This practical activity, from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS), investigates the process of respiration. Suggestions are given for looking at different fruits or vegetables and measuring the respiratory rate during the ripening process.

A Catalyst article about increased levels of carbon dioxide causing global warming. The atmosphere is being polluted when fossil fuels such as petrol are burnt releasing carbon dioxide. Despite concern about global warming, it seems nobody wants to use their cars less. The article looks at what can be done to...

From NASA, these high resolution images show separately the planets of our solar system. Images in this resource include: Sun, Earth, Moon, Mars, Venus, Neptune, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus and the dwarf planet Pluto.

In this lesson, students apply their knowledge of chemical kinetics, spectroscopy, and structure and bonding, to an exciting new context – the chemistry of interstellar space. Having watched an engaging animation, students work in groups to find out about the nature of...

This podcast from the Planet Earth Online collection and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) looks at why understanding rip currents at Perranporth in north Cornwall could help save lives; and how exactly does carbon capture and storage (CCS) work and how can scientists be sure that CO2 will be stored...

In separate documents, this resource provides guidance for teachers to plan for progression of students aged 11-16, based on the National Strategies Framework for Secondary Science Learning Objectives. Each learning objective is given further explanation under the heading ‘Pupils could learn to … ’ 

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In this podcast from the Planet Earth Online collection and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Richard Hollingham talks to Professor Meric Srokosz from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton about a new European Space Agency satellite, which was due to be launched on 2 November 2009. 

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In separate documents, this resource provides guidance for teachers to plan for progression of students aged 11-16, based on the National Strategies Framework for Secondary Science Learning Objectives. For each learning objective there is further explanation to help teachers to help students make progress, and ‘...

This animated clip explains how Mercury rotates in around 59 Earth days to rotate but only takes 88 Earth days to orbit the Sun (the length of its year). So Mercury spins three times for every two orbits, which means each Mercury day lasts for two Mercury years. This means, living on Mercury, you would celebrate...

Produced in 2015, this resource looks at Human survival in a closed system on Mars. 

Student activities include:

• Identify the basic requirements for Human life on Earth

• Understand the concept of a closed system and understand why the Earth, a space craft and Mars are all closed systems and...

This video explains why astronauts float. The common misconception is that there is no gravity in space, yet the astronaut is in the Earth’s gravitational field.  Rather, the astronaut is falling towards the Earth (as is the spacecraft). However, their horizontal speed is 28,000km/hr. This and the curvature of the...

A Catalyst article describing the species that have had the greatest impact on planet Earth during its billions of years of history. Which come out on top of the 'league table of life'? As hominids have only walked the Earth for part of its existence the article looks at the history of life, from the dawn of...

This animated clip investigates the idea of orbits. It begins with Alice and Bob wondering why the Moon doesn’t fall to the Earth but an apple does. Alice throws an apple hard enough that it goes into orbit around the Earth. This clip could provide a lead in to topics such as gravitational force, acceleration,...

This edition of space:UK, from the UK Space Agency, looks at the Rosetta mission to land on Comet 67P, how Inmarsat satellites provide broadband internet across remote areas of the globe, and a profile of European missions designed to investigate our changing planet. Articles include: *Recent news: including Europe...

These videos are excerpts from the We Are Aliens! planetarium show. They provide good starter activities for looking at life within our universe. They explore life within our solar system and the Earth and other planets that may contain life. The exoplanets videos go on to look at the possibilities of life outside...