Working together
A collection of Catalyst articles about working together in the scientific community.
Exploring Saturn
A Catalyst article following the journey of the space probes Huygens and Cassini, sent to explore Titan, a moon of Saturn.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2004, Volume 15, Issue 2.
Diamond's Brilliant Light
A Catalyst article about a brilliant new light source under construction in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside - the Diamond Light Source.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2005, Volume 16, Issue 1.
Venus Express
A Catalyst article about the European Space Agency (ESA) which has sent the Venus Express spacecraft to explore Earth's cloudy neighbour.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2006, Volume 16, Issue 4.
Impact Earth
A Catalyst article about giant asteroids. Astronomers say that, one day, a giant rock from space will collide with the Earth and cause mass devastation.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2006, Volume 17, Issue 1.
Physics Connections
A Catalyst article about the International Year of Physics, in 2005, also known as Einstein Year. In the century since Einstein’s “annus mirabilis”, when he developed his theory of relativity there has been a revolution in the study of physics.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2006, Volume 16, Issue 4.
Invisible Rays
A Catalyst article about the astronomer William Herschel who discovered Uranus in 1781. He became the first person since ancient times to identify a new planet.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2007, Volume 17, Issue 3.
Journey into Inner Space
A Catalyst article about physicists working at Europe’s Large Hadron Collider who hope to have received the first results from what is probably the biggest, most expensive and most ambitious scientific experiment ever carried out.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2007, Volume 17, Issue 4.
Year of the Sun
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.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2007, Volume 18, Issue 2.
Diabetes in Young People *suitable for home teaching*
A Catalyst article about juvenile diabetes, a genetic disease also known as Type 1 diabetes, which affects over 200,000 people in the UK. Scientists are still trying to unravel its causes in order to develop improved treatments.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2008, Volume 18, Issue 3.
Body Sensor Networks
A Catalyst article about the use of tiny electronic sensors to monitor the movement of people. As electronic devices get smaller and more powerful, they are finding new uses in monitoring human activity.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2008, Volume 18, Issue 4.
Cool Chemistry
A Catalyst article about the work of a scientist from the British Antarctic Survey, gathering data about climate change by studying ice cores from Antarctica.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2008, Volume 18, Issue 4.
Careers in Ecology
A Catalyst article explaining how scientists with qualifications in ecology and environmental science play an increasingly important role in assessing the human impact on the Earth.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2008, Volume 18, Issue 4.
Careers in the Pharmaceutical Industry
This Catalyst article describes the work of five young people who work in the pharmaceutical industry.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2008, Volume 19, Issue 1.
Stephen Kill, Science Photographer
A Catalyst article about working as a photographer in a scientific laboratory.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2008, Volume 19, Issue 2.
Science and Engineering Apprenticeships
A Catalyst article about training as a technician after GCSEs. With an apprenticeship scheme it is possible to start a career at 16, keep learning to acquire qualifications – and get paid.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2007, Volume 18, Issue 1.
Food Technology - Careers
A Catalyst article about careers in the food industry. The food and drink industries are part of a chain linking farming and growing through to food processing, manufacture and finally to the sale of food in supermarkets and restaurants.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2006, Volume 17, Issue 1.
TBL@WWW
A Catalyst article about Tim Berners-Lee, the founder of the World Wide Web. The article looks at the difference between the internet and the web and what is required to create a web that links computer users from around the world.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2006, Volume 17, Issue 1.
Damian Murphy: Music Technologist
A Catalyst article about the work of Damian Murphy a music technologist. Acoustics and sound are examined in addition to the physical modelling and acoustics of buildings and environments, both real and virtual.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2007, Volume 17, Issue 3
Drosophila melanogaster
A Catalyst article about the fruit fly which has played a succession of key roles in developments in biological science over the last 100 years as a laboratory subject in genetics.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2006, Volume 17, Issue 2.
CERN, Geneva
A Catalyst article about a visit to CERN, the particle physics lab and what the centre has to offer a science student by way of a case study.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2007, Volume 17, Issue 4.
Dr Gillian Lockwood
A Catalyst article about the working life of Dr Gillian Lockwood, a reproductive biologist who specialises in IVF. The article looks at the ethical issues surrounding fertility treatments for problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2007, Volume 17, Issue 4.
Forensic Science - Careers
A Catalyst article about careers in forensic science covering the work of the reporting officer. The article explains what it takes to become a forensic scientist and what qualities are required to join this profession.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2005, Volume 16, Issue 1.
Astronomy - Careers
This Catalyst article investigates possible careers in astronomy and space science. It provides some information on a number of academic courses leading to an exciting career in astronomy; the article also lists places to visit for those with general interest in astronomy.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2005, Volume 16, Issue 2.
