Was there a Big Bang?

🗓️ Start: Wed 14 Jan 2026 10:30 am
⏳ End: Wed 14 Jan 2026 12:00 pm

In 1929, Edwin Hubble established a correlation between galactic redshift and distance. For nearly a century, the prevailing scientific consensus has attributed this redshift to cosmic expansion, forming the foundation of the Big Bang theory. However, recent data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has introduced observations that challenge standard cosmological models. In this presentation, David Youll (Basingstoke u3a) reviews the historical dominance of the Big Bang theory, examines the anomalies identified by the JWST, and explores whether a “Tired Light” model offers a more accurate framework for these new findings.

To contact us about the Science & Technology group, click here… Get in touch

https://u3acommunities.org/event/was-there-a-big-bang/

Our favourite festive film from a book

🗓️ Start: Tue 23 Dec 2025 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 23 Dec 2025 8:00 pm

Come along armed with your favourite Christmas viewing based on a book.

And the reasons why it is your top choice.

There are hundreds to choose from.

But if you select A Christmas Carol we will want to know which version!

https://u3acommunities.org/event/our-favourite-festive-film-from-a-book/

🗓️ Start: Sat 20 Dec 2025 8:00 am
⏳ End: Sat 20 Dec 2025 5:00 pm

Merry Christmas and all the best to our Art History group members.

The group is always open to and welcomes new members

Thank you for such enjoyable meetings

Catherine

https://u3acommunities.org/event/35023/

🗓️ Start: Sat 20 Dec 2025 8:00 am
⏳ End: Sat 20 Dec 2025 5:00 pm

Merry Christmas and all the best to all the members of the History group.

New members are always welcome.

See you all in 2026

Catherine

https://u3acommunities.org/event/35028/

@_elena Totally agree.

I also think its important for the older generations to avoid generative AI and to keep thinking for themselves (use it or loose it).

Come to think of it, there seems few "good" uses of generative AI ... although med-gemini springs to mind.

#u3a

@_elena @shollyethan @yunohost @ilja Great guide, many thanks for sharing.

Years ago (pre-cloud) I used to self host at home, but as the cloud grew there became little point in this d-i-y approach. But as you say, now the cloud has become such a bad place, the d-i-y approach is back in fashion again !

I now self-host at home (again) :

• email
• photo sharing
• search
• books
• webserver
• calender
• fediverse server
• backups

I'm now looking for a docs solution, probably onlyoffice.

I've not come across yonohost before, so I'll follow with interest further parts of your series.

#docker-mailserver #immich #searxng #calibre #wordpress #baikal #fediverse #frendica #restic #u3a #onlyoffice #yonohost !u3acommunitiescomputing

How to use https://u3a.social

🗓️ Start: Tue 20 Jan 2026 3:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 20 Jan 2026 5:00 pm

20th January @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

This month we look at how to use the newly created social media Fediverse site https://u3a.social.

We start with a summary of past talks on the Fediverse and real time bidding (how targetted ads work) before walking through creating and using an account.  Also covered is how to find groups, friends and news sources to follow (such as users on other Fediverse sites, Bluesky and RSS).  Of course we’ll have a demo.

Fediverse sites are free of ads, tracking, algorithms, big business and billionaires … they are community sites – owned and managed by the community for the community.

As always, plenty of time is reserved for discussions.

Joining details will be emailed to subscribers.  If you aren’t a member, it’s free to join here https://u3acommunities.org/subscribe-to-computing-forum/.

https://u3acommunities.org/event/how-to-use-https-u3a-social/

Mind-blowing Advances in Materials Science

🗓️ Start: Mon 26 Jan 2026 3:00 pm
⏳ End: Mon 26 Jan 2026 4:30 pm

Speaker: Professor Mark Miodownik
University College London

Mark Miodownik is a pioneering materials scientist fascinated by how the stuff of our world—metals, ceramics, polymers, biomaterials—shapes human experience. His work celebrates the hidden stories inside everyday objects and explores how emerging materials can transform sustainability, medicine, and technology. Today’s mind-blowing advances in materials science—from self-healing structures to programmable matter and bio-inspired materials—reflect the curiosity and creativity Miodownik champions, revealing a future where smarter, greener, and more responsive materials redefine what’s possible.

Mark Miodownik’s books vividly reflect his deep passion for materials and their hidden magic. Stuff Matters—a bestselling, award-winning exploration of everyday materials—and Liquid: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances That Flow Through Our Lives both reveal his ability to turn complex science into gripping, human-centred stories.

If you are not already subscribed, subscription is free and you will receive joining details and news about forthcoming Leading Edge meetings https://u3acommunities.org/subscribe-to-leading-edge/

https://u3acommunities.org/event/mind-blowing-advances-in-materials-science/

What did Just William mean to us?

