“There is not much we do in space any more that is really new, but this is really new.”

The US Defense Department is using ‘top secret’ microsatellites to inspect a crippled US spacecraft, says John Pike, head of a military think tank.

“The change is to underline our ‘excellence with impact’ agenda.”

Chloë Somers, from Research Councils UK, discusses new requirements whereby grant seekers have to assess the economic and social impact of their work.

“The Mesopotamians had different-coloured farm animals 5,000 years ago and, in that regard, they were no different to Paris Hilton, who has a pink Chihuahua…”

Ancient farmers may have selectively bred coloured animals to make them easy to spot or for amusement’s sake, says Greger Larson, of the University of Durham.