SCIENTIST Jane Padget shows off the building blocks of life – DNA – at the launch of a new festival of science.

The Big Bang Weekend will explore the big questions about the mechanics of life – such as whether robots need common sense, if aliens exist on other planets and what goes on among the denizens of the microscopic world.

Synthetic biology and robotics experts from the University of Edinburgh will leave their labs to play a leading role in the event, talking to the public about their world-leading work in everything from cloning to artificial intelligence.

Jessica Fox, Festival Director, said the aim of the event was to celebrate the “point where science and the arts collide”.

It is being held in Wigtown from February 2 to 4.