Educational Psychology - Careers
A Catalyst article about careers in educational psychology. For students of psychology there are a range of career options; this article looks at the role of an educational psychologist and a typical working day.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2006, Volume 16, Issue 4.
Oceanographers
This Catalyst article describes the work of scientists detecting changes in the oceans.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2006, Volume 16, Issue 4.
Robert Hooke
A Catalyst article about the life and work of the physicist Robert Hooke.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2004, Volume 15, Issue 1.
Twenty-First Century Plant Hunter
A Catalyst article about one botanist's exploratory expeditions around the world looking for new plant species.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2004, Volume 15, Issue 2.
Meteorology - Careers
A Catalyst article about careers in meteorology (weather forecasting) and climate science. The article explains the work of EMARC (Environment Monitoring and Response Centre) and provides some advice on training as a meteorologist.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2004, Volume 15, Issue 2.
What’s in a Name?
A Catalyst article about the naming system used for biological species, devised by Linnaeus. The purpose of biological names is investigated and the article also explains how the naming system works.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2009, Volume 19, Issue 3.
Becoming a Chartered Engineer
A Catalyst article about gaining Chartered Engineer status. The process from application through education to professional experience is explained.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2009, Volume 19, Issue 4.
Beagle Voyage
A Catalyst article about Darwin's travels on the Beagle which gave him ideas about evolution.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2009, Volume 19, Issue 4.
Plasma Prominences and Cosmic Rays
A Catalyst article about the use of remote telescopes and detecting cosmic rays. Giant telescopes that can be operated remotely are located in Hawaii and Australia and are known as the Faulkes telescopes.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2009, Volume 20, Issue 1.
Publish or Perish: Getting into Print
A Catalyst article explaining what happens when a scientist makes an exciting and new discovery.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2009, Volume 20, Issue 1.
Nature Needs You: Labs Without Walls
A Catalyst article about the Open-Air Laboratory (OPAL) project.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2009, Volume 20, Issue 1.
A Love Letter to Science
This Catalyst article describes a film which has been made to provide a range of reasons for students to study science.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2009, Volume 20, Issue 2.
Encounters with Aliens - Invasive Species
This Catalyst article looks at harlequin ladybirds, just one of the invasive species that has spread through Western Europe.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2010, Volume 20, Issue 3.
Hearing Trouble
This Catalyst article looks at 'Restored Hearing', a business which grew out of a school science project.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2010, Volume 20, Issue 4.
The Many Faces of Biology
This Catalyst article takes a look at the great variety of biology-related courses in universities.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2010, Volume 21, Issue 1.
Your Future: Animal Technician
This Catalyst article describes what it is like to work with laboratory animals, ensuring that they are treated ethically.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2010, Volume 21, Issue 2.
Ten Years On: the Human Genome Project Today
This Catalyst article looks at how our knowledge of the human genome has increased greatly during the last 10 years, and genome sequencing techniques have become much faster.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2010, Volume 21, Issue 2.
Phytoplasmas - Friend or Foe?
A Catalyst article about phytoplasmas which are micro-organisms that affect crop plants modifying their growth.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2011, Volume 21, Issue 3.
Science on the Western Front
In this Catalyst article the work of archaeologists working on the graves of World War One (WWI) victims is described.
This article is from Catalyst Volume 21, Issue 4.
Where Next?
This Catalyst article introduces Tom Denbigh who describes how he has worked as a volunteer on scientific projects to gain experience before his degree course.
This article is from Catalyst Volume 22, Issue 1.
What Is Biochemistry?
This Catalyst article looks at Biochemistry, the study of chemical reactions in living things, exploring how it differs from other biological subjects and how examples can be found in everyday life.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2011, Volume 22, Issue 2.
Careers in Biochemistry
This Catalyst article looks at young people working in biochemistry, detailing how they got to where they are and what their job involves.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2011, Volume 22, Issue 2.
The Kilogram
This Catalyst article looks at the changing definition of the kilogram, a unit of mass and a base unit in the SI system (the International System of units).
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2012, Volume 22, Issue 3.
Marie Curie - A Life of Discovery
This Catalyst article looks at Marie Curie, who discovered two radioactive elements and showed that radioactivity was a property of atoms, not compounds.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2012, Volume 22, Issue 3.
Astronomer, Photographer
This Catalyst article looks at Thomas Read, a secondary school student from Swindon who explains how he won an award at the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition 2012.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2012, Volume 23, Issue 2.
Solar Disinfection of Drinking Water
This Catalyst article looks at the method of solar disinfection to provide safe drinking water.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2012, Volume 23, Issue 2.
