News

Day 3 and there’s no let up in the number of chats and questions – 4,400 students registered and nearly 2,500 answered questions, not to mention loads more chats! Today’s highlights: They were discussing robotic hearts in the Indium Zone: 11sumnerh : could we survive without a heart could it be replaced with a robotic device? christinapagel : yes we could! even now children wiating for a heart transplant can be fitted with artificial hearts that si outside their body (on their laps!!) and pump the blood round… but the longer you use them the more dangerosu it gets christinapagel : and it gets dangerous becaue eventually your blood will clot inside the device and you get a stroke.. matildawyatt1999 : why arent people immortal if you can have a robotic heart? jessbean : as for the robotic heart. that might still work but other bits of your body can … Continue reading →

It’s only day 2 but the questions keep coming! Over 35 live chats and hundreds more great questions. Today’s highlights: In the Animal Behaviour Zone, they were talking about baby baboons: msteststudent : do Babboons show any similraties to humans ???? suzanneharvey : baboons do show similarities to humans – baby baboons have tantrums juct like children until their mothers give them what they want! Over in the Crystallography Zone student crouchingmurloc asks: Do any of you live up to the nerdy stereotype that comes with being a scientist? There was talk of artificial volcanoes in the Earth Zone: stargazer : where would you put the artificial volcanoe(s) angusferraro : Great question. If people decided to go down the artificial volcano route, we would need to find a way to do it. A big explosion is quite expensive. Instead people might use a balloon and pump stuff up a pipe. It would … Continue reading →

And so it begins… I’m a Scientist June 2013 has got off to a busy start. Across all zones we’ve had around 30 live chats, a few thousand questions asked outside of the chats, and there are now 3,300 students registered! Today’s highlights: In the Blood Zone,  robynkeith97‘s question has brought up more questions than answers: If you eat yourself, would you become twice as big, or cease to exist as matter? Over in an Antimony Zone chat they’ve come up with an alternative way to cook eggs: ainedoyle541 : can you cook a egg with a laser? ricksmith : Ha yes, I think you could cook an egg with a laser, It wouldn’t be very safe (or tastey) but there are infrared (heating) lasers… In the Extreme Speed Zone, some interesting links between bananas and astronomy: Is there something astronomical about bananas? And a joke from Rhod in the … Continue reading →

Are you ready to take part? Hope you’re all ready for I’m a Scientist June 2013, as the live chats start on Monday! Over 270 chats have already been booked in, and we’re still getting more chat requests. There are over 2,000 questions queued on the ASK section of the website, asked by some of the 2,500+ students already registered. It’s going to be a very busy two weeks! Take a look… Crystallography Zone’s Sam has uploaded some cool pictures of protein crystals and says he has a funny story about setting a pipette on fire… we’ll have to wait until Monday to ask him about that! Great profile joke from Suzanne in the Animal Behaviour Zone – What do you call an exploding monkey? Check out Human Limits Zone Alan‘s blog ‘Learning Through Adventure‘ about his research out in Peru. Don’t forget you can take a look at all of the scientists’ … Continue reading →

We’re pleased to announce the schools and scientists taking part in our upcoming event which will run from 17th – 28th June. As you can see from the map to the right, we have schools from all over the UK taking part, and there are a few from even further afield, including Spain and India. As usual there’s been lots of interest – 5 scientists applied for each place – but we can now confirm those taking part in each zone… &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Animal Behaviour Zone The Scientists: Suzanne Harvey (University College London) I study primate communication, which involves trekking around the jungle with a microphone, recording monkey sounds! Using these recordings, we hope to learn about the evolution of human language as well as finding out what monkey sounds really mean… Renata Medeiros (Cardiff University) I study the life of very tiny and mysterious … Continue reading →

