YouTube Saturday - This is a Galaxy. Or is it?

Featured in the recent Stargazing Live series on the beeb, this excellent video shows how super-computers can be used to simulate how the universe works. Thanks to science teacher Lisa Darley for recommending this to us.

 

NASA Reveals Stunning New "Blue Marble" Image

NASA has released a new high definition composite image of our home - Planet Earth. Dubbed the new 'Blue Marble', the stunning image was taken from the VIIRS instrument aboard NASA's most recently launched Earth-observing satellite - Suomi NPP. This composite image uses a number of swaths of the Earth's surface taken on January 4, 2012. Click here for the ultra-high definition image.

Dublin City of Science 2012 Launches 'Festival of Science'

The varied members of Ireland's science community crammed in to the Convention Centre Dublin this morning to officially launch Dublin as the European City of Science 2012. Politicians, scientists, educators, science journalists, bloggers, policy makers and others were treated to a slick and inspiring launch, which genuinely created an air of excitement for the year ahead. The launch was MC'd by Irish comedian, TV presenter and science enthusiast Dara O'Briain (with whom I had a great chat to about science blogging and the nature of effective science programming), who spoke of his love of science and what it means for him to act as a science ambassador for Dublin City of Science 2012. He was joined on stage by Patrick Cunningham (Chief Science Advisor to the Government), Richard Bruton (Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation), Seán Sherlock (Junior Minister in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation), Aoibhinn Ni Shúilleabháin (Dublin City of Science 2012 Ambassador) and Andrew Montague (Lord Mayor of Dublin & former Veterinary scientist). Each spoke with passion on what the City of Science title meant to them and of the 160 events planned during the "celebration of science" to come over the next 11 months.

So what of these 160 events? Many of these will centre around the excellent science hub that is Science Gallery. Their 2012 programme of events is jam-packed with a brilliant range of exhibitions including Happy, Hack the City & the Dublin Maker Faire. But that's not all. This year's St. Patrick's Day Festival will have a science theme, 'Future Visions' & 'Amaze Your Head' will explore science using film, the Ark Project will fuse art and science through a series of programmes, 'Arcade Science' will bring science images to building gables and billboards and the National Concert Hall will present the 'Icarus: At the Edge of Time' - a musical adaptation of Brian Greene's book.

In July of this year Dublin's Convention Centre will play host to the European Science Open Forum (ESOF) - a biennial pan-European meeting dedicated to scientific research and innovation. It is expected that over 5000 scientists, business leaders, senior EU and Irish government officials and the science media will come together over the week in what is an extremely full programme of events. Some of the key-note speakers confirmed are top-drawer and include Rolf-Deiter Heuer (Director General of CERN), Craig Venter (the first man to create synthetic life forms), Jean Jacques Dordain (Head of ESA), three Novel Laureates (Peter Doherty, Jules Hoffman & James Watson), Mary Robinson, Bob Geldolf as well as giants of Irish science like Jocelyn Bell Burnell. Additional confirmed speakers include Bruce Albert (Editor of Science), Phil Campbell (Editor of Nature), Deborah Blum (former Pulitzer Prize winner), Ed Yong (Science Blogger at Not Exactly Rocket Science) and Dara O'Briain. ESOF 2012 is truly set to inspire, amaze and put Ireland firmly at the centre of world science.

The only word that comes to mind is WOW! The Dublin 2012 team deserve so much credit for creating such a full and enthralling programme of events, not only for the week of ESOF but for the whole year. Now it's over to you - the public (from 1 to 100) - to engage with the programme of events and discover that science is not boring but a truly wonderful field that can entertain and excite. I have no doubt you will. As a science educator, I hope I the programme of events will help to encourage more students to science, technology, engineering and maths subjects, both at second level and third level. 

This is a wonderful opportunity for Dublin and Ireland and I can't wait for the events to begin! Visit the Dublin City of Science Website for more information or follow them on Twitter!

The Nano-particle Vaccine Booster

Researchers from Duke University in the US have engineered tiny nano-particles which help boost the effects of vaccines in the lymph nodes of mice. The nano-particles resemble structures called granules which are released from mast cells (pictured above). Mast cells are found in the skin and help fight infection. They produce granules to communicate directly to the lymph nodes, making the immune response more effective. The mast cell granules contain a chemical called tumour necrosis factor (TNF) which help them move to the lymph nodes. The scientists' new nano-particles also contained TNF - meaning it would mimic the granules behaviour.

To make vaccines more effective, medical researchers commonly add a "adjuvant" -  a substance used to help boost the immune response. Most of these are chemical based and are believed to only enhance immunity at the site where the vaccine is injected - rather than going to the lymph nodes, where the most effective immune reactions occur. These new particles do move to the lymph nodes, making them more effective than their chemical cousins.

