Resources by Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme

Make Your Own Indicator

This Catalyst article describes how an indicator changes colour when in solutions of different pH. Most indicators simply turn one colour in acid and another in alkali, although they are often an in-between colour when neutral. A universal indicator only turns as many colours as it does because it is a mixture of...

Make Your Own Lava Lamp

This Catalyst article describes how to make a lava lamp by using three simple ingredients: vegetable oil, food colouring and fizzing tablets. The article also explains the processes taking place inside a real lava lamp and why they happen.

This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2011, Volume...

Making Energy Real: Using the SEP Energymeter

This booklet is part of the ‘Innovations in Practical Work’ series published by the Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme (SEP). Energy is a universal concept across the sciences, yet it is often difficult for students to understand. Part of the problem is that current...

Making Ice Cream Without a Freezer

This Catalyst article describes how to make ice cream using a mixture of ice and salt, without the need of a freezer. Detailed instructions and an explanation of how it works is included, as well as a link to a video showing how the process can be sped up using liquid nitrogen.

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Making the World Safer

This Catalyst article investigates mercury which is a poison and how it can be removed from natural gas using ionic liquids.

The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2014, Volume 25, Issue 3.

Catalyst is a science magazine...

Mars Express

A Catalyst article about the idea of life on Mars. Scientists involved with the Mars Express mission aim to find out more and will try to establish if there ever has been life on Mars. The article looks at the miniature devices that they will employ on the mission. 

This article is from Catalyst: GCSE...

Materials for Space Travel

This Catalyst article investigates materials that are used in space travel. It discovers that they must be designed and tested to ensure they will protect astronauts from radiation and the vacuum of space. 

The...

Materials That Can Repair Themselves

This Catalyst article investigates carefully designed polymer materials that can repair themselves when mechanically damaged. The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2015, Volume 26, Issue 2.

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Measuring Carbon Cycling

A Catalyst article looking at how to measure parts of carbon cycling as it happens in forests. Two of the processes used, flux towers and soil chambers, are described.

This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2007, Volume 17, Issue 4.

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Measuring Surface Tension

A Catalyst article about experiments on surface tension based on a simple test that can be conducted at home or in a school classroom.

This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2007, Volume 18, Issue 2.

Catalyst is a science...