A Feast for the Mind

Nowadays, it's hard to imagine the UK food landscape without egg fried rice, chicken chow mein, and prawn crackers, because who doesn't enjoy a cheeky Chinese takeaway? But: how did we get here? And: what do MSG, COVID, and Americans on TikTok have to do with it? Find out more by going on a journey through the history of British Chinese food, as told through newspaper articles!

Out of sight, out of mind. The deep sea is so far away that it feels like an alien world, but the aliens are far more connected to us than we may realise. This talk dives thousands of meters underwater to get to know the animals living in this dark world. How does anything survive without sunlight? What do the critters of the abyss eat? How does it impact us? We will get to know the unknown, learn that the deep is right on our doorstep, and find out how the bottom-feeders can benefit us.

Cancer cells become expert engineers who can trick their engines into running longer and faster. To do this, they optimise how the fuel is burnt and use it more efficiently, keeping their tank constantly full. As a result of these changes, cancer cells not only grow fast but also spread to other parts of the body. This talk will show you how colorectal cancer cells have special “eating habits” and how their unique way to process nutrients to generate fuel changes as the cancer progresses, with its journey often ending in the liver. We’ll explore how tumour cells adapt to new environments and whether targeting these energy processes can lead to cancer running out of fuel. Join us to discover: can we really empty cancer’s tank?