So what’s been happening to you this week then? Any Nobel prizes? Oh well maybe next year… but what about German scientist Gerhard Ertl?  This week he was awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his studies of processes on solid surfaces. His work has enhanced areas such the production of catalytic converters and hydrogen fuel cell technology. And talking of alternative fuels, check out this week’s On the Same Wavelength section on biodiesel. Is it us or can anyone else smell chips?

The line-up this week:

1. On the Same Wavelength
2. Take Part in the Mint Factor
3. Stump the Scientist: sugar sugar
4. Activity of the Week: How many fingers?
5. Mouses at the Ready: Winter Night Sky night classes
6. Noticeboard: FYI
7. Recommended websites of the week
8. The Winners’ Enclosure
9. Joke of the Week

Welcome to a new feature on the Planet Science newsletter where we give you the opportunity to make contact with like-minded folks. No it’s not speed-dating (thank goodness). Over to Tom Keogh to explain...
			Whoever said “There’s NO FUEL LIKE AN OLD FUEL” was wrong – what about a YOUNG Fuel like BIODIESEL? Within the Chemistry department at Ebbw Vale Comprehensive School in South Wales, many of the students have begun to show a real interest in the whole concept of making ‘school-made’ Bio-diesel. The prospect of learning about the processes of changing waste vegetable oil (from their canteen) into serviceable bio-diesel, which could eventually find its way into the school minibus, has really ‘fuelled’ some interest. As part of an, ‘after school’ science club, eventually we hope to make modest quantities of biodiesel which could be blended with the normal minibus diesel. Are there any fellow teachers or technicians reading this posting who are already ‘in their oils’ when it comes to this technology?  If an interest exists amongst this readership then ‘bio’l means please feel free to contact me, perhaps we could share some experiences and ideas. This is such broad reaching area of interest which could be used in many curriculum areas – so let’s ‘vegetate’ no longer! – our students need to be made aware of this technology. If you’d like to contact Tom about this project then please email us with WHO’S FUELLING WHO in the subject line to planet-science.news@nesta.org.uk and we will forward them on to him.

Remember our Making a Mint Competition? We have made a page to show you (without revealing any secret recipes or anything) what some of the teams got up to. We’re now going one better and inviting you to take part in the Mint Factor, an event being organised by NESTA Future Innovators Team as part of Enterprise week on Thursday 15^th November. The aim of this event is to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and bring enterprise to life. We have a really exciting day planned and hope that as many young people as possible can benefit from the experience. If you have a group of year 8 / 9 pupils who would like to take part in this event, please contact Liz Newton on 02074382667 liz.newton@nesta.org.uk by Friday 26^th October.

Places will be allocated strictly on a first come, first served basis. You will be notified if you have been successful.

There are 60 places in total, each school can bring a maximum of 10 young people.

The day will run from 10.00am – 2.30pm, here’s a flavour of what they’ll be doing.

It will begin with an inspirational speaker from the world of business talking about how they set up and ran their own business; the challenges they had to face; the risks they took and the kinds of attitudes that are important in being successful.

The young people will then be set the “Making a Mint” Challenge; set up their own minty companies and take part in a series of workshops that will lead them through - creative ideas generation; market research; branding and marketing; finance; and pitching.

They will be learning how to collaborate, working together in teams and pitching their ideas to a ‘Dragons Den’ style panel of judges at the end of the day. We hope that this event will inspire young people to think about business in a new and exciting light that will encourage and motivate them to fulfil their potential.

The event is due to finish by 2.30pm.

This event is FREE and NESTA will pay for the cost of staff cover and transport. Lunch will be provided.

You would need to organise parental consents, staff-pupil ratios, and you will need to arrange your own transport for the group.

Venue: This event will take place at NESTA, 1 Plough Place, London, EC4A 1DE

Contact liz.newton@nesta.org.uk with Mint Factor in the subject line if you have any questions and would like more information and / or to take part.

This week John Mapperley asks

Well John, in answer to your first question have a look at the Recommended Website of the Week section where we look at Science Worlds which has an excellent archive of questions. But if anyone else knows of any other good websites or can answer John’s question then you know what to do!

If you can help or have a burning question of your own then send us an email with STUMP THE SCIENTIST in the subject line to planet-science.news@nesta.org.uk

How many fingers?

You will need:

• A friend

What to do:

1. Place your left hand against your friend's right hand, palm and fingers touching.
2. Take the finger and thumb of your other hand in a pincher action and stroke both your index finger and your friend's index finger with your thumb and finger respectively.
3. Be weirded out.

What’s going on?

If two people join their opposite hands and one slides his index and thumb over two joined fingers he will feel the other finger like it was one of his. This is all Planet SciCast’s top researchers have been able to find about why this weird phenomenon, it’s from a wiki on the web. So if you know more than us, please, use your fingers and get in touch scicast@nesta.org.uk

This activity can be viewed at Planet SciCast.

Keep checking back for new films and how about submitting one of your own?

SciCast Seminars start next week, but there’s still a few places left to squeeze into if you’d like to know more about filming scicast demonstrations. Top tips, the benefit of Jonathan Sanderson’s experience, and lunch all for free! In five cities, please see the seminars page on Planet Scicast for details and how to get in touch.

This winter is the ideal time to learn even more about the night sky. In collaboration with the University of Glasgow, Glasgow Science Centre's ScottishPower planetarium presents the Winter Night Sky night class. The class is for everyone, from absolute beginners to enthusiastic amateurs, and will give students the skills to begin finding their way around the winter night sky - stars, planets, galaxies, nebulae, shooting stars, comets, all will be explored under the glittering planetarium sky.

The class will run on Monday evenings, 1900 - 2100 from Monday 22 October until Monday 19 November 2007. Please note, there are no exams or homework, just ten hours relaxing amazed under the stars! To book please call University of Glasgow 0141 330 1853 or 0141 330 1860 and quote "Winter Night Sky course number G204"

Teachers note that this course is GTC accredited for CPD. 

Although the cost for this course is £48.00 the University of Glasgow have kindly given us two FREE places to give away.

If you’d like to win one you need to answer the following question:

What farm equipment is the most recognizable constellation from the Northern Hemisphere?

Email us with the correct answer together with your name and address, and the words NIGHT SKY in the subject line, to planet-science.news@nesta.org.uk.

The draw will take place at 5pm on Wednesday 17th October.

Science Worlds is well worth a butchers. If you are looking for an answer to a tricky question, a good read or the chance to sign up to a free magazine then this is the site for you. The Job World section is very useful if you are looking for in-depth info on specific careers. The profiles on the different industry sectors sheds light on the vast array of career pathways open to a student with science qualifications.