Cambridge Science Festival 2013

Psychopath. No sooner is the word out than images of murderers, rapists, suicide bombers and gangsters flash across our minds. But not all psychopaths are violent, or even criminal. In fact, they have a lot of good things going for them. In this groundbreaking adventure, renowned psychologist Kevin Dutton reveals a shocking truth: beneath the hype and the popular characterisation, psychopaths have something to teach us.

Stefan Gates (BBC1’s Food Factory and CBBC’s Incredible Edibles) and Professor Andrea Sella (Incredible Edibles’ brilliantly bonkers chemist) take you on a gut-busting gastronomic journey to reveal the amazing, explosive science hiding in your food AND shows how to save the planet...by eating the weirdest, creepiest and wriggliest foods on earth. They'll also tackle the critical questions: How do you milk a camel? What's the fartiest food of all? What do sheeps' eyeballs taste like? Find out the answers to these questions and much, much more in this seriously funny and hilariously informative show.

Fifty years ago people imagined the Earth as a solid planet, unchanged for millions of years, until plate tectonics showed continents drifting 25cm each year. Mapping continental velocities using the Global Positioning System makes land look more like a glacier than a rigid plate. See how the Earth’s vigorous movements in the mantle that maintain these motions show us 50 years on that the Earth is a fluid, not a solid, sphere. With Professor Dan McKenzie.

The move to open access publishing has the potential to transform researchers’ communications and access to information by the public on a global scale. Join Cameron Neylon, PLoS; David Carr, Wellcome Trust; Neil Hammond, Rupert Gatti at Open Book Publishers, CUP and Professor John Naughton for a panel discussion and Q&A.

The Naked Scientists take you on an interactive journey through the workings of the nervous system. If you're brave enough, they'll read your brainwaves, reveal how your nerves send and receive information, activate your muscles electrically, fool your senses into seeing and feeling things that aren't really there and even spot when you are lying.

Andrew Chamblin Memorial Lecture Rutherford and Bohr discovered the nuclear atom 100 years ago. Roughly 50 years ago a theory of this basic structure of matter was inspired by the work of Peter Higgs and others. In July this year the discovery of what is probably Higgs's boson, and the experimental proof of the theory, was announced and speculations about Nobel prizes mushroomed. The Economist said of Professor Close's book, The Infinity Puzzle (OUP,2012): "The Nobel Committee would be well advised to read Mr Close’s book before making their decision." This pedagogic talk reviews the ideas and the history, and assesses how the credits should be shared. As for recommendations to the committee: these might not be what you expect.

What causes ADHD? And how can it best be treated? Hyperactive, impulsive, restless and fidgety… these are all behaviours many parents are very familiar with. But when does your child’s behaviour go from ‘normal’ to a more serious behavioural disorder? And what happens if the disorder is left undiagnosed and untreated? The steady increase in cases such as this being diagnosed as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) – which is now the most common childhood-onset behavioural disorder – is causing concern regarding the implications for society. A related important issue is that ADHD does not necessarily go away as adolescents grow up. In fact, many adults are also diagnosed with ADHD, which impacts on their ability to hold down a job.

2013 is the International Year of Statistics, and as data gets more open we can expect to be bombarded with bucket-loads of numbers, often being used to try to impress and influence us. But can we trust all these stats? Professor David Spiegelhalter suggests some ways to help direct the naughty numbers in the news.

Kate Russell is a journalist and reporter who, by her own admission, spends far too much time online. For the past decade she has dedicated her life to staying on top of online developments, commenting on the Internet, social media and mobile apps for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and a frightening number of print and online publications. In that time she has seen a lot of things done well - but less widely reported are the disasters she's witnessed. From monumental social media screw-ups (like the Facebook party invitation that ended in a full-scale riot), to the truth behind how much information you're giving to 'The Man'. This revealing talk is not for the faint-hearted and might make you think twice about how well you know the Internet.

When scientists discovered that whales sing beautiful, complex songs it helped persuade the rest of the world to stop killing them. Broadcaster, writer and aptly named marine biologist Dr Helen Scales introduces some of other gifted members of the marine realm in a talk that should get you thinking differently about things that lurk unseen beneath the waves.

A collaboration between behavioural psychologist Nicky Clayton and fine artist and creative writer Clive Wilkins. We shall explore the nature of imagination, and how it forms the cornerstone of our identity, diversifying reality yet impeding and disorientating our memories.

Listen to James Grime discuss troubled mathematics geniuses and Thomas Woolley on the maths of zombies. From ThinkCon at the Cambridge Science Festival 2013.

Described as 'one of the sharpest and best sceptical commentators out there', Hayley Stevens has addressed international audiences about researching the paranormal as a non-believer. She is one of Britain’s most vocal skeptical paranormal researchers and has been actively investigating ghosts and monsters since her teens. In her talk 'I'm a ghost hunter, get me out of here!' Hayley will introduce you to the often confused & somewhat scary world of modern paranormal research where things regularly go bump in the night...

Think dinosaurs were the most exciting animals ever to walk the Earth? Join PhD student Nick Crumpton as he fights in the mammal corner, dispelling myths about your earliest furry relatives, explaining why they became so successful and why dinosaurs just couldn't hack it in the Age of Mammals.

Tim Wreghitt explores the recent development of molecular techniques to diagnose infections in humans has revolutionised the ability to diagnose these infections rapidly and to begin treatment promptly. This has not only been of significant benefit to individuals but has also significantly impacted on how we detect and respond to epidemics of infectious diseases.