sugar science... cool call!
100 reasons why science is cool for girls
Nos. 1 - 29
1. Mighty Mixing Desk
Hey Mizz DJ!
Know what keeps muscians’ feet on the ground? The force of GROOVITY of course!
Seriously though, music is all about the ‘appliance of science’ – just ask any sound engineer. But that doesn’t mean you have to be Einstein to create a fab groove! Try for yourself - you can experiment with sampling and mixing right here on the Planet Science Online Mixing Desk.
http://www.planet-science.com/randomise/games/index.html
It’s all there - just tap in to your own special brand of funkiness and off you go!
2) Happy feet.
Everybody from P Diddy to J Lo has at least one pair of trainers they luurve! But what makes a pair of trainers cool? Loads of funky materials go into making your trainers bling bling. Reflective bits so they show up in the dark, cushioning to support your foot, tyre like tread so you don’t slip about and breathable materials so your foot doesn’t get too hot. So whether you’re a gymaholic or a glamaholic, somewhere out there will be a fab pair of trainers perfect for you.
Tips on buying your first pair of running shoes.
http://www.time-to-run.com/beginners/shoes.htm
Have fun designing your own shoe at the nike website.
http://www.nike.com
SoYouWanna buy a good pair of sneakers?
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/
3) Great social life – and BOYS!
Science is sociable – despite rumours to the contrary! You often work in teams and have to communicate what you know. It is also an international discipline, so you are likely to meet people from all over the world. And don’t forget, men outnumber women in science by a massive 20 – 1! Do the Maths!
Check out 9 more reasons why a career in science is good for girlz.
4) Amplification Nation
whether you’re a garage girl or a pop princess, you wouldn't be able to hear your fave vibes without loudspeakers or headphones. Loudspeakers take electrical signals from your sound system and turn them into vibrations. These vibrations travel through the air as sound waves. When the waves hit tiny bones in your ear, your brain translates them into the warblings of your chosen popstrel or boyband. Sigh!
To find out exactly how speakers work have a look at:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/speaker.htm
For the science behind all the stuff in your bedroom, including loudspeakers:
What your ears get up to:
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/bigear.html
5) Sunscreen Sorted
Ever since the 1920s when Coco Chanel deemed a suntan the fashionable thing to have, people have been exposing themselves to dangerous ultraviolet light from the sun. But Sunscreen can save your skin, and stop the UV light dissing your DNA and causing dangerous cancers. They work by chemically absorbing the UV, or physically scattering it away from your skin, or a combo of both – clever eh?!
History of the tan!
http://www.skincarederm.com/history.htm
The skinny on sunscreen.
http://www.americansun.org/pages/sunscreen.htm
6) Faking it
As no tan is a safe tan scientifically speaking, your best bet for being a bronzed beauty is good old fake tan! Invented in the 1950s, the cosmetic tan is produced by dyes in the lotion or by the skin absorbing a chemical called 'dihydroxyacetone', or DHA. This reacts with the keratin in the top layer of the skin, giving you a short lived browning effect.
Check out BBCs hot topic sunshine!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/sunshine/faketans.shtml
7) WAP rap.
Have you got WAP? WAP allows you to surf the web using your mobile. You can only browse websites in text format because the graphics won’t fit on the weenie screen. WAP stands for Wireless Application Protocol and is the language that your phone browser reads, just like your PC Internet browser reads HTML online. You can also send emails through your WAP phone – so your mobile phone really is a miniature communication station!
How mobile phones work
http://www.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone.htm
Jen up on electromagnetic radiation from phones
http://www.globalchange.com/radiation.htm
8) You Glow girl!
When you're out dancing, nothing looks hotter than having funky glowing jewellery. Glow-in-the-dark bangles and necklaces work in a similar way to animals like fireflies or glow worms. Two chemicals are mixed together to make a third. This third chemical is excited and gives out its extra energy in the form of light. Fireflies glow to attract mates – Hmmmmmm….
For the science behind the stuff in your bedroom, including glow stars, have a look here:
More info about fireflies and their seduction techniques:
http://iris.biosci.ohio-state.edu/projects/FFiles/
All about fluorescence:
http://www.sterlinghill.org/warren/aboutfluorescence.htm
9) Chocolurve
Ahhhhh Chocolate, mmmmmm chocolate!
Lovely, lovely chocolate is a complex mix of more than 400 flavour compounds. And not only is it delicious, it contains a special substance called phenylethylamine that gives the eater a similar surge of pleasure as being in love! Amazing stuff – no wonder girls crave it, and the good news is, it’s not nearly as bad for you as everyone says, it even contains iron. So find out more and embrace the cravings……
the history and science of chocolate from the Exploratorium
http://www.exploratorium.edu/chocolate/
Chocolate as part of your diet…
http://www.gourmed.gr/mediterranean-diet/
Why you crave chocolate.
http://my.webmd.com/question_and_answer/
10) Give Us a Lift!
Been anywhere nice lately? If it was in a plane, you’ve the Wright brothers and all the aviation experts, engineers and manufacturers who came after them to thank. Of course, people travelled before planes were invented – but even though trains and boats can be romantic (so long as you’re not in triple economy class!) they are S-L-O-W!
