Understand articles

Showing 10 results from a total of 329

Understand

December 10, 2008 | Issue 10

“Intelligence is of secondary importance in research”

Can you play world-class sport, and also be part of a team that tries to understand the nature of our Universe? Yes – just ask Tamara Davis. Henri Boffin from ESO talked to her in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Ages: 14-16, 16-19;
Topics: Astronomy / space, General science
       

Understand

October 2, 2008 | Issue 9

What killed the woolly mammoth?

Climate change is nothing new. Caitlin Sedwick describes how a computer model is helping scientists to explain the extinction of the woolly mammoth.

Ages: 16-19;
Topics: Biology, Earth science
                   

Understand

October 2, 2008 | Issue 9

The International Space Station: a foothold in space

In the first of two articles, Shamim Hartevelt-Velani and Carl Walker from the European Space Agency take us on a trip to the International Space Station.

Ages: 14-16, 16-19;
Topics: Physics, Astronomy / space
           

Understand

October 2, 2008 | Issue 9

Materials science to the rescue: easily removable chewing gum

Halina Stanley investigates the history of chewing gum, how the chemistry of the gum affects its properties, and how scientists are using this knowledge to make chewing gum less of a pollutant.

Ages: 14-16, 16-19;
Topics: Physics, Chemistry
           

Understand

September 19, 2008 | Issue 9

Interview with Steve Jones: the threat of creationism

Steve Jones talks to Vienna Leigh about the startling re-emergence of creationism in Europe, how teachers can help, and why he will never argue with a creationist.

Ages: 14-16, 16-19;
Topics: Biology
             

Understand

April 29, 2008 | Issue 8

Laboratory in space: interview with Bernardo Patti

Bernardo Patti is the Columbus mission manager at the European Space Agency. He is an engineer and worked at nuclear power plants before going into space technology. Shortly before Columbus was launched, he talked to Anna-Lynn Wegener.

Ages: 14-16, 16-19;
Topics: Physics, Biology, Astronomy / space
             

Understand

April 29, 2008 | Issue 8

What do we know about climate? Investigating the effects of anthropogenic global warming

In this, the second of two articles, climate researcher Rasmus Benestad from the Norwegian Meteorological Institute examines the evidence that humans are causing climate change.

Ages: 14-16, 16-19;
Topics: Earth science, Science and society
                         

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April 29, 2008 | Issue 8

Locking the cradle

Winfried Weissenhorn’s group at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Grenoble, France, has uncovered a possible way to tackle a range of dangerous viruses –by trapping them inside their cocoons. Claire Ainsworth investigates.

Ages: 16-19;
Topics: Biology, Health
             

Understand

April 28, 2008 | Issue 8

Research into the Sun’s atmosphere

Ever wondered what the solar wind means to us on Earth or what happens when the surface of the Sun erupts sporadically? Lucie Green from University College London's Mullard Space Science Laboratory, UK, describes some of the recent research into the Sun’s atmosphere.

Ages: 16-19;
Topics: Physics, Astronomy / space
                 

Understand

April 28, 2008 | Issue 8

Life on Mars: terraforming the Red Planet

Science fact or science fiction? Margarita Marinova from Caltech, USA, investigates the possibility of establishing life on Mars.

Ages: 14-16, 16-19;
Topics: Physics, Astronomy / space, Earth science