Catalyst Volume 21 Issue 4
This issue of Catalyst includes the following articles:
Science on the Western Front
Archaeologists are using many aspects of science to identify the remains of soldiers who were killed in the First World War.
Cloud Control
This article explains how meteorologists use a variety of techniques to seed clouds and induce rainfall.
Try This: Make Your Own Cloud
A practical experiment to make water vapour condense so that it forms a 'cloud in a bottle'.
Splitting Light: Spectroscopy
The study of the wavelengths of light which enables scientists to identify the substances present in the source.
Try This - Make Your Own Spectrometer
A description of how to make a basic spectrometer to analyse light, using a CD to split the light.
Biophotovoltaics
This article looks at the use of plant cells to generate electricity via photosynthesis.
Energy Control
The article describes a new design of thermostatic controller which saves energy by learning the consumer's pattern of usage.
How Smart is an Ant?
This article investigates how ants find their way around. It also explains how the methods for conducting the research are devised and tested.
Tiny Particle, Giant Detector - Neutrinos
The article looks at a giant spectrometer which is being used to measure the mass of the tiny particles called neutrinos.
Catalyst is a science magazine for students aged 14-19 years. Annual subscriptions to print copies of the magazine can be purchased from Mindsets.
HEALTH and SAFETY
Any use of a resource that includes a practical activity must include a risk assessment.
Please note that collections may contain ARCHIVE resources, which were developed at a much earlier date.
Since that time there have been significant changes in the rules and guidance affecting laboratory practical work.
Further information is provided in our Health and Safety guidance.
Science on the Western Front
In this Catalyst article the work of archaeologists working on the graves of World War One (WW I) victims is described. The total number of military dead in WWI is estimated at 8.5–10 million. In the mud and confusion, many of the dead did not have proper burials. Many temporary graves were destroyed by later shellfire. There…
Cloud Control
A Catalyst article about climate control, and specifically the process known as cloud seeding. Cloud seeding has met with initially encouraging results. The method entails adding silver iodide to the air in clouds to encourage ice crystals to form, so that they grow rapidly and produce more snow or rainfall than the cloud might have…
Try This - Make Your Own Cloud
In this Catalyst article an experiment is described in which the formation of clouds can be replicated. The experiment requires nothing more than a plastic bottle, warm water, matches and a small thermometer. This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2011, Volume 21, Issue 4. Catalyst is a science magazine for students…
Splitting Light: Spectroscopy
A Catalyst article looking at which type of radiation is absorbed and emitted through spectroscopy. This is the study of the wavelengths of light which allows us to identify the substances present in the source. This investigation provides a lot of useful information about a compound. It is used in a very wide variety of applications,…
Try This - Make Your Own Spectrometer
A Catalyst article describing how to make a spectrometer to analyse light by using a CD to split the light and some other household items for the rest of the equipment. This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2011, Volume 21, Issue 4. Catalyst is a science magazine for students aged 14-19 years. Annual subscriptions…
5/5- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Article
Biophotovoltaics
A Catalyst article looking at the use of plant cells to generate electricity via photosynthesis. This branch of science is called biophotovoltaics. The Sun is the ultimate source of energy for almost all life on Earth and harnessing this energy is one of the great scientific and technological challenges. Traditional fossil fuels…
Energy Control
A Catalyst article about the efficient use of heating systems. Many people complain of being too hot or cold. Coming soon are a new generation of intelligent heating controls which can learn how people live, and then deliver heating efficiently when and where they need it. These devices are known as Wattboxes and the article describes…
How Smart Is an Ant?
A Catalyst article about ants. A colony consists of hundreds, even thousands, of ants working diligently and cooperatively, perhaps to kill and carry a large prey item, build a large nest structure or develop and use road-like networks for foraging. Collectively, colonies of social insects can do amazing things and scientists invest…
Tiny Particle, Giant Detector - Neutrinos
A Catalyst article about neutrinos. Neutrinos are fundamental particles. They are tiny, a neutrino has a mass about one-millionth of the mass of an electron, and they have no electric charge. This article looks at the detection of these elusive particles which requires the use a giant detector. The one described is from the Katrin…
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