Resources by Catalyst

Water in the Oceans

This Catalyst article describes how the salty water in the oceans has some consequences for how the ocean water mixes – or does not mix. There are distinct bodies of water in the oceans which mix only very slowly. The experiments detailed in the article will explain why this is.

The article is from Catalyst...

Water Movement in Potatoes *suitable for home teaching*

This Catalyst article investigates osmosis: when water enters or leaves plant tissue (raw potato) according to the concentration of water in its surroundings.

The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2014, Volume 25, Issue 3.

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Water Power: the Micro-Hydro Revolution

This Catalyst article is about a micro-hydroelectric power station on a river in Yorkshire. As oil prices soar and global warming threatens, the need for affordable green solutions to the energy crisis is ever increasing. Giant hydroelectric power stations, such as the Three Gorges Dam in China, will help to fulfil...

Wave Power

A Catalyst article looking at renewable energy. To tackle climate change and all the challenges imposed by the need to find alternative and reliable energy sources, there is one major resource that has remained untapped until now: wave power. This article describes the size of this resource and presents the leading...

Wearing Electronics

This Catalyst article investigates how polymer materials can be designed and printed with electrical properties that allow them to be used in wearable electronic devices. The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science...

Whales and waves

This Catalyst article looks at sperm whales and their ways of communications. Sperm whales can dive deep into the ocean. They use sound waves to communicate in the dark and to detect their prey.

This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2016, Volume...

Whaling

A Catalyst article about whaling. During the last century whales were hunted and killed by many nations for the valuable materials they provided. Whale populations collapsed as a result. The article looks in detail at this example of human impact on the environment and details whale populations throughout the world...

What Are Stem Cells? *suitable for home teaching*

This Catalyst article explains the use of stem cells to treat medical problems, and outlines new possibilities for the use of adult stem cells in treatment.

Currently, stem cells used for treatment are embryonic stem cells, since they have the ability to form any cell type in the body. The example of the use...

What Causes the Aurora? *suitable for home teaching*

This article from Catalyst looks at aurora borealis caused by the interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field. It also explains how satellites are testing thoeires of how this happens. Auroral light emission occurs at roughly 100 km altitude. Energetic electrons in the solar wind cause the...

What Is a Scientific Conference?

With so many research groups across the world, it can be difficult for scientists to keep on top of the latest developments and findings. As well as publishing in journals (such as Nature or Science), researchers communicate their results at scientific conferences. These range in size from small, specialist...