Happy Christmas! #SciSparksAdvent Day 25

Here's the last installment of my advent calendar for this year, I hope you are all having an amazing Christmas, while you are all tucking into your Christmas dinner here's some of the science behind Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer.

How did Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer get his red nose?

In 1939 an illustrator and author of children's books Robert May created the character of Rudolph (sorry kids!!) which  became an instant hit, in the decades to come Rudolph had a song, TV special, all of which cemented him in Christmas tradition. Although it's not all TV, Reindeer's do in fact have red noses!

To many people's surprise this has actually been researched and the results have actually been published in a science journal. There are  many reasons why this is the case, one of which being that they have densely packed blood vessels in their nose near the skin's surface. This in fact, is what scientists call "nasal microcirculation". Every Christmas Eve Rudolph pulls Santa's sleigh through every climate - so this kind of circulation is essential for all kinds of extreme temperatures. The tiny blood cells which are known as micro-vessels in the nose which mean the reindeer can control the amount of oxygen delivered and inflammation, as well as regulating temperature. Scientists even used infrared thermal imaging to show that reindeers really do have red noses!

Merry Christmas!! :)

SANTA DOES EXIST! #SciSparksAdvent Day 24

Christmas Eve really wouldn't be the same without Santa, but here's why Santa definitely DOES exist!

Let's assume that all 2.2 billion people are both "nice" and they all want a "typical" toy off of somewhere like Amazon. So if each toy weighs around 200g that means Santa would be hauling 500,000 tonnes of toys. So Santa stays up for around 36 hours in a row all in the same red coat, all in complete extremes of temperature, in some parts of Russia it can reach below -50 degrees Fahrenheit and as much as 70 degrees Fahrenheit in Dubai. But that doesn't make it impossible - even though Santa has one of the most dangerous jobs in the world!....

Post of the Year #SciSparksAdvent Day 23

Here is my most viewed post of all time on my blog!

Albert Einstein pencil sketch
 that I have drawn

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them"

 ~ Albert Einstein 

The German born physicist Albert Einstein was born on March 14th 1879 in Württemberg, six weeks after his birth he moved to Munich, where he later on began his schooling at Luitpold Gymnasium. As a child he enjoyed classical music and even played the violin. 

One story that Einstein enjoyed telling about his childhood was of a wonder that he saw when he was about four or five years old: a magnetic compass. Okay this may not seem much with today's technology but the compasses needle's northward swing, guided by an invisible force fascinated Einstein, this wonder could even have been what inspired him to bigger and better things in his adulthood. 

In 1896 he entered the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich where he trained as a teacher in physics and maths. Later, in 1901 he gained a diploma which went on to earn him a Swiss Citizenship. Unfortunately he was unable to find a teaching post so he accepted a position as a technical assistant in the Swiss Patent Office. This led him to work towards a doctor's degree in 1905. 

During his time at the Swiss Patent office, and his spare time he produced a lot of his remarkable work including his famous equation. He also became 'Professor Extraordinary' at Zurich. In 1911 he became 'Professor of Theoretical Physics' at Prague. When he returned to Zurich he was appointed Director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Physical Institute and a Professor at the University of Berlin. 

When anyone mentions Einstein, his famous equation - E= mc squared is probably one of the first things to jump into your head, but what does it mean? 

This famous equation pops up everywhere, it even appears as the title of one of Mariah Carey's 2008 albums. For starters the 'E' part of the equation stands for energy and the "M" mass (which is a measurement of the quantity of matter inside something). The C squared  part of the equation stands for the speed of light squared. The whole equation breaks down into this: Energy is equal to matter multiplied by the speed of light squared. 

The speed of light is a colossal number, illustrating just how much energy there is in just a tiny amount of water. One common example that physicists use is just 1 gram of water (1 ml). If the entire mass of the water (1 gram) was converted into pure energy using Einstein's equation, then the water could contain as much energy as 20,000 tons of TNT (which is an explosive) exploding. This is why such a small amount of Uranium or Plutonium can create such disastrous effects, such as the 1986 Chernobyl disaster where one of four nuclear reactors at the Chernobyl power station exploded. 

Einstein's equation does actually have relevance to twenty first century science. Einstein has provided, via his equation, a huge advancement in various fields of science including nuclear power. He has also allowed us to discover more about the inner workings of the Sun. This equation has shown us the relationship between Energy, matter and the speed of light like we have never before and this could well help us research into other areas of science in the future. 

