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1. Creature Feature: MRSA
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 We quite often feature creatures that are scary looking but won’t harm humans in any way. In stark contrast here is something you can’t even see which has stealthily become public enemy numero uno. Five Kingdoms of Life investigates and turns MRSA into an ugly mug mask.
Staphylococcus aureus means "golden cluster seed" in Latin, because they grow in clusters, a bit like grapes, and are golden or yellow-coloured. The mask in the picture is actually a whole colony of bacteria - each of the spheres is an individual bacterium. They normally live on our skin or inside our noses without causing any health problems - about one in three healthy people are thought to be carriers of the bacteria. If they get inside us, though, they can cause pneumonia, boils, and other infections. Our immune systems can usually fight off the bacteria on their own, but it's a worry in hospitals because of the large number of people there who are already ill or weakened from surgery or injuries. These people's immune systems may not be strong enough to combat the infection without the help of antibiotics.
For years, it was simple enough for doctors to use penicillin, methicillin, or another antibiotic to control staph bacteria, but more recently, certain strains of Staphylococcus aureus have evolved a resistance to antibiotics. MRSA stands for "Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus," which are immune to methicillin and penicillin. Sometimes they get called "multiple resistant" instead of "methicillin resistant" because nowadays they've become resistant to lots of other antibiotics as well. This is because after years of being killed off by antibiotics, most surviving bacteria have been the ones with genetic mutations allowing them to resist the drugs. Those bacteria have reproduced and passed on their DNA to the next generation, the bacteria of today, which is how evolution works!
The spread of MRSA is a real concern in hospitals, which is why if you go to one, you'll probably notice hand-washing stations all over the place. Alcohol hand-washing gels can destroy the bacteria on your hands so that you don't spread it from place to place, and doctors and cleaners are now trained to take care to avoid spreading the bacteria through their workplaces by careful sanitisation and hand-washing.
Thanks Ben, now wash your hands.
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2.  SciCast Tip of the Week
This week TV science veteran Jonathan Sanderson tackles animation to celebrate the newest film on the site, which is an animation about cell division. The sort of thing, for example, that bacteria do. Thanks Jonathan, now wash your hands.
“No video camera? You can still make a film for SciCast. No, really, you can. You just need to get a bit crafty, and learn some animation techniques.
New to SciCast this week is a film about cell division, which was made by three six-formers in about six hours, using only a few Anglepoise lamps, some Plasticene, and anybody who walked in the door who could be press-ganged into fashioning clay letters for them.”
Jonathan’s full SciCast tip is here in the film school section of the site.
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<<< Back to Top |
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3. Stump the Scientist
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 This week a medical question from Jude in Shropshire:
“Why is it, when the weather is cold, we feel like we need to go to the loo more often? Is it to do with blood supply & the bladder being deprived/constricted?? Or is it just me?”
If you know the answer, 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
Probably not just you Jude.
Now wash your hands.
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4. Activity of the Week
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Magnus Effect
 You will need
- Two polystyrene cups.
- Sticky tape.
- Two large rubber bands.
What you do
- Use sticky tape to fix the bottoms of the polystyrene cups together.
- Knot the rubber bands together.
- Hold the rubber band in the centre of the cups and wrap the bands around about twice. Finish with the end of the elastic bands on the bottom pointing away from you.
- Hold the cup in one hand and the end of the elastic in your other hand.
- Pull back the cups and let go.
- With enough practice you should be able to make the flying cups loop in the air.
What's going on?
This is known as the Magnus effect, and it is the reason why top footballers can make balls curve in the air and how golfers can make golf balls perform some amazing aerodynamics.
The cups are fired forward because of the stretched elastic band. If we ignore the fact the cups are spinning we can see that air will flow over the cups from front to back in a fairly uniform way.
However, in this system, when the cups are released the bands unwind and the cups are forced to spin. If the bands are wound correctly the cups will be given back spin; the bottom of the cups move forwards while the top is moving backwards. Because of the rough surface of the cups, air is trapped near the surface and moves with the cups as they spin.
The top of the cups has air moving from front to back as they spins, and the cups also have air flowing over them from front to back because they are flying through the air. The bottom of the cups also have air moving from the front to the back because they are flying through the air, but, crucially, the bottom also has air moving back to the front because of the direction of the spinning cups. Therefore, the cups are sitting in air which is moving very differently at different parts: there is fast moving air at the top while the air is close to being stationary at the bottom.
Faster air has a lower pressure, so the cups have low pressure above them and higher pressure underneath. The cups are forced upwards.
As improbable as it seems, it is possible to make the cups travel backwards. To understand how you have to realise that the force making the cups lift is at right angles to the cups' forward motion. As the cups starts to rise vertically they also experience a force at right angles to their new 'forward' motion. This lift force actually makes the cup move back towards you. On this return part of the loop the flow at the top and bottom of the cups are reversed, the cup is forced down, and then eventually forward along its original path.
The air resistance which allows the layer of air to stick to the surface of the cups also slows the cups down. It slowly stops the cups from spinning and as the spin is reduced so the lift vanishes. The cups start to drop and eventually hit the floor.
See this activity in action on Planet SciCast.
Keep checking back for new films and, whilst you’re about it - how about submitting one of your own? Deadline for films to enter the 2008 SciCast Awards is January the 4th 2008.
