What would happen if an asteroid hit our Moon?

Most asteroids are small and slow enough that they just hit the Moon to create a new crater. Even the largest asteroid, Ceres - with  a diameter of 975km (605 miles) wouldn't cause lasting damage. On the other hand, it would cause a spectacular explosion that would be visible from Earth! To remotely displace or break up the moon, it would take an object of roughly the same size  - which won't happen!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Science-Bites-Short-Tour-Universe-ebook/dp/B00LHOXRO4

Follow the rest of my #SummerofScience and me on Twitter @Sci_Sparks. Don’t forget to download my charity eBook, Science Bites: A Short Tour of the Universe HERE. 

#SummerofScience 

Why do we get used to smells?

The city people out there, might wonder why the heck farmers get used to that "countryside" smell. Although our nervous system has evolved to become progressively less sensitive to a stimulus (in this case a smell). This enables us to concentrate more on the new sights/smells that might pose more of a "danger" to us. We also have what's called an olfactory memory that discards smells that we've experienced recently - so you don't notice the smell of your house when you come back from work, but it smells different when you come back from your holiday!

Follow the rest of my #SummerofScience and me on Twitter @Sci_Sparks. Don’t forget to download my charity eBook, Science Bites: A Short Tour of the Universe HERE.

#SummerofScience  

Our 21st Century World

We now see the world through different eyes. Whether it's global warming and the Europe-wide thunderstorms or the middle-eastern crisis. Whatever it is... we can't help but look at our world through different eyes. So today, I thought as part of the Summer of Science I'd put a collection of my favorite pictures of Earth together. 

And no, this picture hasn't been photoshopped!! 

Just for good measure - one of the coolest astronaut selfies!


Follow the rest of my #SummerofScience and me on Twitter @Sci_Sparks. Don’t forget to download my charity eBook, Science Bites: A Short Tour of the Universe HERE. 

Science through the eyes of a 16 year old

I went to the Big Bang Fair Eastern, presenting my project - communicating the science of space and space travel. Although I didn't win anything, I came back to the amazing news that my eBook that I'd made free for the day had reached the top 100 in free science books. By the end of the night my eBook reached number 3 on free science books!

I absolutely love science communication - but many teenagers are put off by what they're taught in science lessons. I reckon this is partly due to the fact revision for the GCSE's always seems to become learning huge lists of bullet point information. To a lot of teenagers - they often don't know or understand the point of what they learn.

So what can be done?? In my opinion it's about getting teenagers and school aged children to see beyond the classroom which what I've tried to address with my eBook, Science Bites. I've covered many topics that you do in school up until GCSE level - I've then adapted them to make it fun for people of all ages to read, you can download my eBook here - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Science-Bites-Short-Tour-Universe-ebook/dp/B00LHOXRO4. 

Follow the rest of my #SummerofScience and me on Twitter @Sci_Sparks. Don’t forget to download my charity eBook, Science Bites: A Short Tour of the Universe HERE. 

What would wi-fi look like if we could see it?

How do we know what the Milky Way looks like?

You're right, it's really difficult to deduce the shape of the Milky Way, the main reason of course being that we're in it! On the other hand, astronomers can map the distribution of the stars and motion of them really easily. This research indicates that we're orbiting a 'central bulge' , this means the planets and stars are distributed along a thin plane. The most convincing evidence for the structure of the Milky Way comes from the studies of gas clouds - here they measure the velocities and positions of these clouds. So although we know we have spiral clouds - we have no idea how many spiral arms there are!

Follow the rest of my #SummerofScience and me on Twitter @Sci_Sparks. Don’t forget to download my charity eBook, Science Bites: A Short Tour of the Universe HERE. 

Making Straw Rockets!

Over Space Week, I made Straw Rockets with year 7's who absolutely loved them, so I thought I would share with you how to make them! 

