Get worms drunk, put your head in a hippopotamus's mouth, operate an underwater vehicle or fly a super jet airliner in a flight simulator, and find out whether an asteroid really killed the dinosaurs - these are just some of the exciting activities on offer as the University of Southampton reveals the fascinating world of science and engineering in a series of events to mark National Science and Engineering Week 2008 (7 - 16 March).

A University of Southampton research team, led by Professor Andrew Lotery, has identified a new genetic risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a major cause of untreatable blindness in elderly people in developed countries.

Scientists have used a supercomputer to shed new light on one of the most important theories of physics, the Standard Model, which encapsulates understanding of all the material that makes up the universe. This 30-year-old theory explains all the known elementary particles and three of the four forces acting upon them - however, it excludes the force of gravity, which is its shortcoming.

The University of Southampton has introduced a new concept in healthy, ethical eating, with the added benefits of helping the local economy and reducing the University’s carbon footprint.

A humorous look at the serious issue of climate change from one of the country's most successful young comedians kicks off National Science and Engineering Week activities at the University of Southampton next month.