Today’s physics news: Secret patterns of cauliflowers described with maths; Don’t blame the scientists if 300 die in an earthquake

Here is the physics news for Wednesday 24 October 2012.

Secret of the intricate patterns of cauliflowers unlock and described with maths

Scientists have unlocked the secrets behind the intricate pattern on cauliflowers. In a new study, researchers have discovered a mathematical formula to describe the processes that dictate how cauliflower-like patterns – a type of fractal pattern – form and develop. The study has been published in the Institute of Physics’ New Journal of Physics.

Daily Mail

Future of UK nuclear power hangs in the balance, says EDF boss

The future of nuclear power in the UK is hanging in the balance, the chief executive of the company charged with building new reactors has said. Vincent de Rivaz, chief executive of EDF Energy, told MPs at a select committee hearing on Tuesday that he had still not made up his mind whether to go ahead with a construction programme that would see the first new nuclear power stations in the UK for decades. He said the company was waiting for further reassurances from the government on what assistance the company will receive.

The Guardian

Cambridge dons to set new maths A-level

Cambridge university has become the first to respond to pleas by Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, to take a lead in redesigning A levels. The university’s department of pure mathematics, and academics including Sir Tim Gowers, have responded to appeals from Mr Gove for universities to take the lead in specifying the content of new A-level courses. The proposed new Cambridge courses in A-level maths would include complex numbers, trigonometry, combinatorics, probability and centres of mass. But the university says it may take five years to design A levels ready for teaching.

The Times (Subscriber only)

Don’t blame the scientists if 300 die in an earthquake

In this comment piece, Bill McGuire, Professor of Geophysical & Climate Hazards at UCL, says the decision to jail six scientists for failing to predict the earthquake in L’Aquila is utterly farcical and completely unjustified. If more effort and money had been expended in L’Aquila on mitigation, the death toll would probably have been dramatically reduced. If anyone should be locked up, it should be those officials responsible for enforcing building codes in this quake-prone part of Italy, McGuire writes.

The Times  (Subscriber only)