This Catalyst article looks at the Higgs boson, a fundamental particle discovered by scientists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, Geneva, on July 4th 2012, after it was first predicted almost 50 years earlier. The Higgs boson is predicted by the ‘Standard Model’, which makes up the set of fundamental...

A Catalyst article about the Nobel Prize for physics 2009 winner Charles Kao, who developed optical fibre systems and CCDs which are the basis of most of today's long distance telephone systems. Kao also developed tiny solid state lasers which work for years without failing. The article also looks at the bringing...

A Catalyst article describing how process chemists work in the pharmaceutical industry, devising methods of making new drugs. Process chemists are a link in the chain from an initial idea to a new drug making it to the market. It generally takes at least 10 years from an idea by a medicinal chemist to a new...

This Catalyst article looks at the pterosaurs, which were flying reptiles, and which died out along with the dinosaurs. Analysis of the fossil record has increased scientists' knowledge of these creatures and how they lived. Bird watching during the Mesozoic Era, the expanse of time stretching between 245 and 65...

A Catalyst article explaining what happens when a scientist makes an exciting and new discovery. How do scientists manage to tell as many people as possible, and how can they be sure that someone else has not beaten them to it? Writing and publishing research in scientific journals is a long standing and popular...

A Catalyst article comparing mobile phones and UV sunbeds. Mobile phones emit radiofrequency (RF) radiation. Tanning beds emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation. These are both types of non-ionising radiation. In recent years both have received considerable media coverage and they are emotive topics for the general public...

A Catalyst article describing how engineers have designed an aircraft which will produce much less noise as it approaches and leaves the airport. The Silent Aircraft Initiative is a collaboration between scientists and engineers at two universities, Cambridge (UK) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA...

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). It has been found that the International Prototype Kilogram (IPK), made in 1879 and kept in a vault in Paris, has lost about 50microgrammes of mass over the...

A Catalyst article describing the species that have had the greatest impact on planet Earth during its billions of years of history. Which come out on top of the 'league table of life'? As hominids have only walked the Earth for part of its existence the article looks at the history of life, from the dawn of...

A number of resources produced by the Spode Group aimed at teachers and students of advanced level mathematics. The aim of each publication is to show teachers and students applications of the mathematics covered in the A level syllabus. The resources include a wide range of interesting problems and applications...

The Cre8ate maths project has provided a set of materials to support the teaching of mathematics in the context of digital design. The resources include Designing Logos, Maths in Art, Programming and Working with Photos, which will involve students in a variety of activities, allowing them to apply their...

The Durham Maths Mysteries were written by Shirley Fall of Durham County Council as a resource to engage students in mathematics and promote discussion. The activities are based on cards with statements about the area of mathematics being covered. Students then have to use reasoning to decide how to tackle the task...

A set of teaching resources, provided by National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, which were published in the NCTEM series of Further Education online magazines. FE magazine is an online magazine for all mathematics and numeracy educators working in the learning and skills sector. It covers...

This is a collection of supplementary materials to accompany the SMILE work cards. The contents are

• A wealth of worksheets
• SMILE cards answers
• Test books and answers
• The SMILE mathematics networks
• The SMILE Activity List: Cards 0001-2403 and commercial references...