10 tips to beat the new year sales! #SciSparksAdvent Day 22

Now is the time of year where billions are spent on buying that perfect Christmas present - but the only trouble is, how do you beat the crowds?? Many psychologists have actually published in research journals all to help you beat the crowds and bag the best bargains - or at least the stuff you actually want to buy!

1. Choose the right time
2. Read reviews
3. Don't be fooled by the packaging!
4. Leave the real world - shop online!
5. Shop around
6. Shop by yourself not in a group - you are less likely to be influenced!
7. Do your maths! Discounts can be deceptive!
8. Don't be controlled by the shop
9. Don't be a hoarder.... :)
10. Don't even bother - it's Christmas after all!!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas trees are home to tarantulas.. Part 2 #SciSparksAdvent Day 21

Before I go any further I'll make it clear that there will be no tarantulas scuttling around your home... :)
Far south of Siberia - tarantulas and Christmas trees go together like bread and butter. In North Carolina some 1,645 meters above ground level the spruce trees are home to the smallest and tiniest tarantulas, the spruce-fir moss spider. They even say that too much sun will dry the spiders out- the spiders are small, only about a quarter of a centimeter in length and also endangered, on one mountain in North Carolina they're only found on a single rock - but these spiders do absolutely no harm - the Christmas trees act as their home, without them these spiders would be extinct. 

Things you never knew about Christmas Trees... Part 1 #SciSparksAdvent Day 20

Every year millions of people across the UK gather round Christmas trees - fake or real to celebrate the festive period. Although what people don't realize is how incredible your Christmas tree actually is.These evergreen conifers can survive drastic changes in temperatures and even create there own ecosystem housing the most unique of creatures. So here's an insight into the tough life of the Christmas tree.

• Christmas trees can turn into glass

In this sense we talk about glass as the structure of the molecules inside the tissue of the tree - really its a solid without a crystalline structure (P.S don't try this at home) but if you drop a sprig into liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196 degrees C and providing you've chilled the plant to -20C beforehand the sprig will survive. For example the Siberian Spruce 'lives' where winter temperatures regularly get down below -60C so it's adapted to survive. 

Basically once the molecules are in this glassy state they can't move around - so they can't react. This means that they're basically pre frozen so the tree's metabolism drops to nothing so the cells can't be damaged by the extreme cold. When the winter approaches trees also pull water from their cells into their surrounding tissue so the swelling of the ice crystals don't burst the cell walls. 

Friday 19 December 2014

What country shops online the most? #SciSparksAdvent Day 19

Number 1 - The UK...

It may come as a suprise but over 60% of adults shop online spending over £68bn. These figures are the most up to date as they've come from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published in 2012. The UK is over double the OECD average - and second is actually Denmark where 53% of people shop online. In third and fourth come Germany and France respectively. 

Thursday 18 December 2014

3D Printing in Space #SciSparksAdvent Day 18

NASA scientists have managed to use a 3D Printer to make a spanner in space all from instructions sent up by email to the International Space Station. This marks the first time that this has ever been achieved, it happened because NASA were responding to a request from Barry Wilmore for a spanner. This even marks the first time a sequence of 21 prints were combined to make the first products manufactured off the surface of Earth. More objects were designed before the 3D printer and now have been shipped on a supply flight!

Wednesday 17 December 2014

The Science of Chocolate #SciSparksAdvent Day 17

A considerable number of studies are in agreement that dark chocolate has pronounced health benefits—provided you eat it in moderation (one to two ounces is recommended by some researchers). The same cannot be said for milk chocolate, however. There's a big difference between your average chocolate bar and what could be referred to as "therapeutic" chocolate. To understand this better, here are some definitions:

• Cacao: Refers to the plant Theobroma cacao, cultivated for its seeds, known as cacao beans or cocoa beans. Cacao is naturally high in antioxidants and other natural compounds that are beneficial for cardiovascular health and weight management. In all, about 40 distinct health benefits3 have been linked to dark chocolate

• Cocoa: Refers to the powder made from roasted, husked, and ground cacao seeds, from which most of the fat has been removed • Cocoa butter: The fat component of the cacao seed

• Chocolate: The solid food or candy made from a preparation of cacao seeds (typically roasted). If the cacao seeds are not roasted, then you have "raw chocolate," which is also typically sweetened. Generally speaking, the darker the chocolate, the higher the antioxidant content. Milk chocolate has few if any health benefits, as it contains limited amounts of cacao Knowing the meaning of these terms is important, because if you think you're improving your health by eating typical milk chocolate candies, you're fooling yourself.

