Donald Palmer's job involves studying, and teaching others how, the human body protects itself from infections and malfunctions, including cancer. He is especially interested in the way the immune system changes with age, and examines the surfaces of human cells using chemicals and instruments.

As a child...

A Catalyst article about Dorothy Hodgkin who was a pioneering scientist, a peace activist, a mother of three and a Nobel Prize winner. The article looks at her life and work in science. She did valuable work as an X-ray crystallographer and in finding the structure of biologically important molecules such as...

This Science upd8 activity draws on clinical trials. Eight young volunteers had been in clinical trials before, but this time things went horribly wrong. Six of the eight were left fighting for their lives. In this discussion activity students consider whether new treatments should be ever tested on human...

These three activities, from Centre of the Cell, demonstrate how double blind trials are run, explaining what a placebo is and how the placebo effect works, how bias is removed as far as possible and how participants and trial medicines are randomised. Through these activities, students investigate the placebo...

This activity, for two players, is based upon the game of boxes. Students are presented with a partially completed game, with double brackets to expand correctly in order to gain extra edges. Solutions are at the bottom of the page for a player's opponent to check the validity of the solution. A correct answer...

Act 1

A video shows two pairs of sunglasses, each with 50%...

A Catalyst article about Charles Darwin's home and in particular his study which is open to the public. Visiting information is included in the article which puts into context the importance of this room in his work.

This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2007, Volume 17, Issue 3.

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This Catalyst article looks at how people lived in the past, archaeologists look at the items (artefacts) these cultures left behind. Using chemical analysis of residues in the artefacts an enormous amount of additional information can be gleaned. This article investigates early dairy farming. Analysis of tiny...

From the Microbiology Society, this resource contains information about biofilms. These are communities of microbial cells attached to a surface. For example, the slime lining plugholes and drains or the rough deposit that can coat teeth at the end of the day. The information clearly describes: * What are biofilms...

Scottish Higher Qualifications: English, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Economics

Computer modellers use computers to help them understand how the world works and to help predict what might happen in the future. Sea ice modellers use computer software to simulate how ice freezes, melts and moves and how different things such as ocean temperature affect it. A Levels: Maths, Further Maths, Biology...

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...

This Pedagogics resource displays a quote from Dr Haim Ginott entitled "I have come to a frightening conclusion".

Marine biologists study organisms in the world's oceans, ranging in size and complexity from viruses to whales. They examine how these organisms interact with the environment and with each other and measure the effects of human activities and environmental changes on marine ecosystems. A Levels: Biology, Maths,...