It’s not just scientists who can leave I’m a Scientist as winners, student winners are also chosen based on their engagement with the scientists and involvement in the event. The moderators and scientists have nominated the students who they think asked lots of interesting questions in Ask, left thoughtful comments and/or engaged well in the live chats. And your student winners are… Brain Zone Winner: mrbrains, Great Marlow School   “asked a lot of good questions!” Runners up: chrisgould, kitkat, caramelchemist, bluesapphire Digital Zone Winner: nicenadia, Abbotsmede Primary School   “inquisitive nature was admirable, due to the shear volume of questions asked, and her manner in the chat” Runners up: amazingaxsa, 09stockwell Drug Development Zone  Winner: biozak, City of London Boys School   “for asking brilliant questions and interacting really well in a live chat” Runners up: joritto98, sodiumcyanide Food Science Zone Winner: dom1234, Acle Academy   “posted a lot of comments and seemed engaged throughout the fortnight” Runners … Continue reading →

We’ve had two fun weeks of I’m a Scientist and we’ve now reached the end of our March 2013 event – we hope you’ve all enjoyed it! We’re pleased to announce the 11 zone winners below – congratulations to them all! And well done to our 11 runners up who’ve also done a great job at answering your questions. Zone winners: Brain Zone – Jen Digital Zone – Phil Drug Development Zone – Jack and Tom Food Science Zone – Duncan Health Zone – Jen Medical Physics Zone – Leila Space Zone – Grant Technetium Zone – Jon Ruthenium Zone – Hayley Rhodium Zone – Laura Palladium Zone – James   2 weeks, 55 scientists, 3700 students, 178 live chats, nearly 4000 questions and hundreds of fascinating science facts – we can’t wait for the June event!

We’re coming to the end of I’m a Scientist March 2013 and today’s evictions leave just two scientists in each zone to battle it out to be crowned the winner. The scientists in third place are… Scientists evicted: Brain Zone – Susie Digital Zone – Alessandro Drug Development Zone – Claire Food Science Zone – Nik Health Zone – Melissa Medical Physics Zone – Dhvanil Space Zone – Amy Technetium Zone – Glyn Ruthenium Zone – Jason Rhodium Zone – Thanasis Palladium Zone – Emma Still lots of chats happening, and lots of fun questions and answers: Did you know… Pope Francis wanted to check he isn’t drinking too much coffee: popefrancis1 : how does coffee affect the body? claireinness : great you could join us from the Vatican! Coffee contains caffeine which is a stimulant – so it makes you kind of zippy. Please pray for me to win They were designing unicorns in Palladium Zone: ospaff : I would like … Continue reading →

Another eviction and we lose 11 more scientists from the competition – hope you’re all voting! Scientists evicted: Brain Zone – Ben Digital Zone – Marina Drug Development Zone – Yalda Food Science Zone – Rachel Health Zone – Phil Medical Physics Zone – Jim Space Zone – Shawn Technetium Zone – Debbie Ruthenium Zone – Ed Rhodium Zone – Nicola Palladium Zone – Janet The remaining scientists are still battling for the prize money, here’s what happened today: Did you know… It’s near impossible to selectively breed a unicorn: shanewarwickrocks : can you make a unicorn by ether selective breeding or ginetic engineering laurasoul : You could try crossing horse and a narwhaal! (it wouldn’t work). Unless a horse had a mutation where one of its teeth started going the other way, or they started fighting by headbutting each other then no unicorns sorry! Maths could help you to succeed at playing Angry Birds: colinmorgansbabe : What level are you … Continue reading →

The first evictions have taken place and so sadly we have to say goodbye to 11 scientists as they leave the competition (although they can still talk with students in live chats if they want!). Scientists evicted: Brain Zone – Michael Digital Zone – Angela Drug Development Zone – Jon Food Science Zone – Grant Health Zone – Jill Medical Physics Zone – Charlotte Space Zone – Usman Technetium Zone – Nicola Ruthenium Zone – Nathan Rhodium Zone – Sandra Palladium Zone – Simon   It was a competitive day of chats as the scientists fought to stay in the running for the prize money, here are some highlights: Did you know… Miracle berries can make anything taste sweet: kjt2000 : Whats the most interesting food, in your opinion? racheledwardsstuart : I like the miracle berry. It turns acidic foods sweet – its really crazy! If you eat a lime after … Continue reading →