Winning Science
This Catalyst article explains how Gurdon and Yamanaka discovered that a nucleus from an egg cell transplanted into a specialised cell can still develop into a fully functional organism.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2012, Volume 23, Issue 2.
The Other Genome Project *suitable for home teaching*
This Catalyst article details how the genome of a plant called Arabidopsis has been unravelled so that this species can act as a model in genetic studies.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2013, Volume 23, Issue 4.
Seeing Inside Cells *suitable for home teaching*
This Catalyst article shows how various types of microscope allow scientists to see what is going on inside living plant cells.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2013, Volume 23, Issue 4.
What is Science Communication?
This Catalyst article explores where Science Communication came from, how it has grown and why it has an important role to play in helping people to learn about science.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2013, Volume 24, Issue 1.
Working in Science Communication
In this Catalyst article, six people whose work can be described as ‘communicating science’ reveal the great variety of career paths in this area.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2013, Volume 24, Issue 1.
Balloons in Space
The Big Picture on pages 10-11 of this issue of Catalyst shows scientists in Antarctica launching a balloon which will travel up through the atmosphere to a height of 34 km above the Earth’s surface. This balloon is part of NASA’s BARREL mission, probing the radiation belts which surround the Earth.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2013, Volume 24, Issue 1.
Sonic Husbandry
This Catalyst article investigates electronic musical instruments and how they are getting better and better at mimicking and behaving just like their acoustic counterparts.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2013, Volume 24, Issue 2.
Alfred Russel Wallace
This Catalyst article looks at the work of Alfred Russel Wallace who developed a theory of evolution in parallel with Charles Darwin; they published their findings jointly.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2013, Volume 24, Issue 2.
Talkative Microbes
This Catalyst article explores how microbes communicate and how, by growing two different microbes together, it is possible to discover new substances which may be useful in medicine.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2013, Volume 24, Issue 2.
What Is a Scientific Conference?
This Catalyst article discusses what a scientific conference is.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2013, Volume 24, Issue 2.
Award-winning models
This Catalyst article presents the work of three chemists - Martin Karplus, Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel - who won the 2013 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. Their work allowed the development of complex computer models of compounds and reactions.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2014, Volume 24, Issue 3.
Saving Lives While Cooking Lunch
This Catalyst article investigates traditional cooking stoves, these stoves burn fuel and produce a lot of smoke which is a major cause of pollution, leading to problems locally for the people using the stoves and also globally as a probable cause of retreating glaciers.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2014, Volume 24, Issue 3.
Scientific Volunteers
This Catalyst article outlines volunteering opportunities for young scientists, engineers and medical students who put their studies to good use, working with local people around the world to bring the benefits of technology to communities who otherwise would go without some of the basic needs of life.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2014, Volume 24, Issue 3.
Acoustic Engineer
This Catalyst article looks at the career of Nick Treby who works around the world as an acoustic engineer, monitoring and managing sound levels in the environment.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2014, Volume 24, Issue 4.
Fire Engineer
This Catalyst article looks at the work of fire engineers whose aim is to minimise the threat of fire and to protect people when fire breaks out.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2014, Volume 24, Issue 4.
Where Will Philae Land? Rosetta in Orbit
This Catalyst article explains how a smaller spacecraft will land on the surface of the comet. Philae is due to land on the comet on 12 November 2014, the first ever attempt to land an object on the surface of a comet.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2014, Volume 25, Issue 1.
Animal-Computer Interaction
This Catalyst article investigates how scientists at the Open University are devising ways in which dogs can interact with electronic systems including computers.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2015, Volume 25, Issue 4.
Toxic Gases! Therapeutic? What?!
This article discusses how toxic gases gases can be useful in medicine, carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas but it can also help to treat some diseases.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2015, Volume 25, Issue 4.
Metabolomics at Work
This article shows how a new understanding of how cells respond to lack of oxygen can help to reduce the tissue damage caused in heart attacks and strokes.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2015, Volume 25, Issue 4.
Conker Tree Science
This Catalyst article discusses how simple observations of pests on horse chestnut trees can contribute to a 'citizen science' project.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2015, Volume 25, Issue 4.
Glaciology in the Himalaya
This Catalyst article investigates Glaciologists. Glaciologists are scientists who study glaciers and the effect climate change is having on them.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2015, Volume 26, Issue 1.
The Ebola Outbreak
This Catalyst article investigates the Ebola outbreak. Defeating the outbreak of the viral disease Ebola in 2014-15 required great medical effort. Antidotes and vaccines are under development.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2015, Volume 26, Issue 1.
Discovering new elements *suitable for home teaching*
This Catalyst article describes the processes behind discovering and proving the existence of new chemical elements.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2016, Volume 26, Issue 3.