Cocoa and cacao is typically quite bitter and rarely fancied by self-proclaimed chocolate lovers who are really craving sugar added to most chocolate bars and candy.

That said, certain types of dark chocolate, as well as raw cocoa powder and cacao, are powerful superfoods, ranking among the most anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich foods known to mankind. Interestingly, recent research has shed new light on the mechanism that makes cocoa powder (and dark chocolate) so beneficial for your heart and blood vessels. These benefits, it turns out, are largely dependent on the action of beneficial bacteria in your gut.

from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/12/08/gut-microbes-make-dark-chocolate-healthy.aspx

Tuesday 16 December 2014

The Scent of Brussels Sprouts #SciSparksAdvent Day 16

(via http://www.compoundchem.com/2014advent2/#day2)

Monday 15 December 2014

50 Christmas Facts Part 2 #SciSparksAdvent Day 15

1. Because they viewed Christmas as a decadent Catholic holiday, the Puritans in America banned all Christmas celebrations from 1659-1681 with a penalty of five shillings for each offense. Some Puritan leaders condemned those who favored Christmas as enemies of the Christian religion.^c
2. A Yule log is an enormous log that is typically burned during the Twelve Days of Christmas (December 25-January 6). Some scholars suggest that the word yulemeans “revolution” or “wheel,” which symbolizes the cyclical return of the sun. A burning log or its charred remains is said to offer health, fertility, and luck as well as the ability to ward off evil spirits.^d
3. Because of their pagan associations, both the holly (associated with the masculine principle) and the ivy (the feminine) and other green boughs in home decoration were banned by the sixth-century Christian Council of Braga.^a
4. The poinsettia is native to Mexico and was cultivated by the Aztecs, who called the plant Cuetlaxochitl (“flower which wilts”). For the Aztecs, the plant’s brilliant red color symbolized purity, and they often used it medicinally to reduce fever. Contrary to popular belief, the poinsettia is not poisonous, but holly berries are.^f
5. Christmas has its roots in pagan festivals such as Saturnalia (December 17-December 23), the Kalends (January 1 -5, the precursor to the Twelve Days of Christmas), and Deus Sol Invictus or Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun (December 25). The Christian church heartily disapproved of such celebrations and co-opted the pagans by declaring December 25 as Christ’s day of birth, though there is no evidence Christ was born on that day.^f
Santa Claus is based on a fourth-century bishop from modern-day Turkey
6. Santa Claus is based on a real person, St. Nikolas of Myra (also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker, Bishop Saint Nicholas of Smyrna, and Nikolaos of Bari), who lived during the fourth century. Born in Patara (in modern-day Turkey), he is the world’s most popular non-Biblical saint, and artists have portrayed him more often than any other saint except Mary. He is the patron saint of banking, pawnbroking, pirating, butchery, sailing, thievery, orphans, royalty, and New York City.^d
7. Early illustrations of St. Nicholas depict him as stern, commanding, and holding a birch rod. He was more a symbol of discipline and punishment than the jolly, overweight elf children know today.^d
8. Puritan Oliver Cromwell outlawed Christmas celebrations and carols in England from 1649-1660. The only celebrations allowed were sermons and prayers.^c
9. Wassail is from the Old Norse ves heill, meaning “good health.”^c
10. Christmas stockings allegedly evolved from three sisters who were too poor to afford a marriage dowry and were, therefore, doomed to a life of prostitution. They were saved, however, when the wealthy Bishop Saint Nicholas of Smyrna (the precursor to Santa Claus) crept down their chimney and generously filled their stockings with gold coins.^c
11. There are two competing claims as to which president was the first to place a Christmas tree in the White House. Some scholars say President Franklin Pierce did in 1856; others say President Benjamin Harrison brought in the first tree in 1889. President Coolidge started the White House lighting ceremony in 1923.^f
12. President Teddy Roosevelt, an environmentalist, banned Christmas trees from the White House in 1912.^f
13. It is estimated that the single “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin is the best selling single of all time, with over 100 million sales worldwide.^f
14. There are approximately 21,000 Christmas tree farms in the United States. In 2008, nearly 45 million Christmas trees were planted, adding to the existing 400 million trees.^b
The first lighted Christmas tree can be traced to Martin Luther
15. The first person to decorate a Christmas tree was reportedly the Protestant reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546). According to legend, he was so moved by the beauty of the stars shining between the branches of a fir tree, he brought home an evergreen tree and decorated it with candles to share the image with his children.^f
16. The first printed reference to a Christmas tree was in 1531 in Germany.^f
17. Approximately 30-35 million real (living) Christmas trees are sold each year in the U.S.^b
18. Christmas is a contraction of “Christ’s Mass,” which is derived from the Old EnglishCristes mæsse (first recorded in 1038). The letter “X” in Greek is the first letter of Christ, and “Xmas” has been used as an abbreviation for Christmas since the mid 1500s.^c
19. In 1962, the first Christmas postage stamp was issued in the United States.^f
20. In Germany, Heiligabend, or Christmas Eve, is said to be a magical time when the pure in heart can hear animals talking.^f
21. The Viking god Odin is one precursor to the modern Santa Claus. According to myth, Odin rode his flying horse, Sleipnir (a precursor to Santa’s reindeer), who had eight legs. In the winter, Odin gave out both gifts and punishments, and children would fill their boots or stockings with treats for Sleipnir.^d
22. The earliest known Christmas tree decorations were apples. At Christmastime, medieval actors would use apples to decorate paradise trees (usually fir trees) during “Paradise Plays,” which were plays depicting Adam and Eve’s creation and fall.^d
23. Commissioned by Sir Henry Cole (1808-1883), British illustrator John Callcott Horsley (1817-1903) invented the first Christmas card in 1843.^f
24. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), there are 2,106 million children under age 18 in the world. If there are on average 2.5 children per household, Santa would have to make 842 million stops on Christmas Eve, traveling 221 million miles. To reach all 842 million stops, Santa would need to travel between houses in 2/10,000 second, which means he would need to accelerate 12.19 million miles (20.5 billion meters) per second on each stop. The force of this acceleration would reduce Santa to “chunky salsa.”^g
25. Christmas purchases account for 1/6 of all retail sales in the U.S.

