Today’s physics news: Monday 8 February

Uni cuts mean lost jobs and missed places
Most of today’s papers report on jobs to be lost at universities and, with record numbers applying for university, the large amount of students who are likely miss uni places next year.  It is also reported that some universities have pushed grade requirements up in order to squeeze student places.

Guardian on job losses
Times on grade requirements

BBC on application surge

Much-protested impact statements not necessary
Via a Freedom of Information request, Times Higher has found that two research councils have awarded grants to applicants that did not include an ‘impact’ statement with their grant application.  The introduction of ‘impact’ criteria for research fund applications in the UK has led to much contention, including a march on Parliament before Christmas.

THE

Plants using quantum behaviour for efficient photosynthesis
Research published in Nature suggests that photons use multiple channels in a plant’s photosynthetic system in order for the light’s energy to find the quickest route. 

Scientific American

Physics World

Leading scientists suggest oil money is fuelling climate scepticism
Both the Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK’s Department for the Environment Professor Bob Watson and the policy director of a leading climate change research institute Bob Ward have suggested to The Independent that private, possibly oil, money has helped the surge in climate scepticism.  

The Independent