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01. LITTLE BOOK OF (HOME) EXPERIMENTS
First of all, we are very proud to announce the launch of a new set of 54 tried and tested experiments in our online Little Book of Experiments. Ranging from showbiz-style demos, to kitchen experiments, plant-growing and even instructions for making beauty products, the new 'Parents' section is busting out all over with ideas for things to do at home or outdoors any time of year. Like those in the 'Teacher' section, all these activities have been selected and trialled to make sure that they are non run-of-the-mill - and that they work! Each activity comes with a recommended age-range for participants and a note of any safety issues that should be kept in mind. Check out the Self-Slicing Banana, Model Brains, Edible Fake Blood and all the other activities here:  |
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02. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SCIENCE? The National Physical Laboratory has been in touch to invite young people to fill in a survey that they've recently launched on their website... NB as an added incentive, there are IMAX ticket and Gift Vouchers up for grabs, if that should help persuade anyone! The survey was been launched to commemorate World Metrology Day which took place last week (Metrology being the science of measurement, not to be confused with Meteorology) and the idea behind it is to do a spot of measuring on the very subject of what 16-18 year olds think about physics and metrology. The NPL are the United Kingdom's national standards laboratory and have responsibility for ensuring accuracy and consistency in every measurement made in the UK... Accurate measurements obviously being crucial to modern life, in any form of precision engineering whether computers, music technology, sports equipment or you-name-it... You can read all about what they do here And if you're between 16-18, you can fill in the survey here It's quite short and there are no tricky questions, they just want to know your views... |
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03. MOUSES AT THE READY: CLIFTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE VISITOR CENTRE 'My first love, my darling'... That's how uber-engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel described the Clifton Suspension Bridge, a structure that he designed as a young man but didn't live to see completed. The famous Bristol bridge is known for both its elegance and for being a great technical feat. And it's never had a day off work either - painstaking maintenance has enabled it to stay open continuously since it opened in 1864. Not that it was busy in the early days, but it is now - 12,000 cars pass across it every day. Close by is the Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre which has all sorts of hands-on exhibits and displays that explain the history, science and technology of the bridge. There's enough to keep visitors engrossed for up to two hours apparently - attractions including an interactive model that lets visitors see and feel for themselves what happens to the bridge when stress and loads are applied to it... Why are we telling you all this? Because we have FIVE free family passes to give away to Planet Science newsletter readers. If you'd like one, send an email entitled I'M IN SUSPENSION! to anne@planet-science.com, and well select five lucky winners at random next week. Meanwhile if you want to read more about the bridge's history and vital statistics, visit the website |
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04. HEEEEEEEEEEERE'S JOHNNY You may have seen posters advertising the new Channel 5 morning programme, 'The Terry and Gaby Show' out and about, as it starts on Monday... What you probably won't be aware of is that Johnny 'Think of a Number' Ball is presenting a large segment of the show, and he'll be exploring all things weird and wonderful ... that ultimately turn out to be pure science! The two examples we've been given are 'why is glass clear?' and 'how do they get the stripes into toothpaste?' and he'll be incorporating demos and audience participants in his explanations just like in the old days (if you're able to remember back that far!) The production company responsible for the show, UMTV have been in touch to offer newsletter readers the chance to roll up roll up and book some free tickets to see the shows. They'll be on every day for the next several months, every weekday at 11am, so for the time being at least, there are oodles of dates available. And if you go along, you'll not just get to see Johnny of course, there'll be Hollywood stars, EastEnders runaways, competitions, and more more more - including Terry Wogan and Gaby Roslin of course. You do need to be in London for the day though, as the shows are being filmed in County Hall on the South Bank (near the London Eye). If you'd like tickets, email terryandgabyaudience@UMTV.tv or ring 020 7843 9519 or write to Terry & Gaby Audience, PO Box 46508, London N1 9WA. The audience has to be in place for 10am on the day of broadcast, and you may wish to know in advance that the cameras and presenters will be roving around the audience. You know what that means: don't wear anything embarrassing! (And you'll have to sign a release form too to state you don't mind being on telly.) PS Under 16s are not permitted unfortunately, but 16-18 year olds are fine, so long as there is one adult per six of them as chaperone... |
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05. THE INSTANT EGG RACE FILE