Remember: after handling old rubber bands and picking things up of the floor it is sensible to wash your hands.
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5. Mouses at the Ready
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 Would you like to win one of three family tickets to see the festive family favourite Santa vs the Snowman 3D at the Science Museum IMAX 3D Cinema in London?
Back by popular demand! Duck snowballs, jet-propelled reindeer and goggle-eyed elves in this hilarious animated family film, all in eye-popping 3D! Take a trip to Santa’s Village for an epic battle between Santa and a lonely snowman who wants nothing more than to be Christmas’ most beloved character.
For further information, please visit www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/imax
The tickets are valid from 1 December - 6 January 2008. Family ticket consists of 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children. (Photocopies not accepted and use of your pass is subject to availability – which just means that you’ll need to check that there are seats free in the cinema so you can use your tickets.)
If you’d like to win enter then email us with your name and address, and the words ‘SANTA AT THE IMAX’ in the subject line, to planet-science.news@nesta.org.uk.
The draw will take place at 5pm on Wednesday 5th December.
Warning: cinema seat arm rests have been touched by a lot of people. You know what to do… |
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The Sticky Quiz
We’re sticking with November for the quiz even though we know it’s December tomorrow. That’s because we have a deluxe winter holiday quiz planned for the 14th December and we want you save yourself for that.
What’s that sticky stuff? Wash your hands!
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Free NLN Stem DVD!
This free DVD contains a unique selection of e-learning resources taken from the full on-line National Learning Network (NLN) Materials suite.
Specially chosen for the East of England STEM Support Centre by the Science Learning Centre East of England to support the delivery of STEM subjects, the selection includes around 500 learning objects covering Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
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They’re for 7-11s / KS2.
They take you through all stages of setting up, planning and recording an experiment.
They cover 8 topics from the curriculum with 4 more to come in January:
- Animal adaptation and environments
- Micro-organisms
- Properties of materials – breaking points
- Thermal insulators and conductors
- The water cycle
- Recovering dissolved solids
- Electricity: bulbs in a circuit
- Friction
They also include video clips to show the principles in action, real life photo examples, glossary, teachers notes and worksheets.
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Planet SciCast Physics Posters
We have sent out all the SciCast Physics posters we can so if you haven’t got some in the post I’m afraid you weren’t a first came first served person. If we can dig up any more we’ll send to the firstest of the restest.
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Could you fill a niche at the Ri?
The Niche prize 2007- In partnership with Nature
The Royal Institution is working on a new partnership with Nature on a competition bringing together science and art. Initially inspired by the words of a former Director of the Ri, Lawrence Bragg, who said 'never talk about science, show it to them!' the prize will give entrants the chance to stretch their imaginations to the full in devising an arresting and inspiring installation.
In spring 2008, the Ri will reopen its doors following a £20 million refurbishment and this prize will provide the winners with the opportunity to fill a niche - both literally and metaphorically - for one year in this unique and iconic building.
The prize is open to applicants over the age of 18 of any nationality. So if you’re feeling arty…
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Get in V Quick for a GIFT workshop!
The GIFT workshops were initiated by the European Geosciences Union (EGU) in 2003, and have been promoted ever since by the Teacher Scientist Network (TSN)
It’s that time of the year when they offer places to UK teachers to hear some cutting-edge science, related to the Geosciences, in the comfort of Vienna next April. What’s more these places are generously subsidised by the European Geosicences Union and usually end up costing UK teachers and their schools more or less zilcho.
Though geological time is veeeeeery long your time to register interest is amazingly short – please register interest by the 1st DECEMBER – i.e. NOW!
Typically, around 70-80 high school teachers from across Europe (17 countries in 2006) participate in the GIFT workshops and the UK has been represented every year. TSN is keen that this trend continues. Registration to GIFT workshops and to the General Assemblies of the EGU is free for teachers and they receive grants for travel and subsistence.
GIFT-2008: Austria Centre Vienna, April 14-16, The Carbon Cycle
Follow the link for more details and an application form. UK applicants should send completed applications or queries to: Dr. Phil Smith (TSN coordinator) - phil.smith@bbsrc.ac.uk
Dr Phil is happy to receive just expressions of interest by the 1 st December, but pointed out that the application form is mercifully short.
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7. Recommended website of the week
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This super friendly Flash-based site is aimed at kids, but it teaches both kids and adults about what it takes to create environmentally-friendly homes by allowing you to create one yourself. (With your kids, of course!) By selecting and customizing components of the home, you learn about the environmental impact of each choice. The site allows you to view houses created by others as well in your new Abodo neighbourhood. The Tools section is more aimed at adults. It offers relevant news items, project guides, and a project planner.
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Remember last week when we were offering you The Void by Frank Close?
The lucky winner is Emma Garrood of Bath.
Ah Bath – now that sounds like a nice clean place where people wash their hands. |
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9. Joke of the week
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A man is applying for a job as mechanic that he really wants to get.
The boss says, "Can you roll your hard hat down your arm and pop it back on your head?"
The mechanic nods, confused.
"Can you play light saber with your wrench and another man's screwdriver?"
"Oh yes," says the mechanic.
"Can you bounce your screwdriver off the cement, grab it, whirl it around and put it in your belt like a gun?"
"Sir, I've been doing that for years!" says the wanna-be mechanic.
"Well in that case, I can't use you. I have 12 men doing that already!" says the boss.
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