Issue 17
Editorials
Welcome to the seventeenth issue of Science in School
Do men and women share the same sense of humour? Perhaps, but their brains react differently to it, as Allan Reiss explains in this issue’s feature article.
Cutting-edge science
Human evolution: testing the molecular basis
In the second of two articles, Jarek Bryk describes how scientists dig deep into our genes – to test the molecular basis of an evolutionary adaptation in humans.
- Read: English, Polish, French, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Bulgarian, German, Catalan, Dutch, Portuguese | PDF
Science is cool... supercool
When we cool something below its freezing point, it solidifies – at least, that’s what we expect. Tobias Schülli investigates why this is not always the case.
Event reports
Science on Stage: searching for the best teachers in Europe
In more than 20 European countries, teachers are sharing their inspiring teaching ideas with colleagues, students and the general public via Science on Stage. Eleanor Hayes reviews some of the recent events.
Teachers fly high at the European Space Agency
Eleanor Hayes reports on the recent teacher workshop at the European Space Research and Technology Centre.
Features
The science of humour: Allan Reiss
Men and women react differently to humour. Allan Reiss tells Eleanor Hayes why this is news.
Resources on the web
Educational resources for the International Year of Biodiversity
The United Nations has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). Ivo Grigorov, Lise Cronne and Giulia Realdon provide a collection of web resources for teachers and students on the occasion.
Reviews
Very Short Introductions to Evolution, Human Evolution and the History of Life, By Brian and Deborah Charlesworth (Evolution), Bernard Wood (Human Evolution) and Michael J Benton (The History of Life)
How short is ‘very short’? Well, pretty short – between 120 and 150 pages. The pages are small, too, 175 mm x 110 mm, but then so is the type. ‘Introduction?’ …well, it depends what’s being introduced.
A Private Universe online resources, By Matthew H Schneps and Philip M Sadler
A Private Universe depicts a very familiar situation for teachers worldwide, namely that students do not let go of their misconceptions as easily as might be expected after a detailed and thorough learning process.
Science education projects
School experiments at the nanoscale
Eleanor Hayes highlights some education resources about the nanoscale and nanotechnology.
Stage lights: physics and drama
Imagine sending music across the room by laser. Sounds impossible, doesn’t it? But Alessio Bernardelli’s students did just that – and then developed a play to explain the science behind it. Here’s how to do it.
Science topics
A hole in the sky
Twenty-five years ago, the discovery of the hole in the ozone layer hit the news. How have things developed since? Tim Harrison and Dudley Shallcross investigate.
Clouds: puzzling pieces of climate
The physics of clouds and their role in our climate have perplexed scientists for decades. Karin Ranero Celius investigates.
Scientist profiles
An astronomer in a 3D world
What do astronomy and film have in common? Both can involve Jochen Liske, astronomer and actor. Karin Ranero Celius takes us on a trip to the Paranal Observatory in Chile and tells us about Jochen’s latest film: Das Auge 3D.
Teacher profiles
Blind date in the science classroom
Biology and chemistry teacher Werner Liese talks to Marlene Rau about the challenges of performing science experiments with blind and visually impaired students.
Teaching activities
Going ballistic: modelling the trajectories of projectiles
Students often find it difficult to calculate the trajectories of projectiles. With the help of Elias Kalogirou’s model, they can be easily visualised. In addition, Ian Francis suggests further uses for the model in the classroom.
Bioinformatics with pen and paper: building a phylogenetic tree
Bioinformatics is usually done with a powerful computer. With help from Cleopatra Kozlowski, however, you can investigate our primate ancestry – armed with nothing but a pen and paper.