In the study, the team of researchers exposed vaccinated mice to lethal levels of flu virus. They found that the vaccinated mice were able to fight off the disease and had an increased survival rate than those that did not have the nano-particle boosted vaccine. 

The researchers outline how their nano-particles could used different signalling molecules (other than TNF) for different disease causing agents (like viruses or bacteria) that might require a different immune response. The results of the study are published in the journal Nature Materials.

Suggested Pupil Activity: Find out more about how nano-particles can or could be used in medicine. Here's a good place to start.

ISTA PharmaChemical Ireland Teacher Awards 2012

The Irish Science Teachers Association have just announced details of the 2012 ISTA PharmaChemical Ireland Teacher Awards. The award is used to recognise teams of science teachers who do significant work in encouraging the uptake of science in their schools. Nominations are made by school principals with application forms available on the ISTA website and completed forms should be emailed to Tamara Lyons. The closing date for applications is Friday the 30th March. All applications forms received will be assessed by a judging panel consisting of representatives from PharmaChemical Ireland and the ISTA. 

The top three teams will be invited to participate in a seminar entitled “Encouraging the Uptake of Science Subjects at Second Level”. This seminar will be held in Trinity College, Dublin on Saturday 21st April (during the ISTA Annual Conference) where each team will present a 10 minute overview on the work done in their school to encourage the uptake of science subjects. All three teams will be presented with their prizes at the annual ISTA Conference dinner in the Alexander Hotel on Saturday 21st April. First prize is valued at €1,200 with Runner-up prizes to the value of €600.

YouTube Saturday - Japanese Giant Hornet

Today's science themed YouTube Saturday video goes back to nature - specifically how nature can oft-times be deadly! The Japanese Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia japonica) is a large insect, typically around 4cm long with a wingspan of 6cm, found in the Japanese Isles. It has a large yellow head with large eyes, and a dark brown thorax with an abdomen banded in brown and yellow. It generally feeds on other smaller insects - typically crop pests - and are seen as beneficial to agriculture. However, they also can prey on domesticated honey bees, sometimes killing thousands in a brief period. The video below shows how 30,000 honey bees are killed by just 30 hornets in a few hours. The Japanese Giant Hornets also have particularly strong venom and their sting is said to excruciatingly painful. In fact, over 40 people die every year from anaphylactic shock induced by hornet stings making it the most deadly animal in Japan!

 

Engineers Week 2012

Engineers Week 2012 runs from February 27th to March 4th, celebrating the wonderful world of engineering in Ireland through a comprehensive programme of events for the general public. The aim of the week is to create a positive awareness and spark enthusiasm about the engineering profession to people of various ages with little or no engineering background. 

There are loads of ways to get involved. There is a wide range of events running during the week including a national engineer volunteer day, and some great competitions (you can win a trip to NEMO in Amsterdam simply by participating in an event). Schools are also actively encouraged to get involved and can use the website resources to organise quizzes, host events, download activity sheets, download posters or simply find out more about engineering. Individuals and organisations can also submit their events for inclusion in the programme.

Since its inception in 2006, Engineers Week has grown in popularity with over 17,000 taking part in activities nationwide last year. The week is coordinated on a national basis by Engineers Ireland as part of the STEPS programme. Go on, get involved.

Also check out the brilliant Smart Futures competition for young digital creators!

Put Your Thinking Caps on for Google Science Fair 2012

The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is nearly over for another year (boooo) but never fear, there is still a place for you to stretch your brain (yayyy!). Last week Google launched their 2012 Science Fair, asking students from all over the world "what's your question?". And that's all science really is, a quest to answer the questions that niggle on my minds. The online science competition seeks curious young minds, from 13 to 18, to come up with original, creative projects which try to answer those questions. Google knows that not every genius get A's and the Science Fair is open to everyone - "mavericks, square-pegs and everybody who likes to ask questions". 

The Google Science Fair website has everything you need. There are some top tips to ensure your submission is successful, essential "dos and dont's", full details on how the project will be judged and a massive section with all the help and resources you will need.. (The short video below will explain the process too). There is also a dedicated toolkit for teachers on how to get the best from your students.

There are some excellent prizes on offer too, from Google Chromebooks for regional winners to trips to the Galapagos Islands with National Geographic Expeditions, scholarships from Google (up to $50,000 for the overall winner) and work experience opportunities in CERN, LEGO or Google.

So get your thinking caps on, starting thinking of your question and register online now!

