It’s not every week that you get the opportunity to hear Sir Bob Geldof and the Prime Minister Gordon Brown speak on the need to help Britain become a more innovative nation. If you did then you must have been at the NESTA Innovation Edge event on Tuesday! Planet SciCast and Making a Mint are two such innovations from the Planet Science stable, exhibiting on the day, where many a new and interesting connection was made.

After all that excitement we’re taking the half-term week off. See you on Friday 6 June!

The line-up this week:

1. Scicast
2. Making a Mint
3. Stump the Scientist: does a lobster blush?
4. Activity of the Week: Very Berry Lipgloss
5. Mouses at the Ready: Nets, Puzzles and Postmen book
6. Noticeboard: FYI
7. Recommended websites of the week
8. The Winners’ Enclosure
9. Joke of the Week

We were very impressed with Making a Mint 2007 winners Willows Primary School from Lichfield who took part in the NESTA Innovation Edge conference in London on 20 May. They tirelessly ‘sold’ the competition on a stand all day, chatting to anyone and everyone about how much they had enjoyed taking part in Making a Mint. Before we knew it they had waylaid none other than the Prime Minister himself, Gordon Brown! We hope he and his cabinet are now dutifully planting their mint seeds and deciding how to maximise their profits…

Why don’t you send for a FREE Mint pack now?

Last week’s question came from Robert Hewis aged 7 who asked

“If a lobster’s blood is blue, do they go blue when they blush?”

Ian Nicholson of Glasgow answers

“Blushing happens when blood vessels near the surface of our skin dilate and allow more blood to flow near the surface The real reason we have this mechanism is so that we can radiate heat to cool ourselves down. Being embarrassed seems to trigger this mechanism for no reason other than to tell everybody how embarrassed we are (much like a dog wags its tail to tell you how happy it is - it's an involuntary response that signals its mood to other members of the pack).

Lobsters are ectotherms - they don't regulate their body temperature it’s just the same as their surroundings. Humans maintain a constant 37^oC so we need the ability to cool down. So lobsters have no reason to be able to blush If they're too hot they just keep the heat to themselves because they're shellfish (sorry).

Also, lobsters have an exoskeleton (effectively their bones are on the outside) so they can't use a similar mechanism to bring blood to the surface as their skeleton is in the way - so lobsters don't blush like we do.”

Dr Alan P Glaze of Regents Park Community College agrees:

“Humans blush when capillaries in the skin dilate, increasing the bloodflow at the skin surface, causing reddening we love and hate.

I'm afraid you couldn't see a lobster blush, even if you really complimented it - its blood's not blue, in fact it's almost colourless (anyway you probably could not see it through the thick shell).

Lobsters themselves come in a variety of colours, but that is mainly due to pigmentation in the shell. They have blood; it’s called hemolymph as it is more or less composed of blood and lymph together. Just like human blood, lobster hemolymph transports blood cells as well as oxygen and other gases, nutrients, wastes, hormones and other molecules involved in the internal defence. Unlike human blood, lobster blood varies from colourless/white to grey to pink in colour. It turns blueish when exposed to oxygen.”

No points to C Riley for this terrible joke

“Why did the lobster blush? Because the seaweed (sea weed…)”

Groan! Actually this would probably appeal to little Robert.

So thanks for that, everybody. On this occasion the scientist was NOT stumped!

This week’s stumper comes from Mrs S Clarke who says

“I am sending this e-mail on behalf of my daughter Imogen who is 8 years old. The question is

Where do Head Lice come from ????”

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

Very Berry Lipgloss

Make a gorgeous lip gloss from yummy honey and other natural ingredients. Protect sensitive lips with this simple yet rich lip balm. Delightful to wear alone or on top of your lipstick for extra shine. Makes a great home-made gift too.

You will need:

• 1tbsp sweet almond oil
• 10 fresh raspberries
• 1tsp honey
• 1 drop Vitamin E oil (optional)
• A sieve or a tea strainer
• A small portable plastic container or tin
• Decorative stickers, gift box and tissue paper (if you're making it for someone else)

What you do

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for two minutes or until the mixture just begins to boil.
2. (If you don't have a microwave, place the bowl on top of a pan of water on a stovetop and then boil the water. This will take longer and you have to be careful not to let the water boil over into the mixture. If you are doing it this way you should get an adult to supervise you.)
3. Stir well and gently crush the berries.
4. Cool mixture for five minutes.
5. Strain through a fine sieve or tea strainer to remove all the fruit pieces.
6. Stir again and set aside to cool completely.
7. When cool, transfer into your container.
8. Apply a small amount onto your lips and remember to smile!
9. (If you're making this as a gift, decorate your container with stickers and put in a gift box lined with tissue paper.)

What's going on?

The miracle ingredient in this lipgloss recipe is the honey. It acts as an antioxidant, moisturizer and gloss. Antioxidants like Vitamin C or green tea extract are key ingredients in many expensive skincare products. They are not absorbed into your skin, but they might protect your skin on the outside from damage by sunlight and pollution.

Scientists think the antioxidants in honey are probably the molecules called flavinoids, which give honey its great taste.

Honey is also hygroscopic, which means it absorbs water from the air, so it helps to maintain the natural balance of water in the cells in your lips. The almond oil forms a protective layer to stop the water evaporating.

Together, the honey and the oil fill in all the crevices in your lips and make them look smooth and glossy. The berries add natural colour and flavour. Add all this together for lips that look, smell and taste gorgeous!

Try different berries (strawberries, cranberries or blueberries) or other soft fruits (peaches or plums) for different colours and flavours.

This activity was taken from the Little Book of Experiments.

This week we have a book called Nets, Puzzles, and Postmen by Peter M Higgins (Oxford University Press) to give away.

The synopsis says:

“What do road and railway systems, electrical circuits, mingling at parties, mazes, family trees, and the internet all have in common? All are networks - either people or places or things that relate and connect to one another. Only relatively recently have mathematicians begun to explore such networks and connections, and their importance has taken everyone by surprise. The mathematics of networks form the basis of many fascinating puzzles and problems, from tic-tac-toe and circular sudoku to the 'Chinese Postman Problem' (can he deliver all his letters without traversing the same street twice?).”

If you’d like to win it then email us with your name and address, and the words ‘PUZZLES AND POSTMEN’ in the subject line, to planet-science.news@nesta.org.uk.

The draw will take place at 5pm on Wednesday 21st May.

Germ Travel describes how the germ family has been split up at the Raw Chicken Airport. Help Dad gather them all together, so they can catch their flight to the Costa Del Colon. But don't forget to dodge the disinfectant!

And that’s just one of the fabulous games on the Food Standards Agency Eatwell site. Interactive games on a number of different healthy eating and food hygiene issues have appealing titles such as ‘Turkey Berserkey’ and ‘Make a date with our plate!’. After all, if you read “A rogue turkey has broken into the house and is threatening to cause havoc and spoil your festive celebrations. Arm yourself with whatever is to hand to teach the pesky poultry a lesson or two.” then wouldn’t you be reaching for your mouse? Exactly!

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.