Central University of Leicester News

Curiosity – the rover being directed by scientists including Dr John Bridges from the University of Leicester, may have found evidence of life.

An image has been released by NASA, who now believe, after analysing rock samples, that Mars could have once supported living microbes.

Dr John Bridges, from the University of Leicester is one of two UK participating scientists on the mission.

More info can be found here

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• University of Leicester
• Mars

Scientists, including a doctor from the University of Leicester, have analysed a rock sample collected by NASA's Curiosity rover that shows ancient Mars could have supported living microbes.

Dr John Bridges, of the University of Leicester’s Space Research Centre within the Department of Physics and Astronomy, is one of two UK participating scientists on the mission, and leads a team from the University of Leicester and Open University.

He worked with other members of the Mars Science Laboratory mission to decide where the rover should drill.

Scientists identified sulphur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon – some of the key chemical ingredients for life.

Dr Bridges said: “We have never seen anything like this at the previous landing sites and it is telling us that some localities on Mars were habitable. Whether they were inhabited remains another question."

Dr John Bridges research blog can be found here

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• NASA
• University of Leicester

History will come to life for students in Leicester later as they re-enact the final duel of the Battle of Bosworth.

The English Literature students are studying Shakespeare's play King Richard III as part of their degree course.

King Richard III died in the Battle of Bosworth. His remains were found under a car park in Leicester earlier this year.

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Canon Barry Naylor describes what Leicester Cathedral would like for the design of King Richard III's reinterment.

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• Richard III

Officials at Leicester Cathedral will later reveal the exact location in the cathedral where they want to place Richard III's tomb.

The former king could be reintered next spring but campaigners from the former King's home in York are arguing for him to be buried there.

The acting Dean of the Cathedral wants people to be able to see the plans for the Monarch's final resting place.

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• Richard III

MP for Leicester South, Jon Ashworth, has confidently stated that the remains of King Richard III will be buried in Leicester Cathedral, instead of York, where its MPs are campaigning to have him buried.

Jon Ashworth MP says he's pleased with today's outcome and welcomes York to 'come and visit' when the medieval king in reinterred.

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The Acting-Dean of Leicester Cathedral, Canon Barry Naylor, has disapproved of the abusive letters sent to the the Dean of York Cathedral, the Very Reverend Vivienne Faull – the former Dean of Leicester.

Canon Barry Naylor says, despite political intervention regarding the reburial of Richard III, the cathedral is a place of worship.

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• Richard III

An MP from York has laid out the city's claim to the body of Richard III in Parliament today.

The monarch's remains are due to be reinterred at Leicester Cathedral, but campaigners in the former King's home of York, want him buried there.

Hugh Bayley MP for York Central, claims burying the king in York would reconcile the north and south of the country.

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• Richard III

A York MP has appealed for calm in the debate over where the remains of King Richard III should be buried after the Dean of York had to refer hate mail to the police.

Hugh Bayley MP says the Government needs to appoint an independent panel to rule on where the remains should be re-interred.

The debate appeared good-natured at first but, according to Mr Bayley, it has now taken a more sinister turn after the Dean of York, the Very Rev Vivienne Faull, until recently the Dean of Leicester, received such abusive letters she had to pass them to the police.

I received many letters and emails from members of the public about this, supporting burial in York.

Most are thoughtful and well argued and based on scientific facts but some are frankly inflammatory and talking yesterday to the Dean of York, some that she has received at the minster are so extreme that she has referred the correspondence to the police.

I would say to everybody: calm down. Let's all respect the memory of a former king of our country. Let's discuss where his remains should be put to rest in a dignified and sober way. We don't want to reignite the Wars of the Roses.

Nine of the monarch's descendants have called on the Government to return the remains of the king to York for a "formal and ceremonial" burial, while a petition calling for his remains to be transferred to the northern city has been signed by more than 23,000 people.

Mr Bayley said:

The decision should be taken on independent national advice and not delegated to archaeologists from Leicester who clearly support the Leicester cause. They would find it outrageous if the decision was delegated to people from York. We need the decision to be taken nationally, in the national interest by people who are independent of the vested interests of either York or Leicester.

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• King Richard III
• Royal Armouries

The final resting place for Richard III's remains will be argued in Parliament today.

The remains of the monarch were discovered in a car park in Leicester last year.

He is due be re-interred at Leicester Cathedral next year despite campaigns to have him buried in York.

King Richard III did a lot for York and the North of England and during his life made arrangements to be buried here. He was not well treated in Leicester after his death and I think his soul would rest in peace back in York.

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