YouTube Saturday: The Symphony of Science

Symphony of Science is musical project designed to deliver scientific knowledge and philosophy in musical form. The project has produced twelve full length music videos to date, each focusing on a different scientific principle. The video featured below delves in to the quantum world, a musical investigation into the nature of atoms and subatomic particles. The video features Morgan Freeman as well as some of the world's greatest science communicators including Stephen Hawking, Michio Kaku, Brian Cox, Richard Feynman, and Frank Close. Visit the Symphony of Science website for downloads & more videos! You might not hear it in your local nightclub or on the radio, but I think it's funky!

Heroes of Irish Science - Jocelyn Bell-Burnell

The Irish Times today began a new series of articles on the Heroes of Irish Science. The first looks at the life and works of the Irish astronomer Jocelyn Bell-Burnell, who discovered pulsar stars, and is written by Ronan McGreevy.

 

THE ASTRONOMER Jocelyn Bell-Burnell is one of Ireland’s most accomplished scientists. While still a research student she discovered pulsars and went on to become a distinguished scientist who made important astronomical discoveries.

She is a true hero of Irish science for her many accomplishments and for her ongoing contribution to a better public understanding of science. Her discovery of pulsars is one of the famous stories in science and it is also one of the most infamous.

In 1967 Jocelyn Bell was a 24-year-old PhD student from Belfast, reading radio astronomy at Cambridge University and examining newly-discovered quasars (quasi-stellar radio sources), incredibly bright and incredibly compact structures of light and energy at the centre of galaxies. She spent months reviewing print-outs from a radio telescope when she noticed small rhythmic blips on the paper one night in July.

The blips turned out to be signals from a radio source which had never been conceived before, let alone discovered. At first it was called – half in jest, half with a nod to the remote possibility that they might be signals from intelligent alien life forms – Little Green Man 1 (LGM-1).

World's Smallest Frog Discovered

Researchers have discovered the smallest species of frog, and indeed vertebrate (or back boned animal), during a recent field study in Papua New Guinea. Paedophryne amauensis measures measures just 7.9mm from head to tail making it no bigger than a house fly (and two could fit across a smartie!). The newly discovered species lives amongst the leaf litter, perfectly adapted to its environment by its minuscule size. The researchers discovered the tiny frog species after collecting some lead litter and putting it in a bag.

Up until very recently the smallest frog species was believed to be the Brazilian Gold Frog, found only in the forests of Rio de Janeiro.The Paedophryne genus was only discovered in late 2011 and one must feel bad for Fred Kraus and his research team whose newly discovered species of tiny frog only held the title of smallest amphibian for a mere month. The new species, discovered by a group of researchers from various US institutions and led by Chris Austin from Louisiana State University, have a large surface area for their size and are prone to drying out. These frogs are not equatic and must stay in their moist leafy environment to avoid dehydration. They are likely a target for predators too, even large insects like scorpions, but their role in the ecosystem is obviously important as the numbers are high. Unusually the tiny species also doesn't have a tadpole stage either allowing them develop in the relative safety of the damp forest floor.


The results of the study are published in the Plos One Journal. Ed Yong has more information on the newly discovered amphibian. Click here to read.


Suggested Pupil Activity: Why not find out about the world's largest frog. Here's a good place to start.

Holy Crap!! Close the Toilet Lid to Prevent Spreading Harmful Bacteria

Flushing the toilet with the lid open can cause the spread of harmful bacteria, according to a new study by the Microbiology Department at Leeds General Infirmary in the UK and published in the International Journal of Hospital Infection. The bacteria in question is Clostridium difficile, a bacteria which can cause severe cases of diarrhoea.

The researchers used faecal suspensions of C.difficile, to measure the levels of the bacteria in the air and on surfaces (like towels, sinks etc) after flushing the toilet. To compare, they used both lidless and lidded toilets.

They found that air samples 25cm above a lidless toilet, which is about the height of the handle, contained the harmful bacteria, with the highest numbers coming from samples taken immediately after flushing. As one might expect, they also found that flushing the toilet with the lid on reduces the spread of the bacteria - by as much as twelve times!

Outbreaks of C. difficile in hospitals have caused several fatalities, including seven cases in Irish hospitals since 2007. C.difficile can be difficult to control in a hospital setting and they can linger on practically any surface.

The researchers conclude by suggesting that lidless toilets not be used in hospitals and other healthcare facilities in future to reduce the spread of the potentially harmful bacteria.

