A home from home? Solar system discovered like our own
The story Another space post from me this week – seems those astronomers are hard at work at the moment. This story comes via the European southern Observatory (ESO), where astronomers have found a Solar System 127 light years away
The incredible shrinking Moon
The story Astronomers studying pictures from a NASA orbiter have announced that wrinkles on the surface of the Moon is evidence it is still geologically active and that it is not the dead, inactive lump of rock that we have previously thought.
Plastic fantastic?
The story: Netherlands-based firm WHIM Architecture has announced plans to take all of the plastic waste currently floating around in the Pacific Ocean and turn it into an island the size of Hawaii.
What’s the beef? Is cloning cows cruel?
The 7,000 people who signed a petition against cloning certainly think so. This was delivered to 10 Downing Street on Friday by 35 activists from Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) and was in response to the recent news that cloned cows have entered the British food system.
Can you think of anything more exciting than a red-fleshed apple?
Yes – okay, so can I, but fruit enthusiasts across the world are getting quite hot under the collar at the thought of tasting this new variety of apple – the Redlove.
Most massive (not biggest) star discovered
The story: Astronomers discovered a huge star in a nearby galaxy last week. R136a1, part of the Large Magellanic Cloud, is estimated to have a mass 265 times more than the sun and to shine around a million times more brightly.
Big news on (very) small things
Many of the current science GCSE specifications require students to study nanotechnology so here are three exciting new applications to make this new area of science topical and interesting.
Would you make a good goalie?
The World Cup is finally over and to celebrate – one last football-related teaching idea: What does it take to be a great goalie? Nerves of steel, lightning-fast reactions times and perfect hand-eye coordination are top of my list. So the World’s top goalkeepers must have a great nervous system.
Big beaks help cool birds down
The story: Two scientists have collaborated in a study that suggests that the size of a bird’s beak is linked to the temperature of its natural environment. We already know that a bird’s beak is adapted for the food it eats and sometimes to attract a mate, but now it looks like it is also […]
Can our genes tell us our death date?
Another genetics story hit the headline this week. A few weeks ago I reported that scientists were sequencing Ozzy Osborne’s genome to find out how the hell-raiser has managed to survive so long, now we hear that scientists have discovered a way of carrying out a genetic test to find out if you will make […]