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01. WHODUNIT: THE CASE OPENS
 Over 10,000 school groups have already signed up to become forensic investigators in the Planet Science Whodunit, and the authorities have now released details of the hideous crime that was committed and must now be solved. The facts as we know them are as follows: on Saturday 11th May, chart-topping blond trio Busted performed a VIP-only concert in Birmingham's Centenary Square. So far, so cool. But a discordant note rang out when lead guitarist James Bourne discovered that his prized white Fender guitar had been STOLEN from the locked store-cupboard where it had been stashed for safety during a break. Who had the time, the motivation, and the cheek to commit such a devilish deed? The suspects are the members of S-Club... funky diva Ms Dynamite... BMX star Zach Shaw... the Blazin' Squad boys... and goal-mad soccer hero James Beattie. But which one? Whoever it was, they made a sharp exit, leaving behind only a cryptic note - and four pieces of forensic evidence. If you've registered to take part in the Whodunit, your kit containing evidence samples and teacher's handbook is on its way to you, and your class have until June 24th to submit your results and get into the draw for some amazing prizes. If you've not registered yet, make sure you do. Kits are going fast, and we don't want anyone to miss out... Check the Whodunit Website for eligibility details and registration form. And whether or not you're registered yet, you can now find full details on the case, the clues and the suspects posted up where it says 'CASE'. You can also download the Teachers Handbook, check out the prizes, try out a host of extra detective activities and have a laugh at the expense of some dimwitted bunglers in the section called 'Thick as Thieves'.  |
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02. CLUB ACTIVITY PACKS Being dispatched next week are some other Planet Science freebies, this time our Club Activity Packs. These have been designed as a resource for all clubs or school groups with and interest in science and a need for ideas and information for new things to do... The packs contain instructions for a range of ready-steady-science type activities, and a set of inspirational career biographies just to wet the appetite of anyone wondering what the world of science might have in store for them (eg. fancy being a marine biologist in Bermuda anyone? It's tough job but someone's got to do it, as you'll see... ) The club activity packs are being sent free to all youth clubs in England that are affiliated to their local youth association, and to CILIP Frontiers in Science and SciZmic science clubs in England. But you can also download and print off all the materials here |
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03. NATIONAL BE NICE TO NETTLES WEEK Can it really be a year since the last National Be Nice to Nettles week? If you missed out before, here's your personal invitation to get out and about in the countryside and make friends with the yeowchy green plants that terrorised so many people's childhood summer holidays... Organiser Mick Sharpe says you need to "think beyond the ouch" and give the humble nettle credit for its many useful properties. The Romans stationed in Britain, for example, are said to have thwacked their legs with nettles to keep them warm when they were on freezing overnight vigils on the wall... But on a less bonkers note, did you know that nettles are used in modern-day medicines and clothing? And that you can use them for yourself to make nettle tea, nettle manure and caterpillar farms?! Read all about all these activities and check out all the organised events being held around the country between 21st - 30th May on the NBNNW site. You'll never look at nettles in the same way again... |
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04. NERVOUS SYSTEM POSTER What makes you blush when you don't want to? What makes a dog dribble in anticipation of food? Why don't you feel the pain from a stubbed toe until a few milliseconds after you've stubbed it? And how could a literally 'headless' chicken have survived for over a year? It's all to do with the workings of the nervous system, and if you'd like to learn more about it, you should get your hands on a marvellous new poster that New Scientist have put together on that very topic... The poster's been illustrated by top science-scribbler Tim Hunkin (the creator of Hunkins Experiments amongst many other things) and has been designed for school use. You can buy one for the bargain price of £5.99 through our Creative Classrooms campaign... but we've also got six free copies available and if you'd like to get your name into the prize draw, send an email to: anne@planet-science.com with the words NERVOUS SYSTEM POSTER PLEASE! in the subject heading, and your name, address and phone number in the message. Tell us the last thing that made you nervous and you could be in line for and EXTRA prize too! |
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05. ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK: THE DAB HAND CHALLENGE This is a forensics-inspired game from the Whodunit Do It Yourself Detective department that enables participants to get their sleeves rolled up for some fingerprinting fun (and education)... What you’ll need:
What to do:
What’s happening: No two fingerprints are the same, even twins will have differences in their prints. When you examine a print you'll notice the lines occur in one of three characteristic patterns, known in the biz as 'arches', 'loops' and 'whorls'. When you come to compare the chocolate and the ink prints you should get an exact match between pairs. But although two different people may have the same fingerprint type (e.g. both have loops on the same finger), there will always be other little differences between individuals. That's because it's not the shape of the print that's unique, but rather the number, location and shape of specific ridge characteristics... What you were lifting with the cocoa powder are called 'latent' prints. These prints are formed by oil and sweat from a person's fingers when they touch a surface - the sweatier you are the clearer they'll be! They're invisible to the naked eye, which is why they need the dusting to help you see them... |
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06. SCIENCE BEHIND THE NEWS ...talking of things that are invisible to the naked eye, vitamins have been in the news this week, with new evidence suggesting supplements may not be all they appear to be. Read all about it on the Science Line website here: http://www.sciencenet.org.uk/slup/CuttingEdge/May03/vitamins.html |
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| 07. RECOMMENDED WEBSITES OF THE WEEK First of all, for younger kids in need or a few ‘spacey things to make’ or ‘spacey things to do’, we recommend... NASA SPACE PLACE http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/index.shtml  They’ve come up with an energetic range of games, activities and projects for kids with an interest in all things planetary or cosmic - and there’s a little button at the bottom with the words ‘Goodies for Teachers’ too... And talking of goodies for teachers, if you’re a primary teacher and searching for a bit of science-inspiration for the classroom, have a rifle through some ideas and activities tried and tested by your colleagues at... TEACHING IDEAS http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/science/contents.htm  There’s a huge range in the Science section alone - but you can explore other subjects on the colour palette at the top - and if you click through to ‘More Teaching Ideas’ you’ll see they’ve got loads of other helpful stuff, from time-saving tips to ‘games’ that get the class to behave nicely... |
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08. JOKES OF THE WEEK Hurray - jokes from the outside world flooded in this week! Well, three did anyway, but hopefully it's the start of a trend. Rob Turner who works in the Physics Department at Sutton Grammar School for Boys supplied the following: Why did Mr Ohm marry Mrs Ohm? Because he couldn't resistor... And Richard Johnson from Madeley Court School sent in two rather sillier ones: Q: How do you kill a circus? A: Go for the juggler! Q: Why has Edward Woodward got 4 D's in his name? A: Cos otherwise he would be called Ewar Woowar! Thank you very much for those, and please send in any others that come your way... |
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| 09. AOB That's all for now, but please send any contributions for the next newsletter to Anne McNaught at anne@planet-science.com. Have a great week! |
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