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Friday 17th June 2005: Issue 27

Thank Planet Science for that Wired-Up FRIDAY feeling! Here’s what’s coming up:

  1. Planet Picks – June’s quiz will take you higher than a kite…
  2. Spotlight On – Hanging out with scientists all summer long!
  3. Make A Date – And get to know Einstein a little better next weekend.
  4. Gear For Grabs – Get your school involved and you could win a fantastic prize.
  5. Winners – Wired-Up’s competition winners from issue 25.
1. Planet Picks – News from the world of Planet Science...

If you’ve roamed around the Planet Science website recently, the first thing you will have noticed is the new homepage. We’re just bursting at the seams with the joys of summer and, as I’m sure you’ll agree, the new homepage just screams blue skies, summer sunshine and…er…skydiving…

To get you in a freefalling state of mind, our quiz for June follows the theme of flying. So don’t leave yourself dangling in mid air – know the science behind flight, get the answers right, and you might just win your very own kite!

Click here to enter:
http://www.planet-science.com/quiz

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2. Spotlight On – The National Physical Laboratory…

Talking of summer, have you found yourself a job for the holidays? You could always try the local supermarket or fast-food takeaway for a position. But if serving greasy chips or shelf-stacking umpteen tins of tomato soup isn’t your idea of an inspiring summer then just think about winning a placement at the National Physical Laboratory. The job ad reads:

“Unique work experience opportunity.  Learn about controlling time and unravel the mysteries of the Universe. No intergalactic travel experience required but applicants must be able to reach SW London during day times in summer.  Keen interest in physics essential. Humans only. “

Visit the Einstein Year website for more details:
http://www.einsteinyear.org/themes/time

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3. Make a Date – Science things to see and Do...

If you’re an avid fan of Einstein and you’re in Oxford next weekend (Saturday 25th June) then make sure you pop along to the family-friendly Einstein festival at the Museum of the History of Science. All day long you’ll be able to take part in talks and activities based around the life and work of the most famous man in science. You can learn about Special Relativity, Einstein’s work as a peace activist, take part in ‘Family Fizzics’ and make yourself an Einstein puppet complete with fuzzy hair!

Visit the museum’s website for the full listing of events:
http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/index.htm

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4. Gear Up For Grabs – You’ve got to be in it to win it...

Ever fancied a trip to Mars? It certainly beats Scarborough as a holiday destination! But how would you tell the time? A Martian day lasts for 24 hours and 39.6 minutes so you’d have to leave your Earth watches and clocks behind, as they’d be about as much use as a chocolate teapot!

The Young Engineers Club are asking schools to design a timepiece that could accurately tell the time on Mars. It could be a sundial or a mechanical clock or an electronic clock. It’s up to you! But you need to get your team together and submit your research and design by October 15th. There is no need to construct your model until you are asked to do so. There are two levels of entry – years 6 to 9 and years 10 to 13. Cash prizes will be awarded for first and second prize and each winning student will receive a watch from Seiko.

If it sounds like the sort of thing you’d like to get your school involved in then visit the website for more details:
http://www.youngeng.org/Martianclock.htm

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5. Winners – Has your name been picked out of the bag?

Finally, there’s just enough room to bring you the winners of a competition in issue 25. We gave Wired-Up subscribers the chance to win one of three copies of the Aventis Award Winning Science book ‘What Makes Me, Me?’ written by Dr Robert Winston. To enter the competition, we asked you to come up with the special things that makes you, you! Here are our favourite three entries and the winners of a book each:

Daniel Cookson, from Wales told Wired-Up:

“The thing that makes me so different from other people is that I am so clumsy! If I climb a tree, I fall out of it! If I help mum with the dishes then I smash a cup! If I help my nan with her cleaning I break an ornament. I just hope I grow out of it!”

Erica Shaw, from Manchester wrote:

“What makes me, me is the fact that I am just crazy about science! My dad says that I am going to grow up and become a mad scientist, just like Einstein. When I wake up in the mornings I have hair just like him so I know I will be famous one day!”

Our third winner, Rebecca Manning emailed:

“I think the one thing that sets me apart from others is that I can burp really loudly! I can even burp louder than my brother and he’s 18!”

Thanks to all our winners for making us smile and expect a book in the post very soon!

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THAT’S ALL FOR NOW

Got Wired-Up? Got clued up!

Don’t forget that Wired-Up will be hitting your inboxes every fortnight from now on, but in the meantime, send any questions, comments, jokes or experiment ideas to: wired-up.news@nesta.org.uk

Until then, why not pay the Planet Science website a visit, by clicking here:
http://www.planet-science.com

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