 1. This is all the equipment you'll need.

- Paper (I used lined just because it's easier to cut in  a straight line, but use any paper you like. Some people where using card which is okay, but difficult to roll)

- Post it Notes These just make it really easy to make the fins with as it's manipulatively VERY easy.

- Scissors

-A Straw (it's not shown in the picture as I don't have any)

- A pen (or wooden pencil) to roll your straw rocket around

2. Cut the ripped bit of the paper off if it's from a notepad :)

3. Cut a strip of paper, about the width of your little finger. The length isn't too important, just make sure it's not too short! If necessary you might need to chop it down. Get your pen ready as I've shown in the picture. 

4. Have the paper at an angle then begin to roll it around you pen/pencil. Make sure it's not too tight. Once you've reached the end of the pen/pencil and if you have paper left over then chop the excess off. 

5. Add sticky tape in three places ; each end and the middle. This should keep things secure. 

6. If you take it off the pen/pencil, at one end you should be looking at something like the picture. 

7. Pinch the end and fold over the triangle, then secure it with sticky tape. 

 8. Get 3 of the Post it Notes ready.

9. Fold them in half diagonally, then cut it. This should leave you with three right angled triangles with one of the shorter sides all sticky. 

10. If you've made your rocket quite small then you might want to cut down the size of the fins, do this by cutting down the longest side of the triangle. 

11. Stick each of the fins on so it should look something like the picture. It's easiest to do this with the pen/pencil still in place. 

12. The post it notes may not be too secure, if that's the case then secure it with a piece of sticky tape. 

13. Your finished! Feel free to decorate it! You can either use it as you would a paper rocket/plane or put a straw in then blow into the straw to launch it! 

Keep following my updates on #SummerofScience (@Sci_Sparks) and download my charity kindle book - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Science-Bites-Short-Tour-Universe-ebook/dp/B00LHOXRO4

http://howsciworks.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/summer-of-science.htm

Space Week - To infinity and beyond!!

A trip into space can be yours for $250,000 USD. It may sound a little science fiction, but it’s soon to become science fact. Over 700 astronauts have already booked their place on board Virgin’s next project: Virgin Galactic – furthering the space frontier. Once you’re confirmed you become one of the selected few to visit Necker Island with Sir Richard Branson, that’s after you’ve completed g-force training.  You could be treated with one of the select few – normal, everyday people to go into space. In 2023, the Mars One mission will send its first ever manned spacecraft along the 8 month journey to the Red Planet – 4 normal people from four separate continents out of more than 200,000 first time applicants. They’ll leave Earth without the promise of a return ticket – quite literally travelling into the unknown.

I’ve been doing a Gold CREST Award communicating space and space travel to predominantly teenagers. This led to Space Week that started on the 30th June.  I began Space Week by organising three talks from Professor Carolin Crawford, who is a Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College in London. In 2009 her outstanding science communication abilities were recognised when she received the “Women of Outstanding Achievement Award” by the UK Resource Centre for women in science. She spoke to a year 8, 10 and 12 group on Saturn, The Red Planet – Mars and the Age of the Universe.

I also taught two year 7 lessons covering the history and future of space travel – the impact it will have on your lives and your children’s. They started learning about the space race, where I had them making straw rockets – which I think they found great fun!! On the second lesson they learnt about the present of space travel; even designing a meal for British astronaut Tim Peake to eat on board the ISS (The international Space Station).  We then talked about the prospects of life on Mars and the Mars one mission – aiming to put a human colony on Mars. By the end of the lesson I convinced about half of the group that they would want to live on Mars – although the prospect of free Wi-Fi was a huge incentive!

Throughout the week I ran a competition to design an astronaut’s suit fit for life on Mars. All the entries that I received were amazing – creative and extremely well researched. Congratulations to the winner, who had a portable drinks machine attached to her astronauts suit and radars to receive warnings from Earth!