...If you haven't got into 'egg racing' yet, now’s the time to start as new resource 'THE INSTANT EGG RACE FILE' has just been published (and we have six free copies to give away...) An 'egg race' is another name for a practical problem-solving activity which combines the appliance of science, with a large dose of fun. And potential mess - so put some newspapers down!) The file is a collection of imaginative and well trialled race-formats, presented on individual detachable sheets, so that they can be photocopied and put to immediate use. Choose from activities such as 'Balloon Bursting Machine' and 'The Water Race' - each one has different rules and accompanying each brief are comprehensive hints and tips for the race organiser so that all the competitors have to do is assemble the materials and get challenging... They can be run inside or outdoors, and are suitable for both adults or kids. The publication has been written by egg racing-demon Liz Robertson who is a Regional Officer with the BA, and is a selection of the most successful challenges she's developed over the years. (Liz says she doesn't claim to be the most practical of people, so if these work for her, they should work for all!) To purchase a copy, send £6.50 plus £1 for p&p to Science Designs Ltd, 6G Salmon Lane, Stonehaven, AB39 2NZ or email Liz on liz.robertson@the-ba.net. There are free copies on offer to the first six names out of the hat, email your name and address to Liz with the words PLANET SCIENCE EGG RACER! in the title to get into the prize draw. |
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06. ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK: THE CARROT PUMP Carrots at the ready? This week's activity demonstrates that vegetables can pump water upwards! It's suitable for 7-14 year olds, with adult supervision. What you’ll need:
What to do:
What’s happens: Check your pump after a few days. The straw should have some water in it... If you have food colouring in the water, you can cut the carrot in half lengthwise, from top to bottom, to see how the water travelled through the carrot. The carrot has drawn water up into the straw by osmosis. When carrots grow in the ground, osmosis helps to transfer water up from the ground to the stalks and leaves above. Note: If your carrot seems not to do anything except shrivel up, it may be because it was too clean when you bought it! Many carrots sold in supermarkets have been scrubbed clean before they go on sale, damaging the fine roots around the carrot and preventing it from drawing up any water. Try again, this time looking for a carrot with soil still around it when you buy it. Want more on carrots? Have a look at THE WORLD CARROT MUSEUM website where this activity came from… The future's bright, the future's carrot-shaped... |
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07. SCIENCE BEHIND THE NEWS This week: Surveillance... In particular, spying on people in the dark without them noticing - like they do on Big Brother... Science Line have been doing a few of their own investigations into the subject and you can read all about it here: |
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08. SCIENCE BEHIND THE WOO-HOOOOOOOOS Just for secondary teachers… You may have read about Richard Wiseman’s recent study into the psychology of ghostly goings-on (if not here’s the BBC webpage on the topic: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3044607.stm). If your students are fascinated by such topics, remember that on the ‘AKA Science’ CD-ROM which was distributed free to schools last year, there’s a computer game called 'Ghost in the Machine', which is a ghosthunting adventure, to teach magnetism with fun for 14-16 year olds. Sorry it’s one of the few elements not available online for technical reasons (but if you’d like to buy a copy of the CDRom, just call ASE Booksales on 01707 283001 - £2 to members, £5 for non-members… |
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09. RECOMMENDED WEBSITES OF THE WEEK JIf you’re interested in wildlife, you’ll love exploring the newly launched ARKIVE site. It’s the brainchild of the Wildscreen Trust, a charity concerned with raising awareness of conservation issues through the use of recordings and imagery of natural history. The site describes itself was a ‘Noah’s Ark for the Internet era’, as it brings together high-quality images, filmclips, sound recordings information and other resources on endangersed species throught the UK and the rest of the globe. The digital resources include some of the most important nature films made to date, and not surprisingly David Attenborough is one of many supporters of the project, as is Professor E O Wilson, the celebrated American biologist known as the "Father of Biodiversity". The best way to get your head around the vast array of resources they’ve pulled together, is to have a click around the site… It’s a very easy to use site, and you could spend hours, so get yourself a cup of tea before you start! And secondly… a few SCIENCE PUZZLES at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/puzzle8.shtml to keep you going. As you’ll see, there’s a whole range listed down the right hand side, on a variety of difference science and maths topics. This one just looked like a good challenge to kick off with! |
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10. JOKES OF THE WEEK Thanks again to everyone who sent in jokes this week! (And sorry not to include the one about the two protons walking down the street again – only because everyone in the country MUST know it already, as we’ve done it twice before and it’s been sent in as many times as a dog’s got fleas…) Anyway! Roy Lowry from the University of Plymouth emailed to say: The joke in last week's "news" reminded me of the following: Q: What's an ohm? A: It's where a watt lives!! And John Pickersgill had an extra add-on to last week’s joke about London’s number of crustaceans (Two: Kings Crustacean and Charing Crustacean.) We missed one he says! Because there’s also a St Pan Crustacean… And finally Jerry Gamble has a new one for you: Q. What do you call someone who only drinks salt water? A. Brine (Brian) |
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| 11. AOB And on that cheery note... if you've any contributions to future newsletters, send them though to Anne McNaught anne@planet-science.com. Have a great week! |
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