fans were expecting Google to release a follow-up on its high-end product, Pixelbook, this year. It has been in the market for over two years now. But the company, instead, announced Pixelbook Go that it...

iOS 14 could no longer support iPhone 6S, 6S Plus

The range of compatibility of iOS 14 is one topic that Apple fans are most curious about, aside from its new features and stability improvements. Apple has yet to address this matter, but there are speculations that the...

iPhone SE 2 Plus without home button drops in early 2021

The previous months have been filled with reports about the anticipated release of iPhone SE 2. However, Apple now appears to have more plans for its more affordable smartphone lineup as iPhone SE 2 Plus is now predicted...