A group of Limerick students have been looking skyward with more than a passing interest over the past few weeks as they await the results of an experiment taking place at the International Space Station.

Airplanes and other big machines may swap nuts and bolts for glue if research at the University of Limerick succeeds in coming up with new technologies to join parts.

Transition year students are being invited to look to the stars as part of a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to design an experiment and test it in space.