INSPIRE

Inspire

To sea with a blind scientist

March 3, 2011 | Issue 18

Scientific research is not a career that most people believe to be suitable for the blind, but such beliefs are changing. Biologist Geerat Vermeij explains that, whether you are blind or not, science is competitive, tedious and hard – and he loves it.

Ages: 11-14, 14-16
Keywords: Biology, General science, Oceans

   

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Inspire

Teacher solidarity: a UK-Rwandan physics project

March 3, 2011 | Issue 18

Thanks to the determination of UK physics teacher David Richardson, increasing numbers of students in Rwandan schools are experiencing the delight of practical work. Vienna Leigh reports.

Ages: not applicable
Keywords: Physics, Teaching resources

     

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Inspire

Relativity: A Very Short Introduction, By Russell Stannard

March 3, 2011 | Issue 18

Relativity is, admittedly, a difficult subject to understand, even to science-oriented people. In Relativity: A Very Short Introduction, Russell Stannard has made an effort to explain relativity and its implications for the laws that govern the Universe in a way that can be understood by those with…

Ages: not applicable
Keywords: Physics, Gravity, Relativity

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Inspire

Instructables website

March 3, 2011 | Issue 18

www.instructables.com is a website that shows you how to make all sorts of weird and wonderful things, from apple coasters to a z-bend hyper-hornet.

Ages: not applicable
Keywords: Teaching resources

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Inspire

Bad Science, By Ben Goldacre

March 3, 2011 | Issue 18

Why should British teachers stop using the Brain Gym, which refers to itself as an ‘educational movement-based model’ and is used in thousands of British schools? 

Ages: not applicable
Keywords: Science communication, Teaching methods

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UNDERSTAND

Understand

Uracil in DNA: error or signal?

March 3, 2011 | Issue 18

Uracil is well known as one of the bases used in RNA, but why is it not used in DNA – or is it? Angéla Békési and Beáta G Vértessy investigate.

Ages: 16-19
Keywords: Genetics, Immune system, Insect development, Cell proliferation, General cytology, Cancer research, Biology, Enzymes

                   

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Understand

Moringa: the science behind the miracle tree

March 3, 2011 | Issue 18

Moringas have long been known as miracle trees. Now scientists are investigating their properties in depth, as Sue Nelson and Marlene Rau report.

Ages: <11, 11-14, 14-16, 16-19
Keywords: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Personal, Social and health education

           

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Understand

A neural switch for fear

March 3, 2011 | Issue 18

When something frightens us, should we freeze, or should we investigate? Sarah Stanley describes how scientists from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory are probing the mysteries of the brain, seeking to understand our response to fear.

Ages: 16-19
Keywords: Biology, Genetics, Physiology, Pharmacology, Behaviour

               

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Understand

Mars, snakes, robots and DNA

March 3, 2011 | Issue 18

Science in School is published by EIROforum, a collaboration of research organisations. Eleanor Hayes, Editor-in-Chief of Science in School, reviews some of the latest news from the EIROforum members.

Ages: not applicable

 

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Understand

Single molecules under the microscope

March 3, 2011 | Issue 18

Would it not be fascinating to observe and manipulate individual molecules? Patrick Theer and Marlene Rau from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory explain how, with an atomic force microscope, you can do just this. You could even build your own.

Ages: 14-16, 16-19
Keywords: Biology, Physics, Physiology, Medicine

             

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TEACH

Teach

The resourceful physics teacher

March 3, 2011 | Issue 18

Physics teacher Keith Gibbs shares some of his many demonstrations and experiments for the physics classroom.

Ages: 14-16, 16-19
Keywords: Physics, Chemistry, Thermodynamics, Circular motion, Electromagnetism, Gravitational fields, Inertia, Boiling points

           

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Teach

The heat is on: heating food and drinks with chemical energy

March 3, 2011 | Issue 18

Have you ever longed for a hot drink or meal but had no fire or stove to hand? Marlene Rau presents two activities from the Lebensnaher Chemieunterricht portal that use chemical reactions to heat food – and to introduce the topic of exothermic reactions.

Ages: <11, 11-14, 14-16, 16-19
Keywords: Chemistry, Energy, General science

         

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Teach

Breeding dragons: investigating Mendelian inheritance

March 3, 2011 | Issue 18

Mendelian inheritance can be a tricky topic to teach, but Pat Tellinghuisen, Jennifer Sexton and Rachael Shevin’s memorable dragon-breeding game makes it easier to understand and remember.

Ages: <11, 11-14, 14-16
Keywords: Biology

           

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Teach

Biomimetics: clingy as an octopus or slick as a lotus leaf?

March 3, 2011 | Issue 18

Astrid Wonisch, Margit Delefant and Marlene Rau present two activities developed by the Austrian project ‘Naturwissenschaft und Technik zum Angreifen’ to investigate how technology is inspired by nature.

Ages: <11, 11-14, 14-16, 16-19
Keywords: Biology, Physics, Chemistry

             

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EDITORIAL

Editorial

Happy birthday, Science in School!

April 7, 2011 | Issue 18

This issue of Science in School is rather special: it’s now five years since Science in School was launched, in March 2006.

Ages: not applicable

 

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