Dr Laura Hobbs is a research scientist at the University of Strathclyde and the Scottish Association for Marine Science. She uses data from instruments, called echosounders, that use sound waves to monitor the depth and abundance of zooplankton in the Arctic Ocean. Studying copepods, her research has shown that...

A Catalyst article about light emitting diodes and how they are more energy efficient than existing light bulbs which waste most of the energy they receive. The article explains how LEDs work and how they can be applied in traffic lights. Creating white light from LEDs is difficult and the article looks at possible...

This issue of Catalyst includes the following articles:

Plastics: an Insoluble Problem

This article looks at plastics, their uses and what happens to them once they are discarded.

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This Nuffield Pathways Through Science module introduced a source detector model for thinking about radiations. This model was used as students explored the transmission, absorption and reflection of radiation and then went on to learn about the radiations from...

This resource from the Association for Science Education contains active work for students linking ideas about the nature of science and its implications to practical laboratory exercises. Units encourage students to be creative in designing and carrying out experimental work. The units include the use of secondary...

This lesson, from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), looks in particular at how infrared data is collected and used to measure changes in global temperature. Infrared radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum of light which has uses in astronomy, communications, surveillance and medicine...

This Nuffield Physics Guide to Experiments was designed to supplement Teachers' Guide III by giving details of the class experiments and demonstrations to be done during the third year of the Nuffield O-level physics programme.

A special feature of the guides was the very clear, three-dimensional diagrams of...

This issue of Computer Science for Fun focuses on multimodal design. This involves interfacing with computers using more than one of your senses.

The articles include:

• Using air and ultrasound to create ‘shapes’ you can feel.

• Medical and veterinary training simulators with haptic feedback...

This Nuffield Secondary Science theme explores the devices that can be used to extend the range of sensitivity of the human senses.

Areas for investigation
The information in the theme book...

This issue of Catalyst includes the following articles:

...

This sample of a teacher guide shows how the Lego NXT programmable brick can be used with compatible sensors as a versatile data logging kit. It contains examples of data logging in the wider world to help students engage with the topic, and guidance for simple investigative activities that link to science,...

This Science upd8 activity engages students in the practical applications of colour mixing used in stage set design. In the scenario students act as the expert making recommendations to an international awards show, the ‘The International Music Awards.’ This resource is based on the work of the British design...

Basketball Earth
This resource uses a basketball as the Earth to set up a scale model to the distance to the Moon, satellites and distances such as the thickness of the...

Jennie is an apprentice Traffic Maintenance Engineer at Transport for London watching over London's traffic lights, signposts and junctions to keep everyone safe as they drive to work.