Prince William helps Big Manny with strawberry science experiment
Prince William described himself as a 'beautiful assistant' as he helped social science star Big Manny with an experiment.The pair were working together to extract DNA - genetic information inside cells - from a strawberry. In a video, Prince William was seen holding a sandwich bag for Big Manny to place and then squash the strawberry, explaining that it will "release all the cell content" and "break the cell wall".
Writing on a post on Instagram, Big Manny explained that he and the prince had been visiting the company NatureMetrics, where the unexpected duo had been finding out how they extract "environmental DNA from soil, rivers and the air to learn more about the world".Later in the video Prince William held a science beaker for Big Manny to add ingredients for the solution used for DNA extraction.The solution included salt and washing up liquid, which the prince enthusiastically mixed together before tipping it into the sandwich bag containing the strawberry.
Big Manny explained that strawberries are great for DNA extraction experiments because they are "octoploid", that means they have eight of each type of chromosome in each cell.Chromosomes are tiny, threadlike structures that carry information inside most cells of living things.Strawberries also have more DNA than other fruit, so are perfect for experiments of this kind.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Glamorous Instagram ‘astronaut', 22, exposed as FAKE after duping 150k followers with pics of her ‘training at Nasa'
She claimed she made into the 'Astronaut Class of 2025' with plans to go to Moon and Mars TO INFAMY & BEYOND Glamorous Instagram 'astronaut', 22, exposed as FAKE after duping 150k followers with pics of her 'training at Nasa' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GLAMOROUS Instagram star who soared to fame by claiming she was an astronaut has been exposed as a fraud by NASA. Laysa Peixoto, known to her 156,000 followers as @AstroLaysa, announced earlier this month she'd been picked for a career in space exploration. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Laysa Peixoto claimed she was a NASA astronaut, but the space agency says she was never part of its program Credit: Newsflash 8 The 22-year-old told her 156k followers she was chosen for missions to the Moon and Mars Credit: instagram 8 Peixoto said she was joining the 'Astronaut Class of 2025' Credit: instagram 8 The Brazilian was only part of a NASA student workshop — not a career track or flight crew Credit: Newsflash The 22-year-old Brazilian claimed she earned a spot in the coveted 'Astronaut Class of 2025' with plans to fly to the Moon and Mars. But just days after her triumphant Instagram reveal - complete with snaps of her in a NASA-branded jumpsuit and helmet - NASA itself came crashing into her orbit with a reality check. The agency said bluntly in a statement: "This individual is not a NASA employee, principal investigator, or astronaut candidate. "It would be inappropriate to claim NASA affiliation as part of this opportunity." Peixoto, from the state of Minas Gerais, has told followers she was chosen by private space outfit Titans Space for a 2029 mission led by Veteran NASA astronaut Bill McArthur. She gushed in a post on June 5: "It hasn't fully sunk in yet, but I feel immense gratitude for the entire journey I've taken so far and for everyone who has been and is a part of it." She added: "It is a great joy to represent Brazil as an astronaut in such a decisive era of space exploration… It is an honour to carry the Brazilian flag with me as the first Brazilian woman to cross this frontier." But NASA's no-nonsense response made it clear she had never trained with them and had only participated in a student workshop called L'SPACE - which it described as neither a job nor an internship. Titans Space added to the confusion, confirming she had been accepted into a "candidate programme" - a far cry from a guaranteed seat on a rocket. Fires Up Its Engine and Afterburner During Test Series The company reportedly doesn't even hold a license to conduct manned spaceflights. The programme Peixoto apparently joined is a $1million "Inaugural Astronauts" package promising a five-hour space trip and just three hours of zero gravity. Questions around Peixoto's education also started brewing. She had claimed to be earning a master's in Quantum Physics and Computing at Columbia University in New York City. But the Ivy League school said there's no record of her. 8 In a post, she said: 'It is an honour to carry the Brazilian flag with me...' Credit: Newsflash 8 She was linked to a private $1M 'space experience' by Titans Space Credit: instagram 8 Peixoto also claimed she was studying Quantum Physics at Columbia University Credit: Newsflash Meanwhile, her former university in Brazil confirmed she was dismissed in 2023 for failing to re-enrol. In the aftermath of her post, Peixoto's team said: "At no time is there a mention of NASA, or that it would be an astronaut from the agency. "The post was never edited." But eagled-eyed internet sleuths say otherwise - noting the post was edited and included photos heavy with NASA iconography. The bizarre saga saw the "fake astronaut" at the center of social media jokes. One user quipped on X: 'All I have to say is that anyone who saw a girl wearing a space camp jumpsuit claiming to be a lead astronaut researcher deserves to be fooled, when she's clearly just an ambitious and wealthy person.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- The Independent
David Attenborough reveals experience in his 30s that nearly took his life
Sir David Attenborough says he nearly drowned while testing scuba diving gear in the Great Barrier Reef in 1957, when he would've been around 31. Attenborough shared the story with Prince William at the Royal Festival Hall in May during an event for his new documentary, Oceans. The incident occurred when water flooded the helmet, leaving Attenborough unable to breathe or call for help. The director of the documentary also tested the faulty equipment and experienced the same issue. Attenborough's new documentary, Oceans, explores the ocean's poor health and potential restoration methods, showcasing discoveries and efforts across various regions; it is available on National Geographic, Disney+, and Hulu.
