A Catalyst article describing how the VISTA telescope, which is located in Chile, works. It detects infrared radiation - electromagnetic radiation beyond the red end of the spectrum. This has two great benefits:

*The telescope can detect radiation from distant stars which are otherwise hidden behind clouds...

Produced by the Royal Astronomical Society, this booklet describes the advances and uses of infrared astronomy. Using this wavelength to observe the universe allows astronomers to visualise phenomena such as dust clouds involved in the formation of new stars and identify elements present in the atmosphere of...

This video clip demonstrates an investigation into the absorption of infrared radiation by different surfaces. This is a required practical for students to understand and be able to carry out for GCSE Combined Science and Physics.

A pair of videos that investigates the emission of infrared radiation by different surfaces.  The first allows students to see the experiment undertaken and the second clip explains how to plot a graph to evaluate the relationship. This is a required practical for students to understand and be able to carry out for...

This set of three activities from the European Space Agency enables students to understand the electromagnetic spectrum and observe infrared radiation through the modification of a cheap webcam. It enables discussion of how infrared radiation can be used to obtain information that is not available using visible...

This resource is based on the Inventive podcast. The podcast mixes engineering fact with fiction. Each podcast features an interview with an engineer. In this activity, electrical engineer Jack Howarth is the inspiration for poet Katrina Porteous to write 'Ingenious'.

Short audio clips about the engineer...

A Catalyst article investigating chromosomes. In particular, the article looks at genes and explains how the chromosomes and genes a human inherits from their parents can cause problems such as sickle-cell anaemia, cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease.

This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review...

Alan Cucknell's job consists of finding new and innovative ways to make their clients' products stand out from the crowd. This...

Innovation in Teacher Education, from the Nuffield Foundation, describes how tutors involved in the Science Teacher Education Project (STEP) cooperated to devise and try out a variety of exercises and activities as alternatives or additions to established tutorial procedures as practiced in the early 1970s. Thus...

Inquiry maths is a model of teaching that encourages students to regulate their own activity while exploring a mathematical statement called a prompt. Inquiries can involve a class on diverse paths of exploration or in listening to a teacher's exposition. In inquiry maths, students take responsibility for directing...

This is a concept development lesson that develops thinking on decomposing complex shapes into simpler ones in order to solve a problem. There is work on bringing together several geometric concepts to solve a problem. Students also find the relationship between radii of inscribed and circumscribed circles of right...

This collection includes some activities for primary and secondary aged pupils which can be used to support Insect Week  organised by the Royal Entomological Society as an annual celebration of the ‘little things...

Produced by Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS), these materials look at the work of conservation biotechnologist, Jonathan Kendon. Through investigating the effects of human activity on the environment, students gain a greater understanding of the career...

Produced by Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS), these materials look at the work of plant research scientist, Jess Chu. Through investigating vitamin C in plants, students gain a greater understanding of the career opportunities available in plant biology.