from http://facts.randomhistory.com/christmas-facts.html

Sunday 14 December 2014

50 Christmas Facts Part 1 #SciSparksAdvent Day 14

1. Norwegian scientists have hypothesized that Rudolph’s red nose is probably the result of a parasitic infection of his respiratory system.^g
2. The Germans made the first artificial Christmas trees out of dyed goose feathers.^f
3. Each year more than 3 billion Christmas cards are sent in the U.S. alone.^f
4. All the gifts in the Twelve Days of Christmas would equal 364 gifts.^f
5. The “true love” mentioned in the song “Twelve Days of Christmas” does not refer to a romantic couple, but the Catholic Church’s code for God. The person who receives the gifts represents someone who has accepted that code. For example, the “partridge in a pear tree” represents Christ. The “two turtledoves” represent the Old and New Testaments.^c
A parasitic infection may be the cause of Rudolph's red nose
6. Most of Santa’s reindeer have male-sounding names, such as Blitzen, Comet, and Cupid. However, male reindeers shed their antlers around Christmas, so the reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh are likely not male, but female or castrati.^g
7. In A.D. 350, Pope Julius I, bishop of Rome, proclaimed December 25 the official celebration date for the birthday of Christ.^c
8. According to the Guinness world records, the tallest Christmas tree ever cut was a 221-foot Douglas fir that was displayed in 1950 at the Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle, Washington.^e
9. The traditional three colors of Christmas are green, red, and gold. Green has long been a symbol of life and rebirth; red symbolizes the blood of Christ, and gold represents light as well as wealth and royalty.^c
Two weeks before Christmas is a popular time for couples to break up
10. According to data analyzed from Facebook posts, two weeks before Christmas is one of the two most popular times for couples to break up. However, Christmas Day is the least favorite day for breakups.ⁱ
11. Contrary to popular belief, suicide rates during the Christmas holiday are low. The highest rates are during the spring.^h
12. The world’s largest Christmas stocking measured 106 feet and 9 inches (32.56 m) long and 49 feet and 1 inch (14.97 m) wide. It weighed as much as five reindeer and held almost 1,000 presents. It was made by the Children’s Society in London on December 14, 2007.^e
13. Christmas trees have been sold in the U.S. since 1850.^b
14. Christmas trees usually grow for about 15 years before they are sold.^b
15. Many European countries believed that spirits, both good and evil, were active during the Twelve Days of Christmas. These spirits eventually evolved into Santa’s elves, especially under the influence of Clement C. Moore’s The Night Before Christmas(1779-1863) illustrated by Thomas Nast (1840-1902).^f
16. Each year there are approximately 20,000 “rent-a-Santas” across the United States. “Rent-a-Santas” usually undergo seasonal training on how to maintain a jolly attitude under pressure from the public. They also receive practical advice, such as not accepting money from parents while children are looking and avoiding garlic, onions, or beans for lunch.^f
17. Bolivians celebrate Misa del Gallo or “Mass of the Rooster” on Christmas Eve. Some people bring roosters to the midnight mass, a gesture that symbolizes the belief that a rooster was the first animal to announce the birth of Jesus.^f
18. The British wear paper crowns while they eat Christmas dinner. The crowns are stored in a tube called a “Christmas cracker.”^f
19. In Poland, spiders or spider webs are common Christmas trees decorations because according to legend, a spider wove a blanket for Baby Jesus. In fact, Polish people consider spiders to be symbols of goodness and prosperity at Christmas.^f