Thanks to the science of ‘lift’ we can be almost anywhere in the world in a day. Amazing.
Pioneers of aviation:
http://www.si.edu/archives/documents/wright.htm
Foilsim – interactive lift explainer from Nasa
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/foil2.html
Warp Interactive
http://wright.nasa.gov/airplane/warp.html
11) Movie SFX
How DO they do that!! Well, whether it’s an old fashioned stunt or a high tech computer animation (or a combination of both) there’s a lot of science involved in special effects for movies. It really is the perfect combination of imagination, art and science, and with digital technology there really is no limit to what you can see happen on the silver screen.
Learn about the Art and Science at:
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Makeup/9472/sfx.htm
Create a 50 foot chicken movie image!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/specialfx2/greengame.html
12) Gotta Dance!
Check this: ‘Nuff said!
http://www.planet-science.com/randomise/ads/tvads.html (interactive site feature)
13) Lava Palaver
When you're chilling in your room with your mates and catching up on the goss, a lava lamp really adds to the atmosphere. The lamp's fab swirly colours are made from a mixture of coloured wax and water - because these don't mix the colours stay separate. The heat from the bulb melts the wax and makes it rise up through the tube. When it reaches the top, it gets cold and sinks again. So round and round it goes!
For the science of the stuff in your bedroom, including lava lamps, have a look here.
For the skinny on how they work go to:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/lava-lamp.htm
Download a lava lamp screensaver:
http://www.message.uk.com/message/
14) Keyhole surgery
A big scar on your tummy might make for conversation in a sauna, but quite honestly you’d probably rather do without it!
Surgeons have come a long way since they doubled as barbers and dentists in the grimy back streets and technology has helped enormously with tiny cameras and mini remote instruments. Now if you do need surgery they’ll do their best to have you looking as good in a bikini as you did before.
Listen to the experts
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/sci_tech/features/
Latest endoscopic technology
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1028220.stm
15) Cosmetic Effect
Make-up doesn’t grow on trees you know – even if some of the ingredients do! Someone slaves away in a lab combining a flair for colour and artistry with some nifty chemistry knowledge. For some sciencey beauty tips click here.
Learn about becoming a cosmetics chemist:
http://www.girlpower.gov/girlarea/sciencetech/
Chemistry in your home – make up, shampoo…yes it goes on all around you!
http://www.chemistry.dit.ie/competition01/
16) Frisbee® Whizz
How about wowing your crush down at the park with cool tricks with your Frisbee®? The original flying discs were simply empty metal pie cases, but the plastic ones were invented in the 1950s - they hurt a lot less if you missed catching them! Their curved shape means that a higher air pressure underneath forces the disc up in the air. The spinning stabilises the flight, supposedly giving you control over where it flies!
Find out how pies created Frisbee® History:
http://www.yesterdayland.com/popopedia/shows/toys/ty1022.php
The skinny on exactly how Frisbees fly:
http://wings.avkids.com/Book/Sports/advanced/frisbee-01.html
Ultimate Frisbee® - a team game you play with Frisbees!
http://www.ukultimate.com
17) Improve the world
OK – you might not be able to save the world single-handedly, but if you’re a scientist you’re gonna have a better shot than most! New drugs for diseases, fresh water to remote villages or becoming an expert on the environment – all in a day’s work for the career scientist.
Check out 9 more reasons why a career in science is good for girlz.
Noisenet – no nonsense careers profiles
http://www.noisenet.ws
Cool Careers in Science – v v cool actually!
http://www.pbs.org/safarchive/5_cool/53_career.html
18) Laser Phaser
If you’ve ever seen a laser display on the side of a building or at a rock concert, you’ll know that a laser beam is a very special sort of light. It’s powerful, precise and it does look particularly good when its boogie-ing to music!
Find out all about lasers in our Laser Lab (interactive site feature)
And try your hand as a laser-DJ while you’re there. Choreograph all the moves and manoeuvers and find out just how laser-friendly you are!
19) Rich and Famous
OK – you could try singing in a group and marrying a famous footballer – but your chances of long-lasting fame will be slim….Imagine instead if you discovered a cure for cancer, designed a new type of building or invented a house that cleaned itself – imagine how rich and famous you’d be…….
Check out 9 more reasons why a career in science is good for girlz!
Women inventors
http://www.inventorsmuseum.com/womenmap.htm
20) Flowery Fleas
Somethin’ buggin’ the cat? It’s probably fleas. To get rid of these pesky l’il critters you need some flower power. The active ingredient in flea powder is crushed Pyrethrum flowers. Pyrethrum are related to chrysanthemums and look like big daisies. They might be pretty, but they’re deadly to insects. So the powder will kill the fleas but not the cat. Phew.
