The Physics of the Hula Hoop and The Mathematics of Why I Don't Have a Boyfriend are among the topics at next month's Orkney International Science Festival.

The event gets under way on September 4 with the official opening by former Discovery Channel chief scientist Steve Jacobs.

The seven days of the festival encompass more than 60 events, covering everything from the origins of life to a look at housing design and technology and the latest news on wave and tidal power.

New developments in solar energy are also featured, as well as research into storing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide under the seabed in depleted oil and gas reservoirs.

Information can be found on the Festival website, www.oisf.org, and its online magazine, www.frontiersmagazine.org.