A Catalyst article about International Heliophysical Year (2007-08) - a year of scientific collaboration, studying the Sun and the impact of its radiation on the Earth. How the Sun is changing and the history of solar research is examined.

This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2007, Volume...

A Catalyst article looking at the methods used to power rockets. Solid rocket boosters and liquid fuel rockets are the two main propulsion systems used to power rockets and solar power is used to drive electrical equipment. This article looks at these power systems and the future for rocket science.

This...

This book looks at several aspects of how the mind works: *Making sense of the world * How we perceive * How we behave * Ways of learning * How we think and feel * What kind of person are you? You and Your Mind was one of the Science at Work series. All the booklets in the series were highly illustrated with...

The Science Education Tracker is a survey commissioned by the Wellcome Trust that helps build understanding of the experiences, aspirations and intentions of young people across England with respect to science and related disciplines. There are some reassuring findings in this representative study of over 4,000...

This comprehension activity, from Genetic Disorders UK, looks at the structure and function of the brain and central nervous system, and what can happen if the brain becomes damaged.

The information provided for...

This Catalyst article describes what it is like to work with laboratory animals, ensuring that they are treated ethically. The article focuses on the career of an animal technician making the point that a degree is not essential to pursue a career in science. There are many positions available each year for lab...

Produced by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, in this activity students make their own edible DNA double helix model out of Jelly Babies and cocktail sticks. In doing so, they find out about the basics of DNA structure and complementary base pairs.

The activity links with the 14-16 curriculum but can also...

In this demonstration of a displacement reaction, a piece of foil in the shape of a Christmas tree is placed in lead nitrate solution. Within a few minutes the tree becomes covered with sparkling crystals of lead.

This Catalyst article looks at how Californians are being encouraged to prepare for the next big earthquake. It describes how earthquakes are produced by the relative movement of tectonic plates and how their intensity is measured using the Moment Magnitude scale. The article can be used to stimulate discussion on...

From the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, this resource contains an animation that takes a journey which zooms in from the surface of the body into a cell. It illustrates the relationship between the nucleus, chromosomes, genes and DNA.

Each stage is at higher magnification to show where the genome is found...

Produced by the Wellcome Trust, this animation helps to illustrate where and how the human genome is stored within our cells and bodies. It takes a journey which starts with the whole human body before looking into a liver cell and then the cell's nucleus. The animation shows the arrangements of chromosomes within...

Dr Laura Hobbs is a research scientist at the University of Strathclyde and the Scottish Association for Marine Science. She uses data from instruments, called echosounders, that use sound waves to monitor the depth and abundance of zooplankton in the Arctic Ocean. Studying copepods, her research has shown that...

e-Bug is a European-wide antibiotic and hygiene teaching resource for junior and senior school children. The project is lead by the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) and involves a consortium of 18 partner EU countries.

The resources contain extensive teacher guidance, stimulus materials, animations and...