20. Alabama was the first state in the United States to officially recognize Christmas in 1836.^f
Oklahoma was the last state the declare Christmas a holiday
21. Christmas wasn’t declared an official holiday in the United States until June 26, 1870.^c
22. Oklahoma was the last U.S. state to declare Christmas a legal holiday, in 1907.^f
23. Mistletoe (Viscum album) is from the Anglo-Saxon word misteltan, which means “little dung twig” because the plant spreads though bird droppings.^a
24. Ancient peoples, such as the Druids, considered mistletoe sacred because it remains green and bears fruit during the winter when all other plants appear to die. Druids would cut the plant with golden sickles and never let it touch the ground. They thought it had the power to cure infertility and nervous diseases and to ward off evil.^a
25. Evergreens (from the Old English word aefie meaning “always” and gowan meaning “to grow”) have been symbols of eternal life and rebirth since ancient times. The pagan use and worship of evergreen boughs and trees has evolved into the Christianized Christmas tree.^a

from http://facts.randomhistory.com/christmas-facts.html

Saturday 13 December 2014

The Young Scientists Journal - Lunar mission One and The Royal Society #SciSparksAdvent Day 13

The Young Scientists Journal and The Royal Society 

(read this here -http://ysjournal.com/royalsociety/)

Young Scientists Journal is proud to announce a partnership with the Royal Society.  In 2015 the Royal Society is marking 350 years of scientific publishing, which it pioneered with Philosophical Transactions.

 For some years, the Royal Society has been awarding Partnership Grants to enable schools to carry out real research with the help of a professional scientist. To celebrate “Publishing 350” these schools will be encouraged to write up their research for submission to Young Scientists Journal.

Once we have accepted and edited the articles from students, we will publish them online and in a special edition of the journal to coincide with the Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition in July.

The Young Scientists Journal and Lunar Mission One 

The Young Scientists Journal and Lunar Mission One are excited to announce a long term educational partnership – to coincide with the launch of Lunar Mission One – which hopes to inspire young scientists, from across the globe, to think, write and collaborate about the mission through the Young Scientists Journal’s existing science communication platform.

Lunar Mission One is an exploratory robotic mission that plans to send an international robotic lander to the South Pole of the Moon – an area unexplored by previous missions. It will use innovative drilling technology to drill down to a depth of at least 20m – 10 times deeper than has ever been drilled before, to access lunar rock dating back up to 4.5 billion years and carry out scientific experiments that will provide significant new insights into the origins and evolution of the Moon and Earth.

As Public funding for these types of mission is limited, Lunar Mission Once will make use of Kickstarter crowdfunding – which includes sales of space in an innovative 21st century time capsule, which will be buried on the moon as part of the mission – to finance the mission, meaning anyone from around the world can get involved for as little as a few pounds and send something of themselves to the moon.

Throughout the mission, from research phase to launch date and beyond, there will be an educational programme, co-ordinated with the Young Scientists Journal. This will encourage participation from schoolchildren all over the world. This will present opportunities for students to drive the actual science, making decisions about many aspects of the mission itself.

