Latest news with #UniversityofKent


BBC News
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
TikTok star PinkPantheress gets honorary University of Kent degree
Singer PinkPantheress is to receive an honorary degree from the University of Canterbury-raised musician, who kickstarted her career on social media, is to be recognised for her contribution to and achievements in music in the digital three-time Brit Award nominee – whose real name is Victoria Beverley Walker – will be made a Doctor of Music at Canterbury Cathedral during one of the university's graduation ceremonies on Tuesday."I am so honoured to get this, this is so cool," the 22-year-old said. PinkPantheress shared her first song, the Michael Jackson-sampling Just A Waste, on TikTok on Christmas Day in the next 18 months, she shared 15-second online snippets of her then, she has signed with record label known for her Top 40 singles Just for Me, Pain and Boy's a Liar, she has won BBC's Sound of 2022 poll and Best Female Act at the MOBO awards in the same year. She also performed at Glastonbury last she posted on social media that years of exposure to loud music had left her 80% deaf in her right last year she cancelled a number of tour dates, stating that she had to "focus on my physical health and overall wellbeing".Others receiving honorary degrees throughout the week include writer Sir Michael Morpurgo MBE, presenter Iain Dale, filmmaker and former actress Andrea Arnold and conservationist Giles Clark.


BBC News
20-06-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Scientists trying to grow Devon tea plants in space
Scientists are using plants from Devon to test whether it is possible to grow tea in space. Seedlings cultivated near Ashburton have been planted in soils which are similar to those found on the Moon and Mars as part of a research project at the University of Kent. The team said the aim was to be able to ultimately grow food in space for people who are based on space stations and the Moon in the future. Jo Harper, who owns Dartmoor Estate Tea which provided the plants, said it was a "mind-blowing" idea. 'New age of space' Prof Nigel Mason, who specialises in molecular physics at the University of Kent, said this could contribute to research into whether food can be grown in added: "We're moving into a new age of space, where we no longer just want to explore, but we want to settle space, we want to put people onto space stations and build bases on the Moon."As soon as you consider that, one of the first things you want to know is, 'what will people eat?'"The fun part of the project is to to see whether we could grow things on the Moon, but a lot of the basic work is also about how crops and plants survive harsh environments and poor soils, and poor soils are a big problem with climate change." Researcher Anna-Marie Wirth, 22, said she thought it was "really cool" tea plants were being tested. "Tea is a huge part of British culture and cultures around the world," she will monitor how the plants develop over the course of 30 days, with temperature, humidity and lighting controlled to mimic conditions in have been grown in space before after a small food-growing trial by Italian and American scientists. Kathryn Harper, from the Dartmoor Estate Tea, said people needed the drink, "even in space"."If they're growing it themselves, then those on the International Space Station would have access to their daily brew, their daily cup of tea," she results of the experiment are expected in summer 2025.


The Hindu
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Aneka Theatre's ‘Raktha Vivaha' to be staged at Ranga Shankara
The Kannada play Raktha Vivaha will be staged at the Ranga Shankara in Bengaluru on June 14, 2025 (Saturday). Directed by Apoorva Anagalli, the play is an adaptation of the popular work of Spanish poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca. The play, based on Garcia Lorca's Blood Wedding (Spanish: Bodas de sangre), is a tragic story of a girl who is torn between two young men in a repressive society. This love triangle, woven around complex themes such as passionate love, male arrogance, a woman's loneliness and human-nature conflict, is based on a true incident. The play is produced by the Aneka Theatre Group. Apoorva Anagalli is a stage actress and director trained at the University of Kent in England, the National School of Drama in New Delhi, and Ninasam in Shivamogga, Karnataka. Her theatre productions attempt to fuse creative experimentation with traditional Indian art forms and modern theatre design techniques. She is researching the revival of folk art forms of coastal Karnataka as well as theatre in education. She has directed more than 20 plays till now and has given over 300 stage performances in prestigious festivals Raktha Vivaha will be staged at 7:30 pm at Ranga Shankara. The tickets are priced at Rs 200. Visit BookMyShow or contact 9718080422 or 9448050950.