The Guardian
7 days ago
- The Guardian
David Attenborough tells Prince William he nearly drowned while scuba-diving in 1950s
Sir David Attenborough almost drowned when testing a scuba-diving helmet for his 1957 dive on the Great Barrier Reef, the broadcasting veteran has revealed in a discussion with Prince William. Discussing his latest documentary, Ocean, the pioneering film-maker described the incident to the Prince of Wales. 'It's certainly a strange thing to do,' said the 99-year-old Attenborough, as he nostalgically fitted an original version of Jacques-Yves Cousteau's open-circuit scuba helmet over his head. 'Don't do that, David,' laughed the prince. 'You won't get it off.' Successfully wriggling out of the helmet, Attenborough reminisced. 'When I put mine on for the first time, I suddenly felt water coming around [my chin and up over my mouth]' he said. 'I thought, 'This can't be right'. And by the time [the water rose to my nose], I thought, 'I'm sure this is not right'. 'But then, of course, if you got this thing screwed on top of you, you can't breathe. You can't even make yourself heard, you know: 'Get it off me!'' he added. Attenborough related how a testy director of operations refused to believe the equipment had a fault. 'So he put it on and I'm happy to say he went under the water and came up even quicker than I did ('Blimey', interjected the prince), because there was actually a fault.' Ocean, Attenborough's new National Geographic documentary special, confronts the enormity of the loss in ocean life. It will become available for streaming globally on Saturday 8 June, World Ocean's Day. In the film with the prince, publicising the documentary's release, Sir David describes how the world knew very little about the intricacies of life in our oceans when he took his first dive. Attenborough spoke of how the experience was a 'sensory overload'. But now, he said, the same dive in Australia's shallow warm water cay is likely to look disastrously worse: globally, corals have suffered tremendous loss as a result of human-caused ocean warming. 'Dave, from what you've obviously seen over the years, what states would you say the oceans were in right now?' asked the prince in the film, which will shortly be posted on Kensington Palace social media platforms. 'The awful thing is that it's hidden from you and from me and most people,' replied Attenborough. 'The thing which I was appalled by when I first saw the shots taken for this film, is that what we have done to the deep ocean floor is just unspeakably awful. 'I mean, if you did anything remotely like it on land, everybody would be up in arms,' he said. 'If this film does anything – if it just shifts public awareness – it'll be very, very important, and I only hope that people who see it will recognise that something must be done before we destroy this great treasure.' Sign up to What's On Get the best TV reviews, news and features in your inbox every Monday after newsletter promotion Attenborough said he hoped that by confronting the destruction of the ocean, the next generation will be inspired to save it. He told the prince: 'What is heartening, really, is that we have the entrée to people's front rooms – whole families, sitting at home in comfort – can actually suddenly see this coming up. Films like this can expose something new.' Prince William agreed that we must remain optimistic about ocean recovery: it is vital, he said, for stabilising the climate and securing a healthier future for us all. 'I wonder whether this should be a moment for optimistic excitement for the next generation,' he asked Attenborough. 'They can become bigger explorers and find more data. The next 50 years will be incredible.' Attenborough agreed. 'Yes. Very much so.'
