Next week in the THES

News
Colleges go deep into higher education territory

Features
Hello out there: Colin Pillinger asks if there is life on other planets
Vive la union : European universities link up to create joint degrees
Dale Littler considers Manchester's proposed "superuniversity"

Books
Christopher Ondaatje reviews a new history of the British Museum on the 250th anniversary of its founding
Focus : mathematics and physics: Sir Brian Pippard on great equations in science