Edinburgh Live
11-06-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Madeleine McCann police in 'major breakthrough' with Christian Brueckner probe
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An expert has suggested that new evidence may "significantly strengthen" the case against Christian Brueckner, the suspect in the Madeleine McCann disappearance. A grim new documentary about Madeleine McCann has unveiled distressing discoveries at Christian Brueckner's abode, which include images of children in swimming attire, toddler toys, and appalling stories of child snatching. During the investigation, an 80gb hard drive was unearthed, containing photos and a computer key, possibly providing the impetus for detectives to associate the suspect with Madeleine's vanishing. The contents of the hard drive also positioned Brueckner at the epicentre of the search zone around Arades Dam in Portugal. It was disclosed in the documentary that Brueckner expressed desires to "capture something small and use it for days". Robert Green, a Professor of Forensic Science at the University of Kent, opines that finding "mask, guns, and hard drive" may necessitate a more intensive inquiry into Brueckner's history. Speaking to The Mirror, he remarked: "The discovery of items such as a mask, guns, and particularly the hard drive, indicates a potential link to further criminal activity, which may warrant a more thorough investigation of the suspect's past," reports the Mirror. It's thought the fresh search is linked to the continued quest for answers in the Madeleine McCann case, with the hope that new evidence might crack it. Investigators constantly review existing evidence and chase leads they think might pay off, especially in cases that have gone unsolved for years. A newly unearthed letter from prime suspect Brueckner is said to mock German police's efforts to tie him to Madeleine McCann's disappearance. In the handwritten note, seen by German newspaper Bild, he allegedly writes: "Are there any traces of her in my vehicle? Any other traces of her in my possession? Photos? Is there a body? No, no, no." A document also places the suspect at the location of a search for Madeleine McCann, where he reportedly said "she did not scream" while discussing the British toddler with an associate. He also shares a chilling kidnapping story, including: "A very small girl enters the room. She's definitely not older than five." The latest search for clues related to Madeleine McCann's disappearance lasted three days in Praia da Luz last week, near where Brueckner is known to have camped. Brueckner spent time in the Praia de Luz area of Portugal between 2000 and 2017, with his home just a mile from the Ocean Club, where the McCann family stayed when Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007. Years on, investigators reportedly discovered that his mobile phone had received a call near the holiday flat complex approximately an hour before the three year old was reported missing.


Irish Daily Mirror
11-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Major breakthrough in Madeleine McCann case as new evidence uncovered
Investigators involved in the probe into Madeleine McCann's disappearance 18 years ago could strengthen their case against the prime suspect, Christian Brueckner, after new evidence emerged, a forensic expert has claimed. The Mirror reports how a disturbing new documentary into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Portugal in 2007 has uncovered new evidence at Christian Brueckner's home, including photographs of young children in swimwear, toys and horrific stories of kids being kidnapped. Among the evidence was an 80gb hard drive that contained images, as well as a laptop key. The hard drive also placed Brueckner at the centre of the search location in the Arades Dam area, with the documentary reporting that the German suspect wanted to "capture something small and use it for days". Professor of Forensic Science at the University of Kent, Robert Green, believes discovering "musk, guns, and hard drive" may warrant a more "thorough investigation" into Brueckner's past. He told The Mirror: "The discovery of items such as a musk, guns, and particularly the hard drive, indicates a potential link to further criminal activity, which may warrant a more thorough investigation of the suspect's past. "The rationale behind the renewed search could stem from the ongoing pursuit of justice in the Madeleine McCann case and the hope that any additional evidence could lead to a breakthrough. Investigators continually assess existing evidence and pursue lines of inquiry they believe could be fruitful, especially in cases that have remained unresolved for many years." A letter from Brueckner, who denies any involvement in the disappearance of the British girl, which was recently discovered is believed to have been targeted at police in Germany and their attempts to connect the convicted criminal to Madeleine's disappearance in Portugal. German publication Bild quotes the note as reading: "Are there any traces of her in my vehicle? Any other traces of her in my possession? Photos? Is there a body? No, no, no." Brueckner was also placed at the location of a search for Maddie by a document in which he allegedly said "she did not scream" as he discussed the British toddler with an associate. He also shared a harrowing kidnapping story, including: "A very small girl enters the room. She's definitely not older than five." Last week, the latest search for clues into the disappearance of Madeleine was launched by both German and Portuguese authorities. The search, conducted between Praia da Luz - where Madeleine disappeared on May 3, 2007 - and the area where Brueckner resided lasted a number of days. It's understood that Brueckner spent time in Praia de Luz between 2000 and 2017 and his home was quite close to the Ocean Club, the accommodation in which the McCann family were staying when she suddenly disappeared.