This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing looks at the effectiveness of advertising and whether it really is necessary for advertisers to use very thin models to sell their products. Counter to this view, research shows that women are just as likely to buy a product if the model is of average...

This series of Marvin and Milo cards include eight simple experiments that can be performed at home that link in to the theme of light, using: - A torch and a bottle to show total internal reflection - A glass of water to make a lens - Milk and water to show the scattering of light - Making a light bulb light up...

A Catalyst article about mobile phones. This article looks at the science behind this popular piece of technology, such as the use of radio waves, aerials and cells. The article also explains how mobile phones are able to use short aerials.

This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2005, Volume 16,...

In this activity students consider a population growth problem which leads to a power series. The presentation can be used to introduce the topic and use of spreadsheets would enable students to model and draw graphs of the situation.

Produced by the Science Museum, this resource sees students working in groups to explore the issues surrounding genetic testing. Students receive a sealed secret box, that contains a chance card. Opening the box represents taking a genetic test. Students have to decide whether they would want to open the box. In...

This video asks people if they believe cell phones can cause cancer.  It then considers the available evidence logically, that is types of radiation emitted by a cell phone (non-ionising) and the power rating to conclude that the radiation should not be harmful. However, recent evidence suggests that heat-shock...

Video from the Big Picture issue on Fat, showing an experiment to discover if we favour fatty foods.

Published in 2016.  Mathematics anxiety (MA) is the state of discomfort around the performance of mathematical tasks. Does MA cause poor performance in mathematics, or is it poor performance in mathematics that causes MA? The question is important, because it affects the “treatment” that results. Should the focus...

This video demonstrates how applying pressure to ice melts it, yet on removal of the pressure the ice re-freezes.  This is called regelation.

This article, from the Association of Teachers of Mathematics (ATM) publication ‘Mathematics Teaching’, is written by Pete Griffin and taken from MT227.

The notion of ‘understanding’ and its place in the learning process is often placed in sharper focus when considered in the context of learning and teaching...

A Catalyst article about Dorothy Hodgkin who was a pioneering scientist, a peace activist, a mother of three and a Nobel Prize winner. The article looks at her life and work in science. She did valuable work as an X-ray crystallographer and in finding the structure of biologically important molecules such as...

Like the Deflection tube investigation this allows A-level students to measure the specific charge for an electron. It provides a step-by-step guide, along with the calculations that are required to find this measurement.

This resource has been provided by Keith Gibbs.

A series of images representing double helix images.

• DNA double helix and sequencing output: molecular model of a DNA double helix showing the individual atoms (apart from hydrogen) as coloured balls. Carbon atoms are in white, oxygen in red, phosporus in purple and nitrogen in blue....

This kit and their associated resources are designed to help teach about double-slit and diffraction patterns.

Before teaching this, students should:

• be familiar with constructive and destructive interference;
• be aware that we get diffraction when a wave travels through a gap;
• ...