To end the week I released an eBook; “Science Bites: A Short Tour of the Universe” for £1.51. All the proceeds are going to Keech Hospices. I’ve sold around 130 copies so far so please download it and leave feedback! Overall I think it was a great week, hopefully I’ve managed to convince a couple of people to change their mind about science and get them interested in space travel.

 You can also see the press write up in the Herts and Essex Observer - http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/Education/School-Report/Space-week-at-Stortfords-Herts-and-Essex-High-School-20140705145305.htm . Don't forget to download my eBook, Science Bites. Follow my #SummerofScience and me on Twitter @Sci_Sparks

Come back tomorrow for instructions on how to make the Straw Rockets. 

Prince George Turns 1...

Could he be going on a flight to Australia- and get there in 5 hours? 

Prince George, the baby that has everything! He even had around 4,000 presents from across the world  to celebrate his first birthday yesterday. This year he went on his first royal tour, to Australia and New Zealand. In the future, could our future king reach Australia in 5 hours? It sounds very science fiction - but it's really not! 

Concorde was one of the fastest planes in our history, it was decommissioned in 2003. Since then supersonic travel became a thing of the past. But work has now begun on a passenger aircraft - one created by the European Space Agency, to create a hypersonic passenger plane. It's designed to fly 5 times faster than the speed of sound and six times faster than a standard airliner. 

This isn't the first time hypersonic flight has been attempted. In 1960, tests took place on an aircraft that was called X-15, half plane and half missile. The craft carried one pilot and flew for 90 seconds until the fuel burnt out. The creators of the X-15 thought that this would herald a new era of high-speed civil aviation. However more than 50 years later a hypersonic passenger plane has yet to be tested or even built. 

Now a team led by the European Space Agency, known as Lapcat, are working on an aircraft called the A2, which could take up where the X-15 left off. Could this herald a new - real era of passenger air travel. 

Continue reading the main story sound and so on

Follow the rest of my #SummerofScience and me on Twitter @Sci_Sparks. Don’t forget to download my charity eBook, Science Bites: A Short Tour of the Universe HERE. 

Prince George Turns 1! His official Birthday pictures...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE!

#SummerofScience Day 6

An Athlete's Diet...

We've been launched into the days of continuous health warnings, from not drinking too much fruit juice to too much salt. The Commonwealth games start tomorrow - but what do athletes really eat?

Food means different things to different people. Although to athletes, it means fuel - essential for exceptional athletic performance. It's surprising the amount of variety and quantity of food they actually need. Even Wimbledon Champion, Andy Murray recently revealed that his girlfriend, Kim Sears, cooks him chicken, salmon or steak during the Wimbledon championships, so really, athletes aren't that restricted.

Anyone who followed Mo Farah's astonishing performance at London 2012 - probably didn't realize the secret of his success; consuming as many as 12,000 calories a day. Of course, most of us only need somewhere in the region of 1,600 to 3,000 calories. However, combined with training and the races themselves Mo Farah burned the 12,000 calories through blistering down the track at lightning pace.

It's not just swimmers for example that pound pancakes and pasta before competition, cyclists, marathon runners and rowers also have huge amounts of carbohydrates before competition - all in an effort to fuel their super intense continuous activity.

Although athletes follow their own specific routine, surprisingly wrestlers don't eat much before competition - they're at the completely opposite end of a pretty broad spectrum. So overall - what the athletes eat depends on their sport, even within sports, male an female athletes may eat very different amounts.

Prince George turns 1 today, so the members of the Royal family will be gathering at Kensington Palace - Happy Birthday George! Follow the rest of my #SummerofScience and me on Twitter @Sci_Sparks. Don’t forget to download my charity eBook, Science Bites: A Short Tour of the Universe HERE. 

#SummerofScience Day 5

Summer of Science Day 4 - One Giant Leap for Selfies?

21st July 1969 - The Summer of '69!