Lunar Mission One landing on the moon CGI

Christina Astin, the journal’s mentor, says: “Young people are the most creative and innovative thinkers and Young Scientists Journal already inspires them to share their research with others. This project allows science students in every country to get involved with this exciting mission and use technology to bring us closer together. Of course there are risks and challenges associated with space exploration, but young people accept these and embrace the learning processes along the way.”

Ed Vinson, Chief Editor is in Year 13 at The King’s School Canterbury. “We already have readers, authors and editors from across the globe, and are setting up hub schools in different locations around the UK and beyond. Our team of students running the journal are very excited about being an integral part of Lunar Mission One, and hope that we can help to create and inspire a new collaboration of young scientists worldwide.”

The Journal’s Editorial Team Leader, Claire Nicholson, is an active science blogger and has published her own book. She is a student at Herts and Essex High School. She says:“Everyone loves space, cosmology and space exploration! A new mission into space is immensely exciting and we feel very privileged to be part of it.”

(www.lunarmissionone.com)

About Young Scientists Journal

The Young Scientists Journal is the world’s only peer review science journal run by young scientists for young scientists. The journal publishes research papers and review articles on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) both online and in print, written and edited exclusively by 12-20 year olds across the globe. 15 issues have been published since it was founded in 2006 at The King’s School Canterbury by Christina Astin and Ghazwan Butrous.

Lunar Mission One Gallery

The Young Scientists Journal partners with Lunar Mission One.

Lunar Mission One landing on the moon CGI

Robotic Arm

Drilling

Craft & Arm

Time Capsules

Capsules Being Dropped into the Moon

Craft with Moon

Craft with Earth

Craft in Flight

Friday 12 December 2014

Views from the ISS #SciSparksAdvent Day 12

Ever wondered what the view of Earth is like from the ISS? Well now you know..:)




You can actually view the ISS live here - http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-iss-stream

Thursday 11 December 2014

Christmas Science #SciSparksAdvent Day 11

              

Wednesday 10 December 2014

Magic Christmas Tree #SciSparksAdvent Day 10

Here's the perfect activity to do over Christmas with your kids or just yourself and here's how you do it!

You can get kits to do this but here's how to do it yourself:

• 90 ml tap water
• 6 tablespoons table salt 
• 6 tablespoons liquid laundry bluing [manufacturer's website]
• 1 tablespoon or 15 ml household (for safety reasons) ammonia
• food coloring (optional)

Make the solution by dissolving salt in the water and stir in the bluing liquid and ammonia. 

Grow a Magic Crystal Christmas Tree

• You could cut a sponge into the shape of a tree and leave in a shallow dish then pour over the crystal solution. 
• You could also cut out the shape from carboard and even make it 3D by putting cuts from the bottom to slot two of the shapes together. Depending on the temperature and humidity of the room you might start to see crystals in less than an hour - if you leave it overnight you should have a nice set of crystals in the morning. Although its important you leave it in a place where it won't be disturbed so the growth of the crystals isn't limited. When the solution starts to evaporate the crystal 'leaves' will start to appear. 

Idea adapted from http://chemistry.about.com/od/crystalrecipes/a/crystaltree.htm

Tuesday 9 December 2014

Science in 2015 #SciSparksAdvent Day 9

2015 is nearly upon us, so here's what I think the next big developments in science will be...

• Hunting for Dark Matter
• Fighting Ebola Back
• Mission to the Asteroid Belt
• Discovering Pluto
• Antibiotic Resistance
• Lunar Mission One - The British Mission to the Moon
• 
  

Monday 8 December 2014

Fighting the Ebola Virus #SciSparksAdvent Day 8

Finally we seem to be getting the Ebola Virus under control, as the number of deaths increases the need for a vaccine has become desperate. Trials have been launched in Sierra Leone and Liberia where they hope thousands of doses will be ready by mid 2015.

