Hey-hey-heyyyyy! We’re back! Did you miss us? Did ya? Did ya? Oh, you know that you did… Anyway, look what happens when people are deprived of a regular weekly nugget of science. They start meddling - vis-à-vis Australia’s Geekiest Geek
Well we can all put that ridiculously protracted “Easter” school holiday behind us now and get back in the groove. Take it away – maestro!

The line-up this week:

1. SciCast: The Pack and The Ceremony
2. The Five Kingdoms of Life: Clever coral and zooxanthella algae
3. Gimme Five – fascinating facts about …?
4. Stump the Scientist: raindrops keep sticking on my window
5. Activity of the Week: Deep Sea Fishy
6. Mouses at the Ready: Cell Trumps
7. Noticeboard: FYI
8. Recommended websites of the week
9. The Winners’ Enclosure
10. Joke of the Week

In honour of Earth Day on the 22nd of April, we've got two new masks from the kingdoms of life with an environmental twist. You might already know that our sea's delicate coral reefs are under threat from pollution and global warming, but did you know that coral depends on a colony of tiny algae under its skin to live? Even small environmental changes which don't hurt the coral directly can force these algae to move out, which is bad news for the coral! The algae give coral its colour, too, so reefs where this has happened go white in what's known as coral bleaching. So, without further ado, here are the masks: a clever brain coral and one of its helper zooxanthella algae.

1. The iPod, created under project codename Dulcimer, was announced by Apple Computers on 23 October 2001. This was several months after the launch of iTunes.
2. The father of the iPod is Tony Fadell.
3. The first song played using iTunes was a house-music dance tune called Groovejet (If This Ain't Love).
4. The first generation iPods had scroll wheels that physically rotated. Post 2003 iPods (third generation) have touch sensitive wheels. Fourth generation (2004) iPods have buttons integrated onto the wheel.
5. The iPod's wheel technology can measure changes in position greater than 1/1,000th of an inch.

Have you got FIVE facts about anything/everything? Preferably science-based of course (we’re not called Planet Science for nothing y’know). If so, send it along to us at planet-science.news@nesta.org.uk with GIMME FIVE in the subject line. Fancy seeing your name in print? Your wish is our command.

This week’s query comes from Sue Hollands who says

“My six year old son asked me why rain drops stick to windows. I came up with a reply involving surface tension but I’m sure there’s more to it.”

What do you think?

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

You shall have a fishy in a little … bell jar (!) Eh up? Summat’s not quite right about that is it?

Deep Sea Fishy

You will need:

• A balloon
• A bell jar connected to a vacuum pump.

What you do

1. Partially inflate the balloon and tie it shut.
2. Place it in the bell jar and seal it shut.
3. Turn on your vacuum pump.
4. Watch as your balloon inflates and then explodes!
   

What's going on?

When you inflate the balloon the air pressure inside the balloon increases above the air pressure on the outside - the balloon will continue to grow until the pressures match. On a microscopic scale this air pressure can be imaged as the number of air molecules hitting an area of the balloon every second. When there are too many air molecules hitting the inside of the balloon (by you blowing it up) the balloon gets bigger. The balloon grows just enough with each puff to make sure the same number of air molecules hit each bit of the balloon at the same rate.

Placing the balloon in the bell jar and sucking out the air from around it reduces the air pressure on the outside of the balloon. This has the same effect as blowing more air into the balloon. There is an imbalance of air molecules hitting an area of the balloon each second, there are more air molecules on the inside than on the outside. Since pressure is just a measure of the force these air molecules exert on each bit of the balloon, the force causes the balloon to grow and grow and eventually burst.

Special Safety Advice

As with any lab equipment make sure you read the instructions and are familiar with how the vacuum pump and bell jar work. Make sure you wear eye protection.

This activity was taken from the Planet Scicast site.

See above for details of the SciCast Pack and Ceremony.

Centre of the Cell is a fantastic website with loads of info on all things medical and cellular. Though we’d caution you to view it just before eating… Anyway it will also soon be a fantastic interactive science centre with lots to see and do.

Centre of the Cell have given us TWO sets of cell trump cards, postcards and badges to give away.

If you’d like to win one then email us with your name and address, and the words ‘CELL IT’ in the subject line, to planet-science.news@nesta.org.uk.
The draw will take place at 5pm on Wednesday 23rd April.

This week we’d like to let you know about a website from the Institute of Biology Genetic Resources for Schools and Students

These genetic resources have been developed to improve knowledge and understanding of human genetics within schools. They are intended to build confidence and enthusiasm in a fast moving growing area of science, and to stimulate interest, encouraging future generations to become doctors, nurses, technicians and scientists. They support the curriculum, with many topics complimenting “How science works”.
These materials have been piloted in schools, from KS2 up to sixth form. They are divided into Introductory Genetics, which includes basic genetic information mostly in the form of games, and Essential Genetics, which is much more in depth and takes in specific areas of genetics popular today.
By the way, if you’ve got a good website to recommend then send it along to us at planet-science.news@nesta.org.uk with RWW in the subject line. Thank you very gladly.