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Events Feature article: Bernardo Patti Cutting-edge science Teaching activities Projects in science education Science topics Scientist profile Teacher profile Reviews

Events

• Forthcoming events (frequently updated)
• Welcome to Valencia! The EU Contest for Young Scientists
  Anne MJG Piret from the European Commission assisted the jury during the recent EU Contest for Young Scientists.
  Read (English, Polish, Romanian) | PDF [400 KB]

Feature article: Bernardo Patti

• Laboratory in space: interview with Bernardo Patti
  Shortly before Columbus was launched, Bernardo Patti, the Columbus mission manager at the European Space Agency, talked to Anna-Lynn Wegener.
  Read (English, Bulgarian, French, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish) | PDF [232 KB]

Cutting-edge science

• The Automated Transfer Vehicle - supporting Europe in space
  Adam Williams describes the development of an unmanned shuttle to supply the International Space Station.
  Read (English, Bulgarian, French, German, Polish, Spanish) | PDF [224 KB]
• Life on Mars: terraforming the Red Planet
  Science fact or science fiction? Margarita Marinova investigates the possibility of establishing life on Mars.
  Read (English, Bulgarian, German, Greek, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Spanish) | PDF [804 KB]
• Locking the cradle
  Claire Ainsworth investigates how Winfried Weissenhorn’s group uncovered a possible way of trapping a range of dangerous viruses inside their cocoons.
  Read (English, Croatian, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Romanian, Turkish) | PDF [316 KB]

Teaching activities

• Ginger beer: a traditional fermented low-alcohol drink
  Dean Madden gives his recipe for introducing younger students to the principles of fermentation, food hygiene and the biochemistry of respiration.
  Read (English, Czech, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Turkish) | PDF [620 KB]
• Chewing flavours
  Ken Gadd and Luca Szalay introduce a procedure used in industry – and adapted for school students – to measure the citric acid level in chewing gum.
  Read (English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Romanian, Spanish) | PDF [220 KB]

Projects in science education

• Bring the fascination of the science centre into the classroom
  Amito Haarhuis describes a project that challenges pupils aged 11-12 to design and create their own exhibits
  Read (English, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish) | PDF [732 KB]
• StandardBase: a Leonardo da Vinci pilot project for practical education and training in chemistry
  Ken Gadd and Luca Szalay explain the goals and use of the StandardBase project - 72 standard analytical procedures used in industry and adapted for use by students in schools and colleges via the Internet.
  Read (English, German, Polish, Romanian, Spanish) | PDF [212 KB]

Science topics

• What do we know about climate? Investigating the effects of anthropogenic global warming
  In the second of two articles, climate researcher Rasmus Benestad examines the evidence that humans are causing climate change.
  Read (English, Bulgarian, Croatian, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Macedonian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish) | PDF [224 KB]
• Research into the Sun's atmosphere
  Lucie Green describes some of the recent research into the Sun’s atmosphere.
  Read (English, Bulgarian, French, German, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish) | PDF [144 KB]

Scientist profile

• On the trail of a cure for cancer
  Joan Massagué has discovered secrets that can save lives. An expert in cell division and the spread of cancer, he speaks to Sarah Sherwood about his recent work on metastasis and his hopes for a cure for cancer.
  Read (English, Bulgarian, Croatian, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Macedonian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish) | PDF [224 KB]
• Salt of the Earth
  Prudence Mutowo tells Vienna Leigh about researching a recently discovered archaeal species, Haloferax volcanii, which thrives in extreme conditions.
  Read (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Turkish) | PDF [152 KB]

Teacher profile

• Paul goes back to the classroom
  What makes a professional, experienced bioinformatician want to give up an established career to brave the front of a classroom? Vienna Leigh investigates.
  Read (English, Bulgarian, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish) | PDF [156 KB]

Reviews

• Choosing Children: Genes, Disability, and Design
  Read (English, Spanish) | PDF [128 KB]
• Nontraditional Careers for Chemists: New Formulas in Chemistry
  Read | PDF [128 KB]
• Dance of the Tiger
  Read | PDF [452 KB]