A Catalyst article about the Kepler spacecraft, which is used to look for extra-solar planets. Scientists are hoping to shine light on the age old question of life’s existence elsewhere in the Universe using a new space-based telescope named Kepler. Launched on 6 March 2009, Kepler is searching the sky for small,...

This resource was funded by the UK Space Agency and developed by ESERO-UK and CIEC Promoting Science. It is based upon the quest to discover more about the solar system through space projects such as the European Space Agency’s Aurora programme, and NASA’s Curiosity mission seeking to gather evidence of life on the...

All life forms on Earth are based on organic biochemistry. This activity requires students to analyse an unknown soil sample (just recovered from a space mission to another planet!) and look for signs of possible indicators for life. Curriculum areas covered: • Cell biology • Food tests, including starch, sugar,...

This resource explores what a vegan diet involves and considers the social and political implications of a vegan society. It is part of the collection of educational resources from The Economist Educational Foundation.

Session 1:

• Explore different kinds of diets
• Reflect...

This Science upd8 resource focuses on the chemical PFOA (perflurooctanoic acid), which is used in Teflon manufacture and is reportedly linked with an increase in the risk of developing allergies. In this activity students examine some of the evidence surrounding PFOA and consider a range of viewpoints.

This resource from the IET Faraday programme, supported by MEI and Tomorrow's Engineers, provides students the opportunity to explore the cost of using LPG (liquid petroleum gas), an alternative fuel for vehicles.

"LPG is a by-product of crude oil extraction and the...

This set of activities for students builds toward them being able to answer the question 'Assess whether the UK is becoming more extreme in the 21st century.'  Initially students are asked to define the terms 'rare' and 'extreme' and then order the layers of the Earth's atmosphere. This is followed by tasks to:...

Work done in this Nuffield 13 - 16 module followed from the B unit called ‘What do plants use for food’ and the S unit ‘Food chains and webs’. This X unit provided enough material for eight double periods. It could be selected to complete either a Science or a Further...

This report identified the alarming disparity between the proportions of students studying mathematics beyond the age of 16.  At that time only one-fifth of pupils in England continued to study maths at any level after achieving a GCSE - the lowest of 24 developed countries. A key recommendation from the report was...

The rush to permit controversial methods to avoid mitochondrial disease in babies raises questions, say two bioethicists.

This resource is part...

This article discusses using mini battery powered computers to sense, and report back environmental data across a wide area in the Lake District. It talks about some of the ways in which this type of robotThis article discusses using...

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...

You may think that magic and spells only exist in your favourite books and movies. But can we make magic in the real world? This resource investigates how you can use science to make things change colour and state, or even disappear.

The activities are introduced with a quick objective and a preparation...

The aim of this activity is to encourage discussion about the nature of relationships between variables. It provides examples of relationships where there may appear to be correlation but not necessarily a causal relationship. The task is suitable for group or...