Today the attention lies predominantly on the 45th anniversary of the moon landing; where 99% * of the world's TV screens were tuned into NASA TV. Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon's surface at 0256 GMT with the eyes of the world focused on him. Only 14 minutes later Buzz Aldrin stepped out onto the lunar surface, jumping across the moon's surface collecting rock samples taking advantage of the stunning view from here on Earth. 

On the other hand, Buxzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong aren't just famous for their landing on the moon. Buzz Aldrin has laid claim to the first "space selfie" in 1966 - is this where the trend comes from?

Don't forget to download my eBook, Science Bites. Follow my #SummerofScience and me on Twitter @Sci_Sparks

*According to NASA

The Great British Weather - Thunderstorms!

It's fair to say Britain isn't best known for its excellent weather and roaring sunshine. Over the past week or so, we haven't been far off the roaring sunshine - it's just it's quickly followed with rather dramatic thunderstorms! Thunder causes lightning - this is essentially a stream of electrons flowing either between clouds or from a cloud to the ground. The air surrounding this electron stream is heated to around 50,000 degrees Farhenheit. It's a staggering three times hotter than the surface of the sun. When the lightning is within our sight, we see it first as the speed of sound in air is considerably slower that that of the electron flow. The light from the flash reaches us in a fraction of a second, whereas the sound lags along like a snail following an interplanetary rocket.

Follow the rest of my #SummerofScience and me on Twitter @Sci_Sparks. Don’t forget to download my charity eBook, Science Bites: A Short Tour of the Universe HERE. 

Summer of Science

Over my summer holidays, I'll be posting an article every day (starting from  tomorrow)  on here about all things science - so keep an eye on my blog!

Also take a look at my eBook that's currently on the kindle store- Science Bites : A Short Tour of the Universe. It's a charity eBook, so all the profits (around 50p per eBook sold) go to Keech Hospice. (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Science-Bites-Short-Tour-Universe-ebook/dp/B00LHOXRO4) It's sold around 140 copies, I now just need feedback and more sales! :)

Here, I'll be adding links to all of the posts, although please  be aware these might be a couple of days behind! :)


Follow me on Twitter @Sci_Sparks


#SummerofScience 

Professor Carolin Crawford - Journey around Saturn

Here are the tweets that I posted during Professor Carolin Crawford's live talk on Saturn:

With Prof Carolin Crawford talking about saturn for the next hour - Follow the hashtag #JourneyaroundSaturn where I'll be live tweeting it!
— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

If you had an ocean big enough saturn would float! #JourneyaroundSaturn

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

Saturn also has a great storm like Jupiter's red spot that pops up temporarily 500km/s swirling clouds #JourneyaroundSaturn

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

Some storms are strong enough to "swallow" one Earth #JourneyaroundSaturn

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

Giant hexagon on saturn's pole gives meteorologists indications of weather without problems of mountains #JourneyaroundSaturn

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

The size of objects in Saturn's rings range for a dust grain to small pebbles or rocks #JourneyaroundSaturn

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

Saturn has over 60 named moons - phoebe is a potato shaped moon #JourneyaroundSaturn

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

Hyperion one of Saturn's moons is spongy with a low density and probably a dead comet #JourneyaroundSaturn

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

There's liquid on the surface of Titan that reflects the suns light #JourneyaroundSaturn

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

Although its not liquid water - methane rivers and lakes that follow a rough cycle #JourneyaroundSaturn

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

Enceladus one of saturns mooms almost "resurfaces" itself after an impact #JourneyaroundSaturn

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

Q: how do we know what's inside a planet?

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

A: Its about flying spacecraft around planets, sending light to the planets and using spectroscopy #JourneyaroundSaturn

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

Q: would you be able to stand on Saturn's rings?

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

A: unfortunately not as they're just rings of rubble #JourneyaroundSaturn

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

A: About 70 mins

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

A: About 70 mins

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014

They're ending Cassini's mission by a controlled crash landing into Saturn #JourneyaroundSaturn

— Claire Nicholson (@Sci_Sparks) June 30, 2014