Irish Times BANG Science Monthly #8

BANG is back (with a bang). The Irish Times science monthly, aimed specifically at teens of all ages, returns just as the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition kicks off. Packed full of brilliant articles on what is happening in the world of science right now, BANG is a great read for any science enthusiast. In this issue Shane Hegarty looks at the spectacular space images snapped from a backyard in Dublin, Marie Boran looks at the scale of the universe, John Holden brings us some more "screen science", Aaron Meridith looks at what's been going on this month in science and there's a great look-back at some former winners of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition and what they're doing now. Also in this edition, yours truly investigates when will they invent the invisibility cloak and Claire O'Connell looks at the science of Beyonce!

It's another jammed packed edition and it's free in today's Irish Times! You can also follow BANG on Twitter or Facebook - go on, get some science in to you!

When will they invent ... Invisibility Cloaks?

THEY HELPED Frodo Baggins escape the attentions of the eye of Sauron in The Lord of the Rings , and the young wizard, Harry Potter, dash past Prof Snape in Hogwarts. But when will invisibility cloaks escape from fantasy and enter reality?

Amazingly, that time might be closer than you think. Almost everyone has dreamed of becoming invisible, of sneaking around undetected from parents, friends or teachers. Engineers dream of cloaking buildings, maintaining the public’s view of the countryside or seaside, while military folk hope for invisible soldiers, tanks or fighter jets.

There are thousands of applications for invisibility cloaks but how would they work? Scientists across the globe have been putting their thinking caps on and have come up with a few possible ways of making someone or something invisible.

In the last issue of Bang, we revealed how carbon nanotubes might form part of a future space elevator. These amazing materials are extremely thin (just an atom or so thick), extremely light, stronger than steel and are excellent heat conductors. They are also a possible material for invisibility cloaks. Last year scientists in Texas were able to make a sheet of carbon nanotubes invisible by heating them up very quickly. They did this by utilising the mirage effect. Most people experience the mirage effect in deserts, seeing a puddle of water where no water exists. This mirage effect is caused by the severe heat difference between the very hot sand and the cooler air surrounding it. The sharp difference in temperature causes the light around to bend or refract. The desert wanderer actually sees a puddle of sky and not the longed-for oasis and must trundle on in search of that drink.

The scientists in Texas placed the carbon nanotube sheet in a petri dish of water and heated the sheet using electricity. The heat quickly transferred to the water, creating a mirage and making the sheet invisible. (See the video below) However, carbon nanotube sheets are not likely to yield fully functional invisibility cloaks just yet, but the Texas experiment demonstrates the potential of this fledgling technology. The more likely source of a functional invisibility cloak comes from research on metamaterials – artificial substances not found in nature.

Metamaterials are unique combinations of two or more substances – not chemically combined but physically combined – that have a surface size smaller than the wavelength of light.

Metamaterials are normally made by adding loops or circles of metal, usually copper or gold, to another material, e.g. a fabric of silk. The effect is that some physical properties of the fabric can be changed, including one called the refractive index.

All natural substances have a positive refractive index but some metamaterials have a negative refractive index, meaning they seem to bend light waves in a different direction to normal materials. In theory this could make some metamaterials invisible. This all sounds crazy, but scientists have created a number of metamaterial fabrics which are able to bend certain wavelengths of light around them. So far they haven’t been able to bend visible light, only larger waves like microwaves, but the research proves that metamaterials have the potential to bend visible light and could help us make that invisibility cloak. So, invisibility cloaks might not be around soon enough to make your Christmas list next December but, with advances in nanotechnology and more research in to metamaterials, you might not have to wait too long for some invisible mischief.

Get Inspired at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition

The opening ceremony of the 48th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition gets under later today at the RDS, launching the largest event of its kind in the world. (The opening ceremony will be streamed live on the RTÉ news website) This year BT received record numbers of entries (over 1700) from over 350 schools from all 32 counties and the first round of judges have whittled these down to the top 550 which will present their findings on the exhibition floor. The event will attract thousands of visitors during the week who are sure to be amazed by the continually high standard of projects on show. The students will be judged in four categories (Biology & Ecological Sciences, Chemical & Physicalal Science, Social & Behavioural Science & Technology) and in three age groups (Junior, Intermediate & Senior). The winning project will take home a cheque for €5000, a trophy and the honour of representing Ireland at the European Young Scientist Exhibition later in the year. (Incidentally, last year's young scientist winner, Alexander Amini, also won the top European prize in September for his use of sensors to analyse a person's movement as they played tennis).

The BT Young Scientist Technology Exhibition at the RDS, opens to the public on Thursday morning at 9:30am and runs until Saturday afternoon. Tickets can be bought at the door, €12 for an adult, €6 for concession/student and €25 for a family of two adults and up to three children. Teachers can find out all they need to know about booking a school trip to the exhibition here. For more information visit the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition website and be sure to check out their "Get Inspired" section - it's brilliant!