News

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 →

Week 2 of live chats and it’s been yet another busy day. The evictions start tomorrow so it really is your last chance to make your votes count! Lots of interesting chats today… Did you know… Crabs have two brains (sort of): goldengusman : r there any animals that have more than one brain or none at all? benbrilot : actually yes, so great question. Go and google crab brains because crabs actually have their brain split between what’s called a dorsal and a ventral ganglion: they have two centres where nerves are gathered to communicate. Weird huh. Evolution can’t keep up with climate change: mirandagoesrawr190 : Do you think the human race will ever evolve to suit all types of climate? grantkennedy : not if we keep changing the climate at the current rate! We’ve changed things significantly since in just a few hundred years, but it takes thousands … Continue reading →

It’s day 5 and the end of our first week of chats – that means we’re half way through I’m a Scientist March 2013 and the evictions start next Tuesday at 3pm sharp. Make sure you’ve voted for your favourite or they might end up out of the competition! Did you know… No-one really knows how our brains remember and forget information: 
charmedvirgo : How does our brain contain all the seemingly infinite information in a finite space? michaelcraig : good question. It’s an amazing piece of equipment. The brain is amazingly efficient at remembering relevant information and forgetting useless information. Truth is though, we dont know how it does it! A huge multi million pound study has just been set up that involves my work to find out how the brain remembers and forgets information so that we can build computers to learn and remember and store information in … Continue reading →

Seeing as we’re all such good sports here, and seeing as it’s for a good cause, I’m a Scientist have decided to set a couple of charitable goals. The scientists are already sporting their red noses and we’re getting on board by asking you to retweet us on Twitter. So.. If we get 100 retweets we’ll donate £50 to Comic Relief And if we get 150 retweets, Shane will wear a red nose for the rest of the day But if we get over 200 retweets the rest of the office (Rosie) will wear one So. Retweet. You can also make a donation here, and you should, because it’s for a good cause. Check out the scientists noses in; Brain Zone, Digital Zone, Drug Development Zone, Food Science Zone, Health Zone, Medical Physics Zone, Space Zone, Technetium Zone, Ruthenium Zone, Rhodium Zone, Palladium Zone

We can’t believe the first week of chats is nearly over! It’s been a pretty busy day and tomorrow’s going to be hectic too. Once again we’ve picked out some of the best bits to entertain and inform you – today’s highlights include noisy shrimps, helium rain on Jupiter and… frogs. Did you know… Snapping shrimp are noisy sea-dwellers: mariatereza : what is the most intresting sound in the water sophieholles : Snapping shrimp that live on coral reefs make really interesting sounds in the water.. they snap their claws together so fast that they create a vacuum of zero pressure, that makes a sort of air bubble. But the water around it makes it collapse really quickly and that makes a snapping sound. They use it to stun their prey and to announce their territories It’s impossible to travel at the speed of light: scienzerking4life : if you go … Continue reading →