🗓️ Start: Tue 25 Nov 2025 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 25 Nov 2025 8:00 pm

We take a trip back in time to the Richmal Crompton’s stories of William Brown and his family.  Not so popular now, they were a read back in the days. But have they left any lasting memories? Discuss.

https://u3acommunities.org/event/what-did-just-william-mean-to-us/

HUMAN MIGRATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

🗓️ Start: Wed 26 Nov 2025 10:00 am
⏳ End: Wed 26 Nov 2025 11:30 am

Human migration driven by climate change goes back millions years. It continues today in far greater numbers as the Earth warms to +2C by 2050 and +3C beyond 2100. Countries need to cooperate to avoid conflict.

ianhawker101@gmail.com

https://u3acommunities.org/event/human-migration-and-climate-change/

ART HISTORY NOVEMBER 25TH 2025

🗓️ Start: Tue 25 Nov 2025 12:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 25 Nov 2025 1:00 pm

Come along to an intriguing presentation about Frith’s Gallery. One of our members will be giving the talk.

Tuesday

25th November 2025

12-1.00pm

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6911529/Painting-famous-faces-1881-sells-10m-identify-are.html

https://u3acommunities.org/event/art-history-november-25th-2025/

Quantum Computers talk

https://u3a.social/display/c66bfb1b-2469-1c2b-e4eb-050086908065

The Ig Nobel Prizes: 2025 edition

🗓️ Start: Wed 10 Dec 2025 10:30 am
⏳ End: Wed 10 Dec 2025 12:00 pm

For over a century, the ultimate recognition of ground-breaking scientific research has been the award of a Nobel Prize. But there’s another series of annual awards, less prestigious but no less cherished, which honour, not the greatest achievements in science, but the funniest. They’re called the ‘Ig’ Nobel Prizes, and, since their launch in 1991, they’ve provided a humorous insight into the quirky side of scientific research. In this light-hearted presentation, Barry Zussman, from Torridge u3a, will spill the beans (and much else besides!) on the wackiest prize-winners of 2025.

To view the recording, click here… ‘Ig Nobel Prizes (2025)’

To contact us about the Science & Technology group, click here… Get in touch

https://u3acommunities.org/event/the-ig-nobel-prizes-2025-edition/

u3acommunities talk on quantum computing

https://u3a.social/display/c66bfb1b-6769-1441-21e3-e08273386694

Current Affairs discussion group: Open Forum

🗓️ Start: Thu 20 Nov 2025 10:30 am
⏳ End: Thu 20 Nov 2025 11:30 am

For our final meeting of the year, I’m once again opening the floor to all of you – our members – to share your thoughts on anything that’s been making the headlines recently. From the increasingly fractious debate over immigration policy to the prison releases debacle, the latest round of doctors’ strikes to the crisis at the BBC, not to mention all the speculation about the upcoming budget – and the PM’s leadership – there’s plenty to choose from, so why not come along and have your say!

If you haven’t yet done so, there’s still time to join our mailing list, which will ensure that you receive those all-important Zoom log-in details… just click here: Subscribe to the Current Affairs group

https://u3acommunities.org/event/current-affairs-discussion-group-open-forum/

Quantum Computers

🗓️ Start: Tue 18 Nov 2025 3:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 18 Nov 2025 5:00 pm

18th November @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

This month we are fortunate that Professor Winfried Hensinger, from Sussex University, will be giving us a talk about quantum computers.

Prof Winfried Hensinger is a Professor of Quantum Technologies at the University of Sussex where heads the Sussex Ion Quantum Technology Group. He is the director of the Sussex Centre for Quantum Technologies, and he is Deputy Director and Sussex lead for the new £24M EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Quantum Information Science and Technologies, a joint venture of the University of Sussex and the University of Bristol. Hensinger is also a co-founder of Universal Quantum, a full stack quantum computing company, where he serves as Chief Scientist and Chairman. Hensinger has been working for over 20 years on building quantum computers with trapped ions that can solve important industry problems. In 2017, leading an international team from Google, Aarhus University, Siegen, Riken and Sussex University, he announced the first industrial blueprint for building a practical quantum computer with millions of qubits capable of solving important industry problems.

As usual, plenty of time is reserved for discussions.

This event is open to U3ACommunities computing, science and leading edge groups as well as the u3a science online interest group.

Joining details will be emailed to subscribers.  If you aren’t a member, it’s free to join here https://u3acommunities.org/subscribe-to-computing-forum/.

https://u3acommunities.org/event/quantum-computers/

u3a news

https://u3a.social/display/c66bfb1b-1069-0a43-19c7-3b4832193271

Trump and the tech titans

https://u3a.social/display/c66bfb1b-2169-091a-cbdd-ea1851811244

RSS links

https://plord.co.uk/b/G3h #festivals #u3a

Friendica supports Fediverse, Bluesky and RSS feeds … but, unfortunately, not all sites offers one of these. One option is to expose web pages to RSS via tools like https://fetchrss.com. This is my list.

Festival related

U3A Related

Calendar

https://u3a.social/display/c66bfb1b-2169-023f-f215-124830774474