Alok Jha

Dishes of olive oil to be banned from restaurants? The EU's gone mad

guardian.co.uk — Those first minutes in a restaurant, the mulling over of the menu, clinking of drinks, collective breaking of bread and enthusiastic dunking into little bowls of olive oil - they are some of the most enjoyable.

Cory Doctorow gives the 2013 Sense About Science Lecture

guardian.co.uk — This week's edition of the podcast is dedicated to the Sense About Science Lecture 2013, given by the sci-fi writer and web activist Cory Doctorow. Cory's lecture was entitled "We get to choose: How to demand an internet that sets us free" and was delivered to an invited audience at The Institution of Engineering and Technology on 13 May.

Briton picked for five-month mission on International Space Station in 2015

guardian.co.uk — Britain's first official astronaut, Major Tim Peake, has been selected to fly on a five-month mission on the International Space Station in 2015, it is believed. The go-ahead for the flight will be seen as a major boost for the UK's space industry.

Challenge, don't worship, the chiefs and high priestesses of science

guardian.co.uk — At the BSA Science Communication conference this week, I was invited to speak about science policy, under the title "All hail to the chief". Except, I think science involves way too much hailing already. I'm not about to start bowing to Sir Mark Walport, just because he's the Government Chief Scientific Advisor.

Kepler space telescope 'isn't down-and-out just yet' - Nasa

guardian.co.uk — The Kepler space telescope, Nasa's iconic mission to find a new Earth outside our solar system, has a problem. A crucial component used to help it orient in space has stopped working and, with little chance of getting it fixed, it looks as though the satellite will have to retire from active duty.

Latest | Science is Vital

scienceisvital.org.uk — Dr Paul Nurse, Nobel Laureate, KBE FRS Professor Anne Dell, CBE FRS Professor Sir Martin Evans, Nobel Laureate, FRS Professor Dame Kay Davies, CBE FRS FMedSci FRCPath HonFRCP Professor Sir Andre Geim, Nobel Laureate, KBE FRS Professor Brian Cox, OBE RSURF Professor Sir John Gurdon, Nobel Laureate, KBE FRS Professor