1. Wassup Planet Science? – what’s new on the Planet Science website
What are ye waiting for? Fast to the questions and may there be a fair wind behind ye – Ha! Harrrr! >>> Back to top 2. Sooo Random - Science news straight to your Inbox...Did you know that text message analysis is becoming a powerful tool in solving crime cases? No? Us neither. Apparently people choose their own text language “rules” which they tend to use throughout their messages. In February 2008, linguistic evidence contributed to the conviction of David Hodgson in the murder of Jenny Nicholl. Forensic linguists studied Jenny’s style of texting and decided that messages supposedly sent by her after she went missing could not have come from her. For example, Jenny Nicholl used “my” and “myself” while David Hodgson often adopted Yorkshire dialect, using “me” and “meself.” Forensic linguists can also build a “sociolinguistic” profile of the author: they can give an idea of a texter's gender or age - but not their personality. “What you find is very stereotypical - women tend to be inter-personal while men make arrangements,” said Dr Tim Grant from the Centre for Forensic Linguistics at Aston University. >>> Back to top 3. Over 2U! - Science experiments for you to try at home...Reebops
You will need:
What to do:1. Cut strips of paper to represent the reebops chromosomes. There will be 8 pairs of each length in each colour. If each strip is 2cm wide you'll need two pieces of each coloured paper. Start with the pink, cut two strips of each length...20cm, 18cm, 16cm, 14cm, 12cm, 10cm, 8cm and 6cm. You are left with 16 strips of pink chromosomes - repeat the process with the blue paper. 2. Arrange the same length strips next to each other. Now write on each strip in felt tip. On the first pink pair write 'A' on one and 'a' on the other, do the same with the longest blue strips. 3. Repeat this with the remaining chromosomes so you have... Aa on 20cm 4. What you will end up with is a complete set of pink chromosomes - 8 pairs, and a complete set of blue chromosomes, again 8 pairs. 5. To make this totally random you can turn them over so you can't see the letters. 6. Now create the genetic make up of your baby reebop - pick one from each of the pairs of pink chromosomes to create the egg cell. Then repeat with one from each of the pairs of blue chromosomes to make a sperm cell. 7. Now fuse the chromosomes from the egg and sperm cells by matching up the same length of chromosome until you have a new set of 8 pairs. Turn them over so you can see the letters. 8. Now you can start to construct your baby reebop... The following list tells you the features your reebop will have...
9. Follow the genetic instructions to construct your baby reebop - use the cocktail sticks to attach the body and head then attach any humps, legs, eyes and antennae with map pins. You may want to construct female reebops from pink marshmallows and male reebops from whites ones. What's happening?In meiosis, cells split to create egg and sperm cells which randomly contain half the genetic material of the parent cells. When these fuse to create the first cell of the new reebop they contain a random mix of both the mother's and the father's chromosomes. These chromosomes contain dominant and recessive genes. The dominant genes, which are shown with capital letters, will express their characteristic - having a red nose or blue legs. It is only if this dominant gene is absent that the recessive gene can express itself - producing red legs or a yellow nose. Special Safety AdviceDo not eat the reebops you have made as they may contain concealed cocktail sticks or map pins (always keep a supply of fresh marshmallows if you feel you have to eat some). This activity came from the Reebops activity on the SciCast site >>> Back to top 4. Gear Giveaway - You’ve got to be in it to win it... Here are more details of the Crisp Packet Fireworks book If you want to win it email us with your name and address, and the words ‘CRISPY SCIENCE’ in the subject line, to randomised.news@nesta.org.uk The draw will take place at 5pm on Wednesday 8th October. >>> Back to top 5. Winners - Has your name been picked out of the bag?Last time we were offering Dr Frankenstein’s Human Body Book from Dorling Kindersley. The lucky winner is Kirsty Aird of Surrey. Have fun Kirsty! >>> Back to top THAT'S ALL FOR NOWYou've been Randomised! Send any questions, comments, jokes or experiment ideas to: randomised.news@nesta.org.uk Bye for now! |
Yarr me hearties! Step aboard the good ship Planet Science and avail yeself of some vittals! There be ten questions ahead of ye. By the leg of Long John Silver we’d be sore amazed if ye failed to get ‘em right and take yer place in the draw for a Pirateology book ‘n’ puppet combo.
Using marshmallow models to explain why you look like your parents. You might want to watch the 
This week we have a fantastic science book called Crisp Packet Fireworks by Chris Smith and Dave Ansell (aka