The skinny on pyrethrum:
http://www.eap.mcgill.ca/AgroBio/ab360-02e.htm
Info on cats and fleas:
www.thecatsite.com/care/fleas.html
21) Bullet Proof Inventing
Stephanie Louise Kwolek – doesn’t really trip off the tongue, but remember that name. She is an extraordinary woman with 28 patents to her name. She was a research chemist and has saved many lives in her time with her 1966 invention Kevlar. If you haven’t heard of this super-stuff don’t worry – it’s usually tucked away inside the police force’s bullet proof vests! It is a lightweight synthetic material 5 times stronger than steel. That’s not all she invented either…
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blkevlar.htm
22) Predict Your Own Future...
Want to know what career you’ll be doing in 10 years’ time?
All you need is a Planet Science fortune teller…
OK, so it’s just a bit of fun, but while you’re doing your Mystic Meg act and sorting out your mates’ lives for them, you’ll also find out all about a load of real jobs that are interesting, enjoyable, sociable … (and great ideas if you want to meet boys boys too!)
All you need is a computer with a printer, a few pieces of paper, and the instructions!
23) No Laughing Matter
Well, actually it is. Science IS a laughing matter if you’re Dr Richard Wiseman!
Dr Wiseman is a psychologist who created a crazy online experiment in which people around the world were invited to send in their favourite jokes… and to rate other people’s jokes for funni-ness.
After several months, he analysed all this ‘data’ (good science word – means ‘jokes’ and ‘how many laughs’ in this case!) and you can read all the top-rated jokes on the Laughlab website http://www.laughlab.co.uk
24) Surfing Stuff
There’s no better way to spend a summer’s weekend than trekking down to the coast with your mates and checking out the surf boys riding those waves. That’s unless you grab a wetsuit and have a go yourself. All that paddling and jumping up onto the surfboard is great exercise leaving you with a toned body and a gorge glow.
The science of surfing – find out how to find and ride the perfect wave.
http://www.discovery.com/news/features/surfing/surfing.html
Get in shape to hit the surf – some exercises to give you a head start on the beach.
http://www.beststuff.com/article.php3?story_id=645
Check out the National Surfing Centre to find out about lessons and for some cool links.
http://www.nationalsurfingcentre.co.uk/index.asp
25) Crush Crazy!
First you notice him, or maybe you don’t and he kinda creeps up on you. He starts as a friend and then whammo! Or maybe not whammo, maybe you only realise what you feel when he’s dating someone else! Grrrr. Getting crushes happens to everyone, after all, that’s how we all got here in the first place. For all the hormone info, sophisticated brain activity and body chemistry that goes on check out these sites devoted to the science of falling in love.
http://health.discovery.com/convergence/scienceoflove/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/love/index.shtml
26) Girlz in Space
Women have been astronauts since 1963 when Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman in space, and in 1999 Eileen Collins became the first woman commander of a Space Shuttle mission. (watch video of her at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/frontiers/collins.html )
You need science brains, ability and courage to become an astronaut – or you just need the curiosity to answer an ad in the paper like UK’s first astronaut Helen Sharman did…."Astronaut wanted..no experience necessary!"
http://www.made-in-sheffield.com/People/helenSharman.htm
27) Thrills and spills
It’s not just the fresh air or the pumping dance music that makes you feel energetic and alert when you play sports or do aerobics. Your body releases adrenaline when you exercise, which makes you feel good! During extreme sports like heli-skiing and white water rafting, fear and excitement cause the body to go into adrenaline-overdrive – and the sportsperson experiences a ‘rush’ of thrillpower. This adrenaline overload can become addictive turning people into thrill seeking adrenaline junkies.
How to get started in many extreme sports including kite surfing and BMX riding.
http://www.Adrenaline-Sports.net/
Find out what the world’s most dangerous sports are.
http://www.kidzworld.com/site/p1984.htm
Why is exercise wise?
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/take_care/
Check out some hot extreme sport photos;
http://expn.go.com/community/s/top_photos.html
28) Theme Party!
So it’s your birthday and you can’t think of a thing to do??? What?! You mean you’ve never had a space party? What about a sixties sci-fi theme party – all silver lamé and Barbarella hair (what! - who’s Barbarella? Only THE space babe of the 20th Century, skimpy kit, always boots and fluffy rumpled ‘do’ - a winner every time – oh-so-weird movie though, certificate 15!) or what about a STAR WARS party? False hair in that distinctive Danish pastry style, or the more up to date Natalie Portman space geisha look. Or Blade Runner’s Darryl Hannah. Or Lady Penelope! Lt Uhura in 60s star trek, or Dax from Deep Space Nine, or really use your imagination and have an alien party – "we come in peace – here’s some Seven Up!" Hey – the boys could just come as themselves for that one! Raid the Sci Fi look for the grooviest of get-togethers.
29) Light Fantastic
Popstars have a lot of people to thank for making them look good. And we’re not just talking about make-up artists and personal trainers.
Onstage, a large part of that atmosphere of any performance is due to the skills of the lighting designer.
You can read all about light and how it affects us on the Planet Science Light Designer groove-machine. (Interactive Site Feature).
And when you’ve done the theory, you can have a go at controlling a stage-lighting set up too (in fact you can even skip the theory if you think you’re a natural genius!)
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