The disease can only be transferred if you come into contact with someone's bodily fluids, here's what the WHO has to say about how to protect yourself:

" To protect yourself, your family, and your community from EVD transmission, immediately report to the nearest health facility if you develop symptoms indicative of EVD, including high fever, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, or haemorrhaging. Isolation and professional clinical treatment increase a person’s chance of survivalTo protect yourself, your family, and your community from EVD transmission, immediately report to the nearest health facility if you develop symptoms indicative of EVD, including high fever, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, or haemorrhaging. Isolation and professional clinical treatment increase a person’s chance of survival"

The Microscopic Ebola Virus

Sunday 7 December 2014

The story behind the stories... #SciSparksAdvent Day 7

We've all see the weird and wonderful science news stories that pop up on your Facebook timeline that makes you think 'Oh my God, really?' Well here's a list of the top 5 most shared science stories... The ranking considers the popularity of the story on each social media platform.

1. Experimental evidence of massive-scale emotional contagion through social networks

- Over 600,000 Facebook users took part in a research programme and were unaware of it, Facebook altered their timeline to reflect negative or positive posts by their friends to monitor the impact it had on them. 


2. Variation in melanism and female preference in proximate but ecologically distinct environments

It's a mouthful, but the paper published by Ethology looked at evolutionary traits in fish - and it all landed in the authors in deep trouble!!!

3. Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota

4. Artificial sweeteners in diet drinks and food could cause obesity and diabetes

Published in the journal Nature criticised the use of chemicals in food and that the chemicals do more harm than good - so are chemicals harming our health?

5. Dogs are sensitive to small variations of the Earth's magnetic field


idea taken from -  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11281171/Which-weird-science-stories-have-proved-to-be-a-hit-on-social-media.html

Saturday 6 December 2014

Christmas Gift Guide 2014 - #SciSparksAdvent Day 6

This is your ultimate science gift guide for anyone who loves science... 

1. The Dino Pet


£37.40, biopop.com
The comical shape of this “pet” is a nod to the tiny photosynthetic organisms inside called dinoflagellates. The dinopet contains a bioluminescent species that when shaken undergoes a chemical reaction that produces a fleeting flash of blue light.

 

 2. Science Putty

 

 

£6, debenhams.com

A firm favourite when I was a kid, this entertaining goop is a non-Newtonian fluid - in other words, its viscosity is not constant. If you hit it with a hammer it shatters, but try to make a sculpture and it’ll slowly deform into a squidgy blob.

3. Giant molecular model

£130, miramodus.com

When it comes to sculptures I choose a giant molecular model. This one is ethanol - particularly appropriate for the slightly squiffy festive season.

4. Pencil digital stylus

 

 

£49.99, shop.fiftythree.com
Away from the office, I enjoy wielding a paintbrush, but it can be cumbersome lugging watercolour paraphernalia around. This stylus and app offer a surprisingly good, albeit different, experience. It doesn’t take long to work out how to create different colours and effects, but turning that into a great picture still requires a painter’s patience.

5. Kid’s Stuff Crazy Colour bubble bath

 

£2, sainsburys.co.uk
This bubble bath beats all the weird aromatic concoctions you usually find under the tree: it contains a pH indicator called bromocresol green that changes colour from yellow to blue as it’s diluted.

6. Celestron NexStar Evolution 6

 

£1,199 widescreen-centre.co.uk
Christmas for me means escaping to the countryside, so it’s the perfect time to make the most of the cloud-free nights and get everyone around a telescope. This one is pricey, but can hook up to your smartphone to track the constellations.

7. Lego Arctic icebreaker

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£79.99, shop.lego.com
Although Lego’s women of science, as featured in the short-lived “research institute” kit, never got tenure, this polar expedition set features scientists of both sexes bundled up for field work.

8. Molecular gastronomy starter kit

 

£69.99, msk-ingredients.com
Christmas is all about adding a touch of class to your glass and kits like this make it simple. Use sodium alginate and calcium chloride to knock up little pearls of orange and rhubarb juice that burst in your mouth.

9. Videre Pop-Up Pinhole camera

 

 

£45, sciencemuseumshop.co.uk
Digital cameras and smartphones have fuelled new forms of photography - but too often we are ignorant of what goes on “under the hood”. This superb kit takes you back to the basics of picture-taking.

10. Herb Garden

 

£78, clickandgrow.com
Fresh herbs are great in the kitchen, but who is going to tend to my basil when I’m away? This smart herb garden could be the answer – just top up the water tank and leave it to the sensors inside to adjust the amount of light and water the plants get.

(***ALL CREDITS GO TO THE GUARDIAN***)

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/13/-sp-christmas-gift-guide-science-and-games